The Tennessee Titans finally ended their miserable run of home form, snapping an 11-game losing streak at Nissan Stadium with a convincing 26-9 victory over the struggling Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Chiefs' Quarterback Crisis Worsens in Defeat
The Chiefs' season continued to unravel, both on the scoreboard and in the medical room. A week after losing superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending torn ACL, his replacement, Gardner Minshew, was knocked out of the contest with a knee injury early in the second quarter. This forced Kansas City to turn to their third-choice signal-caller.
This loss ensures the Chiefs, now 6-9, will finish with their first losing record since 2012. They have now lost four consecutive games and six of their last seven, marking their longest skid since 2017.
Rookie Ward Shines for Resurgent Titans
For the Titans, rookie quarterback Cam Ward delivered his finest performance of the season. He threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, posting a season-high passer rating of 122.3. His performance helped the Titans amass a season-best 377 yards of total offense against a Chiefs defense that ranked eighth in the league for fewest yards allowed.
Ward's shovel pass to Chig Okonkwo for a seven-yard score late in the first half put Tennessee ahead for good. He later connected with fellow rookie Chimere Dike for a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The win improved the Titans' dismal home record to 1-7 this season.
Around the League: Playoff Pictures and Painful Injuries
Elsewhere, the Minnesota Vikings won their third straight game, beating the New York Giants 16-13, but lost starting quarterback JJ McCarthy to an injury to his right throwing hand. McCarthy was strip-sacked just before halftime, with the Giants returning the fumble for a touchdown. Backup Max Brosmer led the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. The Giants' defeat was their ninth in a row.
The Los Angeles Chargers moved to the brink of a playoff berth with their fourth consecutive victory, a 34-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Justin Herbert threw two touchdown passes and ran for another, expertly managing the game with his non-throwing hand in a protective cast. The Cowboys were officially eliminated from postseason contention.
The Buffalo Bills edged closer to the playoffs with a 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns, despite quarterback Josh Allen playing through a foot injury. Myles Garrett registered a half-sack, bringing his season total to 22, just one short of the NFL's single-season record.
In other results, the New Orleans Saints dominated the New York Jets 29-6, the Carolina Panthers moved to the top of the NFC South by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20, and the Cincinnati Bengals routed the Miami Dolphins 45-21 in a game between two already-eliminated teams.
