Vanden Bosch sets career-high with three sacks

The 34th pick of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals nearly matched his career sack total of five in the Titans’ 25-10 win Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens. The 6-foot-4, 278-pound end out of Nebraska sacked Baltimore quarterback Anthony Wright three times.

He gave credit to coach Jeff Fisher, general manager Floyd Reese and defensive line coach Jim Washburn for having faith that he could still play. He gave credit to the crowd for helping him with his big day.

“I don’t think they could hear the snap count or the quarterback’s cadence some times and it gave us an opportunity to get off the ball and get in the backfield a little quicker,” said Vanden Bosch, who was the only unrestricted free agent signee the Titans had during the offseason. “

Vanden Bosch’s rookie year was cut short after only three games when he had to have reconstructive surgery on his right anterior cruciate ligament. Then in 2003, he suffered an injury to his left ACL during the preseason and missed all of the regular season.

Tennessee’s defense tallied six sacks against Wright, who was playing for injured starter Kyle Boller. Boller missed the start due to a hyperextended right big toe and an injury to his right ankle.

The Titans’ sack total was the most since their 27-24 win against Philadelphia in September 2002. Titans coach Jeff Fisher was impressed with the defensive unit’s effort.

“We knew we could look at the challenge of the first two weeks, knowing that we had two very well-coached teams with solid, strong defenses that play the field position game and wear you down,” Fisher said.

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BIRONAS IMPROVED:@ Place-kicker Rob Bironas rebounded from a subpar outing in the Titans’ season opening 34-7 loss at Pittsburgh. Bironas hit all three of his field goal attempts and converted both of his extra point tries.

“It was good to be able to get out there and hit a few field goals,” said Bironas, who missed his only field goal attempt (a 47-yarder) against the Steelers. “I put them through. That’s the job — have a short memory and go out the next week. I’ll put this one behind me and start practicing again on Monday.”

Bironas also missed two attempts in the Titans’ preseason game at Atlanta. On Sunday, he put the Titans up 10-0 with a 39-yard field goal with 13:08 left in the second quarter. He then converted a 29-yarder with 1 second left before halftime to pad Tennessee’s lead to 13-0.

Bironas saved his longest field goal for last when he nailed a 47-yarder with 7:10 left in the third quarter. He said his job was made easier by the stingy Tennessee defense.

“The defense was key today,” he said. “Baltimore wasn’t running the ball like they normally do. We were able to shut them down. I wouldn’t say (the team was) leaning on me. I’d say they were leaning on them.”

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PACMAN RETURNS:@ The Titans first-round draft pick, Adam “Pacman” Jones, didn’t get the start Sunday, but he did see significant action against Baltimore after being inactive against the Steelers in the season opener.

Coach Jeff Fisher was glad to see the rookie cornerback finally play.

“It was good to see Pac on the field,” Fisher said. “Our plan was to get him in the game and let he and Tony (Beckham) share series and share reps. I think the numbers came out somewhat equal. It looked to me he made some plays.”

Jones was flagged for pass interference on Baltimore receiver Mark Clayton in the fourth quarter. Jones came over the back of Clayton while defending a 21-yard pass attempt.

“I don’t know about the call,” Fisher said. “It was a very athletic play to get his hand on the ball. I think the assumption was that he went through the receiver.”

Jones also had a 23-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter. He had to fill in for Courtney Roby, who hurt a left toe during a 59-yard kickoff return.

“Anything Coach Fisher needs me to help the team with, I’m there,” said Jones. “He told me before the game I was going to get a kick return and I was hoping to get out there a little earlier, but it was up to him.”

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RUDE RETURN:@ Former Titans Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason made their first appearance at The Coliseum after signing with Baltimore during the offseason after being cut in the team’s offseason salary cap purge.

“I never imagined how much impact the crowd would have,” said Rolle, who caused a fumble when he hit running back Chris Brown in the first half. “But on the other sidelines you could hear it and see it. They did a great job (Sunday).”

Mason made a splash when he caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Wright in the fourth quarter. It didn’t matter to him, though.

“Anybody that’s satisfied when you scored a touchdown and you still lose you shouldn’t be playing this game,” said Mason. “If we were up then it would have been satisfying. But all that goes out the window because you didn’t win the game.”

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EXTRA POINTS:@ University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt was honored with a game ball during the first quarter for being the all-time winningest college basketball coach with 883 victories. … The Titans allowed only 23 total yards in the first half, the first time that’s happened since the then-Houston Oilers gave up 23 yards in a half at home against Cincinnati on Dec. 15, 1996. … Courtney Roby’s 59-yard kickoff return in the third quarter was the team’s longest return since Derrick Mason returned a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown at Cincinnati on Nov. 18, 2001. … Rob Reynold’s blocked punt in the fourth quarter was the team’s first since Rocky Boiman blocked a punt at Houston on Dec. 29, 2002.