Titans Drop Third Straight, Lose 52-14 to Lions

DETROIT – Within the Motor Metropolis, the Titans had been left spinning their wheels.

Turnovers, penalties and poor play on particular groups doomed the Titans on this one, a lopsided 52-14 loss to the Detroit Lions right here at Ford Area.

The Titans dropped to 1-6 with their third straight loss.

“We struggle, our staff performs exhausting,” Coach Brian Callahan mentioned. “However we now have to do quite a lot of issues lots higher. Proper now, it isn’t a product that persons are excited to observe. We’ve to do one thing about that.

“We’ve not come anyplace near enjoying soccer the way in which I believe we’re able to.”

There have been really some vivid moments early on this one, together with an early move rush and a few huge performs on the offensive facet of the soccer.

However these had been hardly value celebrating on a day when the Titans made life simple for the Lions, giving them quick fields – and touchdowns – due to 4 turnovers, and a bunch of errors.

All of it added as much as one other loss.

“Sadly, it is the identical story – giving them some simple ones as soon as once more, placing our protection on a brief discipline,” mentioned quarterback Mason Rudolph, who accomplished 22 of 38 passes for 266 yards and a landing within the contest, with a pair of interceptions.

“There have been some good issues within the first half, however none of it issues once you get your butt kicked.”

Receiver Calvin Ridley had 10 catches for 143 yards.

Operating again Tony Pollard had 94 yards on 20 carries.

Edge rusher Arden Key had a pair of first half sacks, and three quarterback hits.

However, for essentially the most half, it was a day full of frustration.

“It is the identical factor each week,” Key mentioned. “We do not play complementary soccer. One week it is likely to be the offense, one week it is likely to be the protection, one week it is likely to be particular groups.

“We’ve not but performed complementary soccer in all three phases of the sport.”

The sport went back-and-forth early.

Rudolph, enjoying for the second straight week instead of an injured Will Levis, was intercepted by Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske on the staff’s fourth offensive play.

Two performs later, Lions working again David Montgomery scored on a seven-yard landing run to present the Lions a fast 7-0 lead.

The Titans rapidly answered again on offense, as Rudolph linked on a pair of massive performs – throws to tight finish Josh Whyle and Ridley – earlier than capping off a 75-yard landing drive with an 11-yard run to make it 7-7 with 4:07 left within the first quarter.

Ten seconds later, the Lions scored on a 70-yard landing run by Jahmyr Gibbs to make it 14-7, which was the rating after the primary quarter.

The Titans then scored lower than a minute into the second quarter, on a five-yard landing move from Rudolph to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, which capped off a seven-play, 70-yard drive, to make it 14-14.

Issues went downhill from there, because the Lions scored 38 unanswered factors to shut out the sport.

Following a 75-yard kickoff return by Khalil Dorsey, the Lions surged again forward 21-14 on a nine-yard landing move from quarterback Jared Goff to tight finish Brock Wright with 12:51 left within the second quarter.

The Lions prolonged their result in 28-14 on a one-yard landing move from Goff to receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, which adopted one other Rudolph interception that set Detroit up on the Tennessee 13-yard line.

Penalties and poor play on their protection groups killed the Titans on today, as two huge performs (together with a landing), had been known as again due to penalties.

A 64-yard punt return by Kalif Raymond arrange one other fast rating for the Lions – a Montgomery move to Sam LaPorta – to make it 35-14 with 2:18 left within the first half.

The Titans had an opportunity to chop the lead on the finish of the primary half, however 4 straight incompletions from the one-yard line ended an incredible scoring alternative.

The Titans trailed the Lions 35-14 on the half regardless of outgaining them 285 to 133 in whole yards. The Titans dedicated seven penalties for 55 yards within the first half.

Issues acquired worse within the second half.

The Lions made it 42-14 within the third quarter on a 90-yard punt return for a landing by Raymond.

A seven-yard move from Goff to Raymond, which adopted a misplaced fumble by Ridley, made it 49-14 with 6:12 left within the third quarter.

A 51-yard discipline purpose by kicker Jake Bates made it 52-14 Lions with 1:08 left within the third quarter.

The Titans really outgained the Lions 416 to 225 in whole yards, however they could not overcome their errors. The Lions racked up 262 return yards, together with 190 on 5 punt returns by Raymond, a former Titan.

“We got here right here, and tried to show the season round, and get higher,” Ridley mentioned. “This, this isn’t good.”

The Titans return to motion subsequent Sunday towards the Patriots at Nissan Stadium.