Pro Sports

Experience in close games helps Titans extend win streak

Posted November 15, 2021 6:00 am

By TERESA M. WALKER

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel leaves the field after a 23-21 win over the New Orleans Saints in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Titans would prefer easier wins that don't come down to a final stand at the goal line or scratching out a victory in overtime.

They also don't flinch in such situations. They're scrappy and tested, used to big moments late in games because they've been in more of them than any other NFL team with coach Mike Vrabel.

The Titans lead the NFL since the start of the 2019 season playing 14 games decided by three points or fewer and have won 10 after their 23-21 win over New Orleans on Sunday. The Saints and Kansas City are tied for second with seven wins apiece.

Tennessee won the first three games of 2020 by a combined six points and finished off last season with a 41-38 win at Houston. The Titans also had a pair of three-point wins in 2019 after Ryan Tannehill took over as quarterback.

So there's no panic on the Tennessee sideline whether an opponent is driving the field in the fourth quarter in the final minutes or the Titans need to go score some points themselves. They talked on the sideline late against the Saints about being a great team and trying to keep winning.

The Titans have done just that with the NFL's longest active winning streak now at six games. They just joined the 2003 Philadelphia Eagles as the only NFL teams to win five straight against playoff teams from the previous season.

Tennessee not only sits atop the AFC, the Titans are tied with Arizona and Green Bay with an 8-2 record. And now the schedule becomes much easier with only two of the final seven games against teams currently with winning records. The Titans host Houston (1-8) on Sunday.

'œObviously, they aren't handing out Lombardi Trophies just yet, but I feel like going into these tough matches that we play, we can go into these games with a lot of confidence,'ť safety Kevin Byard said. 'œWe're not going to be complacent.'ť

WHAT'S WORKING

The ability to get new players ready to play. The Titans have used an NFL-high 82 players already this season, two off the league mark for a season. One of the newest players, linebacker Dylan Cole, forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the third quarter that set up a touchdown.

San Francisco in 2020 and Miami in 2019 each used 84 players.

'œWhen you don't panic, there's a tendency for everybody else not to panic,'ť Vrabel said Monday.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

The Titans still are working through their committee approach at running back to replace Derrick Henry. D'Onta Foreman ran for a team-high 30 yards and had a 39-yard catch-and-run to the Saints 9 setting up the clinching field goal. Adrian Peterson had only 21 yards, but he had back-to-back carries in the fourth quarter for 11 yards. Ryan Tannehill had the lone rushing TD, giving him five for the season.

And they still need to protect Tannehill better. He's tied with Justin Fields of Chicago for the NFL's most sacked quarterbacks at 29.

STOCK UP

Jeffery Simmons. The 19th overall pick in the 2019 draft now has a career-high 7 1/2 sacks - five of those coming in the span of six quarters leading up to halftime against the Saints.

STOCK DOWN

LT Taylor Lewan. The three-time Pro Bowl tackle started and played all but one snap after missing last week's game because of his knee. He had to leave the latest game for fluids after cramping. His replacement Kendall Lamm gave up a sack on his lone offensive snap.

INJURED

Outside linebacker Bud Dupree went to the locker room early against the Saints with an abdominal injury. Vrabel said Monday they were still evaluating Dupree.

KEY NUMBER

7-0. That's the Titans record this season against 2020 playoff teams. That's half of last year's postseason field, and the Titans have only one such game remaining with a trip to Pittsburgh on Dec. 19.

NEXT STEPS

Survive the next two weeks with a visit from Houston and a trip to New England (6-4). Then they get a much-needed bye week to rest and heal up for the stretch run.

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill leaves the field after a 23-21 win over the New Orleans Saints in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans defenders Jayon Brown (55) and Jackrabbit Jenkins (20) break up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (14) on a 2-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The play preserved the Titans' 23-21 win. (AP Photo/John Amis) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard (31) celebrates after the Titans recovered a fumbled kickoff by the New Orleans Saints in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans fullback Tory Carter (44) reaches for the ball after New Orleans Saints' Deonte Harris, not shown, fumbled a kickoff in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Carter recovered the ball on the play. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) celebrates after sacking New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) The Associated Press

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