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Titans vs. Bears: Live Updates and Analysis

Both teams bring two-game losing streaks into the contest at a site where the Bears never have lost.
David Boclair|
Titans vs. Bears: Live Updates and Analysis
Titans vs. Bears: Live Updates and Analysis

NASHVILLE – Somebody’s losing streak will end when the Tennessee Titans (5-2) meet the Chicago Bears (5-3) on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

Both franchises have lost their last two. The Titans fell 27-24 to Pittsburgh and 31-20 at Cincinnati. The Bears were blown out by the L.A. Rams and dropped a 27-24 decision to New Orleans.

Each side also is dealing with injury issues. Tennessee is without Pro Bow punter Brett Kern (wrist), wide receiver Adam Humphries (concussion) and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (knee) among others. Chicago has significant depth issues along the offensive line and defensive lines that prompted franchise officials to dig into the practice squad this week.

SERIES HISTORY

The teams have met just 12 times and each side has won six. The Titans, however, have outscored the Bears in those games 272-259. Tennessee won the last meeting, 27-21 at Chicago in 2016. The Bears have never lost at Nissan Stadium. They edged the Titans 19-17 in overtime in 2004 and administered a 51-20 whipping in 2012.

INACTIVES

Tennessee: OLB Jadeveon Clowney, DE Matt Dickerson, WR Adam Humphries, CB Tye Smith, TE Geoff Swaim and T Isaiah Wilson.

Chicago: QB Mitchell Trubisky, OL Sam Mustipher, DT John Jenkins, DE Roy Robertson-Harris and LB Trevis Gipson.

WORDS OF WISDOM

“It’s a crazy time right now and every day I say a prayer for this team and for every player on every team around the league. Everybody has families and things like that. This is a serious disease and pray that everybody can stay healthy, but we’re all grown men and you’ve got to be careful. Sometimes you’re being careful and sometimes things just happen, but just pray that everybody is safe and get back healthy on their side.” – running back Derrick Henry on reaching the halfway point of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, on to the game. 

The Bears won the coin toss and deferred their option to the second half. Tennessee gets the ball first.

Cameron Batson was the return man instead of Kalif Raymond (we’ll see what happens the first time the Bears punt) but did not get a chance. It’s a touchback and the Titans get the ball at the 25.

(14:19) The Titans go three-and-out but catch a break because Ryan Tannehill’s pass to A.J. Brown on third-and-7 should have been intercepted. Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller broke on the out route and got both hands on the ball but could not pull it in.

(14:15) Ryan Allen’s first punt for the Titans goes 55 yards. After an 8-yard return, Chicago starts at its own 24.

(11:48) The Titans get a third-down “stop” when receiver Allen Robinson steps out of bounds just short of the marker on third-and-5 from the Tennessee 48. On fourth down, Rahsaan Evans and Jack Crawford stuff Chicago’s attempt to run up the middle. It’s Tennessee’s ball after the turnover on downs.

Titans opponents are now 5-8 on fourth down this season.

(10:22) Another three-and-out for Tennessee’s offense. Tannehill is 0-4 after he overthrows A.J. Brown with a deep ball, although it should be noted that Brown eased up briefly about halfway through his route.

(8:46) The Titans defense is 2-2 on third down after Nick Foles has to throw it away on third-and-3 from the Chicago 40.

(8:41) Kalif Raymond returns the punt 16 yards, which matches his second-longest of the season. The offense starts this drive at its own 22.

(6:43) A.J. Brown with a catch over the middle, breaks a tackle and turns the Titans’ first completion of the day into a 38-yard gain. The offense now with two first downs on this drive and is in Chicago territory (the 28-yard line) for the first time.

(4:31) The drive stalls when Tannehill and Anthony Firkser can’t connect on third-and-4 from the 22. Stephen Gostkowski – with a new snapper (Matt Overton) and a new holder (Ryan Allen) – starts the scoring with a 40-yard field goal. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 4:09. TENNESSEE 3, CHICAGO 0

The Titans are 4-0 this season when they score first.

(2:48) The Bears go three-and-out for the second straight possession.

