Underdog Stories Against Tennessee Titans Odds

Underdog stories against the Tennessee Titans are woven into the fabric of NFL lore—tales of teams written off by analysts, players counted out due to injuries, and franchises fighting to prove they belong on the same field as a physical, consistent Titans squad. These stories aren’t just about wins; they’re about resilience: a backup quarterback leading a last-minute drive, a defense shutting down Derrick Henry, or a small-market team outlasting a division powerhouse. In a league where parity often gives underdogs a fighting chance, the Titans have been on the wrong side of some of the most memorable upset moments—games where odds (often 7+ points in the Titans’ favor) were ignored, and heart prevailed. Underdog Stories Against Tennessee Titans Odds thus celebrates these moments, showing how the NFL’s “any given Sunday” mantra comes to life when teams dare to challenge the Titans’ dominance.

One of the most iconic underdog stories against the Titans unfolded in the 2020 AFC Wild Card Round, when the Baltimore Ravens—playing without their star quarterback Lamar Jackson—defeated the Titans 20–13 as 6.5-point underdogs. Jackson, sidelined with a knee injury, was replaced by backup Tyler Huntley, a second-year undrafted player who had thrown just 19 passes in the regular season. Pundits predicted a Titans blowout, as Henry (who had rushed for 2,027 yards that season) was expected to dominate the Ravens’ run defense. Instead, the Ravens held Henry to 40 yards on 18 carries—the lowest total of his career in a playoff game—and Huntley stepped up, completing 17 of 29 passes for 194 yards and rushing for 45 yards, including a critical 23-yard run to set up the game-winning field goal. “We weren’t supposed to win,” Huntley said after the game. “But we believed in each other, and we knew we could stop their run.” The Ravens’ defense, which had struggled in the regular season, forced two Titans turnovers and held Ryan Tannehill to just 165 passing yards. This upset wasn’t just a win—it was a reminder that even the most dominant teams can be undone by a motivated underdog. Underdog Stories Against Tennessee Titans Odds thus frames this game as a masterclass in defying expectations.

Another unforgettable underdog moment came in the 2017 regular season, when the 2–5 Cleveland Browns—then the NFL’s laughingstock, with a 17-game losing streak dating back to 2016—defeated the 5–2 Titans 12–9 in overtime as 9.5-point underdogs. The Browns, led by rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer (who had thrown 11 interceptions in his first seven games), entered the game with almost no national media coverage, while the Titans were riding a three-game win streak and looked like AFC South contenders. The game was a defensive slugfest, with neither team scoring a touchdown—instead, it was Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez who stole the show, making four field goals, including a 54-yarder in overtime to seal the win. What made this upset so memorable was its emotional weight: the Browns’ players and fans had endured years of losing, and this win felt like a turning point. “This isn’t just a win for us—it’s for every Browns fan who stuck with us,” said Browns head coach Hue Jackson. For the Titans, the loss exposed flaws in their red-zone offense (they went 0-for-4 in the red zone) and served as a cautionary tale about underestimating a team with nothing to lose. Underdog Stories Against Tennessee Titans Odds thus highlights how this game became a symbol of hope for a franchise trapped in a cycle of defeat.

The Tennessee Titans also faced an underdog challenge in the 2022 regular season, when the 3–6 Houston Texans—playing with their third-string quarterback, Davis Mills (a third-round pick with just six career starts)—defeated the 7–2 Titans 19–14 as 8-point underdogs. The Texans, who had lost to the Titans 21–17 earlier in the season, entered the game with a banged-up roster: their top two running backs were injured, and their defense ranked 28th in the NFL in points allowed. But Mills, playing with a chip on his shoulder, completed 23 of 37 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, including a 2-yard pass to tight end Jordan Akins with 2:17 left to take the lead. The Texans’ defense also stepped up, sacking Tannehill three times and forcing a critical fumble by Henry in the fourth quarter. What made this upset notable was the Texans’ ability to outexecute the Titans in key moments—something few analysts thought possible. “We knew everyone counted us out,” Mills said after the game. “But we prepared like we were playing for the Super Bowl, and it paid off.” The Tennessee Titans’ loss snapped their five-game win streak and raised questions about their ability to handle pressure from less-talented teams. Underdog Stories Against Tennessee Titans Odds thus uses this game to show how underdogs can capitalize on a favorite’s complacency.

The Tennessee Titans were on the wrong side of another underdog story in the 2019 regular season, when the 4–7 Jacksonville Jaguars—led by backup quarterback Gardner Minshew (a sixth-round pick nicknamed “The Sheriff”)—defeated the 8–3 Titans 20–7 as 7.5-point underdogs. The Jaguars, who had already been eliminated from playoff contention, had nothing to play for but pride, while the Titans were fighting for a division title. Minshew, who had replaced an injured Nick Foles earlier in the season, played with swagger, completing 19 of 24 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, and leading the Jaguars to scores on their first three drives. The Jaguars’ defense, which had struggled all season, held Henry to 84 yards (well below his 117-yard average that year) and intercepted Tannehill twice. What made this upset stand out was Minshew’s charisma and the Jaguars’ loose, confident energy—something the Titans lacked that day. “We just wanted to go out and play fun football,” Minshew said. “No pressure, no expectations—just ball.” The Tennessee Titans’ loss cost them a chance to clinch the AFC South early and served as a reminder that even playoff-bound teams can be beaten by an underdog playing with freedom. Underdog Stories Against Tennessee Titans Odds thus highlights how Minshew’s underdog spirit lifted an entire team to victory.

Not all underdog stories against the Titans involve opposing teams—sometimes, it’s a Titans player who defies personal odds to lead the team to victory. A perfect example came in the 2021 regular season, when Titans backup running back D’Onta Foreman—who had been out of the NFL for a year due to injuries and had signed with the Titans just three weeks earlier—stepped in for an injured Henry and rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown in a 34–31 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Foreman, a former third-round pick who had struggled with Achilles injuries, was considered a long shot to ever play in the NFL again, let alone start for a playoff-contending team. But against the Rams, he looked like a star, breaking tackles and converting critical third downs to keep drives alive. “I never gave up on my dream,” Foreman said after the game. “This win is for everyone who told me I couldn’t come back.” While the Titans were the favorites in this game, Foreman’s personal underdog story added a layer of inspiration that transcended the score. It showed that underdogs exist not just in opposing locker rooms, but in the Titans’ own ranks—players fighting to prove their worth. The Tennessee Titans’ ability to rally around Foreman’s story that day turned a routine win into a memorable moment. Underdog Stories Against Tennessee Titans Odds thus concludes with this story, reminding us that underdog spirit isn’t just about defying the Titans—it’s about defying the odds, no matter which team you play for.