Points have been hard to come by this season when the
Tennessee Titans or Pittsburgh Steelers are lined up on the defensive side of
the ball, but the edge in this Week 5 showdown at Heinz Field could have
shifted to the visitors because of an injury to Steelers linebacker James
Harrison.

A left foot ailment to Ben Roethlisberger isn’t likely to help Pittsburgh’s
chances on Sunday either as it tries to prevent Tennessee and resurgent
quarterback Matt Hasselbeck from recording a fourth straight victory.

While the 3-1 Titans are tied with Houston atop the AFC South, the Steelers
are a game off the pace in the AFC North following a 17-10 defeat to the Texans
last weekend. Pittsburgh was looking for a third straight win after a humbling
28-point defeat to division-rival Baltimore in Week 1, but struggled on offense
and lost Harrison to an eye injury in the first half.

Though Harrison did play some in the second half, Steelers head coach Mike
Tomlin said on Tuesday that his star linebacker and former NFL Defensive Player
of the Year will be out for a few games because of a fractured orbital bone.

The news was better on Roethlisberger, who will likely be limited in practice
before playing on Sunday.

“[He] had his foot X-rayed, MRI’ed [and] thankfully nothing’s broken there,”
Tomlin stated. “It is a sprain and may limit him at the early portions [in
practice] of the week, but we do anticipate him being able to participate in
this football game. We’re going to let the week speak to us.”

Added Roethlisberger on Wednesday, “We will just take it day-by-day and kind
of see how it goes. If it’s just a pain tolerance thing, I’m going to be out
there. I can deal with pain, we just want to make sure that structurally it’s
sound and we give our team the best chance to win.”

The Steelers lost for only the third time in their last 11 regular-season road
games and are still in decent position after opening the season with three of
four games away from home. Pittsburgh recorded a 24-0 victory over Seattle on
Sept. 18 in its only other game at Heinz Field this season, and plays its next
two at home looking to make a run in the standings.

“We better have a sense of urgency,” said Tomlin. “I think anytime you are
coming off of a sub-standard performance when you lose, there needs to be a
sense of urgency in terms of how you bounce back. But we are not going to make
something out of this that it’s not. We understand that we are capable of
playing better. We expect to play better.”

Pittsburgh’s offense will need to improve as it faces the league’s top-scoring
defense in the Titans, who have not allowed more than 16 points in a game this
season. That has put Tennessee in position to win four in a row for the first
time since a five-game run from Nov. 1-29, 2009.

At 3-1, Tennessee is also off to its best start since beginning the 2008
campaign with 10 consecutive victories.

Hasselbeck has been key to the success. After joining the Titans this
offseason, the veteran has passed for 1,152 yards with eight touchdowns, the
best totals in both categories over a four-game start over his 13-year career.

He threw three first-half touchdown passes in last Sunday’s 31-13 victory over
Cleveland, finding three different receivers.

“He did a good job of reading the coverage and throwing to people that can
make plays,” Titans head coach Mike Munchak said of Hasselbeck. “He has been
doing that for all four weeks that he has played for us, so hopefully he can
continue to get better by working with the young receivers.”

Hasselbeck has struggled in the past against the Steelers, having thrown for
604 yards with two touchdowns, a pair of interceptions and taking 10 sacks in
three previous meetings.

The Titans snapped a six-game road slide dating back to last season with their
win at Cleveland and will open a three-game homestand after their Oct. 16 bye.

SERIES HISTORY

These one-time division rivals have faced one another 69 times previously
during the regular season, with Pittsburgh extending its lead in the series to
40-29 by virtue of a 19-11 win in Nashville during Week 2 of last season. The
Steelers also came through with a 13-10 overtime decision over Tennessee at
home in 2009 and have never lost to the Titans in three lifetime meetings at
Heinz Field. Tennessee’s last victory in Pittsburgh was a 23-20 triumph at
Three Rivers Stadium on Sept. 24, 2000, and the team last topped the Steelers
back in 2008, a 31-14 win at LP Field.

Pittsburgh also owns a 3-1 advantage over the Tennessee franchise in
postseason play. The Steelers defeated the Houston Oilers at home in both the
1978 and 1979 AFC Championship Games and were 26-23 overtime victors at the
Astrodome in a 1989 AFC First-Round Playoff. The Titans’ only positive result
in the playoff series was a 34-31 overtime verdict in a 2002 AFC Divisional
Playoff held in Nashville.

These teams squared off twice annually from 1970-2001, when both were then
members of the now-defunct AFC Central Division.

Tomlin is 2-1 all-time against the Titans as a head coach, while Munchak will
be opposing both the Steelers and Tomlin for the first time as a man in
charge.

WHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL

Tennessee’s 18th-ranked offense (347.3 ypg) didn’t miss a beat without wide
receiver Kenny Britt (17 receptions, 3 TD), who suffered a season-ending knee
surgery in a Week 3 win over Denver. Hasselbeck spread the wealth without his
top option, hitting six different receivers. Tight end Jared Cook (7
receptions, 1 TD) caught two of the six balls thrown his way, one for an 80-
yard touchdown that was the longest by a Titans/Oilers tight end since Willie
Frazier on Nov. 6, 1964. Former Steeler Nate Washington (23 receptions, 1 TD)
added a pair of catches for 62 yards and both tight end Craig Stevens and
rookie wideout Damian Williams grabbed touchdown passes, with Williams posting
the first of his career. Giving Hasselbeck time has been key and the offensive
line, led by tackle Michael Roos and guard Jake Scott, did not allow a sack
for the second time in four games and has yielded just four all season. The
Titans still rank last in the league in rushing, but Chris Johnson (199
rushing yards) did go over 100 yards for the first time this season and will
have fullback Ahmard Hall back in front of him this week, as the latter returns
from a four-game suspension for using a substance on the league’s banned list.

The Titans will look to keep Johnson going this weekend against a Steelers
defense that ranks second overall in the league (277.0 ypg) and first against
the pass (157.5 ypg), but will feature a different look due to injuries. With
Harrison (23 tackles, 2 sacks) out and fellow outside linebacker Jason Worilds
also doubtful thanks to a left quad problem, Lawrence Timmons (25 tackles) will
slide over from the inside to replace Harrison on the right outside spot, while
veteran Larry Foote (13 tackles, 1 sack) will take over for Timmons in the
middle alongside James Farrior (18 tackles, 1 sack). Defensive end Aaron Smith
(8 tackles) could also miss the game because of a foot sprain, opening the
door for either Ziggy Hood or rookie Cameron Heyward to start as long as Brett
Keisel (5 tackles) can return as expected from a knee ailment that’s kept him
out of the last two games. Pittsburgh’s defense did limit Houston to 138 yards
passing — marking the third straight game it allowed less than 150 yards
through the air, but was touched for 180 yards on the ground, including 155 by
running back Arian Foster. The Steelers did not come up with a sack versus the
Texans and are still searching for their first interception of the season.
Safety Troy Polamalu (26 tackles, 1 sack) does have three picks in five games
versus the Titans.

WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL

While the Steelers have not been forcing turnovers at a desired pace, they
have been generous in giving the ball away. Pittsburgh ranks last in the
league with a minus-10 turnover ratio, with Roethlisberger (1148 passing
yards, 3 TD, 5 INT) adding to that total with an interception versus the
Texans. Roethlisberger threw for 206 yards last weekend and was sacked five
times as well. With the quarterback hurting, Pittsburgh will try to offer more
protection and could have both guard Doug Legursky (shoulder) and left tackle
Jonathan Scott (ankle) back in the mix this weekend. Pittsburgh also added
depth by re-signing veteran tackle Max Starks after cutting him during the
preseason. Deep threat Mike Wallace (25 receptions, 2 TD) saw his string of six
straight games with at least 100 yards receiving — tied for second-longest in
league history — end after making four catches for a game-high 77 yards
against Houston, while wideout Antonio Brown (15 receptions) led the way last
week with five receptions for 67 yards. Running back Rashard Mendenhall (173
rushing yards, 2 TD) scored his sixth rushing touchdown in seven games, but was
limited to nine carries thanks to a hamstring injury. Fellow back Mewelde Moore
is also battling an ankle issue after carrying the ball four times for 34 yards
in the loss. If those two can’t go, Isaac Redman will likely handle the bulk of
the rushing duties.

Not only did the Titans limit the Browns to just 13 points despite yielding
416 yards of offense, but safety Jordan Babineaux (15 tackles, 1 INT) returned
an interception 97 yards for a score, the second pick-six of his career and
third-longest in club history. Babineaux was back on the field after Chris
Hope (10 tackles) returned from a shoulder injury only to suffer a broken
forearm that could sideline him for at least four weeks. Browns quarterback
Colt McCoy attacked the Tennessee secondary with 61 passes, completing 40 of
them, but was sacked by three different Titans and the team notched four sacks
in all. Rookie defensive tackle Karl Klug (6 tackles, 2 sacks), defensive end
Jason Jones, rookie linebacker Akeem Ayers (18 tackles, 1 sack) and defensive
end Derrick Morgan (8 tackles, 2 sacks) all had a sack each. Safety Michael
Griffin (17 tackles) also came up with a big play when he stuffed running back
Armond Smith on a 4th-and-1 near midfield during the second quarter, deflating
the Cleveland offense. With Cleveland going to the air so much, corners
Cortland Finnegan (20 tackles) and Jason McCourty (25 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT)
were both busy, making 11 and 10 tackles, respectively, while outside
linebacker Will Witherspoon (20 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) made eight tackles and
had two passes defensed.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Yes, Hasselbeck has put together a great start, but the Steelers’ defense
still has plenty of playmakers in the secondary even without Harrison roaming
the field. That means that Johnson will have to show up for a second straight
week to take the pressure off the passing game.

