Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown would be coming off of IR for this football game against the San Francisco 49ers. Tennessee missed his presence over the last few weeks. The Titans were 5-1 so far this season when he and Julio Jones were playing in the same football game.
A.J. Brown accounted for most of Tennessee’s offense on Thursday night with 11 receptions for 145 yards receiving and a touchdown, in a 20-17 win for Tennessee. Randy Bullock made the 44-yard field goal for Tennessee against San Francisco with four seconds remaining in regulation.
Brown had his way with the 49ers secondary all night long. San Francisco’s secondary was thin. A.J. Brown is a big physical specimen that was tough to stop. Ryan Tannehill looked dreadful in the first half. They didn’t score any points.
All of their points came in the second half. Tannehill completed 22-of-29 for 209 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 22 yards on three carries for Tennessee.
Ryan Tannehill admitted he missed A.J. Brown. With the game tied at 10 in the fourth quarter, Ryan Tannehill threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown.
On that same drive that set up the touchdown on a third-and-23 play right before the end of the third quarter, the San Francisco 49ers jumped offsides and Ryan Tannehill had a free play so he threw it up intended for A.J. Brown and caught it for a 42-yard reception.
That was the kind of night and game A.J. Brown had. They are starting to get healthy bodies. Wait until they get running back Derrick Henry back to go along with Julio Jones and A.J. Brown.
With less than 2:24 remaining in regulation, Jimmy Garoppolo threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk that tied the game at 17. Deebo Samuel had a 56-yard reception on that drive for San Francisco that set up the game-tying score.
Jimmy Garoppolo completed 26-of-35 passes for 322 yards one touchdown and two interceptions. He was not that great despite that statline last night. Garoppolo threw an interception in the end zone to Janoris Jenkins in the first quarter and also missed a wide-open Kyle Juszczyk for a potential touchdown in the second quarter.
Deebo Samuel caught nine passes for 159 yards receiving for the San Francisco 49ers and he also rushed for 32 yards on five carries.
With the San Francisco 49ers’ loss, the Dallas Cowboys have clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs.
The Tennessee Titans and the performance by A.J. Brown will be overlooked today, but they deserve a ton of credit for not doubting themselves. A.J. Brown when healthy is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
If the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) lose to the Arizona Cardinals (10-4) on Saturday night, Tennessee will be AFC South champions for the second consecutive season. If that doesn’t happen then the Titans either need one more win or one more Colts loss.
The Tennessee Titans (10-5) next football game will be next Sunday at home against the Miami Dolphins (7-7).
The San Francisco 49ers (8-7) next football game will be next Sunday at home against the Houston Texans (3-11).
-Glenn Kaplan, 12oz Sports Contributor, Live Monday’s at 3 p.m. ET & Thursday at 11 a.m. ET on 12oz Sports
Photo Credit: Twitter @Titans
