Ryan Tannehill: Drive-by-drive analysis of Titans QB’s 1st start
Drive 8
The Chargers would score another quick touchdown to bring them within three, and the Titans would get the ball back at their own 25 with just over five minutes left in the game.
On first-and-ten, Ryan Tannehill would fake the hand off and roll to the right, dumping it to Brown for a five-yard gain. This would be followed up with a one yard gain by Henry to set up a very manageable third-and-four. Tannehill would find AJ Brown on a slant route for an 11 yard gain and a first down, forcing the Chargers to use their first timeout of the half. With that throw, Tannehill eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark on the day, something Mariota failed to do the previous six games.
Henry would pick up five yards on the ensuing first down, forcing the Chargers to use their second timeout. The Titans would try a little foolery on the next play, but Brown would be shut down, losing two yards.
On third-and-seven, Tannehill would find Brown yet again over the middle, but after a measurement, Brown would be marked just short of the first down.
On fourth-and-inches, Tannehill would try to sneak but he would be marked short of the first down. Although it looked like he had the first down on replay, head coach Mike Vrabel decided against challenging the play.
Tannehill went 3-of-3 for 22 yards with a first down, and officially no yards on his only carry, a QB sneak.
Brown was definitely short on that third down completion, but there was just no reason for Vrabel not to challenge the fourth-down ruling. Tannehill pretty clearly had the first down, and the spot was awful. He should have challenged the spot. Outside of that, Tannehill again made solid passes in his three attempts. He didn’t try to do too much, and just took what the defense gave him.
However, my only real criticism of him was him trying to dive over the pile on the sneak. He should have just gone low, but hindsight is 20/20.
The Titans would end up stopping the Chargers at the one-yard line, forcing a Melvin Gordon fumble and preserving the 23-20 victory.