Live Blog: Follow the Titans' Game With the Saints in Real Time
NEW ORLEANS, La. — It's game time! Welcome to the Caesers Superdome in New Orleans, where the Tennessee Titans take on the New Orleans Saints in the regular season opener for both teams.
Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated on the game in real time live from press row in the Superdome.
If you're new to our blog, we'll give you all the news and views as they happen, plus we'll throw in a few highlights and opinions as well.
So, let's go!
FINAL. Saints win 16-15.
3:03 p.m. — It's fourth down and 6 yards to go at the 11, and trailing by four, the Titans kick another field goal. Now it's SAINTS 16, TITANS 15 with 2:17 to go.
2:53 p.m. — The Titans get the ball back with 6:42 to go, and trailing 16-12. Derrick Henry, their best player, has THREE second-half carries.
2:38 p.m. — The Titans are moving, and got a break on a defensive holding penalty on third down. It's now first-and-10 on the Saints' 28-yard line. Need to settle for another field goal though after another bad throw by Ryan Tannehill on third dow. SAINTS 16, TITANS 12.
2:22 p.m. — And there's a third interception for Ryan Tannehill, trying once again to force a ball into DeAndre Hopkins. Wasn't even close. Intercepted by Paulson Adebo. The Saints score the first touchdown of the game on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Rashid Shaheed. SAINTS 16, TITANS 9.
2:04 p.m. — Interesting decision by Mike Vrabel there. The Saints had a holding penalty called on third down, and Vrabel opted to decline the penalty and make it fourth down. The Saints kicked a 52-yard field goal to tie the game. I would have pushed them back 10 yards and trusted my defense.
1:57 p.m. — Another interception by Ryan Tannehill on a deep ball, this time targeting Chris Moore. Looked like interference a bit. Saints take over on the 6-yard line.
HALFTIME STATS: The Titans aren't doing a lot through the air. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was just 5-for-14 passing for 83 yards, but 56 of those came on screen passes to Derrick Henry. DeAndre Hopkins has two catches for 24 yards and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has one for 3 yards. Henry has 51 yards rushing on 10 carries.
1:38 p.m. – A big interception by Titans safety Amani Hooker to end the Saints' threat right before halftime. Bad throw from Derek Carr, you didn't see Hooker undercut the route. Titans run one play, but we go to halftime with the Titans leading 9-6.
1:22 p.m. — A great screen pass to the left side to Derrick Henry, and he's got plenty of running room. He starts barreling downfield for 46 yards. The drive stalls though, and Nick Folk comes out to convert his third-straight field goal attempt. TITANS 9, SAINTS 6.
1:18 p.m. — Ryan Tannehill tries to go deep to DeAndre Hopkins, but he's double covered and Marshon Lattimore intercepts the pass. Could call it a poor decision, but they've been saying all summer that they'll give Hopkins the chance to make plays.
1:12 p.m. — Arden Key is making noise again. On third down, he pressures Saints quarterback Derek Carr and hits his arm as he's getting ready to throw. It's called an incomplete pass on the field, but the Titans challenge. It sure looked like the ball came out before Carr's arm came forward, but the challenge failed. A 3-point call. Blake Grupe makes the field goal. TITANS 6, SAINTS 6 with 7:37 to go in the second quarter.
1:03 p.m. — The first big blunder of the game for the Titans, as Ryan Stonehouse gets a punt blocked, and the Saints get the ball at the 28-yard line.
12:52 p.m. — Arden Key gets the first sack of the season for the Titans. A play later, Kristian Fulton needs some help getting off the field.
12:40 p.m. — Nice job by the Titans defense, forcing a three-and-out. Give it right back, though. Win the field position edge thanks to a 62-yard punt by Ryan Stonehouse.
12:33 p.m. — The Titans are doing a good job of mixing things up. Derrick Henry has been great on this drive, but Ryan Tannehill has also thrown nice passes to DeAndre Hopkins and Chris Moore. The drive stalls though, and the Titans are forced to settle for another field goal. Nick Folk connects from 27 yards out. Henry had 39 rushing yards on the drive. With 3:06 to go in the first quarter, it's TITANS 6, SAINTS 3.
12:26 p.m. — The Titans start their second possession on the 25, and had it off to Derrick Henry on first down. He gains five yards right up the middle, then gets seven more on second down.
12:23 p.m. — The Saints have a nice drive, and new quarterback Derek Carr made several nice throws. They went 67 yards in nine plays, but had to settle for a 26-yard field. goal. TITANS 3, SAINTS 3.
12:10 p..m. — I told you noise would be a factor. There is a false start on the first play on tight end Trevon Wesco. And then on third down, there's a delay of game call when the snap doesn't get off on time despite all sorts of yelling and hand-clapping from Ryan Tannehill. New kicker Nick Folk connects from 50 yards though, and the Titans take the early lead. TITANS 3, SAINTS 0.
12:02 p.m. CT — The Titans won the toss and deferred. On the kickoff, there was a holding penalty against the Saints, so they'll start at the 10-yard line. After review, though, it was determined that there was a fumble, and the Titans recovered. They'll start at the 24. What a break.
11:55 a.m. CT — A nice pregame tribute to Jimmy Buffett before the game. The Mississippi native was a huge Saints fan. He passed away last week at age 76,
11:40 a.m. CT — The Saints are favored to NFC South this year, and it's the first of four games for the Titans against the teams in that division. Neither division is particularly strong, so these games could go a long way in determining potential playoff teams.
11:25 a.m. CT — I made my prediction on the game earlier — to read it, CLICK HERE — and a lot of it was based on how loud it can get in this building. Just in pregame introductions, it's barely possible to carry on a conversation with the person next to you.
11:15 a.m. CT — Here are the inactives for the Titans today — defensive back Tre Avery (hamstring), defensive lineman Jayden Peevy, linebacker Caleb Murphy, wide receiver Colton Dowell, offensive linemen Jaelyn Duncan and Dillon Radunz (knee), Will Levis is the emergency third quarterback.
11:05 a.m. CT— Today's game is on CBS and is televised throughout much of the South. Here's how to watch. CLICK HERE
