Titans at Broncos: Live updates and analysis
Sunday’s game between the Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos is one of three Week 6 matchups between last-place teams. The Titans (2-3) are tied with Jacksonville at the bottom of the AFC South while the Broncos (1-4) are alone at the bottom of the AFC West.
It is not the worst of the bunch, though.
That distinction has to go to Washington (0-5) and Miami (0-4), two winless teams that squared off in the early games. Then there is Atlanta (1-4) and Arizona (1-3-1), which meet in the only contest of teams in sole possession of last place.
For Tennessee it is the fourth road game in the first six weeks. After this, it will be on the road just once before the start of December.
NEED TO KNOW
The Titans are one of five teams that average fewer than 200 passing yards per game (192.2) and the Broncos allow just 202.2 passing yards per game, which ranks fifth in the NFL. Marcus Mariota and Co. are going to have to be better than normal if they expect to score enough to win this one.
Tennessee is one of six teams that has allowed fewer than 18 points per game (15.2) but is the only one of those six with a losing record. The others are New England (6-0), San Francisco (4-0), Chicago (3-2), Buffalo (4-1) and Minnesota (3-2).
Tennessee’s defense has faced more fourth down plays (10) than all but two teams (New England and Minnesota) but have allowed just three conversions. Denver has been one of the best fourth-down offenses, having converted on four of five tries.
PREGAME READING
• Titans defense faces stiff challenge from Denver’s running back duo
• Cody Parkey, signed on Tuesday, gets his chance to kick for Tennessee
• Reasons to believe the Titans will or won’t win this game
• Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith would not be where he is – or have the playbook he does – without former Titans coach and current Broncos assistant Mike Munchak
WORDS OF WISDOM
See the above video for coach Mike Vrabel’s thoughts on the challenges of playing at altitude.
INACTIVES
Tennessee: cornerback Chris Milton, running back Rod Smith, linebacker Sharif Finch, guard Aaron Stinnie, offensive lineman Kevin Pamphile, outside linebacker Cameron Wake and defensive end Matt Dickerson.
Denver: wide receiver Juwann Winfree, cornerback Duke Dawson, cornerback Bryce Callahan, tackle Ja’Wuan James, tackle Calvin Anderson, tight end Troy Fumagalli and defensive end Adam Gotsis.
FIRST QUARTER
Titans lost the coin toss for the fourth time in six games. They lost two of the first three after losing the coin toss. Denver deferred its option until the second half. Tennessee starts with the ball.
And so it begins. Marcus Mariota sacked on the third play of the game and the offense goes three and out. That’s 23 times Mariota has been sacked but just the second time he has gone down in the first quarter. A bad sign of things to come?
Denver 3, Tennessee 0 (10:16 remaining). Stop me if you’ve heard this one before … Titans allow the opponent to score first for the fifth time in six games. Give the defense credit, though, for holding Denver to a field goal after a 42-yard punt return gave the Broncos’ possession at the Tennessee 45. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 32 yards, 3:04.
Inside linebacker Jayon Brown, who shares the team lead in tackles with Rashaan Evans, is questionable with a groin injury sustained on the opening possession. Wesley Woodyard’s return to Denver could result in much more playing time than anticipated.
And that's two straight three-and-outs for the offense and it only has been 6:21 since the opening kickoff.
The offense finally gets a couple first downs, a third-down conversion (thanks to a penalty) and crosses midfield (it got to the Denver 49) but ultimately is forced to punt when Adam Humphries is tackled after a four-yard gain on third-and-6.
End of the quarter: Titans have been outgained 67-40, are on the wrong end of time of possession (7:59-7:01) and the score (3-0). It is the fourth time this season they have failed to score in the first 15 minutes.
SECOND QUARTER
Midway through the quarter, Mariota is 5-11 for 39 yards passing. Denver’s Joe Flacco is 5-9 for 30 yards. Remember when the NFL was a passing league?
And just like that, Flacco opens Denver’s next drive with a 40-yard completion on a deep throw to Courtland Sutton.
Denver 6, Tennessee 0 (4:39 remaining): Jurrell Casey and Rahsaan Evans combine for a huge stop on third-and-1. That forced Denver to attempt a 53-yard field goal, which was good. Scoring drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 2:45.
At the two-minute warning the Titans are preparing to punt after Mariota is sacked again. That’s three times today and 26 for the season. The sacks have come from three different players.
