Chattanooga Times Free Press

Titans far better on defense lately

- BY TERESA M. WALKER

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans believe they got the defensive wake-up call needed from one of the worst losses in franchise history.

A month ago in Houston, the Titans simply could not stop the Texans. They gave up four drives of 73 or more yards and were stuck on the field for nearly 40 minutes in a performanc­e that easily is their worst this season. The only defensive wins that day came from holding Houston to three field goals and intercepti­ng one of the Texans’ passes.

“After the Houston game, we all kind of looked ourselves in the mirror and said, ‘That’s not our standard, and we never want to display or put that on film again,’” Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “And it’s really elevated our game.”

It sure has.

Since that 57-14 loss in Houston on Oct. 1 , the Titans have been among the NFL’s stingiest defenses, with the unit coordinate­d by veteran assistant Dick LeBeau ranking third by giving up an average of 253 yards per game, behind only Carolina (246) and Minnesota (246.3). The Titans also are fifth against the run (83.7 yards) and the pass (169.3 yards).

The Titans also have allowed an average of 15.7 points per game over the past month, sixth-fewest in the league. That includes four touchdowns, with just two allowed by the defense over Tennessee’s three games in that span. Only Jacksonvil­le has allowed fewer touchdowns, with just one allowed in three games. Tennessee is coming off a season low in points allowed in a 12-9 overtime win at Cleveland on Oct. 23.

For the season, nobody’s been better at limiting big pass plays than Tennessee, which has allowed only one touchdown pass of 20 or more yards this season. The Titans are tied with Minnesota, giving up only 16 pass completion­s of 20 or more yards.

“We all just settled down and started playing more responsibl­e football,” Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey said Wednesday. “Everybody just executing their jobs and doing their assignment­s, that’s all it takes in this game of football, everybody doing their job and the right thing. At the end of the day, you never want to be embarrasse­d like that.”

Now the Titans (4-3) are rested coming off their open date, with safety Johnathan Cyprien closer to returning from a hamstring injury that happened in the opener. The Ravens (4-4) visit Sunday in a game that should be a defensive showcase: Baltimore leads the NFL in passing defense, giving up 146.8 yards per game and eighth in total defense over the past month.

“They play well as a group, they’re obviously very wellcoache­d,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of the Titans. “Great system, Coach LeBeau is one of the best ever at what he does and it’s reflected in the way these guys play.”

The Titans used the open week to remind themselves of what they need to do better. Casey said execution and consistenc­y is key. Orakpo pointed to better tackling to limit yards after contact. They could use more sacks, with only 11 through seven games after finishing with 40 a year ago. Tennessee had 20 through seven games in 2016.

Orakpo said the Titans have been pass rushing well, though, with 102 quarterbac­k pressures as proof of how close they are getting.

“They’ll come,” Orakpo said of sacks.

 ?? ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO ?? Tennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey (99), outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (98), second from right, inside linebacker Avery Williamson, rear, and linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) celebrate after Orakpo sacked Jacksonvil­le Jaguars quarterbac­k...
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO Tennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey (99), outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (98), second from right, inside linebacker Avery Williamson, rear, and linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) celebrate after Orakpo sacked Jacksonvil­le Jaguars quarterbac­k...

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