LANDOVER — How many times can one write about the Tennessee Titans (3-2) surviving an opponent without being redundant? The limit does not exist.

With a 21-17 victory over the lowly Washington Commanders (1-4), Tennessee now sits atop the AFC South through five weeks of play.

The joke is clearly on all of us that left them for dead after the massacre at Buffalo. Frankly, the Titans did not deserve the benefit of the doubt. If they insist on preaching to media that reflections on seasons, or even games, prior are irrelevant and that the focus is simply on that week's opponent, why is that so hard to believe?

Does Tennessee actually have a proven recipe for success in one-score games?

Titans seem to thrive in high-pressure situations

At the very least, their defense feeds off of them.

With linebacker David Long's game-saving interception of Washington quarterback Carson Wentz, the Titans record improved to 23-11 in contests decided by a single score under coach Mike Vrabel. They are 3-1 in such situations this season alone. One-score games in a league designed so well for parity are literal coin flips for every other franchise.

And yet, here are Vrabel and his Tennessee teams, gutting it out at higher rate than any franchise in the league.

"We practice the red zone all week," Long said postgame with the intercepted ball still firmly in his grip. "They move me around a little bit from Mike (linebacker) to Money, so I was prepared for the play. The thing is, we never panicked. They made some plays. We know what kind of players we've got on that side of the ball."

All NFL coaches rep situational football as a part of the weekly routine. Vrabel and the Titans staff over the years seem to excel particularly at putting their players in a position to succeed.

Can the defense survive the offensive struggles, though?

So far, the answer is yes.

It does seem to be an unforgiving slog every time out, though. Tennessee had only two plays over 20 yards in Sunday's victory over the Commanders. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was absolutely brutalized behind yet another patchwork group of offensive linemen to the tune of five sacks. It was the most in a single game for Washington since November of 2020.

Last season the Titans ranked 24th in explosive play rate and languished in the absence of Derrick Henry's superhuman ability to consistently break big gains. Henry's usage in the screen game this year has been a source of some relief with a line thus far incapable of helping him with the former.

Through five weeks, Tennessee has not fared much better in that department. Only 16 plays have resulted in gains of 20 yards or more without the help of penalties.

"We believe in each other and we are going to keep battling and find a way to win," said Tannehill. "I think that's what has been proven in the last few weeks. We believe in each other and we are going to keep battling no matter what's happening and, ultimately, find a way to win."

Truth to power, I suppose.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.