Tennessee Titans intercept Jaxson Dart four times, beat New York Giants 20-13 in Week 3

East Rutherford, NJ - The Tennessee Titans came away with a 20-13 Week 3 victory over the New York Giants despite finishing with substantially less offensive production, leaning on a four-interception defensive performance and perfect red-zone touchdown rate.

New York outgained Tennessee 372-207 in offensive yards, recorded 22 first downs to the Titans' 14 and produced 287 passing yards. None of those advantages changed the result on the scoreboard, where the Titans secured the seven-point win.

The defining statistical contrast was possession security. Tennessee did not throw an interception, while Jaxson Dart was picked off four times during a 27-of-56, 293-yard passing performance. Dart threw one touchdown, posted a 40.2 passer rating and completed a pass as long as 31 yards.

Cedric Gray accounted for two of Tennessee's four interceptions, adding 11 return yards and a pass deflection. Tony Adams recorded another interception, returned it 37 yards and finished with three pass deflections. The Titans also registered one sack.

"When the ball came our way, we finished the play," Gray said. "Four interceptions is a big number, and everybody on defense understands how much discipline it takes to come away with that kind of production."

Tennessee's offense operated within a much smaller statistical footprint. Cam Ward completed 16 of 26 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, finishing with an 82.6 passer rating. His longest completion covered 17 yards, while the Titans ended the game with 85 passing yards as a team.

The ground game provided more volume. Tony Pollard carried 19 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, with a long run of 19 yards. He also caught two passes for one yard and scored a receiving touchdown. Ward added 15 rushing yards on three attempts as Tennessee finished with 122 rushing yards.

"We understood that the numbers weren't going to be huge through the air," Ward said. "The important thing was staying composed and taking care of the football. Tony gave us steady production, and we were sharp when we got into scoring range."

That scoring-range efficiency separated the teams on another important line of the box score. Tennessee reached the red zone twice and scored touchdowns on both trips. New York made three red-zone trips, finishing with one touchdown and one field goal.

The Giants also went 1-for-3 on fourth down. Their third-down rate was stronger, with eight conversions in 16 attempts compared with Tennessee's 4-for-12 showing, but New York finished with 13 points from its 372 offensive yards.

Dart's passing volume produced two prominent receiving performances. Theo Johnson caught 10 passes for 118 yards, leading the Giants in both categories and recording a long reception of 27 yards. Malachi Fields added four catches for 71 yards, including a 31-yard reception, and also gained nine yards on his lone rushing attempt.

Cam Skattebo led New York on the ground with 69 yards on 12 carries, averaging nearly six yards per attempt and breaking a 20-yard run. The Giants finished with 85 rushing yards as a team. Their defense recorded two sacks but did not intercept a pass.

"There are yards on the stat sheet, but the four interceptions are what I'm looking at," Dart said. "When you throw it 56 times, you still have to be responsible with every opportunity. I've got to be better with the football."

Tennessee's receiving production was distributed across a passing game that emphasized short gains. Darnell Mooney made five catches for 39 yards and scored a touchdown. No Titans receiver reached 30 yards beyond Mooney, and the team's longest verified completion was Ward's 17-yarder.

The final numbers formed an unusual profile for the winner: 165 fewer offensive yards, eight fewer first downs and 202 fewer passing yards than the opponent. Tennessee nevertheless left East Rutherford with the 20-13 result, accompanied by four defensive interceptions, no interceptions allowed and touchdowns on both of its red-zone trips.

Up Next

The Tennessee Titans will travel to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 looking to follow up the victory, while the New York Giants return home to host the Arizona Cardinals and attempt to rebound from the loss.