NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With the 2-14 season in the bank, we'll spend some time looking back at a dozen plays that defined the Tennessee Titans' season.
I put them in rough order, but we certainly could shuffle the list
Game: Steelers 27, Titans 24, Week 11 at LP Field, Nov. 17, 2014.
Situation: Down 3-0 and with the ball at their own 20-yard line, rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger broke the Titans' huddle and went to the line for his first play in a prime-time NFL game.
Play: Mettenberger threw short to the left looking for Justin Hunter, who didn't do great work going after the ball. But it was a poor throw and cornerback William Gay jumped it, picked it, and easily took it 28 yards for a touchdown that increased the Steelers lead to 10-0. The most puzzling element here is what Ken Whisenhunt said the day after the game about Mettenberger throwing such a pass. “He gets a little bit closed when he goes to his left sometimes,” Whisenhunt said.” That may be a function of just where he is with his legs, but we're working on those. We do those drills in practice, and we'll continue to harp on them.” That Mettenberger was sometimes having trouble opening up properly making such throws begged the question: If that's the case, why in the world did Whisenhunt call for a play asking that for such a throw on Mettenberger's very first play from scrimmage against the Steelers on "Monday Night Football"? It made no sense.
Here's a Twitter follower who suggested it:
The rundown:
No. 6: Pierre Garcon's 70-yard touchdown catch
No. 7: Mettenberger's second shoulder injury
No. 8: Bernard Pollard's dropped interception
No. 9: Mettenberger's bomb to Nate Washington
No. 10: Le'Veon Bell running out the clock
No. 11: Sammie Hill's field goal block against the Jaguars
No 12: Chris Spencer's false start on a kneel down