(2:07) Ryan Tannehill is sacked for a 6-yard loss on second-and-7 from the Tennessee 36, and tight end MyCole Pruitt is injured on the play. It is his right leg. He tries to walk off the field but needs help from the trainers to do so.

(1:37) On third down, Tannehill and Firkser fail to connect again. Firkser has been targeted three times without a reception. Coming into the game he had receptions on all but four of his targets (21-25).

(0:27) The Titans’ defense forces a third-straight three-and-out and has not allowed a third-down conversion on four tries.

(0:00) End of the quarter. The Titans cap the quarter with a Derrick Henry run for no gain after Corey Davis dropped a pass on first down. The Titans have a 57-54 edge in total offense and a 2-1 advantage in first downs. Tannehill is 2-9 for 44 yards. Henry has 11 yards on six carries. Jayon Brown leads the defense with three tackles.

SECOND QUARTER

(15:00) The Bears defense starts the quarter with a blitz and gets to Tannehill for a sack and an 8-yard loss, which forces a punt. Tannehill has been sacked twice already, which matches the most this season (Houston, Pittsburgh).

(13:23) It looked like four straight three-and-outs for Chicago’s offense but the Bears fake a punt and get a 11-yard run from Barkevious Mingo on fourth-and-6. The drive continues at the Chicago 47.

(11:37) Another third-down stop for the defense. This one on a third-and-2 (the Bears ran for no gain). That’s now 6-6 today – and the defense’s success rate is now under 60 percent for the season. It is 58.3 percent.

(7:17) Another Titans’ injury. This time it is Rodger Saffold who is down. He walks off under his own power. Jamil Douglas comes on to take his place.

(6:47) Firkser finally has a catch – it is for nine yards, on third-and-7, and it gets the Titans across midfield to the Chicago 48.

(4:47) Ryan Tannehill has not been his most accurate today, but on third-and-2 from the Chicago 40, he drops a perfect thrown into the hands of A.J. Brown for a touchdown. Scoring drive: 12 plays, 91 yards, 6:10. TENNESSEE 10, CHICAGO 0

Tennessee has 140 yards of total offense. Brown has 95 yards on three receptions.

(3:58) Now, a sack for Tennessee’s defense (Who are these guys?). Jayon Brown gets to Nick Foles for a 6-yard loss that makes it second-and-16 from the Bears’ 33.

(2:00) Two-minute warning. Chicago is about to punt for the fifth time. That will tie the most punts in a game by a Titans opponent this season. Denver had five. Overall, opponents have averaged three punts per game.

Guard Rodger Saffold is questionable to return with a shoulder injury. Douglas remains at left guard.

(1:16) Tannehill is sacked for the third time, this one an 8-yard loss to the Tennessee 2 on second-and-9. The Bears use a timeout in hope that they will force a punt and get good field position.

(1:07) Ryan Allen’s punt goes 66 yards. The Bears get a 20-yard return. They have the ball at the Tennessee 49 with 54 seconds to play and no timeouts.

Chicago gets the ball to start the second half. Points on the board here could be significant.

(0:49) The Bears are going the wrong way. A false start penalty followed illegal use of hands and it is now first-and-25 from their own 37.

(0:49) The Bears are going the wrong way. A false start penalty followed illegal use of hands and it is now first-and-25 from their own 37.

Safety Dane Cruikshank is questionable to return with a groin injury. That issue caused him to miss the previous game at Cincinnati.

(0:00) End of the quarter. After the penalties, the Bears only made it as far as midfield.

Tennessee has outgained Chicago 133-105, has a 6-3 edge in timeouts and a slight advantage in time of possession, 15:34-14:26. Tannehill is 5-13 for 110 yards with one touchdown. Henry has 26 yards on 13 carries. A.J. Brown has 95 yards on three receptions. Jayon Brown has six tackles and a six. Breon Borders, elevated from the practice squad, and nose tackle DaQuan Jones each have four tackles.

THIRD QUARTER

(14:16) On second-and-13, newly acquired cornerback Desmond King stumbles and allows Anthony Miller to get past him and haul in a pass for 34 yards. That’s Chicago’s longest play of the game. The Bears are across midfield to the Tennessee 40.

