Ward throws 2 TDs as Titans edge Lions 15-12

Detroit, MI - Cam Ward threw two touchdown passes, including one each to Calvin Ridley and Wan’Dale Robinson, as the Tennessee Titans defeated the Detroit Lions 15-12 in Week 14.

The Titans emerged from a low-scoring game with the result despite finishing far behind Detroit in nearly every measure of offensive volume. The Lions produced 370 offensive yards and 21 first downs, while Tennessee finished with 182 yards and only six first downs.

Detroit repeatedly applied pressure over the course of the game, but Tennessee established a narrow advantage and protected it as the Lions worked to close the margin. The Titans never created much separation, and their offense went through long stretches without sustaining possessions. What they did produce, however, included the game’s only two verified touchdown passes.

Ward completed 15 of 25 attempts for 157 yards, two touchdowns and a 104.9 passer rating. His longest completion covered 72 yards, the longest pass play of the game. Ridley supplied Tennessee’s most explosive receiving production, turning two catches into a game-high 81 yards and a touchdown. His 72-yard reception was also the game’s longest catch.

Robinson added three receptions for 18 yards and caught Ward’s other touchdown pass. With Tennessee managing just 25 rushing yards, the connection between Ward and his receivers represented the most productive part of an otherwise limited offensive performance.

"There are going to be games where you don’t have a lot of room and the numbers aren’t going to be big," Ward said. "We finished two opportunities with touchdowns, and in a game like this, that matters. We stayed patient even when we weren’t moving it the way we wanted."

The statistical contrast was most striking between the quarterbacks. Jared Goff completed 34 of 50 passes for a game-high 254 yards, nearly 100 more than Ward, but finished with a 79.9 passer rating and no touchdown passes. Neither defense recorded an interception.

Jameson Williams led Detroit with seven receptions for 71 yards. The Lions consistently found shorter gains through the air, but their longest completion went for 18 yards. Tennessee, by comparison, received more than half of its passing total from Ridley’s two catches.

"We had opportunities to finish possessions differently, especially when we got into scoring range," Goff said. "Moving the ball is one part of it. We have to turn more of that work into points, and today we didn’t do enough of that."

Detroit reached the red zone three times and came away with two field goals but no touchdowns. Tennessee made one red-zone trip and scored a touchdown. The Lions also went 0-for-4 on fourth down, another notable result in a game decided by three points.

The Lions were more successful at extending possessions on third down, converting 8 of 18 attempts. Tennessee went only 1-for-8. That disparity fit the broader shape of the afternoon: Detroit accumulated more snaps, first downs and yardage, while the Titans operated with fewer sustained stretches of offense.

The running game also favored Detroit. Isiah Pacheco rushed for a game-high 47 yards on 12 carries, and Jahmyr Gibbs added 43 yards on 12 attempts. Together, they accounted for 90 of Detroit’s 116 rushing yards. Tennessee managed only 25 yards on the ground, with Tony Pollard leading the team at 13 yards on eight carries.

Still, the Titans kept the game within the narrow terms that had developed around their advantage. Detroit continued to threaten with its greater offensive output, but Tennessee avoided allowing the contest to become a high-scoring exchange. The Lions reduced the margin without fully erasing it, leaving the Titans with their sixth victory after entering the week at 5-7.

Tennessee’s defense recorded two sacks, with Jermaine Johnson II credited with 1.5. Detroit produced three sacks of its own. Neither unit generated an interception, making field position, scoring efficiency and the ability to finish possessions especially prominent in the final statistical picture.

Ridley said the Titans understood that their opportunities could be limited against a Detroit team that was sustaining more offense.

"Sometimes you only get a few chances to create something," Ridley said. "You can’t worry about how many times the ball comes your way. When it does, you have to be ready to give the offense something."

For Detroit, the loss was particularly frustrating because of the scope of its statistical advantages. The Lions had 188 more offensive yards, 15 more first downs and 91 more rushing yards. Tennessee nevertheless left Detroit with the 15-12 victory, a result defined by Ward’s two touchdown passes and the Lions’ inability to score a touchdown on three red-zone trips.

Up Next

The Titans will return home in Week 15 to host the Indianapolis Colts, while the Lions will try to rebound on the road against the Minnesota Vikings.