Titans WR Nate Washington, right, celebrates his game-winning touchdown with teammate Kendall Wright in Sunday's win over the Bills. (US Presswire) |
With an inexperienced defense that has surrendered a league-high 238 points this season, the Tennessee Titans have needed to produce fireworks on offense to stay competitive.
In Sunday’s 35-34 win over the Bills, the teams combined for nearly 800 yards as the offenses moved the ball as if they were playing Madden NFL 2013. But when it mattered most, the Titans stopped the Bills on their final three drives of the game.
Resurgent RB Chris Johnson and a fourth-down touchdown by WR Nate Washington helped the Titans leave western New York with their first two-game winning streak of the season. The Titans return to LP Field next week for a critical AFC South matchup against Andrew Luck and the Colts.
Offense: A
Johnson reverted to his 2009 form Sunday with 18 carries for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Even if Johnson’s 83-yard touchdown was discounted, the All-Pro running back would have had a productive day with 112 yards and 6.6 yards per carry. QB Matt Hasselbeck opened the game 9 of 11 for 112 yards, flourishing in the no-huddle offense. Hasselbeck spread the ball effectively to eight receivers, four of whom caught three passes or more. Previous game's grade: B
Defense: C+
Bills RBs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are among the most potent 1-2 duos in the league, but the Titans could have done a better job in wrapping them up. The two rushed for 141 yards on 21 carries and combined for 14 catches for 81 yards. CB Jason McCourty had a critical interception that led to Washington’s game-winning touchdown. DE Kamerion Wimbley also forced a crucial third-quarter fumble with a crushing hit on QB Ryan Fitzpatrick . SS Jordan Babineaux had two stellar plays on the game’s final drive, including a fourth-down pressure of Fitzpatrick to clinch the victory. Previous game's grade: B-
Special teams: D
Special teams’ play had been one of the Titans’ strengths through the first six weeks, but it nearly cost them the game Sunday. Buffalo KR Brad Smith easily found a crease in the kickoff coverage on an 89-yard return for a touchdown in the first quarter. Bills KR Leodis McKelvin opened the second half with a 46-yard return. P Brett Kern only had three punts, K Rob Bironas didn’t attempt a field goal. Previous game's grade: A
Coaching: B+
Coach Mike Munchak astutely called a timeout before Washington’s game-winning touchdown on a fourth-and-9 with 1:03 left. The Titans had two timeouts left and Munchak could have saved one to stop the clock if the Bills held. It gave the offense time to re-group after three consecutive ineffective plays. Credit defensive coordinator Jerry Gray for calling a safety blitz on a fourth-down incompletion that ended the game. Previous game's grade: B+
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