Titans Lose 26-17 to Chiefs, Missed Opportunities for Tennessee
Oct 6, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dexter McCluster (22) and teammates celebrate with Kansas City cornerback Marcus Cooper (31) after recovering the ball for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
An ugly day at LP Field featured an ugly football game and ugly result for the Tennessee Titans. A bunch of missed opportunities from the offense, defense and special teams.
On Oct. 6, the Kansas City Chiefs improved to 5-0 following a 26-17 victory over the Titans. The Titans dropped to 3-2. Both teams played through overcast and rainy weather conditions. Although each team entered Week 5 with the NFL’s top turnover differential (+9), they combined for six turnovers in this contest: Titans 4, Chiefs 2.
The Chiefs jumped out to a 13-0 halftime lead. The only touchdown came after the Titans forced a punt on the Chiefs’ opening possession. After Darius Reynaud failed to field a punt, the football hit Damian Williams on his foot. Williams kicked the football into the end zone. Marcus Cooper recovered it for a Chiefs touchdown. D’oh!
Don’t count out the Titans. They roared back with 17 unanswered points. Ryan Fitzpatrick started scrambling away from the never-ending pressure that the Chiefs created with Donatri Poe, Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. With 6:23 left and down 17-14, the Chiefs would score three times in a 4:11 span. In-between those scores were two interceptions from Fitzpatrick.
Troubled times continue for Kenny Britt. Targeted six times, Britt had one reception for nine yards. He dropped three passes. One of them was a simple pitch-and-catch that hit him in the numbers while he was standing in the end zone. That drive ended with a field goal.
Fitzpatrick’s stat line was ugly: 21-of-41 for 247 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He had six carries for 50 yards and one touchdown. There’s no doubt that he made some poor throws, however, he had pressure in his face almost the entire game. Dropped passes and special teams miscues didn’t help the No. 2 quarterback.
This was a missed opportunity for the Titans because Alex Smith had one of the worst games you’ll see from him. He was wildly inaccurate. Maybe the weather conditions affected him?
Adding salt to the wounds: The Indianapolis Colts completed the upset over the Seattle Seahawks, 34-28. The Colts are now 4-1 and in sole possession of first place in the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars lost (again) and the Houston Texans play the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Stay tuned to Titan Sized for a studs-and-duds evaluation of this matchup along with grades.
SOURCES: ESPN