Despite forcing two interceptions and sacking Jalen Hurts three times, Tennessee’s defense faltered on the final drive, leaving the star tackle frustrated over missed situational opportunities.
The Tennessee Titans were so close to becoming 1-1 on Sunday versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Titans gave the ball back to the Eagles with 1:56 left and held a 20-17 lead. It proved to be too much time.
The Eagles' offense went to work right away and got to the Titans' three-yard line with under 10 seconds left. Jalen Hurts then threw a touchdown pass to Darius Cooper to secure the Eagles' 24-20 win.
The Titans really needed just one more stop by the defense to get the first win of the Robert Saleh era.
It was more of the same from the defense in that final drive by the Eagles. The Titans continued to allow the Eagles to move the chains on pivotal third-down conversions. That was the issue the entire game, and it continued in the two-minute situation.
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was disappointed with how the Titans handled the two-minute situation. After the game, he voiced his frustrations.
"It's very disappointing, man. I mean, situational football," Simmons said. "Two minutes. We got to be at our very best. I mean, for one, we kind of know who they want to get the ball to. That's when you have to mentally strain to just do your job. Everyone, whoever on the field got to do their job. And we need to go back and watch it. But man, I mean, it's simple. We didn't do our job. Easy completion. I mean, ball coming out, you're finding guys and especially that last play is just like kind of know what they got to as players have to be also smart in situations like that. You got to kind of know what they going to try to run. There ain't no such thing as moral victories, but man, we just one play away."
What was especially frustrating about the game was that the Titans did what they were supposed to do with Hurts. Simmons said it best leading up to the game.
The Titans needed to make sure to contain him and force them to beat them with his arm and not his legs. For the most part, the Titans made sure to keep him in the pocket and not let him scramble.
The defense was even able to force Hurts into throwing two interceptions, one of which was nearly returned for a pick-six by Amani Hooker.
It also resulted in the Titans sacking Hurts three times. Simmons recorded his first sack of the year, and the new additions of Jacob Martin and John Franklin-Myers got involved as well.
The defense did many things right, but it's clear that they also have a lot to work on.
This loss was painful, considering that the Titans were so close to pulling off the upset. If a few things had gone their way, the Titans would have done it and would be looking up at a 1-1 record heading into Week 3.
All the Titans can do is learn from this mistake and move on to the next game. The Titans take on the New York Giants in their next game.
It'll be the first time that Simmons and the Titans have seen former head coach Brian Callahan, who is now the quarterbacks coach on the Giants' staff.
Kickoff is set for noon CT on CBS next Sunday.
