It's only been one week, but these new Titans, 5-11 a season ago, are looking pretty impressive. The New Orleans Saints, a 12-4 team from 2012 that lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, came to Nashville for their season opener and were stunned. Jake Locker, who threw 31 interceptions in 2012, looked nothing like he was last year, throwing for 288 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target, rookie Lacy Kennedy. Kennedy finished the game with five receptions for 140 yards and two scores including a beautiful 85-yard touchdown catch and run that was just what the Titans were expecting from the first round pick. Chris Johnson had a stellar game with 147 yards on twenty carries.
On the other side of the ball, Drew Brees struggled with 278 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by Alterraun Verner giving the Titans a 7-0 lead.
Locker Shines as Titans Dominate Week Two, 2013
Nashville TN
FINAL SCORE: KC 17, TEN 42
"His confidence is sky high right now." That was Mike Munchak's description of his quarterback Jake Locker following the Titans second straight win. Locker finished the game with 373 yards on 27-of-43 passing with four touchdowns and one interception. It was his second four touchdown game in as many games.
Overall, in the game, the Titans dominated the second half, outscoring Kansas City 28-3 to start the second half before the Chiefs picked up a touchdown as time was expiring. The defense picked Matt Cassel off three times and forced a Cadillac Williams fumble. Jamaal Charles was a lone bright spot for Kansas City with 75 yards on fourteen carries before leaving the game with a shoulder injury in the third quarter. He did not return. Also on the injury front, Titans starting linebacker Colin McCarthy left the game with a broken collarbone and is expected to miss extensive time.
Now 2-0 on the season, the Titans prepare for their first road game of the season as they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers.
Pittsburgh's Offense Stumbles, Titans Continue Run Week Three, 2013
Pittsburgh PA
FINAL SCORE: TEN 27, PIT 7
Ben Roethlisberger had four interceptions. Pittsburgh had negative seven yards rushing as a team. They never even made it into the red zone and only scored late in the four quarter with just under a minute left. No matter how you look at it, Pittsburgh offense wasn't prepared and failed to execute what little game plan they had.
The result, was a convincing Titans win. Jake Locker looked exceptional again, despite a red zone interception late in the first half. Kamerion Wimbley was a bright spot for the defense with four sacks in the win.
It was also announced prior to the game that both receiver Kenny Britt and offensive tackle Michael Roos agreed to long-term contract extensions with the Titans.
Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers
2013 SEASON - WEEK THREE
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Tennessee Titans (2-0)
7
10
3
7
27
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
0
0
0
7
7
Team Stats Comparison
TEN
PIT
Total Offense
414
125
Rushing Yards
143
-7
Passing Yards
271
132
First Downs
22
8
Punt Return Yards
51
0
Kick Return Yards
43
50
Total Yards
508
175
Turnovers
3
4
3rd Down Converstion
10-13
3-9
4th Down Conversion
0-0
0-0
2-Point Conversion
0-0
0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
2/2
0/0
Penalties
0-0
1-9
Posession Time
25:30
14:30
Tennessee Titans
PASSING
C/A
YDS
TD
INT
Jake Locker
20/29
288
1
1
RUSHING
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
Chris Johnson
29
131
4.5
0
RECEIVING
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
Kenny Britt
5
93
18.6
1
Pittsburgh Steelers
PASSING
C/A
YDS
TD
INT
Ben Roethlisberger
17/26
170
1
4
RUSHING
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
Rashard Mendenhall
8
-4
-0.5
0
RECEIVING
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
Heath Miller
6
88
14.6
1
NOTE: I have a bye week in week four. Following that I will be upping the difficulty a little bit. That game was a little too easy defensively.
Arian Foster got the Titans off in the right direction with a forty-yard touchdown run on the Texans first possession. Unfortunately, that would be the first and last points they scored in the game as Tennessee reeled off twenty-four straight to remain undefeated following their bye week.
Chris Johnson, who was exceptional in the first half, left the game with an ankle injury late in third quarter and did not return. LeGarrette Blount, signed this offseason came in for goal line plays for the first time season and recorded two 1-yard touchdown runs.
Jake Locker threw an interception with thirty-eight seconds left to seal the fate of the Titans as they dropped their first game of the season. He would finish the game with 255 yards passing, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The game itself was a wild one to watch. Jaguars rookie Jonathan Hendrix looked solid all game and already up 7-0 (Chris Johnson fumbled returned for a touchdown) he found Laurent Robinson wide open for a 46-yard touchdown and 14-0 lead with 2:38 left in the first quarter. The Titans would respond with a Rob Bironas field goal. On the Titans next drive, Locker found rookie Lacy Kennedy for a deep strike of his own, this one from 37-yards out, and the lead was down to four. Hendrix would throw his second score of the game with 2:36 left in the half, bringing the lead back to eleven. Locker wasn't done and he found Kennedy again, this time for a 61-yard touchdown and the score at halftime was 21-17.
The Titans would receive the ball in the second half and take their first lead of the contest on Locker's third touchdown throw, this one to Kenny Britt and the Titans had a 24-21 lead. Josh Scobee would later tie the game near the end of the quarter and going into the final period, it was 24-all. LeGarrette Blount would fumble on the Titans first drive of the fourth quarter and Dawan Landry would return it for a score. Five minutes later, Blount redeemed himself with a one-yard strike and a tie game again. Twenty seconds later, Hendrix would hook up with Robinson again for a long pass and it was 38-31. On the next possession, Locker would move the Titans inside the red zone but would be intercepted at the one-yard line. Two plays later, the Titans recorded a safety. Unfortunately, they would not score again and they dropped their first game of the season, 38-33.
Titans Have Second Burst, Improve to 5-1 Week Seven, 2013
Indianapolis IN
FINAL SCORE: TEN 37, IND 20
Jake Locker overcame three first half interceptions to throw two touchdowns in the second half as the Titans improved to 5-1 on the season. Locker struggled throughout the entire first half, despite the Titans holding a 17-0 advantage at halftime. Already finding Lacy Kennedy for a 24-yard touchdown in the second quarter, Locker prepared to bounce back after the Colts cut the lead to just three in the third quarter. The result? Locker found Kennedy again and five minutes later, found Jared Cook for back to back touchdown drives as the Titans rolled.
Chris Johnson had another 100 yards on the ground with 109 on 22 carries but left the game in the fourth quarter with what was said to be an MCL sprain. He did not return, but sources confirm he should be available for next week's game.
09-29-2012, 10:11 AM
