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A defensive night, and Titans aftermath

Chandler Jones got his 14th sack of the season. He almost had his 15th — it went later in the play to Haason Reddick — and he probably already should have toppled Simone Rice's franchise record of 16½.

"How many sacks do I think I should have? I don't want to talk about it," Jones said. "How many times I have slipped off the quarterback. Fourth quarter I slipped off the quarterback. I think I get too excited. My eyes get big and he just ducks off of me. I think I have to work on that."

A more effective Jones is a frightening concept. But there was a chance to talk about near-sacks and records falling — like Larry Fitzgerald's toppling of Randy Moss in receiving yards — and other good things, because the Cards pulled out a win. The playoffs aren't going to happen, but suddenly, you play reeling Washington next week and the reeling Giants the week after and is there a way for the Cardinals to go to Seattle with a chance at a nine-win season?

-- Speaking of Fitz, no one asked him directly if he'll play in 2018. He was asked, however, if he plans on catching Terrell Owens, who is some 600-plus yards ahead of Fitz now for second place in all-time NFL receiving yards after Fitz passed Moss Sunday. Fitz, ever coy, wasn't biting.

"That would require me to play another year I think," Fitzgerald said. "I hope to catch him this year."

-- Marcus Mariota had a 39.6 passer rating today — the worst of his career.

-- The Titans did have 12 sacks their previous two games but the Cards allowed eight Sunday and that just doesn't work. Maybe Jared Veldheer wasn't in the best place dealing with a bad elbow. I thought there was a couple of times Blaine Gabbert could've helped things. But the Cards did seem to go with quicker passes in the second half to avoid too much pressure.

-- Oh, Fitz should've had a touchdown catch. He was wide-open in the fourth quarter. Gabbert simply missed him.

-- Patrick Peterson had a 29-yard pass play go to Eric Decker in which Peterson basically stopped right as Decker was catching the ball, helping allow Decker to get loose for more yards. Peterson was clearly upset at the time, looking back at the official because he felt Decker pushed off. (Even aside from this play, it wasn't one of Peterson's best games.)

"The field judge can't see that because he's playing through me," Peterson said. "We have to ask someone else to the field, so we can have an even playing field for the receiver and the DB. I said, 'Why didn't you call it?' He said, 'I didn't see it.' I'm tired of hearing the same response. Why are you on the field if you didn't see it? I'm not criticizing the ref at all. I'm just saying that if he didn't see it, we have to have somebody else out there watching both sides."

-- Bruce Arians didn't have the best special teams challenge last week when he tried to get a fumble called on the opening kickoff. But he came out ahead on what I think it's the toughest challenge there is — the spot of the ball, on the Titans' fake punt. Surprisingly (and yes, I know many thought it was a bad spot, but it was still a spot) it was overturned, and the Cards got a short field, leading to a field goal. Titans coach Mike Mularkey was not happy afterward it was overturned, but Arians said the official right in front of him blew the play dead, and that's what he thought should happen.

-- The go-ahead field goal drive began when wide receiver Chad Williams came on the jet sweep (or end around, as I like to call it) and raced 33 yards. It was a good way to get the rookie involved.

"We needed a spark," Arians said. "I had another play called. I said, 'What the hell, it's time for one.' It's either going to be a five-yard loss or a big gain, and we needed a spark."

-- Tramon Williams will be an intriguing free agent going into the offseason. He has been solid since stepping into the starting lineup, and Pro Football Focus graded him with his best game of the year Sunday — allowing only three catches for 23 yards on eight targets, with a pass breakup and an interception. He is also 34. He might be a one-and-done CB like Antonio Cromartie or Marcus Cooper.

-- Same goes for linebacker Josh Bynes, who also had a pick and who is also playing very well and is also going to be a free agent. He's younger, and I don't see how the Cardinals wouldn't want Bynes back — unless he decides he can make a lot of cash on the open market.

AfterTitansBlog
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