NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans want to stack up wins, not style points.
On a Sunday when quarterback Ryan Tannehill battled a stomach bug that had him feeling “bad” when he woke up, they found yet another way to do just that, extending the NFL’s longest active winning streak to six games.
Tannehill threw for one touchdown and ran for another as the Titans held off the New Orleans Saints, 23-21, to become the second team in league history to win five straight over playoff teams from the season before. They joined the 2003 Philadelphia Eagles with that distinction, though Tennessee is 7-0 overall this season against teams from the most recent playoffs.
“They do know how to win, and I’m thankful for that,” coach Mike Vrabel said of his Titans (8-2).
Tennessee, seeking a second straight AFC South Division title, is alone atop the conference standings with the regular season past its halfway point.