Mahomes helps Chiefs rally past Titans 20-17 in overtime
Patrick Mahomes ran for the tying touchdown and 2-point conversion late in the fourth quarter, Harrison Butker atoned for two earlier misses by kicking the go-ahead field goal in overtime, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Tennessee Titans 20-17.
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WR Corey Davis came to Jets with belief Darnold 'is the guy'
(AP Photo/Brett Carlsen, File)NEW YORK – Intrigue and uncertainty have surrounded the New York Jets' quarterback situation all offseason. “I’m coming in with my understanding that Sam is the guy,” Davis said during a video conference call. 3 overall pick in 2018, has struggled with inconsistency and injuries during his three seasons with the Jets. “He's the right guy to come in here and turn things around,” Davis said. ... New York signed LB Del'Shawn Phillips, who played in two games last season for Buffalo.
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Tom Brady has denied 27 QBs in unparalleled playoff success
Brady is shooting for his seventh ring when he leads the Buccaneers (14-5) against the reigning champion Chiefs (16-2) in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday. Brady's postseason record includes a 33-11 mark, 14 conference championship appearances and 10 trips to the Super Bowl. If the Bucs dethrone the champs, Mahomes would become the sixth quarterback Brady has beaten multiple times in the playoffs. Although he’s not showing his age, 43, Brady will be the oldest to play in a Super Bowl, displacing Colts kicker Matt Stover, who was 42 in Super Bowl 44. Unlike Warner, he wasn't going to get ahead of himself and talk about anything but the Super Bowl title in front of him.
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Falcons pick Titans offensive coordinator Smith as new coach
FILE - Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith instructs his players during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., in this Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, file photo. The New York Jets interviewed Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, for their head coaching vacancy. Atlanta agreed to terms with Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on Friday to become the team's head coach. Smith has served on Tennessee's staff for 10 seasons, including two as offensive coordinator. He also was an offensive assistant/quality control coach (2012), offensive line/tight ends assistant (2013) and assistant tight ends coach (2014-15).
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Lamar winless no more, leads Ravens to 20-13 win over Titans
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson celebrates after the Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans in an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lamar Jackson finally has his first postseason victory — and on the road, no less. Combine that with Baltimore smothering 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry, and the Ravens look playoff tough. After the turnover, the Ravens came onto the field and started waving good-bye to the Titans — drawing a taunting penalty they didn't mind at all. “We won the division, hosted a home playoff game,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. The Ravens held Tennessee to minus-7 yards in the second quarter, the third fewest in any quarter of a playoff game since the 2000 season.
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Mahomes leads champion Chiefs to 14-2 mark in stacked AFC
While the Chiefs get another week’s rest, the six other AFC playoff teams get going this weekend. For just the second time since the 1970 league merger, every team in the AFC playoffs has at least 11 wins. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 54, 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 43, 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2009, at Tampa, Florida. Their pass rush is nearly nonexistent with 19 sacks, the fewest by a playoff team since Denver had 19 in 1979.
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Henry passes 2K, Titans beat Texans 41-38 on late field goal
Tennessee Titans kicker Sam Sloman (2) kicks a 37-yard game-winning field goal against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Houston. But it was a lucky bounce that gave the Tennessee Titans a win over Houston Texans and their first AFC South title since 2008. Henry ran for a career-high 250 yards to surpass 2,000 yards rushing and rookie Sam Sloman’s 37-yard field goal bounced off the upright and through for the 41-38 victory. Henry had touchdown runs of 52 and 6 yards in his third straight 200-yard rushing game against the Texans. The Titans then capped a long drive with a 5-yard TD run by Tannehill with less than two minutes remaining.
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Derrick Henry becomes 8th player with 2,000 yards rushing
(AP Photo/Sam Craft)HOUSTON – Tennessee’s Derrick Henry became the eighth player in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards in a season on Sunday. Henry, who entered the game with 1,777 yards rushing, reached the mark on a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Houston Texans. He finished that drive with a career-high 246 yards rushing to give him the franchise record for a season with 2,023. Another long run, this one for 45 yards, put him at 201 yards rushing for the day later in the third quarter. Second-place rusher Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook entered this week with 1,557 yards rushing and missed Sunday’s game after the death of his father.
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Adams shines in snow as Packers trounce Titans 40-14
The Green Bay Packers teammates would love the opportunity to produce plenty of similar scenes next month by staying home throughout the NFC playoffs. Rodgers threw four touchdown passes as the Packers trounced the Tennessee Titans 40-14 for their fifth consecutive victory Sunday night. I think we proved that tonight.”Playing in the cold at Green Bay is tough for road teams, anyway. With snow falling throughout the first half and continuing to cover much of the field the rest of the game, Green Bay moved the ball at will all night. Green Bay pulled ahead 19-0 when Rodgers threw touchdown passes on each of their first three possessions.
