Second-half scoring has lagged for Titans
NASHVILLE — Scoring touchdowns early in games has not been an issue for the Tennessee Titans so far this season.
The third and fourth quarters have been a big problem, though, with the Titans outscored 57-7 combined after halftime during their 1-2 start.
They can’t afford that Sunday when they visit the Indianapolis Colts (1-1-1) in an AFC South Division game featuring franchises with plenty of history between them.
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill said Wednesday the offense has to execute better in the second half.
“It wasn’t a drop-off in focus or urgency, it didn’t feel like,” he said. “We just missed some opportunities on making some plays. We just have to clean those little things up to be able to come out and carry that momentum through halftime, into the second half.”
The Titans had been struggling to score at all, limited to 27 points in an 0-2 start.
Against the Las Vegas Raiders, they led 24-10 at halftime, then the defense saved Sunday’s 24-22 win in Nashville by holding the Raiders to a pair of field goals, getting an interception and breaking up a pass on a 2-point conversion attempt. Tennessee’s offense had an interception, turned the ball over on downs and punted twice in a subpar second half.
It was a drastic change from the first half, when the Titans opened the game with their best offensive stretch this season. They went at least 75 yards on each of their first three possessions for touchdowns for only the third time since 2000 and the first time since beating the Detroit Lions on Dec. 20, 2020.
Wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine said the offense was rolling well in the first half against the Raiders, no matter if the Titans were facing third-and-long or picking up easy first downs. Everyone was clicking.
Then came halftime. “Obviously, second half we need to score more points, and just watching the film and recognizing that it was small details and little mistakes, that
kind of led that to happen,” Westbrook-Ikhine said.
Derrick Henry, a two-time NFL rushing champion, still is looking for his first 100-yard rushing game this season. He might have had that already if not for penalties wiping out some plays. Defense also have made some adjustments.
Tannehill was intercepted three plays into the Titans’ first possession in the third quarter against Las Vegas.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel said some of the plays and runs they had in the first half weren’t there in the second half, at least this past game, though they had opportunities to make plays.
One bad play came on third-and-1 a couple of minutes into the fourth quarter. Henry was swarmed for a 3-yard loss, forcing another punt.
Points will matter Sunday against the Colts. Last year’s game in Indianapolis went to overtime, with Tennessee winning 34-31 on a field goal set up when two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard picked off a pass.
“We’ll have to make sure that whatever we’re doing early on, if it’s positive, we’ll have to continue it,” Vrabel said. “Then if not, we’ll have to make sure that we’re battling to get back in the game like we did last year. If we do get up, it’s going to be a struggle to be able to close anybody out.”