The 2-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to Nashville today for a date with the 3-4 Tennessee Titans. It was a match-up between two teams trying to find their footing in their respective conferences. It looks like either of these teams can hang with anyone, but inconsistencies have kept them from taking the next step. So, this was an important one for both teams.
Titans-Bucs Recap
Tampa Bay got the ball first and took their fair share of shots early. On one, LeShaun Sims panicked and drew a 43-yard pass interference call that set the Bucs up at the four-yard line. Rashaan Evans tipped a pass, and the Titans defense made a nice goal line stand that forced a field goal.
On offense, the Titans didn’t exactly get off to a hot start. In response to the Bucs field goal, the Titans tried to force the issue with Derrick Henry against the league’s best run defense. Not sure how wise that was. Ryan Tannehill was sacked, and the Titans were forced to punt. Not exactly the start you want.
Thankfully, rookie defensive tackle Isaiah Mack made a play on the ensuing drive, recovering a Jameis Winston fumble. The Titans got the ball back in the red zone, and cashed in on an excellent play. A.J. Brown threw a block that took up two defenders (read: “pick”), and Tannehill threw a perfect ball to Jonnu Smith in the slant for the touchdown. The Titans went up 7-3.
The Titans secondary did well to stall the Bucs – Kevin Byard got in the backfield and tripped up Ronald Jones. Harold Landry cleaned it up for a loss. Then, Kenny Vaccaro had a nice breakup to force the punt.
Starting from their own one-yard line, Henry went for 34, but damn near could’ve broken it for another 99-yard run. That drive stalled, but the Titans were gifted another opportunity off of a Winston interception (his second turnover of the game). Tannehill hit Tajae Sharpe for a beautiful touchdown to put the Titans up 14-3.
Outside of those two touchdown plays, the Titans offense didn’t particularly look that good. The Bucs were able to tack on a couple of field goals to bring it to 14-9 Titans. But, given the turnovers, and the fact that they had players running into each other on offense with a wide open hole for a touchdown right in front of ’em, it’s safe to say that the Bucs are playing themselves today.
On 3rd & 7, with two minutes left in the half, the pocket caved in on Tannehill and Shaq Barrett sacked him into next week (his 10th of the season). Cody Parkey hit a 51-yarder for the Titans to go up 17-9.
In response, Winston literally just threw the ball up into the air with a prayer. Luckily Mike Evans was on the other end and went up over Byard to come down with the ball, setting up 1st and goal. After two nice defensive plays, Winston hit Evans for a touchdown on 3rd and goal, after Evans juked Sims into another dimension. Why the hell Sims is on Evans so frequently in this game is beyond me. The Bucs failed to convert a 2-point attempt, so we go to the half with the Titans leading 17-15. Another gift from the Bucs offense.
If the Titans want to put this game away, they’ll have to quit counting on the Bucs to shoot themselves in the foot. I understand they want to dictate pace and control the game and all that, but this run defense isn’t going to give anything up. Tannehill and the offense MUST put points on the board, and the defense has to stay on that insanely talented receiving duo of Evans and Chris Godwin. But, specifically, they have to figure out a way to get out of these situations where Evans draws Sims one on one. It’s killing ’em – Evans has seven catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
