Here’s a complete look at the defensive snap counts.
The Tennessee Titans were counted out by many against the New England Patriots after barely edging their way into the postseason, but will be the team facing the Baltimore Ravens next week after recording a 20-13 win on Saturday night.
The Titans came up with some big plays on both sides of the ball to come away with the victory, with cornerback Logan Ryan totally redeeming himself by intercepting Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on the team’s final drive after dropping what would have been an interception returned for a touchdown right before halftime.
Safeties Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro, along with Ryan were in action for all 61 of the game’s snaps.
Linebacker Harold Landry didn’t make as much of an impact as we’re used to seeing from him, but he was in action on 60 snaps.
Safeties Amani Hooker and Dane Cruikshank and linebacker Daren Bates were very active on special teams snaps per the usual, on the field for 25 of those.
Here’s a complete look at the defensive snap counts.
Here’s a look at five players who particularly stood out on the win.
After finishing the season with a 9-7 overall record and up against one of the most historically dominant teams in the NFL, the Tennessee Titans were counted out as underdogs facing the New England Patriots on the road.
But they got the job done in Gillette Stadium, and will prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens next week after recording a 20-13 victory.
Here’s a look at five players who particularly stood out on the win.
1. RB Derrick Henry.
It’s easy to argue that the Titans wouldn’t have been able to advance without Henry’s efforts, as he became the first player will 200 scrimmage yards against a Patriots team coached by Bill Belichick in the playoffs and set the franchise record for scrimmage yards in a postseason contest.
And he did it all on his 26th birthday.
He finished out the evening with 34 carries for 182 yards and a touchdown. Henry also had a reception for 22 yards.
Tennessee Titans LB Rashaad Evans could have given the Houston Texans bulletin board material while looking ahead to Week 16 versus the Saints.
The Tennessee Titans were riding high, winning five in a row, before the Houston Texans came into town.
After a disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos, the 9-5 Texans rebounded in big fashion, beating the Titans 24-21 at Nissan Stadium. They earned the lead in the AFC South and have a prime chance to win it, needing a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday to clinch.
Meanwhile, the Titans dropped their second game in the Ryan Tannehill era. They now sit at 8-6, needing a win over the 10-3 New Orleans Saints to keep their hopes of winning the division alive.
Titans linebacker Rashaan Evans described the loss to the Texans postgame as “a bitter pill to swallow.” He also didn’t mince words in comparing his Week 15 opponent and 16 opponents.
“I have a different mindset going into the Saints game because this Saints team is a lot better than this Texans team, for a fact showing on film,” said Evans. “For us, we have to play our best games these two games and let everything else play where it wants to play.”
New Orleans is third in the NFC heading into their clash with the 6-7 Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. They rank fifth in scoring offense (26.5 points per game) and 16th in scoring defense (23.5 points guard). Superstars are littered across their roster in Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Cameron Jordan.
The Saints also very well could be 9-4 right now. To kick off their season, the Texans took them to the brink of defeat. They ultimately won 30-28 on a game-winning Will Lutz 52-yard field goal as time expired in New Orleans.
The Texans also beat the Titans on Sunday. Evans, a first-round pick in 2018, finished the game with seven combined tackles while Houston averaged 8.4 yards per play in Nashville.
If the Titans were to defeat the Saints in Week 16, the fate of their season could reside in Houston. The Texans host Tennessee in their season finale.
Could Evans’ postgame thoughts have given the Deshaun Watson-led Texans some bulletin board material 14 days before a rematch that may define his team’s season?
The Iron Bowl is a historic game played between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, the game comes with major bragging rights on and off the field. Sometimes the bragging may even continue beyond college… and into the NFL. Darren Bates, …
The Iron Bowl is a historic game played between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, the game comes with major bragging rights on and off the field.
Sometimes the bragging may even continue beyond college… and into the NFL.
Darren Bates, a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans, took it upon himself to represent his alma mater, Auburn University, in the locker room while some of his teammates were answering questions from the media.
It may, or may not, have been a total coincidence that these two teammates played college ball at the University of Alabama.
While former Alabama running back Derrick Henry fielded questions rom the media, Bates paraded around Henry with a boom-box playing the radio call from Auburn’s infamous “Kick-six,” which resulted in a 2013 Iron Bowl win for the Tigers.
Bates didn’t stop there.
Auburn vs. Alabama this week. #Titans LBs Rashaan Evans (Alabama) gets his media scrum crashed by fellow LB Darren Bates playing Auburn’s music. It’s the Iron Bowl so this week friends can’t be friends. pic.twitter.com/MRYy4TSyd0
When Alabama alum, and fellow linebacker, Rahsaan Evans was talking to reporters, Bates danced around the locker room while blasting the Auburn fight song on his speaker.
As Turron Davenport said, “It’s the Iron Bowl so this week friends can’t be friends.”
I guess we’ll just have to wait till the game clock hits zeros all across to see who will get bragging rights for the next 365 days.
It’s impossible to think about the Iron Bowl without remembering the craziness of the Kick Six in the 2013 Alabama-Auburn game.
But on the off chance Tennessee Titans linebacker Daren Bates’ teammates forgot what happened, the Auburn alum was happy to remind them. While former Alabama running back Derrick Henry spoke to the media Thursday, Bates offered up a soundtrack for his teammate’s interview.
He interrupted Henry’s interview by blasting the radio call of the Kick Six, when Alabama attempted to break the tie with what would have been a 57-yard field goal for the win. Instead, the Crimson Tide missed the kick, and Auburn cornerback Chris Davis was waiting in the end zone, caught the ball and returned it for the game-winning touchdown and Iron Bowl immortality.
