NASHVILLE, Tenn. —His plays came at the end of Sunday's game, but Titans rookie receiver Tre McBride hopes it was the start of something much bigger.
McBride, the team's seventh-round draft pick out of William & Mary, caught his first career touchdown in the closing minutes of a 34-6 loss to the Texans. The reception came not long he made his first career catch.
The one-yard pass from Mettenberger with 1:31 remaining was the only score for the Titans on Sunday.
"I got both my first catch and my first score, so I am really happy with that,'' McBride said afterward. "I wish it could have come in a win, but it's progress. We're moving forward as a team, and I'm moving forward as an individual and my season has just progressed in a positive direction.
"And that is all you can really hope for, is getting better every time you get an opportunity."
McBride had two catches for eight yards in the contest. It was McBride's fifth game since being promoted from the practice squad last month. Most of his work, however, has come on special teams.
Mettenberger said the 10-play, 70-yard drive to avoid the shutout at the end was about pride, and McBride. The touchdown toss came on fourth down, after three straight incomplete passes.
"You know all of us have to have a lot of pride and all of us weren't going to quit, especially myself,'' Mettenberger said. "I was happy to get Tre (McBride) a touchdown today, that's big for his career. Hopefully, he can build some confidence this week to go into next week but also we know we got to play better to not be in that situation again."
The Titans were on the verge of being shut out for the first time ever at Nissan Stadium before McBride's touchdown catch.
The Tennessee Titans take on the New Houston Texans in Week 16 at Nissan Stadium. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
"I think they just wanted to keep competing,'' interim coach Mike Mularkey said. "It was just about competing trying to get points, just like it is the first drive, the last drive, we're just trying to score points and it's not about, I didn't hear one thing about knocking the shutout. I mean we could have kicked the field goal and done that at any point there in the fourth quarter. It was just about competing until the end, which I thought they did."
McBride said the touchdown catch was special for another reason – he was able to give the football to his dad, Douglas.
McBride's parents were among of group of family members and friends at the game.
"My mom and dad, my sister, my girlfriend, they are all really happy for me,'' McBride said. "And they were all here for my first touchdown, so that's even better. I even had family friends (at the game). So my loved ones got an opportunity to see it, and hopefully there will be more to come in the future."
"I wish it could have come in a win, but it still means a lot."
