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Well, I thought the 2020 Titans resided in 2020, but they reappeared today in Nashville. Once again, Tennessee fell flat on their face coming out, dug themselves into a hole, had too many turnovers, and had kicker issues… The Cardinals just came in and walked all over them, winning 38-13. This was a painful Sunday for me and everyone else in Titans Nation.
Game Recap
The first drive of the season for the Titans gained 0 yards and ended on a punt. Kyler and the Cards got down to the Tennessee 9, but had to settle for a field goal, making the score 3-0. The Ryan Tannehill was strip-sacked on 2nd down, and the ball went down to the Titans one-yard line. The Tennessee D stood, but DeAndre Hopkins scored on, you guessed it… 3rd down, our kryptonite.
Photo: Mark Zaleski / Associated Press
Matt Prater drilled the PAT to make it 10-0. The next three drives were all punts, with the Titans having 2 of them. Arizona answered with a TD on the next drive, with another Murray-Hopkins connection, this one for 17 yards. Tennessee answered with TanneWheels scoring on a little one-yard run. But new kicker Marvin Badgley missed the extra point… The Cardinals scored on their next drive, extending their lead to 24-6, 2-yard K1 scramble.
Photo: Christopher Hanewinkel / USA TODAY Sports
Tannehill and company got a nice 2-minute drill, but Badgley missed a 46-yarder (there’s a reason why the Chargers cut you, Marvin)! To start the 2nd half the Birds got the ball, and Kyler threw a pick to All-Pro safety Kevin Byard. The Tennessee offense helped the defense by cutting the lead to 24-13 on a Tannehill to AJ Brown touchdown, of 13 yards. Arizona scored on their next drive, on a Murray to Christian Kirk for 26 yards to make the lead 31-13. Then Tannehill was intercepted by Isaiah Simmons. The Titans defense bailed out Tannehill by forcing a punt, but on the very next drive, Tannehill was strip-sacked again, and Arizona recovered again.
Photo: The Tennessean
The last score of the game was a Murray-Kirk 11 yard TD at the end of the third quarter, and the Titans fell to 0-1.
My Thoughts
Todd Downing the Titans offensive coordinator should be fired.
Same with Shawn Bowen, the defensive coordinator. Why is he back?
We can’t be so predictable.
Pass the ball more to start.
Get an actual kicker even if it means Gostkowski.
Stop playing the first quarter as if its a preseason game.
Get a lead going into the second half so Derrick Henry can be used.
What’s Next
The Titans look to bounce back vs. the Cardinals rival, as they travel to Seattle, to play the Seahawks, while the Cards host the Minnesota Vikings.
Top Fantasy Performers
QB: Kyler Murray, ARI: 21-32, 289 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 20 rush yards, 1 rush TD, 33.56 Fantasy Points.
RB: Chase Edmonds, ARI: 12 Att, 63 yards, 4 catches, 43 receiving yards, 14.60 Fantasy Points
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, ARI: 6 receptions, 83 yards, 2 TD, 26.30 Fantasy Points
TE: Anthony Firkser, TEN: 3 grabs, 19 yards, 4.90 Fantasy Points
K: Matt Prater, ARI: 5-5 XP, FG Made 30-39 (1), FG Miss 40-49 (1), 8.00 Fantasy Points
D/ST: Arizona: 6 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FF, 2 FUM REC, 16.00 Fantasy Points