2019 Playoffs: Wild Card Round

The Tennessee Titans take down the Patriots

By Tennessee Titans

January 8^th, 2020

Travel Day

On a cold and rainy day in Nashville, the Titans boarded the team’s charter flight for Providence, Rhode Island. The Titans touched down in enemy territory just over 24 hours before kickoff of their game against the Patriots.

Prepared for Battle

While buses carrying Titans players and coaches headed to the team hotel, members of the team’s equipment staff made the trek to Gillette Stadium. A day later, players would arrive there set up, and ready for battle.

Titans Tailgate/ Watch Party

Before kickoff, hundreds of Titans fans gathered at a tailgate in the parking lots surrounding the stadium. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk made an appearance, which fired the group up even more. Meanwhile, back in Nashville, Titans fans gathered to cheer at a watch party at The Wildhorse Saloon, just across the Cumberland River from Nissan Stadium. A rowdy night was in store.

The Stage is Set

The Titans, the No.6 seed in the AFC, were faced with a daunting task – to knock off the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, and AFC’s No.3 seed, in a stadium where they’ve enjoyed unprecedented success.

Warming Up

The stakes were higher on this wet and foggy night, but the Titans prepared in pregame just like they’d done the previous 16 regular season games. Players took the field for warmups several hours before the game, getting a feel for their surroundings in a stadium that would be jam-packed and very loud soon.

Mental Preparation

In the locker room, players got themselves mentally ready. Some sat quietly at lockers, while others listened to music. It was time to get suited up, and to take center stage in primetime.

The Walk Out

In enemy territory, the Titans knew they wouldn’t receive a warm greeting. Patriots fans heckled them as they took the field, and booed when they were announced. But there were friendly faces in the crowd, too, decked out in Titans gear and waving Titan Up flags.

Introductions

Few things bring out the emotions in players like the National Anthem. It’s their final time to take a deep breath, and to reflect on all the work they’d put in leading up to the big moment that was fast approaching. Side by side, the Titans lined up on their side of the field, as the anthem played.

The Coin Flip

Titans captains Marcus Mariota, Wesley Woodyard, Ben Jones, Jurrell Casey and Kevin Byard strolled out to midfield for the coin flip, where they’d greet the Patriots captains.

Coin Toss

The Titans won the toss and elected to defer. The Patriots would get the ball first. Finally, it was go-time.

Defense

The Patriots kicked a field goal on their opening possession to take an early 3-0 lead. But on this night, the Titans ended up being very stingy on defense. The Patriots scored just one touchdown in the contest, and the Titans shut out quarterback Tom Brady and New England’s offense in the second half.

Goal-Line Stand

With the Titans trailing 10-7 late in the first half, the Patriots were in a position to take early control after driving to the Tennessee one-yard line. But the Titans rose to the occasion on defense, getting two stops by linebacker Rashaan Evans sandwiched around a big play from defensive lineman DaQuan Jones. The Patriots ended up settling for a field goal, which gave the Titans plenty of momentum just before half.

Offense

After an early touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Tannehill to tight end Anthony Firkser, the Titans scored again with 35 seconds remaining before halftime on a one-yard run by Derrick Henry, which capped off a seven-play, 75-yard drive. It gave the Titans a 14-13 lead, and they’d never trail again.

The King: El Tractorcito

Derrick Henry was a force all night. The NFL’s leading rushing during the regular season, Henry ran for 182 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries, and he also caught a pass and ran for 22 yards. On the night, Henry racked up 204 of the team’s 272 yards of total offense.

Pick 6 Seals The Win

After letting a potential pick-6 escape his grasp in the first half, Titans cornerback Logan Ryan got another chance in the closing moments of the game, and he helped seal the deal. Ryan picked off Brady and returned it for a touchdown with nine seconds left, giving the Titans a 20-13 lead. Photos by: @perryknotts/NFL

Bench Reaction

When the final second ticked off the clock, the Titans celebrated a mammoth win. It was a victory the team’s players, coaches and fans won’t soon forget.

On to Baltimore

In the locker room, head coach Mike Vrabel told the Titans to enjoy it. They’d come into Foxborough and knocked off the defending Super Bowl champs. Already, though, the focus was shifting to Baltimore. The Titans will face the Ravens, the No.1 seed in the AFC, on Saturday night.