Titans Suffer Multiple Injuries in Blowout Loss to Red-Hot 49ers

The Tennessee Titans lost again. That is not surprising news. However, there were surprises on Sunday.

The first surprise is that the Titans lost by only 13 points to the San Francisco 49ers. The final score was 37-24, but the game was over before the fourth quarter.

The Titans only started playing in the fourth quarter, but it was mainly their offense that got going. The defense did not stop the 49ers from scoring until the final period. San Francisco scored on five straight possessions. They added two field goals in the fourth quarter as well. The Titans’ defense only had one stop all game. It was a horrible day for the defense, made worse by the four defensive injuries the Titans sustained throughout the game.

Three safeties, Mike Brown, Xavier Woods, and Kevin Winston Jr., were all injured at various points Sunday afternoon. Then, late in the game, the Titans’ leading tackler, linebacker Cedric Gray, went down with an injury too. This led to more playing time for inexperienced players like Marcus Harris, Kendell Brooks, and Kaiir Elam.

The only stop the Titans’ defense could muster was a fumble forced by Jeffery Simmons, and recovered by Elam.

Speaking of Simmons, he scored the touchdown on the drive following the fumble.

There’s another one of Sunday’s surprises.

Cam Ward tossed the ball to a wide-open Simmons in the back of the endzone, which surely gave Titans fans a little something to smile about.

Ward had a good day overall. He once again avoided turnovers, though a couple of his passes should have been picked off. Ward finished the game 18/29 for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

Another surprise was that the offensive line played well again, allowing Tony Pollard to have another good day running the ball. He had 14 carries for 104 yards and a score. It’s the first time this season Pollard has had back-to-back 100-yard games.

Another offensive-line surprise is that Cam Ward was not sacked at all. Not once. This comes a week after the Titans only gave up one sack to Myles Garrett and the Browns.

Clearly, the offensive line is improving, which is opening the door for a more balanced and successful Titans offense.

It was not a perfect day for the offense, though. The Titans struggled to move the ball for much of the game, and the injury bug bit on that side of the ball, too.

Veteran wide receiver Van Jefferson suffered a back injury after landing awkwardly following an incredible 43-yard catch that set up the Jeffery Simmons touchdown.

The Titans didn’t quit, though. That’s why the final score looked close. And that’s why Titans fans can have hope moving forward. No matter who is out there, no matter what the score is, this team fights to the end.