3 observations from Titans Week 9 win over Bears

2. A Much-Improved 3rd Down Defense

In Week 8, Tennessee had a historically bad performance on 3rd downs, allowing Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ to go 10-of-15.

Unfortunately, that performance wasn’t just an aberration. The Titans have had a miserable 3rd-down defense all season, and fans and players alike were hoping for that trend to cease against the Bears. Well, the Titans answered the bell. The Bears finished the game going 2-of-15 on 3rd down, a miserable mark, and essentially the inverse of all of those games that Tennessee had lost or struggled in.

This was a welcomed sight, as fans have grown accustomed to seeing Tennessee frequently allowing teams to convert 3rd-and-longs. Whether it be a testament to the awfulness of the Bears’ offense or improvement from the Titans defense, hopefully, this performance can continue.

It is nearly impossible to consistently win in this league if you can’t get off the field on 3rd downs. Luckily, Tennessee’s defense was able to do exactly that on Sunday, and it no doubt led to a win. When the Titans offense struggled to get going, the defense getting off the field kept the team in the game.