If the Titans don't get the ball back, this will be the third time in four games they have been shut out in the first half. Jacksonville and Buffalo also did it to them.
Tennessee will get the ball back. Denver preparing to punt from its own 11 with 59 seconds remaining. Offense will have two timeouts.
On first down from the Tennessee 48, Marcus Mariota throws his first interception of the season. That’s Mariota’s 43 career interception, his 31 when the Titans have been trailing (eight have been with the lead and four with the score tied).
The defense bails out the offense once again and makes sure it’s still a one-score game at halftime (Denver 6, Tennessee). Titans are 0-3 this season, 3-10 under Mike Vrabel when trailing at the half.
Tennessee managed six first downs in the first half. Three were the result of penalties against the Broncos.
Titans are averaging 2.6 yards per play. They have been outgained 137-82 but have an edge in time of possession (16:17-13:43). Both Denver running backs, Phillip Lindsay (31 yards) and Royce Freeman (25 yards) have outgained Derrick Henry (22 yards on nine carries).
Broncos will get the ball to start the second half.
THIRD QUARTER
Kevin Byard doing what Kevin Byard does. His interception – off the back of Denver tight end Noah Fant – gives him a team-high three for the season and gives him 15 for his career. He is the 23 player in franchise history with at least 15. He ends Denver’s opening possession of the half and gives the ball to the offense at the Tennessee 25.
It is 4:08 into the second half and Brett Kern punts for the seventh time. His season-high is eight (Jacksonville) and his career-high is 10 (Miami in 2017 and N.Y. Jets in 2012).
Kevin Byard doing what Kevin Byard does. His sure tackle limits Royce Freeman to a three-yard gain on third-and-4. Byard has been credited with three tackles. Two have on third down and both stopped the Broncos less than a yard short of a first down. Tennessee’s offense has the ball again with nine minutes to play. First-and-10 at its own 15.
Good news: Mariota avoids another sack. Bad news: He throws it up for grabs and is intercepted for the second time. Denver ball at the Titans’ 41 with 8:06 to play in the quarter.
With 4:56 to play in the quarter, the Titans turn to Ryan Tannehill and bench Marcus Mariota. A penalty negates a big gain by A.J. Brown (he committed the penalty) and Tennessee goes three-and-out in the first series after the switch.
FOURTH QUARTER
Ryan Tannehill has completed for of his first five passes, albeit for just 29 yards, and led the offense to one first down in his first two series. He also has been sacked once. He also has been sacked once. He did help flip field position, though. Brett Kern’s latest punt pins the Broncos at their own. 3.
Defense stays stout. Denver goes three-and-out and is 1-for-12 on third down for the day. Tannehill and Co. to start the next drive at the Broncos' 36 following an 11-yard punt return by Adam Humphries. Time remaining: 11:37.
Corey Davis has to be the happiest guy about the quarterback switch. He has three catches for 36 yards all on throws from Tannehill, which makes him the Titans’ leading receiver today. He had no receptions when Mariota was in the game.
Some things never change. Titans elect to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the Broncos’ 13 and … wait for it … Tannehill is sacked. Denver ball with 9:10 remaining.
Denver 16, Tennessee 0 (4:53 remaining): Brandon McManus’ 48-yard field goal puts the Titans in a deeper hole. The drive included a 30-yard run by Phillip Lindsay (the Titans have 33 rushing yards on 20 carries) and an 18-yard reception by Courtland Sutton on third down. Wesley Woodyard’s sack halted things (and kept alive a glimmer of hope) and forced the field goal attempt. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 49 yards, 4:17.
Two minute warning (1:51 remaining, actually). Tannehill has driven the offense to the 5, but a holding penalty on Ben Jones means it will be second-and-14 from the 15 following the break. Tannehill is 12-for-14 for 126 yards, twice the number of yards Mariota had.
Tannehill throws an interception at the goal line. All that is left is for the Broncos to run the final 1:21 off the clock.
Final score: Denver 16, Tennessee 0
Closing thought
The struggles of the offensive line (seven sacks allowed) and the quarterback swap overshadow what was another winning performance by the defense. It has not happened yet, and this probably won’t be the tipping point but if this continues there will come a time when the offense’s struggles create a fissure in the locker room.
It’s clear the offense does not have to be great. But it is inexcusable to continue to be this bad … regardless of who is the starting quarterback from here.
