{"id":389996,"date":"2025-09-23T07:05:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T07:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/389996\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T07:05:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T07:05:12","slug":"tennessee-titans-first-half-mistake-included-k-ball-not-being-available","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/389996\/","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee Titans first half mistake included K-ball not being available"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Titans<\/a> didn’t have their footballs in order during their 41-20 loss<\/a> to the Indianapolis Colts<\/a> on Sept. 21 at Nissan Stadium, resulting in a delay of game penalty, three potential missed points and another embarrassing moment for Titans<\/a> coach Brian Callahan<\/a> and his staff.<\/p>\n

Specifically, it was their “K-ball,”<\/a> which are footballs used by kickers.<\/p>\n

Callahan addressed the mix up during a television interview with CBS during halftime, but didn’t specifically address it after the game, though he wasn’t asked directly.<\/p>\n

Trailing 17-6, the Titans decided to attempt a 57-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaining in the half. Partially because of the ball mishap, a five yard, delay of game penalty was issued, pushing the attempt to 62 yards. That attempt by Joey Slye was partially blocked and the Colts then proceeded to kick a field goal of their own.<\/p>\n

“I wanted to get the points there,” Callahan told CBS. “It was fourth and about a yardish. We felt like we had a long field goal in our pocket. They didn’t sub the K-ball, so we took a delay of game, which we didn’t want to do.<\/p>\n

“Obviously, we wanted to go faster in our operation, which backed us up. Trying to take points in that spot and obviously it didn’t work out for us.”<\/p>\n

K-balls are specifically used for kickers and punters in football games and are conditioned to their preference.<\/p>\n

When asked about it again on Sept. 22, Callahan was elusive in his response.<\/p>\n

HANDING IT OFF? Has Brian Callahan considered giving up Titans play-calling duties? He explains his thoughts<\/a><\/p>\n

ESTES: As another Tennessee Titans season crumbles, Brian Callahan’s job falls into peril<\/a><\/p>\n

“I just alluded to the operation in the postgame, just the operation in general,” he said. “At the end of the day, I got to do a better job, put us in a better spot. There’s really not much more to add to it from what I said postgame.”<\/p>\n

When pressed about what “operation” to which he was referring, Callahan held serve.<\/p>\n

“Our operation as a football team,” he said. “My operation as a head coach. Got to be better in that spot. So, again, I don’t have much more to add to it than that.”<\/p>\n

Paul Skrbina is a sports enterprise reporter covering the Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for The Tennessean. Reach him at pskrbina@tennessean.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter)\u00a0@paulskrbina<\/a>.<\/p>\n