Tennessee Titans can’t stop Tyler Shough, Saints offense in 34-26 loss

The Tennessee Titans (3-13) came to play, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the surging New Orleans Saints (6-10), who won their fourth in a row with a 34-26 victory in Week 17 action.

The Titans and Saints put on an entertaining show on Sunday. Eventually, Saints quarterback Tyler Shough led the Saints to a victory against an undermanned Titans’ defense that could not slow down the surging Saints’ passing attack.

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Tennessee had some solid moments, but in a game between evenly matched teams, the roster deficiencies and thin depth chart proved to be too much to overcome.

Final Score: Titans 34, Saints 26

Keys to the Game

• Injuries: The Titans’ razor-thin depth was challenged even more than usual by the loss of starters Jalyn Armour-Davis and Van Jefferson. Defensively, the already depleted secondary took a massive hit without Armour-Davis, and Saints quarterback Tyler Shough had a day. On offense, the loss of Jefferson complicated the challenging task of facing a Top 10 NFL defense.

• Explosive plays: Tennessee reverted to old habits, allowing too many explosive plays against the Saints. Playing without Armour-Davis, the Titans had no answer for wide receiver Chris Olave, tight end Juwan Johnson, and the rest of the Saints’ receiving corps.

• Third downs: One week after dominating third downs against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee struggled on third down on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they could not convert to keep drives alive, and on defense, they could not get off the field.

• Poor tackling: The Titans missed too many tackles against the Saints, especially in the second half when the Saints came back and took control of the game. Tennessee’s defense was strong in the first half, holding the Saints in check, but fell apart in the second half and could not stop Shough, running back Audric Estime, or Olave.

It was over when…

Cam Ward threw an incomplete pass on the final play of the game with the Titans attempting to make a last-minute comeback.

Players of the Game

• K Joey Slye: Slye hit all four of his field goals, including two over 50 yards and a long of 58 yards, along with all of his extra points for the Titans. In the process, he set the record for the most 50-plus-yard field goals in a single season.

• QB Cam Ward: Ward did what he could, but the limitations at the wide receiver position and along the offensive line were visible all afternoon. While he did not look as comfortable as he has in recent weeks, he was solid, going 21-of-40 for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He did fumble when sacked by Chase Young, but was not helped by the offensive line all afternoon.

• WR Chimere Dike: While Dike had a solid game overall, it’s worth noting that Dike set the NFL record for all-purpose yards by a rookie. Breaking a record held by Hall of Famer Tim Brown since 1988.

• TE Chig Okonkwo: Okonkwo scored a highlight reel-worthy touchdown in the first half and again proved to be a valuable outlet, pulling in three balls for 55 yards and one touchdown.

Injuries

The Titans lost cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis to an Achilles injury in the first half, and he did not return. This was a significant injury that had a tangible impact on the defense’s success in the second half. The Titans also lost wide receiver Van Jefferson with a forearm injury in the second half. James Proche and Mason Kinsey replaced the veteran and did not return.

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What’s next?

Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy will meet with reporters on Monday afternoon to wrap up the week and set the stage for Week 18. Select players will be made available after McCoy.

Tennessee will return to practice on Wednesday ahead of a Week 18 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The exact date and time of kickoff are to be determined.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans can’t stop Tyler Shough, Saints offense in 34-26 loss