Running Diary Of A Ridiculous Lions-Titans Game
It was wild. One of the best games of the NFL season thus far. It started lazy and low-intensity, but read below to see how the momentum of the game built until its dramatic overtime finish.
1Q 11:43– Jason Hanson is true with a 47 yard field goal. Lions lead early 3-0.
Sep 23, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) hands off to Detroit running back Mikel Leshoure (25) against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE
1Q 8:12 – Not a ton of offense to this point. Matt Stafford misses Brandon Pettigrew on a seam route. He’s missed this about three times so far this year on wide open routes from Pettigrew.
1Q 6:41 – Lions settle again for a field goal, this time Hanson hits from 52 out. Lions up 6-0.
1Q 2:07 – Detroit with a stop on third down and the Titans settle for a field goal of their own. Rob Bironas hits from 31. Lions still lead 6-3.
1Q :33 – After Calvin Johnson’s catch was ruled incomplete upon review, Lions on to punt. Ben Graham leaves it low and short; the short hang-time allowed the Titans to set up the trick play that resembled the Music City Miracle of 2000. The punt was fielded and lateralled backwards across the field to Tommie Campbell who takes it up the sideline untouched for a touchdown. 10-6 end of quarter.
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2Q: 14:20– Ben Graham is hurt, Jason Hanson to punt. Solid kick.
Sep 23, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans corner back Tommie Campbell (37) returns a kick for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE
2Q 13:00 – 61 yard pass to Jared Cook. Missed tackles, I mentioned before the game that defending the tight end would be a key matchup. They let him sit right in the middle of the field, he turned and burned the secondary. Big, fast. 17-6 Titans
2Q 9:54 NO HUDDLE for a good change of tempo, Mikel Leshoure one-cuts up the middle and picks up 12 yards. Followed immediately by a Titus Young 10 yard reception.
2Q 6:30 – Jim Schwartz calls a timeout on 3rd and 2. Titans were breathing hard, on their heels. Titans got time to reset, Lions get stopped and settle for another field goal. 17-9 TEN
2Q 1:35 – Jake Locker with a 33 yard run. Into Detroit territory.
2Q 0:00 – Rob Bironas sneaks a 38 yard field goal insdie the upright. Solid 2 minute drill from Tennessee, up 20-9 at halftime, Titans to receive first in second half. Stafford 14 completions for 83 yards.
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3Q: 12:40 – Cliff Avril with a neutral zone infraction (4th Lions NZ infraction to this point). Makes it 3rd and 4 instead of 3rd and 9. Titans get four yards on the next play for a first down.
3Q 11:21 Lions get a stop on third down, but a defensive holding call on Chris Houston keeps them on the field. Long drive by the Titans now. Defense is tired.
3Q: 9:30 – Drive ends with a missed 41 yard field goal by Rob Bironas. Big break for the Lions.
3Q: 9:10 – Calvin with his second catch. Runs a skinny post from the slot and picks up 29 yards.
3Q: 6:36 – Mikel Leshoure one yard run for a touchdown. Lions finally put it in the end zone after a nicely orchestrated
Sep 23, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure (25) rushes against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE
drive by Matthew Stafford. TEN leads 20-16.
3Q: 2:18 – Another good, long drive by the Titans ends with another missed field goal by Rob Bironas, this time from 48 yards out. More good field position for the Lions.
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4Q 12:44 – A holding penalty on first and goal stalls their drive. Stafford found Titus Young open in the back of the end zone but he couldn’t grab it. He was also out of bounds. Another Jason Hanson field goal, Lions pull close now down 20-19. According to Tim Twentyman, it’s the first time in Hanson’s career that he’s had back-to-back games with four field goals made.
4Q 12:44 – Jason Hanson finally shows signs of…aging? Ensuing kickoff goes out of bounds. Titans to start at their own 40.
4Q 11:50 – Detroit finally forces a turnover. Kenall Wright catches it on a hook route, turns and Chris Houston pokes it out from behind. Ball was recovered by DeAndre Levy at the Tennessee 46 yard line.
4Q 8:40 – Leshoure up the middle for a gain of two and a first down. Leshoure eclipses the 100 yard rushing mark in his first professional game. According to Dave Birkett, he’s the first Lion to rush for 100 yards in his first career game since Billy Sims did it in 1980 (153 yards).
4Q 6:53 – First and goal from the 3 yard line. Stafford with play action to Joique Bell and hits Nate Burleson who ran up the seam from the slot.
4Q 6:53 – Lions down by 5, so they go for two. Stafford rolls out on a designed play to move the pocket and finds Burleson again who leaps up and comes down with it. Lions now lead 27-20.
