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Titans' D Dominant; Young Injured

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Titans' defense helped carry them into the playoffs last season. If they keep playing like this, it might be enough to carry them even further.

The Titans sacked David Garrard seven times, recovered his fumble and Cortland Finnegan intercepted him twice in beating the Jaguars 17-10 Sunday in the season opener between the AFC's two wild cards in 2007.

"If you get seven sacks in a ballgame, it speaks volumes of what you're doing up front and the turnovers, definitely it was a huge day," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We had to have that kind of day definitely to win this ballgame."
Vince Young had a rough day; he was intercepted twice and threw for 110 yards. His second pick came a play after Finnegan's second interception. Fans booed heavily as he was slow to head back onto the field late in the fourth quarter. Young sprained his left knee a couple plays later and had a pair of crutches at his locker after the game.

The Titans will run tests on Young's knee, but Fisher said he didn't think the injury was serious.

Tennessee's first-team offense went through the preseason without scoring a touchdown, and the Titans came into this game believing the defense would have to win the game.

It did.

Jacksonville came in without top backup Richard Collier on the offensive line after he was shot earlier this week. The Jaguars had three more linemen get hurt, and Maurice Williams and Vince Manuwai did not return. That helped Tennessee limit the Jaguars to 187 yards of offense, just 33 yards rushing by what was the NFL's second-best rushing team in 2007.

"We had protection issues and timing issues throughout," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We battled through it. We made some nice plays, but part of the problem was the way they rushed."

All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth got the first and last sacks of the game for Tennessee, the final one securing the victory as time expired. Tackle Tony Brown had two sacks, and Pro Bowl end Kyle Vanden Bosch had one play in which he sacked Garrard, forced a fumble and recovered the ball.

Ten-FG Bironas 47, 9:50.

Second Quarter

Jac-G.Jones 1 pass from Garrard (Scobee kick), 10:16.

Ten-C.Johnson 7 pass from Young (Bironas kick), 3:09.

Fourth Quarter

Ten-White 1 run (Bironas kick), 3:47.

Jac-FG Scobee 27, 2:12.

A-69,143

RUSHING-Jacksonville, Taylor 9-18, Jones-Drew 5-13, Garrard 3-2. Tennessee, C.Johnson 15-93, White 15-40, Young 1-4, Collins 1-0.

PASSING-Jacksonville, Garrard 23-35-2-215. Tennessee, Young 12-22-2-110, Collins 2-2-0-65.

RECEIVING-Jacksonville, M.Jones 6-80, Jones-Drew 4-37, M.Lewis 3-29, G.Jones 3-13, Northcutt 2-19, R.Williams 2-17, Williamson 2-11, Taylor 1-9. Tennessee, Scaife 6-105, C.Johnson 3-34, Gage 2-25, B.Jones 1-5, Crumpler 1-4, Hall 1-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-Jacksonville, Scobee 37 (WR).

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