NASHVILLE — At the season’s halfway point, the Titans don’t look half bad.
On Sunday, the Titans put forth an inspiring effort on defense and more than enough offense to beat the Chicago Bears 24-17 before 13,871 fans at Nissan Stadium.
The Titans are 6-2 at the midway point of the season, and alone atop the AFC South. A year ago, the Titans were 4-4 at the midway point of the season.
Next up is an AFC South showdown against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night at Nissan Stadium.
Back in the W column #CHIvsTEN pic.twitter.com/D78Na0tHJu
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 8, 2020
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed 10 of 21 for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
Titans running back Derrick Henry ran for 68 yards on 21 carries.
Titans receiver A.J. Brown caught four passes for 101 yards and a score.
Thanks to some improved play on defense, it all added up to a win, which snapped a two-game losing streak. The Titans sacked Bears quarterback Nick Foles three times, and forced a pair of turnovers.
The Titans played solid on defense throughout, holding the Bears without a point in the first half while forcing Chicago to go 0-for-7 on third down.
The Titans took a 3-0 lead on a 40-yard field goal by kicker Stephen Gostkowski in the first quarter, capping a drive highlighted by a 38-yard catch by Brown with points.
In the second quarter, Tannehill connected with Brown for another big play, this one a 40-yard touchdown that finished off a 12-play, 91-yard drive. Brown fought his way into the end zone with Bears defensive back Buster Skrine on his back as he stretched the football over the goal line.
Then the defense rose up and made a big play, as defensive back Desmond King scooped up a fumble caused by defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and returned in 63 yards for a touchdown to give the Titans a 17-0 lead in the third quarter.
After Simmons nearly had an interception in the fourth quarter, the Bears got on the scoreboard with a short field goal from kicker Cairo Santos to make it 17-3 with 12:30 remaining.
But the Titans responded with a long scoring drive and they stretched their lead to 24-3 on a two-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to tight end Jonnu Smith with 8:10 left. A touchdown pass from Bears quarterback Nick Foles to running back Ryan Nall made it 24-10 with 5:06 left, and the Bears added another score with 1:04 left on a touchdown pass from Foles to tight end Jimmy Graham to make it 24-17.
The Titans then held on, and celebrated an important win.
