The Titans may have pulled off the wackiest win of the NFL season when Ryan Succop's 53-yard field goal sailed through the uprights as time expired to knock off the Chiefs, 19-17, on the road Sunday.
More importantly, it spared Titans coach Mike Mularkey from the grief of a controversial failed 2-point conversion near the end of the game.
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Heading into the fourth quarter, Tennessee trailed the Chiefs 17-7 with little working on offense. But something clicked late, and when DeMarco Murray hauled in a wheel route down to the 1-yard line with just over 3 minutes left in the final quarter, it appeared the Titans would tie the game.
Derrick Henry one play later punched in the touchdown — his second of the day — to cut Kansas City's lead to 17-16. But instead of kicking the extra point to tie the game, Mularkey opted for the go-ahead 2-point conversion.
Predictably, the play was doomed from the start, and Tennessee remained one point back.
The Titans tried to take the lead with a 2-point conversion and failed miserably: https://t.co/OGYa9vjmlO pic.twitter.com/MyNKmcQRRz
— SB Nation NFL (@SBNationNFL) December 18, 2016
On its ensuing possession, Kansas City, which scored 14 of its 17 points in the first quarter and none in the second half, punted. The Titans were blessed with one last chance.
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Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, who lost a fumble and threw an interception in the game, led the team into scoring range to set up a game-winning field goal chance for Succop.
After Andy Reid called a time out to ice Succop, the kicker stepped into the 53-yard kick in the cold, windy conditions and knocked it through, preemptively ending the misery Mularkey should have felt for his play call.
Ryan. Succop. For. The. WIN. #TitanUp https://t.co/K93P72DgaM
— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2016
Titans kicker Ryan Succop just told me on the field that kick in this weather was way out of his range. He has no idea how he made it.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) December 18, 2016
The Titans win, coupled with the Texans' late win against the Jaguars, means the two teams are tied for the AFC South lead at 8-6. The Colts, who dismantled the Vikings on Sunday, are just one game back.
In the end, Mularkey's failed 2-point attempt paid off, but it was the wrong call. Tying the game, especially with that much time on the clock, should have been the priority. The Titans were lucky to escape with a win.