The Tennessee Titans are not slowing down at all. Mike Vrabel’s guys continued to amaze everyone, and they created yet another upset. After beating the New England Patriots in Foxborough last week, the Titans eliminated the No.1 contender for winning the Super Bowl, Baltimore Ravens.
Guests from Nashville won this one 28-12, stunning the fans all around the globe. The Titans were massive underdogs against the league-best crew led by the No.1 contender for the MVP award Lamar Jackson.
Although the Titans faced the best player of the season, they had the best player in the playoffs alongside them – Derrick Henry. Opposite to Jackson, who was all over the media throughout the entire campaign, Henry started pounding when it matters the most without too much hype.
“We don’t do too much talking. We just go work and believe in each other. That’s our mentality,” he said, following the match.
Henry became the first-ever player to post 175+ rushing yards in two consecutive playoff games. Last night in Baltimore, he had 30 carries for 195 yards on the ground. But that is not all.
With 6:54 to go in the third period, Henry made a jump-pass to Corey Davis for a three-yard TD, which separated his Titans to a safe distance, 21-6. And not just that, this move completely killed the morale of the hosts.
“I put it perfectly, man,” Henry said. “I haven’t done that pass since high school. I feel l like I still got it.”
The Titans came into this one confidently, not allowing the hosts to impose their rhythm and pace on the field. What is more important, they made Jackson nervous, which is why the Ravens’ QB made several mistakes, among them two interceptions and one fumble.
LJ was 31 of 59 for 365 and one TD pass, and he posted 143 rushing yards, but without executing in the right way. The Ravens were stopped twice on fourth-and-1, and in certain situations, they were looking clueless on what to do.
The fantastic youngster admitted that his team got outplayed by the guests, and that the majority of criticism should go on his account.
“We just beat ourselves,” Jackson said. “I had a lot of mistakes on my behalf. Three turnovers — that shouldn’t happen. But [Tennessee] came out to play.”
Regarding the Titans’ QB Ryan Tannehill, his modest numbers are hiding the fact that he had an enormous influence on this game.
Tannehill threw just seven completed passes in 14 attempts, recording 88 yards. However, two of those passes were for a touchdown, and he himself added one carrying the football into the endzone with 4:16 left in the third.
In the other game of the night, the San Francisco 49ers didn’t allow any surprises, as they confidently defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 27-10. Now the 49ers and the Titans await their rivals in the Championship games. San Francisco will host the better from the matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, Tennessee travels to either Kansas City or Houston, depending on the result of tonight’s clash between the Chiefs and the Texans in KC.
