Regular Season Week 15: Titans at Steelers
TennesseeTitans.com/Media
Page 16
GAME PREVIEW
NOTES FROM LAST WEEK’S GAME TEAM NOTES ¾
¾
TEAM NOTES
¾ ¾
¾
PLAYER NOTES
¾ ¾
The Titans’ ninth win of the season guaranteed the Titans a winning record for the sixth consecutive season (2016–2021). The only previous stretch in franchise history with at least six straight winning records was a seven-year run from 1987 to 1993. The Titans recorded their 17th shutout in franchise history and their first since Dec. 16, 2018, when they went on the road to defeat the Giants 17-0. The Titans recorded their second all-time shutout at Nissan Stadium. Their only other shutout at the venue since it opened in 1999 was a 31-0 victory on Dec. 25, 2000 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Titans won the turnover battle with four takeaways (four interceptions) and no giveaways. It was the seventh time in 2021 they had a positive turnover margin, and they improved their season turnover margin to minus-three. The Titans were penalized a season-low two times for 15 yards (also a season low). A penalty was not enforced on the Titans until the fourth quarter. They recorded their lowest penalty total in a game since being flagged twice against the Washington Football Team on Dec. 22, 2018. For the 10th time in 13 games, the Titans won the time-of-possession battle. Their time of possession was 36:57, compared to 23:03 by the Jaguars. Since Mike Vrabel was hired as head coach in 2018, the Titans are now 7-0 in games following a long rest (nine rest days between contests, not including game days). Under Vrabel, they are 4-0 after their bye and 3-0 following Thursday night contests. The Titans are one of two undefeated NFL teams since 2018 after nine or more rest days. The Pittsburgh Steelers, also 7-0, are the other such club. This week, the Titans will face a Pittsburgh team coming off a Thursday night contest at Minnesota (Dec. 9).
¾ ¾
TEAM NOTES – OFFENSE
MEDIA
¾ ¾
¾
STATISTICS
¾
With Racey McMath’s first reception of the season coming against the Jaguars, the Titans have had a league-high 25 total players in 2021 record at least one scrimmage touch (rushing attempt or pass reception). Excluding the 1987 season, which included games with replacement players, the NFL teams with the most players to record at least one scrimmage touch are the 1948 Los Angeles Rams and the 2018 Buffalo Bills, each with 26.
¾ ¾ ¾
The Titans scored touchdowns on two of their three trips inside the red zone. They are 30-of-48 this season in red-zone efficiency (62.5 percent). The Titans scored touchdowns on both of their goal-to-go drives, improving to 22-of-25 this season (88.0 percent).
¾
¾
The Titans totaled four interceptions against the Jaguars, the most by the Titans in a game since a four-interception performance against the New York Jets on Dec. 17, 2012. It was the Titans’ first threeinterception performance since Oct. 25, 2020 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. All of the Titans’ interceptions came in the second half. It was the first time since Oct. 22, 2000 at Baltimore (four) the Titans defense had four or more interceptions in a single half. The only other occasion in 2021 (through early games of Dec. 12) in which an NFL team registered four interceptions in a half was the New England Patriots at Atlanta on Nov. 18 (four interceptions in the second half). The Titans defense allowed only nine first downs, the fewest by a Titans opponent since the Dolphins managed only eight first downs at Miami on Oct. 9, 2016.
The Titans defense allowed the Jaguars to rush for a total of eight yards on eight attempts. The yardage total tied for the third-fewest rushing yards in any game against the Titans/Oilers. The only games in franchise history in which an opponent rushed for fewer yards were Nov. 23, 1997 against Buffalo (four yards) and Dec. 7, 1975 at San Francisco (five yards). The Oilers also allowed eight rushing yards at the Boston Patriots on Nov. 25, 1960. The eight rushing yards by the Jaguars against the Titans were the fewest in a game in Jaguars history (12 against Denver on Oct. 2, 2005). The 192 total yards by the Jaguars were the second-fewest of the season by a Titans opponent, behind the 190 yards by Houston on Nov. 21. The Titans defense limited Jaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a season-low 35.5 passer rating. Lawrence was 24-of40 for 221 yards with four interceptions. His passer rating was the lowest by a Titans opponent since Blake Bortles’ 33.7 for the Jaguars on Dec. 31, 2017.
EVP/GM JON ROBINSON ¾
TEAM NOTES – DEFENSE
¾
ROSTERS
The Titans scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the game for the second time this season and for the first time since Oct. 24 against Kansas City.
The Titans defense did not allow a single rushing first down for the first time since Dec. 11, 2016 against the Denver Broncos.
¾
With the Titans earning their ninth victory of the season, guaranteeing a winning record, Robinson became the only Titans/Oilers general manager in franchise history to oversee six consecutive winning seasons in his first six years on the job, breaking the record set by Mike Holovak (1989–1993). Additionally, Robinson became the only general manager in franchise history to oversee six total winning seasons, breaking the record of five winning seasons established by Bum Phillips (1975, 1977–1980) and later matched by Mike Holovak (1989–1993).
HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL ¾
With the Titans earning their ninth victory of the season, guaranteeing a winning record, Vrabel became the only head coach in franchise history other than Jack Pardee (1990–1993) to begin his tenure with at least four consecutive winning seasons. The two already were the only head coaches in team annals with three consecutive seasons over .500 to begin their careers.