(12:13) After another third-down stop – that’s 9-for-9 for Tennessee’s defense – Chicago wants to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Titans’ 41, but a pair a false starts forces coach Matt Nagy to punt it away.

(10:04) Another drive goes nowhere. Newly signed Ryan Allen with his sixth punt of the day. He has averaged 52.8 yards with a long of 65. Brett Kern did not punt more than four times in any of the first seven games.

(7:18) The Bears are threatening but Harold Landry gets home for a sack and a 9-yard loss that makes it third-and-16 from the Tennessee 45. That’s two, and ties the Titans’ season-high for sacks in a game. They also had two against Jacksonville, Minnesota and Houston.

(6:33) The Bears convert for the first time on third town (they are 1-10) with an 18-yard completion from Foles to Riley Ridley. The drive continues.

(4:41) Welcome to the Titans, Desmond King. The cornerback recovers a fumble and returns it 63 yards for a touchdown. Jeffery Simmons caused the fumble. It was third-and-13 from the Tennessee 30. So, that’s another third-down stop for the defense. TENNESSEE 17, CHICAGO 0

(4:35) Defensive back/special teamer Josh Kalu is injured on the kickoff, but walks off the field on his own.

(0:00) End of the third quarter. Chicago has it first-and-10 at the Tennessee 17, which is as close as it has come to the end zone all day. It converted a fourth down and a third down in the last four plays to get to this point.

FOURTH QUARTER

(12:38) The third-down success continues when Landry bats a pass that Simmons almost intercepts on third-and-goal from the 4. Chicago is now 2-14 on third down. The shutout ends, though, when Cairo Santos follows with a 22-yard field goal. Scoring drive: 15 plays, 63 yards, 7:11. TENNESSEE 17, CHICAGO 3

(12:14) Derrick Henry finally gets some room to run. He goes for 26 yards on second down to midfield. His long run prior to that was 6 yards (on 16 carries).

(10:54) A.J. Brown with a 6-yard catch that gives him 101 receiving yards on four receptions. The rest of the Titans have three catches for 27 yards.

(8:49) Someone else finally gets in the act. Jonnu Smith’s first catch of the day (on his first target) goes for 30 yards to the Chicago 2.

(8:14) Smith finishes it off on the next play with a 2-yard touchdown reception. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 4:20. TENNESSEE 24, CHICAGO 3

(5:10) The Titans trade points on the scoreboard for time off the clock as they allow the Bears to drive 75 yards for a touchdown, capped by Ryan Nall’s 6-yard touchdown reception. Foles was 6-7 for 71 yards along the way. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:04. TENNESSEE 24, CHICAGO 10

(4:51) The Titans go three-and-out, but force Chicago to use timeouts after first and second down. The Bears have one remaining and will start their next possession at their own 39 with 3:53 to go.

(3:53) The drive starts with an Anthony Miller reception and promptly ends when Jayon Brown forces a fumble the Jeffery Simmons recovers at the Chicago 43. Tennessee has a firm handle on this one now.

(1:07) The Bears get to the end zone again – and make it a one-score game – with help from personal foul penalties against Jack Crawford and Amani Hooker. An 8-yard pass from Foles to Graham caps the march. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 0:58. TENNESSEE 24, CHICAGO 17

Hooker atones for his penalty when he cleanly fields the onsides kick. This one is finished.

Chicago ultimately outgains Tennessee 374 to 229, but the Titans’ success on third down (Chicago converted two of 15) was huge. Tannehill (10-21 for 158 yards, 2 TDs) and Henry (21-68 0 TDs) have relatively pedestrian days.

The Titans are now 6-2 and will host Indianapolis on Thursday.

Published
David Boclair
DAVID BOCLAIR

David Boclair has covered the Tennessee Titans for multiple news outlets since 1998. He is award-winning journalist who has covered a wide range of topics in Middle Tennessee as well as Dallas-Fort Worth, where he worked for three different newspapers from 1987-96. As a student journalist at Southern Methodist University he covered the NCAA's decision to impose the so-called death penalty on the school's football program.

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