A wild game that included a converted hail mary and six touchdowns of 40 yards or more ended with the Tennessee Titans winning a 44-41 overtime thriller against the Detroit Lions.
Titans kicker Rob Bironas finished off the first possession in overtime with a 26-yard field goal to put Tennessee ahead. Going for the win, the Lions failed to convert a 4th-and-short quarterback sneak on the Titans' 7-yard line to seal Tennessee's victory.
Tennessee's Nate Washington took a 71-yard pass from Jake Locker to the end zone with three and a half minutes left in the game to break a 27-all tie, but Detroit had quarterback Matt Stafford pushing the offense quickly down the field.
On a 6-yard pass on the Titans' 28-yard line, tight end Brandon Pettigrew fumbled. Titans cornerback Alterraun Vernerwent 72 yards the other way to put Tennessee up by two touchdowns and seemingly guarantee its victory.
Making matters worse, Stafford strained a leg muscle trying to chase down the fumble return.
Big plays by the Titans were the theme of the day. But so too was Detroit making comebacks from each blow. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill led a late scoring drive for the Lions in place of the injured Stafford, going 80 yards in 50 seconds to bring Detroit within a touchdown, 41-34. Detroit attempted and succeeded with an onside kick, and after one incomplete pass from the Tennessee 46, Hill found Titus Young for a 46-yard hail mary touchdown with six seconds left to force overtime.
The big winner: Rob Bironas
The Titans' placekicker had a streak of 18 consecutive made field goals coming into today's game. He missed two in regulation that would have given Tennessee the slight edge to stave off Detroit's will to make a comeback, but he made things right by nailing the biggest kick that turned into the winning points.
The big loser: The Detroit offensive line
Ending the game, a quarterback sneak that would have given the Lions the ball inside the Titans' 7-yard line with a 1st-and-goal failed to get the short yardage. Instead of an opportunity to win, Jim Schwartz's decision cost the Lions.
Fantasy outlook: Jake Locker
While Stafford is perhaps the face of the young quarterback, Locker had a career day. He bettered Stafford's solid outing of 278 yards on 33-of-42 passing by throwing for his first 300-plus day. Locker finished with 378 yards on 29-of-42 passing for two touchdowns and no interceptions.
What's on the schedule?
The Lions take on the Minnesota Vikings next week at Ford Field while the Titans visit the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.
For more on the Detroit Lions, check out Pride Of Detroit. Take a look at Music City Miracles for more on the Titans. You can also hit up SB Nation's NFL hub or SB Nation's fantasy hub for analysis to help out your fantasy team.
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