4Q 6:41– On the ensuing kickoff, special teams killing the Lions again. Darius Reynaud takes it back 105 yards for a
Sep 23, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) catches a pass over the back of Detroit Lions corner back Jacob Lacey (21) during the second half at LP Field. The Titans beat the Lions in overtime 44-41. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE
touchdown. Bironas PAT knots it up at 27 apiece. 14 points from the Titans on special teams.
4Q 4:02 – 3rd and long, Stafford is sacked for a loss of eight. Lions punt to the Titans, who do not take it back for a touchdown.
4Q 3:11 – Titans waste no time scoring. Jake Locker floats a pass down the left side of the field to Nate Washington who leaps up and catches it behind the back of Jacob Lacey, who had his head turned. Safety John Wendling was way late in help coverage. Incredible catch then Washington walked 71 yards into the endzone. Titans up 34-27.
4Q 2:00 – Two minute warning. Stafford’s looking solid on this late game drive. Already advanced it to the 47 of the Titans.
4Q 1:16 – 2nd and 10, disaster for the Lions. Stafford completes to Brandon Pettigrew for a gain of 8 yards. Pettigrew turned up field and Alterraun Verner just takes the ball out of his hands. Ruled a fumble, Verner takes it 72 yards for a touchdown. Pettigrew just had that loose grip and Verner was hawking for the ball. Lions are going to need a real quick score and an onside recovery.
4Q 1:16 – Shaun Hill in for Matt Stafford who has a ball cap on on the sideline. Stafford may have tweaked his ankle trying to run down Verner after the fumble. Hill completes to Joique Bell for 9 yards and there’s no urgency. Appears the Lions are giving up.
4Q 1:01 – Pass complete to Calvin Johnson for 20 yards. He goes over 100 yards receiving on the day.
4Q :47 – Kristina Pink reports that Stafford has a strained leg muscle. He’s currently not receiving treatment on the sideline, but rather standing and walking around gingerly.
4Q :18 – Four yard touchdown pass form Hill to Calvin Johnson. Titans still lead 41-34. Lions need a miracle.
4Q :16 – Onside kick from Jason Hanson is kicked down the sideline and it bounces past the Titans. Amari Spievey picks it up and runs it down to the 46 of the Titans.
4Q :07 – Last play. Shaun Hill does his best Doug Flutie impression and throws it into a pile of receivers in the end zone. It’s knocked down and into the hands of Titus Young who falls forward for a score! Hanson PAT ties it up and we’re going to overtime! 14 points in 20 seconds.
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OT – Titans win the coin toss and elect to receive. Remember, if the Titans cannot win the game on an opening possession field goal.
OT 14:08– 1st and 10, Titans toss it to Chris Johnson who tries to misdirect. It’s contained well by Kyle Vanden Bosch
Sep 23, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans corner back Alterraun Verner (20) and linebacker Akeem Ayers (56) celebrate victory over the Detroit Lions at LP Field. The Titans beat the Lions 44-41 in overtime. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE
and the Lions swarm him in the backfield. Loss of 8.
OT 12:52 – 3rd and long for the Titans. Jake Locker scrambles for 8 but they’re bailed out by a defensive holding call on rookie Bill Bentley. First down Titans at the 48 of Detroit.
OT 12:12 – 2nd and long after another tie of up Chris Johnson in the backfield. 24 pass to TE Craig Stevens up the seam. Add on 15 more yards due to a helmet-to-helmet collision from Stephen Tulloch. Bonehead penalties from this defense are just give the Titans every chance they need. First down Titans on Detroit’s 17. They need to hold them to a field goal.
OT 12:12 – Ruling on the field is REVERSED. Huge break for the Lions, but they still have to pay for the personal foul. First down Titans at Detroit’s 39.
OT 10:41 – Quick throw out to the flat. Damian Williams only picks up 7 and it’s 4th and 3 for Tennessee.Kicking team is on the field.
OT 10:37 – Rob Bironas is true from 26 yards out. Titans up 44-41. If Detroit gets a touchdown on this drive, they win it. A field goal, then the next score after that will win it.
OT 9:14 – Shaun Hill airs it out to a place where only one man can catch it. Extra high for Megatron and he hauls it in for 25 yards. Lions are moving. Note: Leshoure not in, Joique Bell has been taking all the snaps at RB.
OT 6:53 – Leshoure checks in and receives the check down pass. He’s up-ended and falls forward near the first down marker. After a measurement, he came up about a foot short of the first down. 4th and inches. Offense stays on the field to go for it.
OT 6:35 – 4th and inches. Shaun Hill plunges forward on a sneak. Appears that he got across the line, but there was a fumble on the play. Measurement comes up short. Review is upheld and the Titans win.
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Final – Titans 44 Lions 41. Final Box Score.