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TEN |
KC |
Titans rally from 21-3 hole, beat Chiefs 22-21 in playoffs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Marcus Mariota did everything he could to help the Titans advance in the playoffs, throwing a crazy touchdown pass to himself , running for crucial first downs and providing the kind of spark that Tennessee needed to rally from a 21-3 halftime hole.
Heck, he even threw a crucial block on the run that clinched the game.
It all added up to a heart-stopping 22-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, the first postseason win for the Titans in 14 years and one that will provide some relief - for the week, at least - for embattled coach Mike Mularkey and his remarkable bunch of underdogs.
''Special,'' said Mariota, whose 205 yards passing included the go-ahead 22-yard strike to Eric Decker with six minutes left. ''I'm part of a great team. I'm part of a group of guys that really believe in each other. And it's something special.''
Now, the Titans will find out Sunday whether they're headed to New England or Pittsburgh next.
Derrick Henry added a career-high 156 yards rushing and another score for Tennessee (10-7), while a defense fileted by Alex Smith and the Chiefs (10-7) in the first half pitched a shutout in the second half - dooming the Kansas City franchise to another humiliating postseason defeat.
The Chiefs haven't won a home playoff game since January 1994.
''I'm in shock,'' Smith said. ''The swing at halftime to the final whistle, definitely a shock. Yeah. Didn't feel like we played up to how we're capable of playing and that's disappointing.
Smith threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns , but most of that came before halftime. He couldn't get going in the second half and misfired on fourth-and-9 at the Titans 44 with just over two minutes to go, denying the Chiefs a chance for Harrison Butker to kick a go-ahead field goal.
Adding to the depression? Henry appeared to fumble as Tennessee tried to run out the clock.
The Chiefs' Derrick Johnson picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown with 1:47 to go, and the crowd went wild as fireworks shot off over Arrowhead Stadium. But a replay clearly showed Henry down, the call was overturned and Tennessee succeeded in running out the clock. Mariota threw a block that helped spring Henry for a 22-yard gain on third-and 10 late that helped finish off the comeback.
''Grit. It's just grit,'' Henry said. ''We told them we've got 30 minutes left, all we've got to do is play our game. Execute the plays and everything will take care of itself.''
In the first half, the Chiefs looked every bit the team that had won four straight in convincing fashion, and the Titans looked every bit the team that backed into the playoffs.
Kareem Hunt, the league's top rusher this season , plunged in from 1 yard for a 7-0 lead. Smith hit Travis Kelce, who later left with a concussion, with a 13-yard touchdown pass. And he added another TD toss to Demarcus Robinson on the final offensive play for a 21-3 lead at the break.
''We were feeling good,'' Johnson said. ''We came in 21-3 and that's all we were talking about: `Finish. Don't get complacent. We have bigger goals than this game.'''
But it was the Titans who finished, and it was Mariota who led the way. He capped a 91-yard TD drive to start the second half in the bizarre fashions: Mariota threw a TD pass to himself.
His throw to the end zone was batted right back at him by Darrelle Revis, and Mariota hauled it in and dived for the goal line. It was the first time a player has thrown a TD pass to himself in the playoffs, and the first time in any game since the Vikings' Brad Johnson during the 1997 season.
''Right place, right time,'' Mariota said with a smile.
Tennessee nearly squandered its momentum when Adoree Jackson fumbled a punt, but the Chiefs were unable to pick up a first down and Butker knocked a 48-yard field goal off the upright. And the Titans capitalized when Henry rumbled nearly untouched 35 yards for a touchdown a few minutes later.
The Chiefs' offense had been rendered impotent by that point, unable to move the ball after Kelce left with a concussion in the first half. And the Titans blanketed Tyreek Hill whenever he touched the ball, and they stacked the box to slow Hunt down in obvious rushing situations.
Finally, the Titans pulled ahead on Mariota's strike to Decker, and that led to more controversy from the officials. Tennessee went for a 2-point conversion and a field-goal edge, Mariota fumbled as he was getting sacked and Frank Zombo scooped up the ball for two points the other way.
But the officials had blown the play dead, ruling Mariota's progress had been stopped, and the Titans retained the slimmest of margins - one that would stand up to the final whistle.
''I feel really good around our football team,'' Mularkey said. ''I know what I'm going to get from them every week. That's a good feeling, knowing how they're going to come out, no matter what.''
OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS
The Chiefs also complained about the officials blowing their whistles on a play late in the first half, when Mariota fumbled while getting sacked. He clearly lost the ball and the Chiefs picked it up, but the play could not be reviewed. Tennessee wound up kicking a field goal.
RECORD RALLY
Only two other road teams have rallied from at least 18 down to win a playoff game in NFL history. The Cowboys came back from 21-3 in the first half to beat the 49ers 30-28 in December 1972, and the Lions came back from 27-7 in the second half to beat the 49ers in December 1957.
KELCE HURT
Kelce sustained his concussion on a wicked blow from Titans S Johnathan Cyprien late in the first half. Kelce, who had four catches for 66 yards, lay stunned on the turf for a moment before wobbling to his feet. Trainers quickly took him to the locker room and he did not return.
UP NEXT
The Titans' opponent in the divisional round will be decided Sunday. If the Jaguars beat the Bills in their wild-card matchup, Tennessee heads to New England to face the No. 1 seed. If Buffalo wins, the Titans head to face No. 2 seed Pittsburgh.
