NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans, chasing their first division title since 2008, are clicking on offense at a rate unprecedented in the history of their franchise.
They think they can get better, too.
Ryan Tannehill accounted for five touchdowns passing and running – his most in a single game in his nine-year NFL career – and Derrick Henry rushed for 147 yards and a score as Tennessee routed the Detroit Lions, 46-25, and moved closer to clinching its fourth postseason berth in four years.
The Titans (10-4) did their part with a second straight victory and their fourth in five games to hold on to first place in the AFC South. The Indianapolis Colts beat the Houston Texans 27-20 in a division matchup Sunday and are also 10-4 overall, but the Titans hold the divisional tiebreaker with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
Tennessee also broke through for the first regular season with a double-digit total in wins since 2008, ending a streak of four straight 9-7 records.
“Ten wins means nothing,” Tannehill said. “We have bigger goals than that. We’re just going to find a way to end each week 1-0. We did that. We’re successful. Now we have to try to find a way to do that next week.”
AP photo by Wade Payne / Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill heads to the end zone for one of his two touchdown runs during Sunday’s home win against the Detroit Lions. Tannehill also threw three touchdown passes.The Titans face another NFC North opponent Saturday when they visit Green Bay, but while the Lions (5-9) were officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Packers (11-3) are on track for the top seed in their conference. Tennessee closes the regular season on the road against the Texans on Jan. 3.
Matthew Stafford shook off a rib injury to start for the Lions, throwing for 252 yards and a touchdown before being pulled for Chase Daniel after Tennessee went up 39-18 with 9:00 left.
“I think it’s a valiant effort for him really to even get out there,” said Detroit interim head coach Darrell Bevell, who fell to 1-2 in that role. “It was amazing watching him during the week, and I just want to say that about him, just how tough and gritty he is.”
The former University of Georgia standout played behind a makeshift line with center Frank Ragnow (throat) and right tackle Tyrell Crosby (ankle) both out.
Tennessee became the fifth team in NFL history with five straight games piling up at least 420 yards of total offense and 30 points. The Titans scored a season high with their fourth game totaling at least 42 points.
“We want to keep our foot on the gas,” Tannehill said.
Tannehill ran for two touchdowns and threw for three scores – his season total of 31 touchdowns is his career best – as he finished 21-of-27 passing for 273 yards with no interceptions. He became the first Titan to account for five touchdowns on the ground and through the air in the same game since Billy Volek did it 16 years ago against the Raiders.
Coach Mike Vrabel wasn’t happy Tannehill dove for the pylon. Otherwise, the Titans scored on every possession except for when Tannehill was sacked in the end zone for a safety in the first half, one punt in the second half and when they knelt to run out the clock.
“He understands what we’re trying to get done,” Vrabel said of the quarterback Tennessee signed to a four-year extension in March – five months after Tannehill went from backup to No. 1 in Nashville and a year after the Miami Dolphins traded their former starter away.
Henry capped the opening drive with a 3-yard rush for his 15th touchdown run this season. That made him the fourth player in NFL history to run for at least 1,500 yards and 15 scores in consecutive seasons, joining Terrell Davis (1997-98), Shaun Alexander (2004-05) and Larry Johnson (2005-06).
The reigning NFL rushing leader also added to his collection of memorable stiff-arm moves by making Lions cornerback Alex Myres look like a rag doll with a mighty shove in the second quarter. Henry said he looks at how a defender is approaching him, with most starting high and going low.
“I just waited and timed it, and it worked,” Henry said.
The Titans led 21-7 after a 75-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to Corey Davis and a 17-yard touchdown run by the quarterback. Romeo Okwara sacked Tannehill two plays later for the Lions’ first safety in 75 games, also against Tennessee on Sept. 18, 2016. D’Andre Swift capped Detroit’s ensuing drive with a 2-yard run, but Matt Prater’s PAT was wide left.
The Lions managed a 53-yard field goal by Prater in the third quarter, tying the NFL record held by Sebastian Janikowski with his 58th career kick of 50 yards or longer. The Titans put it away with 22 points in the fourth quarter with Tannehill’s second touchdown run and two more touchdown passes.
Tennessee’s beleaguered defense, which came into the game with the fewest sacks in the NFL and ranked last in third-down conversions, forced three turnovers.