A teammate called out to David Long Jr. from a corner of the locker room: “Keep the game ball!”
I wasn’t letting him get away.
Long intercepted Carson Wentz at the 1-yard line with 6 seconds left to preserve Tennessee’s third straight win, 21-17 over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Derrick Henry got his team rolling again, and Long’s play capped a goal-line save that vaulted the Titans (3-2) into first place in the AFC South.
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Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans throws the ball to Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans during the second half against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on October 9, 2022 in Landover, Maryland.
(Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
“We never panic,” Long said of a defense that has made two game-saving plays in the last three weeks. “That’s why we do it. This is what you dream about. Don’t panic. Somebody made a play and we get off the field. It just ended up being me.”
The interception, Wentz’s sixth of the season, marked a fourth straight loss for the Commanders (1-4) and overshadowed his two touchdown passes to Dyami Brown.
“Guy made a big play,” said Wentz, who went 25-of-38 for 359 yards, including 76 on the final drive. “I just tried to squeeze it out on JD (McKissic). Quite a play. It was an emotional roller coaster. I thought we had six points when he left my hand and then the result. It was unfortunate.”
Long before Long was the hero, Henry racked up 102 yards on 28 carries and had two catches for 30 yards, one of them a screen pass that set up Dontrell Hilliard’s 13-yard touchdown reception in the first fourth He topped 100 yards rushing for the second straight game, and the Titans improved to 24-3 when Henry reached that mark.
CARSON WENTZ SAYS ‘NO PANIC’ DESPITE WASHINGTON’S SLOW START: ‘NO SENSE OF CHAOS OUT HERE’
“It’ll be me every Sunday,” Henry said.
When Henry got into the end zone in the third quarter, it was Tennessee’s first second-half touchdown since the season opener. It also tied him with Earl Campbell for second on the franchise TD list with 73, one behind Eddie George.
Leaning on Henry allowed the Titans to make up for Ryan Tannehill being sacked five times. It helps that they are a league-best 10-of-11 in the red zone.
“These games are going to be close,” said Tannehill, who was 15-for-25 for 181 yards and the TD pass to Hilliard. “There’s a lot of belief when we get down there we’re going to score.”
The Commanders were 1-for-11 on third down, including the interception, and are now last in the NFC East.
“We’ve dug ourselves a hole, but at the same time we’ve got a lot of games left, a lot of football,” Wentz said. “The NFL is crazy. We try not to look at what happened the last couple of games and what’s ahead. We just have to go 1-0 every week. We’ve dug ourselves a hole. We’ve done it to ourselves.” .
Carson Wentz #11 of the Washington Commanders throws the ball during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at FedExField on October 9, 2022 in Landover, Maryland.
(Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
GREAT GAMES
Wentz made arguably his best pass of the season to connect with Brown for a 75-yard score. It’s the first longest TD reception by a Washington player since running back Matt Jones in 2015.
Tannehill found Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 61-yard completion that was the Titans’ longest offensive play of the season.
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“I knew it was 1-on-1, so it was basically just a confidence throw, giving my guy a chance to go up and play the football,” Tannehill said.
ROBINSON DEBUT
Chiefs rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. he made his NFL debut six weeks to the day when he was shot twice in the right leg in an attempted robbery in Washington. Robinson received a standing ovation when he was the last player introduced and finished with 22 yards on nine carries as the team’s leading rusher.
“I can’t really explain the feeling of being back on the field,” Robinson said. “Today, it’s finally all come to light, and I’m so blessed to be back.”
Robinson returned to practice Wednesday after spending the first four games of the season on the non-football injury list. The team activated Alabama’s third-round pick on Saturday.
TITANS’ TAYLOR LEWAN IS OUT FOR SEASON AFTER KNEEING AGAINST TACKLES
INJURIES
Titans: DE Denico Autry missed some time in the third quarter with a back injury. He returned at the start of the quarter. … Three starters were inactive: LB Zach Cunningham (elbow), S Amani Hooker (concussion) and LG Nate Davis (knee/foot).
Commanders: RB Jonathan Williams was ruled out with a knee injury early in the fourth quarter. … RT Sam Cosmi did not play after undergoing hand surgery earlier in the week.
Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during the second half against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on October 9, 2022 in Landover, Maryland.
(Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
UNTIL THE NEXT
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Titans: Have a bye week before hosting AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 23.
Commanders: Visit the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.