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Henry runs wild, Titans hand Jags 12th straight loss, 31-10
So Vrabel stuck with Henry, who delivered a 20-yard run in the fourth quarter that helped him make NFL history. Henry ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns, his best performance in five trips to his hometown area, and the Titans dominated Jacksonville 31-10 on Sunday and handed the Jaguars a 12th consecutive loss. Enjoying a big performance about 25 miles from his hometown of Yulee was something new for Henry. Henry had 170 yards on 17 carries in the first 30 minutes, including a 36-yard touchdown run. He added a 47-yard scamper early in the third as the AFC South-leading Titans (9-4) started to pull away.
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Derrick Henry, Titans run over reeling Jaguars
The Titans and a very familiar running back came to town and pulverized the Jaguars 31-10 on Sunday in a one-sided romp that saw Jacksonville change quarterbacks again. But no magic from Gardner Minshew could bail the Jaguars out of a season-worst 28-point hole that Yulee High graduate Derrick Henry and the Titans put them in as the march towards an all-time worst season continues. Full Screen 1 / 20 Laviska Shenault Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs the ball past Rashaan Evans of the Tennessee Titans at TIAA Bank Field on December 13, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. Henry was dominant in steamrolling a team that he grew up watching, cracking the 200-yard mark and pacing the Titans (9-4) much of the game. Henry ripped off a 36-yard touchdown run with 52 seconds before the break and the Jaguars proceeded to go three and out in just 35 seconds.
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Hometown hurdle? Henry has been quiet in games at Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Some of Derrick Henry’s biggest plays and most productive games have come against the Jaguars. The Jaguars have an impressive streak going against the NFL’s leading rusher this season and last. They haven’t allowed Henry to reach 100 yards rushing in any of his four trips home. We know this guy’s going to get the football and he’s coming downhill,” Jaguars safety Jarrod Wilson said. Only three previous undrafted rookies have surpassed 1,000 yards rushing: Indianapolis’ Dominic Rhodes (1,104 in 2001), Denver’s Phillip Lindsay (1,037 in 2018) and Tampa Bay’s LeGarrette Blount (1,007 in 2010).
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Mayfield throws 4 TDs in 1st half, Browns beat Titans 41-35
The Browns had their best-scoring half ever, leading 38-7 at halftime, topping the 35 points scored in the second half at Cincinnati in 2004. The Titans made it interesting late, outscoring the Browns 28-3 in the second half. Mayfield became the first Browns quarterback to throw four TDs in the first half since Hall of Famer Otto Graham in 1951. That’s the guy that the Cleveland Browns know who he is. Tennessee opened the second half scoring back-to-back touchdowns within the first six minutes.
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AFC features plenty of star power even without Tom Brady
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)The AFC doesn’t lack for drama or star power even though Tom Brady has taken his talents to Davis Beach. WEST: The Chiefs (8-1) are still the class of the conference despite a hiccup against the resurgent Raiders (5-3), who won 40-32 at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 11. Mahomes became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 100 TD passes, doing it in 40 games, four fewer than Dan Marino. The Broncos (3-5) have been waylaid by injuries and COVID-19 opt-outs, exposures and infections and Drew Lock went 45 drives without a TD pass.
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From season-altering to bizarre, injuries hit NFL yet again
From the season-altering (Dak Prescott, Barkley) to the bizarre (Tyrod Taylor, Trent Brown), injuries are playing their traditionally significant role in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)ARLINGTON, Texas – From the season-altering to the bizarre, injuries are playing their traditionally significant role in the NFL. Brown also recently went back on the COVID-19 list, a newcomer among potential ailments with the NFL playing during a pandemic. Few teams have had the volume of injuries that have hit defending NFC champion San Francisco. New Orleans' star receiver, Michael Thomas, has had a tumultuous season in part because of ankle and hamstring injuries.
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Steelers dominate early, hold off Titans for 27-24 win
Benny Snell Jr. added a 1-yard TD run, and Ray-Ray McCloud set up a touchdown with a 57-yard punt return. Pittsburgh scored at least 26 points for a sixth straight game to tie a stretch in 2015 for the longest in franchise history. Pittsburgh dominated early with a 161-1 edge in total offense before the Titans' second offensive possession. Roethlisberger and the Steelers scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time in 23 games, going 75 yards over 16 plays. UP NEXTSteelers: Visit Baltimore in a game rescheduled because of the Titans' outbreak with the Ravens coming off their bye.
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Henry, Titans rally past Texans 42-36 in OT, remain unbeaten
Henry took a direct snap and ran 5 yards for a touchdown 3:30 into overtime and the Titans remained undefeated, rallying to beat the Houston Texans 42-36 on Sunday. “Obviously, we all witnessed somebody taking a game over,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of Henry. Watson's final TD pass put Houston (1-5) up 36-29 with 1:50 left, but his pass to Randall Cobb on the 2-point conversion attempt failed. Brown on a 7-yard TD pass with 4 seconds left. Watson answered two plays later with a 53-yard TD pass to Will Fuller for a 30-29 lead with 8:37 left.
