Titans snap TD-drought with 24 unanswered points
The Titans (4-10) snapped a 10-quarter touchdown drought by the offensive by scoring three TDs in a stretch of 24 straight points in a 28-24 loss to Seattle, starting with Jarrett Payton’s 3-yard run in the second quarter.
Fisher said his Titans nearly accomplished everything on his list.
“Obviously, the number one goal is to win the game and we didn’t do that. But there were a number of things we identified that had to take place,” he said. “We wanted to protect the quarterback, and we did not give up a sack. They had 45 sacks going into this ball game.
“Secondly, we had to score some points and we did that. Third, we had to make a big play on special teams and we did that. The thing we didn’t do was get a turnover, and that is the difference in the ballgame.”
Seattle came into the game with the 11th-ranked defense in the NFL allowing 303.9 yards a game. The Titans finished with 417 yards. Also, the Seahawks had surrendered only three rushing touchdowns all season, and Payton got the fourth with his TD run.
Steve McNair threw for 310 yards and had tosses of at least 21 yards to four different Titans, including a 35-yarder to tight end Ben Troupe.
“We hadn’t had many explosive plays,” Fisher said. “Steve (McNair) just got going. He made some real good throws.”
But the Titans also gave up a season-high 459 yards offense.
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FOURTH AND NOTHING:@ Although the Titans were able to convert two fourth-down situations, they also missed two crucial opportunities.
With a 24-21 lead late in the third quarter, the Titans faced a fourth-and-2 at their own 37. Punter Craig Hentrich took the snap and hit Donnie Nickey for a 26-yard gain down to the Seattle 37.
However, on the same drive with Tennessee on Seattle’s 6-yard line on fourth-and-1, Steve McNair handed the ball off to running back Chris Brown who went right but couldn’t find any room. He was tackled for a 1-yard loss.
“You assume you can pin them and make a play (if you don’t make it on fourth down),” coach Jeff Fisher said. “We have to make a half yard. Good football teams make a half yard. That team made a half yard at the end and kneeled on it.”
Seattle took over on downs at its 7 and went down field and scored for the winning margin.
On the Titans’ next possession, Steve McNair converted a fourth-and-1 by sneaking behind right guard Benji Olson for a first down. But then the Titans failed on fourth-and-2 at Seattle’s 34 when McNair threw an incomplete pass.
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HOME SWEET HOME:@ Seattle running back Shaun Alexander felt like Sunday’s game here was like a home game for the Florence, Ky., native and Alabama graduate.
“I bought about 50 tickets, and there were about 50 other people that I know that bought tickets, and I still saw some more people that I knew,” he said.
“It was good to be close to my house, close to my college. I was really excited to play and get it going knowing that my family was here.”
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said Alexander was probably a little too excited.
“Early on he asked me if he could take a blow,” said Holmgren. “He popped that long run early and I think he may have been a little too excited and I said, “That’s funny, you never want me to give you a blow.'”
Alexander finished the game with 172 yards rushing on 26 attempts.
“He made tough yards (Sunday),” said Holmgren. “I think (the Titans) did a nice job of making it tough on him.”
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ROSTER MOVE:@ The Titans cut wide receiver Sloan Thomas and signed former LSU quarterback Marcus Randall to the roster. An undrafted free agent, Randall was switched to safety in June and had been on the Titans’ practice squad. Randall did see action against the Seahawks, recording a tackle on special teams.
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EXTRA POINTS:@ The Titans finished their home schedule at 3-5, a victory better than last year’s 2-6. … Titans tight end Ben Troupe had a career-high 116 yards receiving on six catches. … The Titans continued their season of not having a 100-yard rusher. Chris Brown had a team-high 56 yards running on 20 carries. … Steve McNair surpassed the 3,000-yard passing mark for the fourth time in five seasons. He now has 3,127 yards on the season after completing 23-of-38 attempts for 310 yards.