Instant analysis: Cardinals 12, Titans 7
A quick analysis of the Titans’ 12-7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium.
What it means
With only three games left in the regular season, Sunday’s loss won’t keep the Titans (8-5) out of the playoffs, but now having home field is a bit tougher.
Entering Sunday’s game, the Titans were the projected third seed in the AFC, as they held the tiebreaker over Jacksonville for first place in the AFC South (both came into Sunday with 8-4 records). However, the Titans' loss combined with the Jaguars’ win over Seattle gives Jacksonville the upper hand in the division. After Sunday’s game, Jacksonville is now the projected third seed at 9-4.
Turning Point
The interception bug has not been kind to Marcus Mariota this season. The Titans’ quarterback threw his second interception of the game with 5:52 left in the fourth quarter, on the first play after Arizona took a 9-7 lead. The Cardinals got another field goal after the turnover, putting the game out of reach.
Star Watch
QB Marcus Mariota: 16-of-31 passing for 159 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions; 11 yards on two carries.
RB DeMarco Murray: 11 carries for 34 yards; 13 yards on two catches.
RB Derrick Henry: Eight carries for 20 yards, one touchdown.
WR Eric Decker: Three catches for 56 yards, with a team-high long of 29 yards.
TE Delanie Walker: Team-high five catches for 42 yards.
Scoring rundown
Second quarter
TEN: D. Henry 6-yard run (R. Succop kick). Titans, 7-0
Third quarter
ARI: P. Dawson 47-yard field goal. Titans, 7-3
ARI: Dawson 23-yard field goal. Titans, 7-6
Fourth quarter
ARI: Dawson 32-field goal. Cardinals, 9-7
ARI: Dawson, 35-yard field goal. Cardinals, 12-7
Stat recap
RUSHING
TEN: DeMarco Murray 11-34; Derrick Henry 8-20, 1 TD; Marcus Mariota 2-11; Eric Weems 1-0.
ARI: Kerwynn Williams 20-73; Chad Williams; 1-33; Blaine Gabbert 4-12; Elijhaa Penny 2-11; D.J. Foster 2-7
PASSING
TEN: Mariota 16-31, 159 yards, 0 TD, 2 INTs
ARI: Gabbert 17-26, 178 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
RECEIVING
TEN: Delanie Walker 5-42; Eric Decker 3-56; Corey Davis 3-29; Rishard Matthews 3-19; Murray 2-13
ARI: Larry Fitzgerald 5-44; Jermaine Gresham 2-27; J.J. Nelson 2-26; Ricky Seals-Jones 1-20; Penny 1-18; Jaron Brown 2-15; Williams 1-15; Troy Niklas 1-7; Foster 2-6
By the numbers
5: Derrick Henry's touchdown total for the season, matching his touchdown total from 2016.
17: Rushing touchdowns the Titans have scored this season. The only team with more is the New Orleans Saints.
64: Cardinals' total yards of offense in the first half (32 rushing, 32 receiving). The Cardinals also had only five first downs in the half.
0: Points Titans scored in the first quarter for the second week in a row. That is the fifth game this season the Titans have gone scoreless in the opening quarter.
14: Interceptions this season for Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota.
20: Sacks for the Titans defense in the past three games. On Sunday, the defense totaled eight.
65: Rushing yards for the Titans, the seventh time this season they have not been able to crack 100 yards as a team on the ground.
261: Total yards of offense the Titans allowed, which is the third-fewest total yards allowed this season by the team.
Up Next
The Titans are staying out West for the week before facing the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday (3:25 p.m. CT, CBS). The 49ers beat Houston 26-16 on Sunday for their third win of the season.