Titans looking forward to 1st prime-time game since 2004

When the Titans (1-1) visit New Orleans (0-2) on Monday night, it will be their first prime-time appearance since Dec. 13, 2004, when they lost a shootout to Kansas City 49-38. The franchise is 16-15 on Monday night games with a big opportunity to show off a revamped team.

‘Last year we finished strong, but we were still kind of quiet,’ defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said.

‘Not a lot of people knew about us. We didn’t have any big prime-time games. It’s a chance to showcase what we’ve got and a chance to show not just other teams, but fans around the country just how good we are.’

This will be the first Monday night game for Vanden Bosch, who’s in his seventh NFL season. That’s what happens when a player spends his first four seasons in Arizona.

‘Night games have a different atmosphere altogether. But Monday night’s a whole new world, and I’m excited, especially Monday night for their home opener in New Orleans. I think it’s just going to be a whole lot of emotion, and the crowd’s really going to be into it,’ Vanden Bosch said.

Vanden Bosch won’t be alone. Of the Titans’ 53-man roster, 27 have never played in a Monday night game ‘ 11 of those starters like Vince Young and running back LenDale White. But those two players are accustomed to the bright lights after playing in the national championship in January 2006.

‘I really feel like I’ve played in some real, real, crazy games,’ Young said.

White doubts he’ll feel any nerves that can compare to the Rose Bowl, not until his first playoff game.

‘It’s hard to beat the national championship game,’ he said.

This will be the 17th Monday night game for punter Craig Hentrich, 13th for defensive tackle Corey Simon, 10th for center Kevin Mawae and defensive end Bryce Fisher and ninth for right guard Benji Olson and linebacker Keith Bulluck.

It’s been a long wait for Bulluck between prime-time games, and he can’t wait for the spotlight.

‘I’m Mr. Monday Night Football. You better check your history. All I do is make plays on Monday night,’ Bulluck said.

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PRESSURE ON YOUNG?: Team history might be on Vince Young’s side as he makes his NFL prime-time debut. Earl Campbell, Warren Moon, Eddie George, Steve McNair and Jevon Kearse all had success in their first prime-time games.

In fact, McNair was the only one of those to lose his first prime-time game, and that was a 41-14 Thursday night loss at Cincinnati in which Corey Dillon ran all over the defense.

George and Kearse might have had the best such debuts. George ran for 152 yards as a rookie in a Sunday night game at Cincinnati in 1996, and he had 167 yards in his first Monday night game in 2000. Kearse had two sacks in a Thursday night game as a rookie.

Young said he knows what’s expected in the spotlight.

‘They always end good. Somebody has to make a comeback. One quarterback has to lead his team down to get a field goal or a touchdown. Hopefully, that’s the type of game that us and New Orleans want to give the people in the world that are watching it,’ Young said.

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INJURY REPORT: Right cornerback Cortland Finnegan (hamstring) didn’t practice Thursday and was replaced by rookie Michael Griffin. Coach Jeff Fisher said Finnegan, who has started the first two games, has a chance to practice Friday.

If Finnegan could not start Monday night, Fisher said he had no problem playing either Griffin, Reynaldo Hill or Kelly Herndon at that spot.

Tight end Casey Cramer (hamstring) did not practice. Center Kevin Mawae (knee) was limited Thursday, but right guard Benji Olson (illness) and running back LenDale White (foot) practiced after being limited in a light session Wednesday.