The Tennessee Titans failed in all aspects in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, with turnovers, special teams issues and poor red-zone defense contributing to Detroit’s 52-14 victory at Ford Field.
Mason Rudolph, Calvin Ridley and the Titans offense started well, and it was a 14-14 game early in the second quarter. But three Lions special teams returns of 60+ yards and three Titans turnovers in their own territory doomed the visitors.
The Lions offense did not break much of a sweat with numerous short fields. Jared Goff finished with 85 passing yards and three touchdown passes.
Follow the Tennessean’s live Titans game updates below:
Tennessee Titans vs. Detroit Lions: Live updates, highlights from NFL Week 8 game
The Tennessean’s Nick Suss had an exclusive conversation with Titans GM Ran Carthon in Detroit following Sunday’s loss. Read what Carthon had to say here.
A sampling from Carthon on reflecting on early season and what’s to come: “You don’t know which way it’s going to bounce sometimes. It’s those couple of opportunities that we had in the game where we jar the ball loose but it bounces right back to them. And then on the other side of us it gets away from us.”
Notes from an unhappy Brian Callahan during his postgame press conference:
- Callahan notes that the four turnovers and special teams return yardage allowed is how teams can lose by a big margin to very good teams.
- When asked about special teams coordinator Colt Anderson’s status, Callahan said: “Obviously we haven’t played well enough on special teams, but that’s a little bit too much for after a game. I think Colt is a good football coach. We haven’t played well enough and we haven’t coached well enough, and so there’s really nothing else to say about that.”
- Callahan said that the end-of-half sequence of four straight incomplete passes was what the staff liked against the Lions’ base defense, and that the Titans didn’t want to have to spend time subbing in and out the goal line and short yardage personnel with the time remaining. Callahan felt good about some of the pick routes called during the sequence (one of which resulted in a drop by Tyler Boyd).
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Brian Callahan’s comments are coming up soon.
Another red zone possession, another wide open Lions receiver as Jared Goff finds Kalif Raymond on a fake motion for a touchdown. PAT good. What a mess of a day for the Titans.
That Lions drive was set up by a Calvin Ridley fumble in Tennessee territory.
The Titans go 3-and-out after Calvin Ridley is a yard short of the yard to gain, and the ensuing punt results in a Kalif Raymond 90-yard return TD.
Tennessee’s special teams have allowed three returns of 60 yards or more today. Brutal.
Some non-player stats first:
- Detroit has 9 net passing yards.
- Tennessee has outgained Detroit 285-133
- Tennessee had the ball for more than 18 minutes in the first half.
- Tennessee was minus-2 in turnovers.
Titans stats
- Mason Rudolph: 13-23, 220 yards, TD and 2 INT; 3 carries, 27 yards, TD
- Tony Pollard: 10 carries, 46 yards; 1 catch, 17 yards
- Calvin Ridley: 7 catches, 126 yards
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 2 catches, 39 yards, TD
- Josh Whyle: 2 catches, 33 yards
- Arden Key: 4 total tackles, 2 sacks
Lions stats
- Jared Goff 6-8, 28 yards, 2 TD
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 6 carries, 99 yards; 1 catch, 6 yards
- David Montgomery: 6 carries, 25 yards, TD; 1-1, 3 yards, TD pass
- Sam LaPorta: 3 catches, 10 yards, TD
Tennessee, with one timeout in the final minute of the half, goes 0-for-4 on four pass plays from the Detroit 1-yard line, with Mason Rudolph throwing to Calvin Ridley out of bounds on 4th and goal. Not one Tony Pollard carry at the 1-yard line.
Either way, Detroit leads 35-14 at the half. The second quarter was not pretty for the Titans.
Detroit’s David Montgomery has a rushing touchdown and now a passing touchdown after taking the toss from Jared Goff and finding Sam LaPorta in the corner of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. PAT good.
The Titans defense hasn’t played particularly well, but two turnovers and two big Lions returns have put them into really bad spots four different times in the first half.
A procedural penalty on Leroy Watson and an iffy holding penalty on Peter Skoronski sets the Titans back enough to force a punt. Former Titans WR Kalif Raymond returns the Ryan Stonehouse punt 64 yards deep into Titans territory.
Tennessee’s special teams unit has been marginal at best all season, and today isn’t changing that.
Sam LaPorta’s catch to the 1-yard line sets Detroit up for 1st and goal, and Jared Goff finds a wide open Amon-Ra St. Brown for the touchdown pass. That’s twice that Detroit has had a receiver wide open for touchdowns in a red zone play.
The Titans defense is busting a lot with not a lot of help from the offense or special teams either.
Mason Rudolph goes vertical again, but the route is jumped by Lions DB Kerby Joseph, who picks it off and returns it deep into Titans territory.
Boom and bust for the Titans offense.
It’s hard to keep up right now. Detroit’s Khalil Dorsey rips off a 72-yard kickoff return, with Amani Hooker saving a touchdown for the Titans.
Jarvis Brownlee is double-flagged on third down for a facemask that also acts as defensive pass interference, which produces 1st and goal for Detroit. Jared Goff finds Brock Wright wide open in the flat for an 8-yard touchdown pass on the next play. PAT good.
Mason Rudolph finds Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 5-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. Rudolph is 9-of-11 for 161 yards and two total touchdowns in a quarter and change. 7 plays, 70 yards in 4:39.
