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Saturday 14 November 2020
Special teams miscues cost Titans in 34-17 loss to Colts

By TERESA M. WALKER rare kidney cancer, caught
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — five passes for 67 yards.
Coming into this season, But A.J. Brown dropped a
the Tennessee Titans had deep pass from Tannehill in
only two punters since 1998. the first half after beating a
Now they've gone through defender.
three, plus two long snap- The Tennessee defense
pers, in as many games. held Indianapolis to 4 of
All that instability showed 12 on third downs, yet the
Thursday night. Colts converted three of
Trevor Daniel, signed to the five fourth downs through
practice squad last week- the first three quarters.
end, managed only 17 Ryan Tannehill, who was 15
yards on his first punt days of 27 for 147 yards with one
after delivering packages touchdown, said the Titans
for FedEx. He never had have to start playing bet-
a chance on his second ter, plain and simple.
as the Indianapolis Colts "We're just not consistent
blocked the kick and re- as a team playing comple-
turned it for a touchdown mentary football, playing
in a 34-17 victory over Ten- off of each other," Tannehill
nessee. said. "We're just not making
Adding to the Titans' spe- enough plays. We're going
cial teams' woes, four-time to have to clean that up
Pro Bowl kicker Stephen and get healthy."
Gostkowski missed a 44- Indianapolis Colts linebacker E.J. Speed (45) blocks a punt by Tennessee Titans punter Trevor Dan- The Titans lost their bye last
iel (12) in the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Colts
yard field goal wide right as cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) recovered the ball and ran it back for a touchdown. month when dealing with
he worked with yet another Associated Press the NFL's first COVID-19 out-
holder. break of the season. Now
The loss dropped the Titans first goal coming into the now," Vrabel said. Tennessee led 17-13 at they have the weekend off
to 6-3 with their third loss season was winning the di- Gostkowski became the halftime. Then everything before playing five of their
in four games, and coach vision for the first time since first Titans kicker to miss turned. final seven on the road,
Mike Vrabel promised ev- 2008 to earn a home play- eight field goals in a season In the second half, Daniel's and Tannehill said they
erything will be re-evaluat- off game. since Joe Nedney in 2001 first punt gave the Colts the need to clear their minds
ed even as he defended Now, Vrabel said they will — with seven games still re- ball at the Tennessee 27. and return ready to work
special teams coordinator take a couple of days off maining. The last kicker for Later, after the Titans went Monday.
Craig Aukerman. to heal up and figure out this franchise to miss nine three-and-out, the Colts "We can't wait around any
"We'll look at what we're what's going wrong on or more was Tony Zendejas blocked Daniel's next punt longer," he said. "We have
doing and try to do what's special teams, why a high- with 12 in 1989. and scooped up the ball to take it up a notch and
best for the team like we al- scoring offense is suddenly The Titans are already on for a TD. Gostkowski had be ready to play our best
ways do," Vrabel said. "We sputtering and how come their second long snapper the missed field goal, then football every Sunday from
all have jobs to do, and we the defense can't get off of the season, and Daniel the Titans turned it over on here going forward. The
have to try to do them bet- the field. became the third differ- downs. onus is on us to take a criti-
ter." "We've got to play comple- ent punter and holder, with Derrick Henry ran for 103 cal look at ourselves and
With the loss, the Titans fell mentary football in all three three-time Pro Bowl punter yards, and Corey Davis, do whatever it takes to
into a tie with Indianapolis phases, and that doesn't Brett Kern on injured reserve playing a day after his old- clean it up and make plays
atop the AFC South. Their happen for 60 minutes right due to an injured wrist. er brother, Titus, died of a on Sundays." q

Ryan Tepera? Mix-up gives curious MVP vote to Cubs pitcher

pera? Grom and Nolan Arenado NL MVP vote. Thanks Rick!
Baseball fans love to argue drew as they got shut out. Honored by the vote," the
over who should win big Tepera struck out 31 in 20 pitcher posted Friday.
awards. But there likely was 2/3 innings over 21 games, Fondly called "The Com-
no debate about the most and pitched in the playoffs mish" by his peers, Hum-
surprising name on the list for the Cubs. A valuable mel in 2006 won the Base-
of players getting NL MVP piece of Chicago's bullpen, ball Writers' Association of
votes Thursday. for sure, but MVP worthy? America's award for ex-
That was Tepera, the Chi- Turns out there was a simple cellence that is presented
cago Cubs reliever who explanation for the vote. It during the Hall of Fame's
was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA dur- was a mix-up — one that induction ceremonies.
ing the virus-shortened sea- didn't affect the results in Hummel said he intended
son. any way. to click on Turner's name on
The 33-year-old righty re- "I meant to hit Trea Turner a drop-down list, but figures
ceived a single 10th-place and thought I had," long- he accidentally clicked Te-
vote for one point, leaving time St. Louis Post-Dispatch pera. Turner, the Washing-
This July 27, 2020, file photo shows Chicago Cubs relief pitcher
Ryan Tepera (52) pitching during a baseball game against the him tied for 18th in the NL writer Rick Hummel said. ton shortstop, finished all
Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati. balloting, far behind winner No worries, Tepera tweet- alone in seventh place.
Associated Press Freddie Freeman. Still, that's ed. "I should have double-
more support than the likes "One man's mistake is an- checked it," Hummel
By BEN WALKER NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Te- of Bryce Harper, Jacob de- other man's claim to an said.q