NASHVILLE — Ryan Tannehill and the rest of the banged-up Tennessee Titans know opposing defenses start game plans around stopping their running back, two-time NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry.
Turns out an aching Tannehill and a patchwork defense were more than enough against the struggling Denver Broncos.
Tannehill returned after missing the past two games with a sprained ankle by throwing two touchdown passes to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as the Titans rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat the Broncos 17-10 on Sunday.
"Everything feels a little better when you win," said Tannehill, who spoke to reporters still wearing his uniform in a postgame time-saving move with more treatment ahead on his ankle and a road game Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.
The Titans (6-3) won for the sixth time in seven games, bouncing back from a 20-17 overtime road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Tannehill appeared rusty early as Tennessee fell behind 10-0 in the second quarter and trailed 208-53 in total yards shortly before halftime.
Denver came in rested off a 21-17 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 30 that was followed by an open date, not that it seemed to help. The Broncos (3-6) have lost five of their past six games.
"It's another close game, another one-score game," first-year Denver coach Nathaniel Hackett said of the team's five losses by a combined 21 points. "We feel like the defense stepped up to the challenge with Derrick Henry. I mean, the offense has to find a way."
Henry was held to 53 yards on 19 carries, snapping the NFL rushing leader's streak of five straight games with at least 100 yards on the ground.
The Broncos had plenty of chances but couldn't score after halftime. Russell Wilson had a final chance to tie the game, but his pass on fourth-and-8 from the Titans' 25-yard line was tipped and picked off by Terrance Mitchell with 11 seconds left.
"Man, it's definitely frustrating," Wilson said. "I feel like we could have won that game."
Tannehill and the Titans got going late in the second quarter.
The quarterback accounted for 70 yards on a drive capped with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Westbrook-Ikhine to pull within 10-7. In the third quarter, the Titans used a flea-flicker with Henry tossing the ball back to Tannehill, who found Westbrook-Ikhine wide open down the right sideline for a go-ahead 63-yard touchdown.
Undrafted in 2020 out of Indiana, Westbrook-Ikhine had a career-high 119 receiving yards. He also had his first NFL game with two touchdowns after not having a touchdown catch this season. Tannehill was 19-of-36 for 255 yards.
"It was great to see him back," Westbrook-Ikhine said of the 11th-year pro who's in his fourth season with the Titans.
Tennessee played without five defensive starters, including lineman Jeffery Simmons — a Pro Bowl selection last season — safety Amani Hooker and outside linebacker Bud Dupree. Cornerback Kristian Fulton was scratched just before the game with an injured hamstring, and Tennessee lost three other defensive backs to injuries during the game: Caleb Farley (back), Lonnie Johnson (hamstring) and Elijah Molden (groin).
The Titans still sacked Wilson six times as Rashad Weaver and DeMarcus Walker each had 1 1/2. Wilson's first season with Denver since being acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks has been disastrous, and against the Titans he was 21-of-42 for 286 yards, one touchdown and the late pick.
"Anytime guys like Jeff or Bud aren't out there, those guys that change the game, impact players, you want to go out there and do the same thing," Weaver said. "Not only to step up, but to make those guys proud."
Wilson got the Broncos across midfield for the first time midway through the second quarter when he found Jalen Virgil on the left sideline for a short pass the undrafted rookie from Appalachian State took 66 yards for the touchdown on his first NFL catch. The Broncos added a 39-yard field goal by Brandon McManus six minutes later.
Tennessee's Randy Bullock kicked a 35-yard field goal and made two PATs despite dealing with an unspecified limitation shortly before kickoff. Bullock had one kickoff that went just 47 yards, so rookie punter Ryan Stonehouse handled kickoffs in the second half and generated two touchbacks.
How much concern did that create? "A (expletive) ton," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said.
Denver scratched safety Justin Simmons because of the knee he hurt two weeks ago in the Broncos' win over Jacksonville — P.J. Locke made his first NFL start — and linebacker Baron Browning also was scratched.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who missed seven games last season with a high ankle sprain, was lost on the first offensive play after apparently tangling his feet with Titans defensive back Andrew Adams. Jeudy immediately grabbed at his left ankle, limped to the sideline and was carted to the locker room.
Broncos right tackle Billy Turner hurt a knee in the second quarter and did not return. Center Graham Glasgow, starting in place of the injured Lloyd Cushenberry III, hurt a shoulder late in the third. He was replaced by rookie Luke Wattenberg, who had played one snap previously.
"We're not going to give up, that's for sure," Wilson said. "Even though we've lost a lot of great players this season, really, the reality is we still have an opportunity to answer these moments. I'm going to do everything I can to find a way to answer those moments coming forward."