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12/21 16:55 CST Titans knock Gardner Minshew out of game and end 11-game home
skid, beating Chiefs 26-9
Titans knock Gardner Minshew out of game and end 11-game home skid, beating
Chiefs 26-9
By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) --- The Tennessee Titans spent a few extra minutes
celebrating a rare achievement for a franchise struggling through its fourth
consecutive losing season.
The first home victory in more than a year deserves to be enjoyed.
Cam Ward threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, and the Titans snapped an
11-game home skid by beating the Kansas City Chiefs 26-9 on Sunday.
"What a great team win," interim coach Mike McCoy said. "That's the way it's
supposed to be. It's been a long time coming since we've won a home game here."
The Titans (3-12) improved to 1-7 at home this season, ending a skid that
matched the franchise's worst since moving to Tennessee in 1997. They lost 11
straight in 2014-15, a stretch that also featured a coach fired early in his
second season and finishing with an interim coach. Sunday was their first home
win since Nov. 3, 2024.
"It's a good win just because it was the first time we played good enough,
complementary, all three phases," Ward said.
With two games left, the Chiefs (6-9) are assured of their first losing record
since 2012 --- their most recent season without Andy Reid as their coach.
Kansas City has lost four straight, its longest skid since 2017, and six of
seven.
"Nobody likes to lose in this business," Reid said. "But my hat goes off for
the guys that put together all these years. That's part of it. We can learn
from it and need to do that going forward. Sometimes a good kick in the tail
there helps you, coaches and players."
A week after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn
ACL, his backup, Gardner Minshew, was knocked out of the game with a knee
injury early in the second quarter. Reid said he didn't have any results after
the game and that Minshew will have an MRI exam.
Ward posted his highest passer rating of this season at 122.3, and he overtook
Marcus Mariota for the most yards passing by a rookie for the franchise. He
helped the Titans roll up a season-high 376 yards of offense against a Chiefs
defense that came in as the NFL's eighth-stingiest in yards allowed.
The rookie threw a shovel pass to Chig Okonkwo that went 7 yards to put the
Titans ahead to stay late in the first half. Ward also found fellow rookie
Chimere Dike for a 1-yard TD in the third quarter.
Tony Pollard ran for 102 yards, giving him three straight 100-yard rushing
games for the first time in his career. Tyjae Spears added a 4-yard rushing TD,
and Joey Slye had a 27-yard field goal for the final margin.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons tackled Kareem Hunt in the
end zone for a safety and a 2-0 lead early in the second quarter. Simmons also
batted down a pair of passes. The Titans finished with four sacks.
"Once again, Jeff's Jeff," McCoy said. "What he's done, getting the safety, the
way he played, the ways he leads. It's unbelievable."
The battered Chiefs came in with Mahomes on injured reserve along with right
tackle Jawaan Taylor. They also declared nine players out Friday, including
five starters, led by wide receiver Rashee Rice, left tackle Jaylon Moore and
cornerback Trent McDuffie.
Minshew made his first start of the season. After he got hurt, the Chiefs
turned to Chris Oladokun, just signed to the roster from the practice squad, to
play in his second career game.
"I probably could give him better stuff to work with," Reid said of Oladokun.
"In particular, give him some more reps during the week. He didn't have any
reps to lead him in, but for what he was asked to do, I thought he did a nice
job."
Oladokun handed off on his first five snaps. Then he connected with Travis
Kelce for his first NFL completion, and Oladokun drove the Chiefs to a trio of
field goals by Harrison Butker. The quarterback finished 11 of 16 for 111 yards.
Simmons fails to report The Titans had a 1-yard TD run by Pollard taken off the board with around 4 minutes left. Simmons was flagged for illegal formation for not reporting as eligible to referee Clete Blakeman. The defensive tackle thought he was too big to miss. "I mean, I'm a defensive player," Simmons said. "You see I wear a big arm brace, red sleeve, looking right at you, and I'm throwing my arm up and rubbing my chest (pointing out his No. 98)."
Injuries Titans LT Dan Moore hurt a right knee early in the second quarter but returned. CB Marcus Harris hurt a knee in the second quarter and didn't return.
Up next The Chiefs host Denver on Thursday night. The Titans host New Orleans next Sunday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Simmons fails to report The Titans had a 1-yard TD run by Pollard taken off the board with around 4 minutes left. Simmons was flagged for illegal formation for not reporting as eligible to referee Clete Blakeman. The defensive tackle thought he was too big to miss. "I mean, I'm a defensive player," Simmons said. "You see I wear a big arm brace, red sleeve, looking right at you, and I'm throwing my arm up and rubbing my chest (pointing out his No. 98)."
Injuries Titans LT Dan Moore hurt a right knee early in the second quarter but returned. CB Marcus Harris hurt a knee in the second quarter and didn't return.
Up next The Chiefs host Denver on Thursday night. The Titans host New Orleans next Sunday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
