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Titans' Bironas Enjoys Record Day

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By KRISTIE RIEKEN, The Associated Press

Published: October 22, 2007

HOUSTON - With Vince Young on the sideline, the Tennessee Titans couldn't finish drives. With the day Rob Bironas had, it didn't matter.

Bironas made an NFL-record eight field goals, including the game-winner as time expired, to lead the Titans to a 38-36 win against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Backup Kerry Collins led the offense while Young missed playing in his hometown because of a strained quadriceps. Collins didn't make many mistakes, but the offense couldn't capitalize in the red zone, ushering Bironas into the record book.

The record-setting kick foiled a spirited comeback by the Texans (3-4), who scored 29 points in the fourth quarter, capped by a 53-yard touchdown pass from Sage Rosenfels to Andre' Davis to take a 36-35 lead with 57 seconds to play.

The Titans (4-2) faced a third-and-10 at their 37 when Collins found Roydell Williams on a 46-yard pass that set up the winning kick.

Bironas said he didn't realize he was closing in on the mark.

'I knew we'd hit quite a few, but I try not to count,' Bironas said. 'I try not to know the distances when I go out there, so I'm always concentrating on making the same kick. I've never really counted. I'll remember this one, though.'

Bironas' last two field goals were from 29 yards and he connected from 52, 43, 25, 21, 30 and 28 yards to break the previous record of seven field goals held by Billy Cundiff, Chris Boniol, Rich Karlis and Jim Bakken.

He doubled his field goal total for the season Sunday after kicking eight field goals in the five previous games combined.

Bironas also kicked two extra points and set the NFL record for most points by a kicker with 26. Cundiff's 23 points Sept. 15, 2003, was the previous high.

Young was active, but didn't play and Collins got his first win as a starter in Tennessee after losing the first three games of last season.

Houston's offense stalled throughout the first three quarters before the furious rally began with a 7-yard touchdown catch by David Anderson early in the fourth quarter. Before that 70-yard drive, the Texans had managed just 34 yards of offense. A 2-point conversion by Davis made it 32-15.

Houston starting quarterback Matt Schaub missed big chunks of the first half and the entire second half with ankle and hip injuries. Coach Gary Kubiak said Schaub would have an MRI on his hip but that X-rays on his ankle were negative.

Rosenfels accounted for four of Houston's six turnovers by throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble in Schaub's place.

Rosenfels' four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter tied an NFL record.

Ten-FG Bironas 52, 12:30.

Hou-Ryans 26 fumble return (K.Brown kick), 9:43.

Ten-FG Bironas 25, :52.

Second Quarter

Ten-FG Bironas 21, 11:46.

Ten-White 1 run (Bironas kick), 5:36.

Ten-FG Bironas 30, 1:06.

Ten-FG Bironas 28, :00.

Third Quarter

Ten-FG Bironas 43, 10:53.

Ten-Henry 4 run (Bironas kick), 3:01.

Fourth Quarter

Hou-D.Anderson 7 pass from Rosenfels (Davis pass from Rosenfels), 13:43.

Hou-Walter 6 pass from Rosenfels (K.Brown kick), 8:15.

Ten-FG Bironas 29, 3:47.

Hou-Putzier 7 pass from Rosenfels (K.Brown kick), 1:37.

Hou-Davis 53 pass from Rosenfels (K.Brown kick), :57.

Ten-FG Bironas 29, :00. Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, :57.

A-70,734.

RUSHING-Tennessee, White 27-104, Henry 11-57, R.Williams 1-(minus 6). Houston, Green 11-39, Rosenfels 1-0.

PASSING-Tenn., Collins 25-42-0-280. Hou., Rosenfels 22-35-3-290, Schaub 5-9-0-23.

RECEIVING-Tennessee, Scaife 6-49, R.Williams 5-124, Gage 5-48, White 4-22, Hartsock 2-12, Henry 2-12, Davis 1-13. Houston, Walter 6-97, Green 5-32, Davis 4-88, D.Anderson 4-45, Jones 3-11, Daniels 2-20, Dayne 1-10, Putzier 1-7, Leach 1-3.

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