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The Latest: Brady, Bucs roll to win, give Packers first loss
Brady threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Gronkowski, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolled to a 38-10 win over the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers. Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:02 left in the second quarter to cap the rally. It's been a tough afternoon so far for Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Dolphins had a 21-0 halftime lead after Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 147 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Board has movement in his limbs after suffering a concussion and neck injury in the team's win over Washington.
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Tannehill scores 4 TDs as depleted Titans beat Bills 42-16
Malcolm Butler intercepted two passes, the second he returned 68 yards, and both set up short touchdowns for Tennessee. Kareem Orr’s recovery of a fumbled kickoff set up Tannehill’s fourth TD for 21 points off Buffalo's three turnovers. “Kudos to them, and we have a lot to learn from.”Josh Allen came in second in the NFL in yards passing. Allen's pass went off Andre Roberts' hands right to Butler, and he returned the interception 29 yards to the Bills 16. Tennessee led 21-10 at halftime after Tannehill ran in from 10 yards seconds before the half.
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Titans top winless Vikes 31-30; Gostkowski has 6 FGs
MINNEAPOLIS – Stephen Gostkowski made his career-high sixth field goal of game, a 55-yarder with 1:48 left that lifted undefeated Tennessee to a 31-30 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday after Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill carried the Titans on another comeback. Henry rushed for 119 yards and two third-quarter touchdowns for the Titans, who improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2008 after trailing for most of the game. Tannehill passed for 321 yards, guiding the Titans on a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter or overtime for the sixth time in 16 games since becoming the starter. The Titans are 12-4 behind Tannehill, including the playoffs, and they're 15-0 when Henry hits the 100-yard mark. The depleted Vikings defense didn't do enough to hold it, though, as Tannehill moved the Titans just close enough for Gostkowski to go to work.
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Four takeaways: Jaguars showing resilience; defense needs more pressure
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars lost a 33-30 shootout in Nashville, falling to the Titans in Tennessee for the seventh straight year. The Jaguars are now 1-1 on the season as they prepare for a Thursday night game at home against Miami. Jaguars are a resilient teamIn both games this season, the Jaguars have fallen behind early, then come back to tie or lead. While the Jaguars never led in this game, they did overcome a 21-7 deficit to tie the game at 30. The Jaguars must find a way to make the opposing quarterback uncomfortable.
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Gostkowski kicks 49-yarder as Titans beat Jaguars 33-30
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans know good teams win ugly games, and being 2-0 for the first time in 12 years has a way of making any victory look much prettier. Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 49-yard field goal with 1:36 left, and the Tennessee Titans remain undefeated after holding off the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-30 Sunday. It’s exciting to get the win and get the Titans to 2-0.”Quarterback Ryan Tannehill said Gostkowski came up huge for the Titans on something that wasn't a chip shot. “Excited to be 2-0 for the first time here in Tennessee," third-year Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. So the Titans turned to Tannehill, the quarterback who led the NFL in 2019 with a 117.5 passer rating.
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Too many mistakes: Jaguars fall on the road to Titans
Bad bounces, special teams mistakes and no Minshew Magic on Sunday meant a 33-30 loss on the road to the Titans. The Jaguars erased a 14-point deficit and tied things with just over seven minutes to play, only to see the Titans (2-0) emerge at the finish. According to ESPN, Minshew is the first quarterback in Jaguars history to throw three touchdown passes in three consecutive games. Much like they did early against the Colts, the Jaguars looked off from the outset against the Titans. Linebacker Myles Jack had a pass breakup on third down on the Titans' go-ahead drive, but was flagged for pass interference.
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Gostkowski finally delivers in Titans' 16-14 win at Denver
Denver Broncos inside linebacker Josey Jewell (47) celebrates his stop of Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)DENVER – New kicker Stephen Gostkowski avoided a disastrous debut with the Tennessee Titans in the nick of time. The Titans escaped Denver with a 16-14 victory Monday night on Gostkowski’s 25-yard field goal with 17 seconds left after he’d missed four kicks, one in each quarter. Gostkowski missed three field goals: wide left, wide right and a block, and he missed an extra point. And Gostkowski became the first kicker to miss three field goals and a PAT in the same game since Mason Crosby missed four field goals and a PAT for the Packers against the Lions in 2018.
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Titans' Henry faces toughest foe and friend Monday in Denver
The Titans traded Casey to Denver this offseason in a salary dump, clearing $11 million in cap space by sending the five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman to Denver for a seventh-round draft choice. Even with Casey on his side last year, Henry was stifled in a 16-0 loss at Denver, gaining just 28 yards on 15 carries. That was easily the low point in a season in which Henry ran for an NFL-best 1,540 yards. “Having a player of his caliber and his leadership not be out there with us is definitely going to be a blow to the team," Casey said. “He’s a game wrecker,” Henry said.