The Tennessee Titans won a football game, and it came at the exact moment everybody in the building and the fanbase needed it. Tennessee trailed the Indianapolis Colts 13-0 at halftime, then rattled off 20 unanswered points and 26 total second-half points to win 26-20 in Indianapolis.

The Titans defense carried this one. It forced a season-high three turnovers, a season-high six sacks on Colts QB Daniel Jones. A blocked punt was scooped and scored for a Titans touchdown.

A week of absolute hell for the Titans organization

The Titans lost 26-3 at home to the Houston Texans last week. It was gross. Then Easton Freeze’s survey documented how deep the frustration had become. A to Z Sports and Jared Stillman broke the story that Tennessee expects to hire a new business executive who has a pending lawsuit, which is a bad-optics situation no matter how you slice it. Then the team’s president and CEO made things worse by fumbling a Friday news dump heading into the weekend.

So when the first half ended 13-0, with Ward looking inept, the offense going nowhere, and the defense playing OK but still giving up yards and points, it all looked doom and gloom.

Titans defense showed the hell up in the second half

Then the defense took over. The first four Indianapolis drives of the second half went like this:

– Drive 1: Fumble on the opening possession of the third quarter. The Titans turned it into a field goal. 

– Drive 2: An interception. Another Titans field goal. 

– Drive 3: A punt that Chimere Dike returned more than 50 yards, setting up Tennessee’s only offensive touchdown of the day. Ward hit rookie WR Carnell Tate for his first career touchdown to tie it 13-13. 

– Drive 4: Another punt, except this time Julius Chestnut came flying through like the Green Goblin to block it. Femi Oladejo scooped it up and ran it in to make it 20-13.

Just like that, 20 unanswered points.

The Colts did answer. Jonathan Taylor’s touchdown tied the game at 20-20. But the Titans offense got just enough from Ward, Tate, and RB Tony Pollard to kick another field goal and go up 23-20. Then the defense came up with another big stop, sacking Jones for the sixth time and forcing a turnover on downs that set up the final field goal. Two Hail Mary attempts later, the Colts were done.

Here’s the full picture of Jones’ second half: fumble, interception, punt, blocked punt touchdown, Colts touchdown, turnover on downs, turnover on downs.

That’s a beatdown from a defense that had every reason to fold after the week it just had.

Jeffrey Simmons, Jermaine Johnson, and Carnell Tate lead the way

Jeffrey Simmons was unblockable all game. Jermaine Johnson busted through for two sacks to match Jeff’s total. Amani Hooker added an interception early, giving the Titans three takeaways on the day.

Now, the honest part. Jones isn’t very good. Indianapolis was without Tyler Warren and doesn’t have many other weapons on offense. But you can only beat the team in front of you, and this defense showed up to play.

Ward was . . . fine. He finished 11-of-22 for 102 yards, a touchdown, and an ugly first half interception. But he didn’t make any killer mistakes in the second half, and he wasn’t sacked once.

Tate deserves a ton of credit. Last week against Houston, he had nothing (one catch, six yards on five targets). Against the Colts, he caught six passes for 70 yards and the touchdown. Remember, Ward threw for 102 yards total. Tate had 70 of them. The rookie campaign keeps trending in the right direction. He also took two pretty massive hits and neither fazed him.

Pollard put together a strong day with 19 carries for 76 yards, and he was especially good after halftime. Wan’Dale Robinson had three catches for 22 yards, Tyjae Spears had one for seven, and Elic Ayomanor had one for three.

It’s been a long time since I’ve sat down to write after a Titans win. I’m genuinely not sure what to do with myself.

It feels like the Titans exorcised some demons in that second half. For one afternoon, Titans fans get a break from the disaster that has been this organization for a long time. Enjoy it. Monday will come soon enough.