NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Ryan Tannehill threw a 23-yard touchdown to Adam
Humphries with 23 seconds left, and the Tennessee Titans blocked a last-second
field goal attempt to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-32 to spoil the return of
NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes.
The Titans (5-5) only had a chance to take the lead after a bad snap by the
Chiefs on Harrison Butker’s fifth field goal attempt of the day. The snap caught
holder Dustin Colquitt by surprise, and he threw the ball away in desperation
for an intentional grounding call, setting the Titans up at their own 39.
Tannehill scrambled for 18, hit Anthony Firsker for 20 yards and then found
Humphries who ran in for the TD. Tannehill also ran for the 2-point conversion
for a 35-32 lead.
The Chiefs (6-4) had a final chance with Mahomes. He drove them down, setting
up Butker for another field goal try from 52 yards.
Joshua Kalu blocked the kick with his left hand, and the Titans poured onto the
field to celebrate.
Derrick Henry ran for 188 yards, including a 68-yard TD that put Tennessee up
20-19 with 5:58 left in the third. His 1-yard TD with 6:26 remaining pulled the
Titans within 29-27.
Tannehill finished with 181 yards passing and ran for 37 yards for the win.
The loss spoiled the best passing game this season for Mahomes as the Chiefs
outgained the Titans 530-371. Mahomes threw for 446 yards and three touchdowns.
His best play came with the pocket collapsing around him when he jumped up to
throw over the linemen to Mecole Hardman who ran for a 63-yard TD with 11:54
left and a 29-20 lead.
Mahomes looked very healthy playing for the first time since dislocating his
right kneecap Oct. 17. He got lucky when his first pass first ruled an
interception was overturned by replay for Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro trapping
the ball on the ground. Mahomes capped the Chiefs’ first drive with a 3-yard
shovel pass to Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs sacked Tannehill four times and also forced a fumble but could only
turn that into one of Butker’s four made field goals.
Tannehill got the Titans going with a 52-yard throw to Kalif Raymond, then he
hit Anthony Firkser for a 9-yard TD. Then rookie linebacker David Long forced a
fumble by Damien Williams, and linebacker Rashaan Evans picked up the ball,
juked away from Mahomes and ran 53 yards for a TD and a 13-10 lead with 6:14
left in the second quarter.
INJURIES
The Chiefs came in with left tackle Eric Fisher still healing up from a groin
injury that has kept him out all but the first two games of the season, and
right guard Laurent Durvernay-Tardif missing a second game with an ankle. Late
in the first half, Kansas City lost an offensive lineman on consecutive plays.
First, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz hurt a knee and went to the sideline,
snapping the NFL’s longest active snap streak at 7,894 snaps. Then Martinas
Rankin, who started at right guard, moved over a spot and hurt his right knee on
the next play. He was carted to the locker room and did not return.
UP NEXT
Chiefs: Play Chargers in Mexico City on next Monday.
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