Where has this been? Calvin Ridley gets behind the defense on a deep ball for a 47-yard gain. Ridley is up to six catches for 118 yards in the first quarter as it ends with the Titans at 1st and goal.
The Titans defense responds to the offense’s best drive of the season by allowing a 1-play, 70-yard drive via a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run. Not sure Gibbs was touched.
Not good from the Titans rush defense in the first quarter. Kenneth Murray and Jaylen Harrell were locked onto blockers.
It’s a track meet in Detroit.
The best offensive drive of the season for the Titans is capped by a Mason Rudolph 11-yard touchdown run on the bootleg to tie the game at 7-7. Rudolph was very good on the drive, finding Josh Whyle for 33 yards to get the Titans into Detroit territory and hitting Calvin Ridley in 1-on-1 coverage for 26 yards.
Welcome to the 2024 season, Titans offense.
On third down, Arden Key again beats Taylor Decker and sacks Jared Goff, forcing a fumble in the process. Detroit recovers, but the Lions have to punt.
Detroit only needs two plays to score, with David Montgomery scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run. PAT good.
A grim start for the visitors.
Mason Rudolph, under pressure on a play-action pass, throws a terrible interception to Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske. Have no idea what Rudolph is seeing or trying to accomplish there, and it fits right in with the early-season terrible decision making by Will Levis.
Lions have good field position in Tennessee territory.
Detroit receives the opening kickoff after the Titans win the toss and defer. And on the first play from scrimmage, Arden Key is shot of a cannon, beating Taylor Decker to sack Jared Goff. That leads to a Detroit 3-and-out.
Jack Gibbens started alongside Kenneth Murray at linebacker.
Will Levis is out again for the Titans, on the inactives list for the second week. Joining him is offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, who has been a part of the rotation at right tackle but played poorly at Buffalo last week.
Titans inactives
- LB Jerome Baker
- QB Will Levis
- TE David Martin-Robinson
- TE Thomas Odukoya
- OL Nicholas Petit-Frere
- RB Tyjae Spears
- CB L’Jarius Sneed
Lions inactives
- TE Parker Hesse
- OL Giovanni Manu
- DL Josh Paschal
- OL Colby Sorsdal
- DB Loren Strickland
The Tennessee Titans vs. Detroit Lions game will broadcast live on FOX, with streaming options available on Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Watch Titans vs. Lions live on Fubo (free trial)
- Play-by-play: Kevin Kugler
- Analyst: Daryl Johnston
- Sideline reporter: Laura Okmin
Odds according to BetMGM on Saturday, Oct. 26
- ODDS: Lions by 11.5
- O/U: 45 points
- MONEY LINE: Lions -650, Titans +475
Titans beat reporter Nick Suss’ prediction: Lions 31, Titans 13
This isn’t a Titans team built to come back. Not yet, at least. Expect the Lions to build an early lead and be able to rest on cruise control for much of the second half as this Titans team still tries to scrape together some fight and resilience for the end of games.
Inactives will be announced at 10:30 a.m. CT on Sunday. For now, here’s the full injury report for the two teams heading into the game.
Titans injury report
- CB L’Jarius Sneed (quad) — Out
- OL Jaelyn Duncan (hamstring) — Out
- LB Cedric Gray (shoulder) — Out
- RB Tyjae Spears (hamstring) — Out
- LB Jerome Baker (NIR) — Out
- QB Will Levis (shoulder) — Questionable
- CB Jarvis Brownlee (ankle) — Questionable
- DL T’Vondre Sweat (ankle) — Questionable
Lions injury report
- DL Josh Paschal (illness) — Out
- OL Christian Mahogany (illness) — Out
Tickets for Sunday’s game on StubHub are priced from $93 before fees for standing room only tickets.
Sunday’s game is indoors, and weather will not have an impact. For fans in Detroit, the NWS forecast for Sunday is sunny with a high of 58 degrees with calm winds.
All times central
Regular season
- Week 1 (Sept. 8): at Chicago Bears, L 24-17
- Week 2 (Sept. 15): New York Jets, L 24-17
- Week 3 (Sept. 22): Green Bay Packers, L 30-14
- Week 4 (Sept. 30): at Miami Dolphins, W 31-12
- Week 5: OPEN DATE
- Week 6 (Oct. 13): Indianapolis Colts, L 20-17
- Week 7 (Oct. 20): at Buffalo Bills, L 34-10 (Record: 1-5)
- Week 8 (Oct. 27): at Detroit Lions, Noon on FOX
- Week 9 (Nov. 3): New England Patriots, Noon on FOX
- Week 10 (Nov. 10): at Los Angeles Chargers, 3:05 p.m. on FOX
- Week 11 (Nov. 17): Minnesota Vikings, Noon on CBS
- Week 12 (Nov. 24): at Houston Texans, Noon on CBS
- Week 13 (Dec. 1): at Washington Commanders, Noon on FOX
- Week 14 (Dec. 8): Jacksonville Jaguars, Noon on CBS
- Week 15 (Dec. 15): Cincinnati Bengals, Noon on FOX
- Week 16 (Dec. 22): at Indianapolis Colts, Noon on CBS
- Week 17 (Dec. 29): at Jacksonville Jaguars, Noon on CBS
- Week 18 (Jan. 4/5): Houston Texans, TBD
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