After Epic Comeback, Titans Head To New England

NASHVILLE, TN — Following an improbable comeback in Kansas City Saturday in the wild-card round, the Tennessee Titans will travel to New England to take on the AFC’s top-seeded Patriots (13-3).

The Titans beat the Chiefs 22-21, scoring 19 unanswered points in the second half after falling behind 21-3 in the first. The game hinged on some remarkable and fortuitous heroics, particularly by quarterback Marcus Mariota, who caught one of his own passes for a touchdown and laid a crucial block on running back Derrick Henry’s game-sealing rush.

It was the Titans first playoff win since 2004. Mariota is the first Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback to win a road playoff game since Jim Plunkett in 1980.

Saturday’s game kicks off at 7:15 p.m. Central and will be broadcast on CBS. The Patriots opened as a 13.5-point favorite.

This will be the third playoff meeting between the two franchises. The first, on New Year’s Eve 1978, was a 31-14 win for the then-Houston Oilers. The second is far more memorable to Titans fans, best remembered for wide receiver Drew Bennett failing to catch a fourth-down pass from Steve McNair, ending a potential game-winning drive with 1:45 remaining in the game.

The Titans have only beat the Patriots once since moving to Tennessee and have not won in New England since 1993 as the Oilers.

Stay with Patch for updates on Saturday’s game throughout the week.