With quarterback Cam Ward leading the way, the Titans surged ahead in this one and controlled the game throughout. It was arguably Ward’s best game of the season.
Ward threw a pair of touchdown passes for the third consecutive game as the Titans matched their win total from the 2024 season with two games left to play.
Ward finished the day completing 21-of-28 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns, with a passer rating of 122.3.
“It’s a good win,” Ward said. “It was the first time we’d played good enough complementary in all three phases. Defense kept us in the game the entirety … and it was a good team win.
“We didn’t feel the weight of (the home losing streak). We just want to win every game, and we have to be able to establish a home atmosphere by winning games. … We have to continue to play complementary football.”
The Titans got big performances from both of their running backs in this one.
Tony Pollard ran for 102 yards on 21 carries, while Tyjae Spears accounted for 105 yards (52 rush, 53 receiving) and a touchdown in the contest. It was Pollard third straight 100-yard game.
By winning for the second time in three games, the Titans improved their record to 3-12 on the season.
“It was a good opportunity for all of us to go out there and put on for the Titans, and that’s what we went out there and did,” linebacker James Williams Sr. said. “It’s a blessing, man. We go out there and fight every single week, and today was the week we succeeded. Thank you to the team, to all the guys coming out and performing.”
Gardner Minshew started at quarterback for the Chiefs, in place of an injured Patrick Mahomes. But Minshew suffered a knee injury himself in the second quarter of Sunday’s game, and he did not return. QB Chris Oladokun replaced Minshew and he finished the contest, but he had limited success.
The Titans tallied four sacks in the contest, as the Chiefs managed just nine first downs and 133 yards of offense. The Titans won the time of possession 38:01 to 21:59.
“Getting ahead and staying ahead,” Williams said. “That was the key.”
The Titans took the lead early on a safety, when defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons exploded through the line of scrimmage and tackled Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt in the end zone.
The play gave the Titans a 2-0 lead at the 13:06 mark of the second quarter.
After the Chiefs took a 3-2 lead at the 7:40 mark of the second quarter on a 54-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Butker, the Titans put together an 11-play, 89-yard drive, and capped it off with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Ward to tight end Chig Okonkwo. Spears was a big contributor on the possession, running the ball and catching it out of the backfield, and the Titans led 9-3.
The Titans led 9-6 at the half after Butker made a 41-yard field goal with six seconds left before the break.
But the Titans kept coming, starting the second half on a beautiful nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive executed by Ward, who found receiver Chimere Dike open for a one-yard score to make it 16-6 with 10:32 left in the third quarter.
Butker misfired on a 51-yard field goal midway through the third quarter before making one from 27 yards out, and the Titans led 16-9 with 3:00 left in the third quarter.
The, the Titans put it away.
A four-yard touchdown run by Spears gave the Titans a 23-9 lead with 11:56 remaining.
Another Slye field goal, this one from 27 yards, made it 26-9 Titans with 3:44 left in the contest.
“Couldn’t be happier for the players in the locker room, the entire organization, everybody that’s bought in and worked so hard,” McCoy said. “There’s nothing like winning at home.”
The Titans return to action next Sunday against the New Orleans Saints at Nissan Stadium.