The Tennessee Titans ended a long and frustrating drought, celebrating their first victory under head coach Brian Callahan with a decisive 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. The win was particularly special for the Titans, as it marked their first time scoring over 30 points in a game in 1,002 days, a feat they last achieved in Week 17 of the 2021 season, also against the Dolphins.
Since that game, the Titans had gone 38 games without hitting the 30-point mark, a streak they were eager to break. During that 2021 season, Tennessee secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but the offense had struggled to replicate that level of production in recent years. Monday night’s game at Hard Rock Stadium brought a sense of relief and excitement as the Titans finally found their offensive rhythm.
Titans’ All-Around Performance Ends Scoring Drought
The Titans’ long-awaited offensive breakthrough came in a balanced effort, which included two touchdown runs, five field goals, and a safety, despite managing just 244 total yards. One of the game’s standout moments came from Tony Pollard, whose fourth-down dash to the pylon sealed the victory and ended Tennessee’s lengthy scoring drought.
Kicker Nick Folk was a key contributor to the win, tying his career-high with five field goals. Folk was incredibly reliable, converting kicks from 53, 52, 47, 51, and 29 yards. His three successful field goals from beyond 50 yards set a new personal best, giving the Titans the edge they needed to pull ahead and stay in control.
Defensively, Tennessee dominated the Dolphins, holding them to just 13 first downs and 184 total yards. Miami struggled on third downs, converting only 2 of 12 attempts (16.7%) and going just 1 of 3 on fourth downs (33.3%). The Titans’ defense was instrumental in halting Miami’s offense, with standout performances from Jarvis Brownlee, Kenneth Murray, and Quandre Diggs, who all contributed to key fourth-down stops.
Arden Key recovered a fumble, and Diggs intercepted a two-point conversion attempt. Murray led the team with nine tackles, while Harold Landry and Sebastian Joseph-Day each recorded a sack, rounding out a solid defensive performance.
Mason Rudolph Steps in for the Titans
The game took an unexpected turn when starting quarterback Will Levis exited in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. Mason Rudolph stepped in for Levis and managed the game effectively, completing 9 of 17 passes for 85 yards. Although his performance was not flashy, Rudolph protected the football and avoided mistakes, a key factor in the Titans’ victory.
Levis struggled before his injury, completing 3 of 4 passes for 25 yards but throwing an interception on the opening drive. Head coach Brian Callahan praised Rudolph for stepping in but confirmed that Levis will remain the starting quarterback as long as he is healthy. Fortunately for Levis, the Titans have a bye week in Week 5, giving him extra time to recover before their first divisional matchup of the season against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6.
This victory gives the Titans momentum as they prepare for the second half of the season, with hopes that their offense can continue building on the success they found in Miami.