Auburn won, 34-28, in surely the wildest ending to the Iron Bowl and one of the greatest plays in college football history.
Henry said there has been trash talking in the Titans’ locker room all week, adding: “I love it though. We’ll after see Saturday how he feels.”
But that wasn’t the only thing Bates did this week to troll his Alabama alum Titans teammates. As linebacker Rashaan Evans spoke with the media, Bates hilariously played the Auburn fight song and danced in the background.
And the Titans Twitter account also shared photos of Henry and Evans during practice with Auburn signs on their backs with “War. Damn. Eagle.” written on them.
No. 5 Alabama takes on No. 15 Auburn on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in a game the Crimson Tide need to win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
The Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts both sit at 6-5 ahead of a highly-anticipated AFC South matchup Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. This a must-win for both teams as they try to keep pace with Houston for the division and the tight race for the AFC wild card as well.
If the Colts want to get back on track after a long week, here are six Titans the Colts must game plan for in the Week 13 divisional matchup.
(Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports)
QB Ryan Tannehill
After winning four of their last five, Tannehill seems to be the short-term solution in Tennessee. Getting after him and forcing him to make rushed throws will be key for the Colts in this one. With the ability to spread the ball to a variety of receivers, shutting down Tannehill will be vital to a victory.
The Colts must also be aware of Tannehill’s ability as a runner, which is an underrated aspect of his game.
RB Derrick Henry
November-Henry is a real thing. The fourth-year back has been criticized throughout his career for being inconsistent on a week to week basis but in the month of November, Henry has been very productive during his time in Tennessee.
The Colts will have to shut down Henry in order to throw the entire offense off track in this one. When the Titans get the run game going, their offense becomes a lot more threatening.
WR A.J. Brown
The rookie receiver has been a great addition to this offense. With the size to go over the top of defenders and the speed to create separation, Brown has emerged as one of the best young receivers in the game.
Look for Pierre Desir to matchup against Brown on Sunday, mostly because of a size comparison. Don’t be surprised if Malik Hooker or Marvel Tell matchup against Brown as well.
(Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports)
LB Rashaan Evans
Leading the team in tackles with 85 on the year, Evans is one of the better linebackers in all of football. His run stopping ability is incredible and his speed makes it easy for him to cover tight ends as well. With Eric Ebron being placed on IR on Monday, Jack Doyle and others will have to find success after a lackluster performance in Houston.
CB Logan Ryan
Ryan has been dominant throughout his entire career, filling up a stat sheet week to week. His line on the year is 78 total tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, 16 passes defended and 3.5 sacks. Ryan will most likely be on T.Y. Hilton all game as Hilton tries to bounce back after a pitiful performance against Houston.
LB Harold Landry III
The other linebacker in the Titans talented duo is Landry. Where Evans is more utilized in the passing game, Landry is moved all around the field and is a talented pass rusher. With eight sacks on the season, it will be crucial for the Colts to stop Landry blitzing up the middle in order to give Brissett time in the pocket.
The Jags will need to win some key matchups Sunday to overtake the Titans and one of them is the battle between Fournette and Rashaan Evans.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) and Tennessee Titans (5-5) will clash for their second time in 2019 with their playoff hopes hanging on by a thread. Needless to say, that means neither team can take a loss in Sunday’s matchup, which will come down to a few key matchups. Here are three we’ll be watching in particular:
Edge rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Josh Allen vs. offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin
While the Jags aren’t quite where they want to be record-wise, fans who like breaking down the film should at least be happy to see this matchup regardless of the outcome. It’s rare to see two tandems of this magnitude duke it out on the edge and I’ve personally been waiting to see this matchup since Josh Allen was selected by the Jags.
In the Jags’ and Titans’ Week 3 meeting, Taylor Lewan was suspended and his absence showed as quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked nine times. Now he’s back and the playing field is level. With that being the case, it will be interesting to see how Yannick Ngakoue and Allen respond to the tandem as Lewan and Jack Conklin are regarded as one of the NFL’s top bookend duos.
RB Leonard Fournette vs. ILB Rashaan Evans
Leonard Fournette wants more carries and the Jags want to give him that. That said, if the Jags give him the ball as most suspect he’ll have to deal with the Titans leading tackler in Rashaan Evans. These two are quite familiar with each other after their time in the Southeastern Conference and now the rivalry has followed them to the league due to being selected by the Jags and Titans.
Evans will enter the game with 82 tackles while Fournette will enter the game with 854 rushing yards and one touchdown. As we’ve mentioned in the past, he’s struggled against the Titans. Throughout, four starts against them, he’s garnered 62 carries for 211 yards (good for a 3.4 YPC average) and a touchdown, which is not an impressive stat line. Simply put, that needs to change Sunday if the Jags want to win.
LB Myles Jack vs. RB Derrick Henry
This kind of goes back to what was said in our bold predictions post when I mentioned that Myles Jack is the most criticized player on the Jags’ defense — and rightfully so. He hasn’t played to his contract extension this season and will need to flip the switch quick as he’s played so poorly to the point where many have been wondering if he needs to change positions.
Jack likely understands he’s fallen short of expectations more than anyone and could play with his hair on fire against the Titans. With Derrick Henry expected to lead their offense, he’ll receive ample carries and Jack could make a statement Sunday by holding him in check and acquiring double-digit tackles on the day.