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M. Mariota
8 QB 205 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, INT, 46 RuYds |
28
FPTS
|
|
A. Smith
11 QB 264 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, 13 RuYds |
23
FPTS
|
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | - | - |
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Red Zone Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
M. MariotaĀ
8 QB
28 FPTS
|
M. Mariota | 19/31 | 205 | 2 | 1 | 28 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. HenryĀ
22 RB
24 FPTS
|
D. Henry | 23 | 156 | 1 | 35 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. MariotaĀ
8 QB
28 FPTS
|
M. Mariota | 8 | 46 | 0 | 17 | 28 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. WalkerĀ
82 TE
7 FPTS
|
D. Walker | 8 | 6 | 74 | 0 | 22 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. HenryĀ
22 RB
24 FPTS
|
D. Henry | 2 | 2 | 35 | 0 | 29 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. DavisĀ
84 WR
3 FPTS
|
C. Davis | 7 | 4 | 35 | 0 | 13 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
E. DeckerĀ
87 WR
8 FPTS
|
E. Decker | 5 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 22 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. SmithĀ
81 TE
1 FPTS
|
J. Smith | 4 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. MatthewsĀ
18 WR
1 FPTS
|
R. Matthews | 2 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. MariotaĀ
8 QB
28 FPTS
|
M. Mariota | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. TaylorĀ
13 WR
0 FPTS
|
T. Taylor | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
K. ByardĀ
31 FS
|
K. Byard | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. SearcyĀ
21 SS
|
D. Searcy | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. CyprienĀ
37 SS
|
J. Cyprien | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. JacksonĀ
25 CB
|
A. Jackson | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. RyanĀ
26 CB
|
L. Ryan | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. SmithĀ
33 CB
|
T. Smith | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. TrawickĀ
41 DB
|
B. Trawick | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. MorganĀ
91 OLB
|
D. Morgan | 2-2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. WilliamsĀ
96 NT
|
S. Williams | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. BrownĀ
55 LB
|
J. Brown | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. OrakpoĀ
98 OLB
|
B. Orakpo | 1-1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. FluellenĀ
32 RB
|
D. Fluellen | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. BatesĀ
53 LB
|
D. Bates | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. WaldenĀ
93 LB
|
E. Walden | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. KingĀ
95 DE
|
D. King | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. CaseyĀ
99 DE
|
J. Casey | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. WoodyardĀ
59 ILB
|
W. Woodyard | 1-4 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. MatthewsĀ
18 WR
|
R. Matthews | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. WilliamsonĀ
54 ILB
|
A. Williamson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. JohnsonĀ
94 NT
|
A. Johnson | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
R. SuccopĀ
4 K
4 FPTS
|
R. Succop | 1/1 | 49 | 1/1 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. KernĀ
6 P
|
B. Kern | 3 | 43.7 | 2 | 57 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. JacksonĀ
25 CB
0 FPTS
|
A. Jackson | 2 | 21.5 | 24 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. FluellenĀ
32 RB
0 FPTS
|
D. Fluellen | 1 | 12.0 | 12 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. JacksonĀ 25 CB
0 FPTS
|
A. Jackson | 3 | 6.0 | 13 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
A. SmithĀ
11 QB
23 FPTS
|
A. Smith | 24/33 | 264 | 2 | 0 | 23 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
T. HillĀ
10 WR
9 FPTS
|
T. Hill | 11 | 7 | 87 | 0 | 45 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. KelceĀ
87 TE
12 FPTS
|
T. Kelce | 4 | 4 | 66 | 1 | 27 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. RobinsonĀ
14 WR
11 FPTS
|
D. Robinson | 4 | 4 | 57 | 1 | 15 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. WilsonĀ
12 WR
2 FPTS
|
A. Wilson | 4 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. HarrisĀ
84 TE
2 FPTS
|
D. Harris | 3 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 13 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. HuntĀ
27 RB
10 FPTS
|
K. Hunt | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. WestĀ
35 RB
0 FPTS
|
C. West | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
O. CharlesĀ
82 TE
0 FPTS
|
O. Charles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
D. JohnsonĀ
56 ILB
|
D. Johnson | 6-2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. ParkerĀ
38 FS
|
R. Parker | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. RaglandĀ
59 ILB
|
R. Ragland | 5-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. PetersĀ
22 CB
|
M. Peters | 4-0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Pierre-LouisĀ
57 LB
|
K. Pierre-Louis | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. ZomboĀ
51 OLB
|
F. Zombo | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. HoustonĀ
50 OLB
|
J. Houston | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. RevisĀ
24 DB
|
D. Revis | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. NelsonĀ
20 CB
|
S. Nelson | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. SorensenĀ
49 SS
|
D. Sorensen | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. ChessonĀ
80 WR
|
J. Chesson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. KempĀ
19 WR
|
M. Kemp | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. SmithĀ
48 ILB
|
T. Smith | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. HamiltonĀ
74 DT
|
J. Hamilton | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. JonesĀ
95 DE
|
C. Jones | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. MurrayĀ
21 CB
|
E. Murray | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. BaileyĀ
97 DE
|
A. Bailey | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. LoganĀ
96 NT
|
B. Logan | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
H. ButkerĀ
7 K
3 FPTS
|
H. Butker | 0/1 | 0 | 3/3 | 3 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
D. ColquittĀ
2 P
|
D. Colquitt | 5 | 50.0 | 0 | 54 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. HillĀ 10 WR
9 FPTS
|
T. Hill | 2 | 4.0 | 8 | 0 |