For Pittsburgh, the offensive line will have to handle the Titans’ pass rush
with Roethlisberger battling a sprained foot. The returns of Legursky and Scott
should help and Starks can probably step right in and play if needed, but the
Steelers won’t stand a chance if Big Ben has to get mobile.

Prevent the big play. Wallace is a threat to bust a game-changing play at any
time, but the Titans have done an excellent job of limiting such moments.
Tennessee ranks first in the league with an average of just 4.4 yards allowed
per play.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Left to settle into the ranks of NFL afterthought, Hasselbeck has instead
sparked the Titans to one of their best starts in recent memory despite the
talented Johnson’s slow start. The veteran quarterback showed last week that
he doesn’t need a No. 1 target to be successful, and his ability to spread the
ball out should keep the Steelers’ secondary on its heels. Pittsburgh has yet
to flash the talent that helped get the team to the Super Bowl a season ago,
and injuries to Harrison and Roethlisberger aren’t exactly what it needs right
now. This is probably the toughest of a three-game stretch that comes before
Pittsburgh’s big showdowns with the Patriots and Ravens later on in the season,
and the Steelers will likely have to wait one more week to turn things around.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Titans 16, Steelers 13

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — For the first time in 17 years, the Tennessee Titans are coached by someone other than Jeff Fisher.

Fisher was the longest-tenured NFL coach and had more 8-8 seasons (five) than anyone of his era. But he did take the former Houston Oilers to the Super Bowl after the 1999 season, which earned him exulted status in the coaching ranks. His resignation because of burnout one month after the 2010 season ended was a shocker.

The Titans didn’t panic because they had an in-house replacement in Mike Munchak, who played and coached for the franchise the previous 26 years.

While some noted NFL head coaches are waiting in line for their call to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Munchak’s bust already is on display. The former Oilers offensive guard was inducted in 2001, making him the only current NFL head coach in the Hall of Fame as a player and just the seventh since 1970. Three have taken teams to Super Bowls as coaches — Raymond Berry, Mike Ditka and Forrest Gregg.

Munchak’s playing career and his dues-paying stint as an excellent offensive line coach gave him instant credibility in the Titans’ locker room. A no-nonsense player and coach from the old school, Munchak immediately shook things up by banning loud music and video game systems, tightened the dress code on road trips, instituted fines and made practices tougher and faster-paced.

The knock on Fisher at the end was that he became a little lax in these areas, so Munchak was intent on changing the culture.

The early returns are positive. The Titans are 2-1. They are one of five teams with that record among the eight with new coaches, including the Browns.

It’s too early to tell whether Munchak is the driving force of the unexpected fast start or whether it is quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. The 36-year-old veteran of 10 seasons in Seattle is off to the best start of his 14-year career.

Hasselbeck has thrown for 932 yards in three games and is completing 69.6 percent of his throws — over 9 percent more than his career average. His signing as a free agent seemed to conflict with the vertical passing approach of new coordinator Chris Palmer, the former Browns head coach, but so far the marriage has been sweet.

Hasselbeck has failed to last because of injuries in each of his last three seasons in Seattle, however. If that happens this year, the Titans will be excited to see their No. 1 pick, strong-armed Jake Locker, take over.

In the meantime, Munchak embarks this week on life after Kenny Britt, the team’s only big-play receiver, who was lost for the year with a knee injury.

The first major team injury is a baptism, of sorts, for any NFL head coach. Consider Munchak christened.

On Twitter: @Tony Grossi

Tony Grossi’s Scouting Report

Browns vs. Tennessee Titans

Sunday 1 p.m. in Cleveland Browns Stadium

Record: 2-1.

Last game: Beat Denver, 17-14, Sept. 25, in Nashville, Tenn.

Coach: Mike Munchak, 2-1, first year.

Series record: Browns lead, 33-28 (counting postseason).

Last meeting: Titans won, 28-9, Dec. 7, 2008, in Nashville.

League rankings: Offense is 17th overall (32nd rushing, seventh passing), defense is first (eighth rushing, second passing) and turnover differential is plus-2.

Offensive overview: Coordinator Chris Palmer’s vertical passing game would seem to disagree with the skill set of West Coast-bred Matt Hasselbeck, but the QB is off to his best start in 13 NFL seasons. Excellent offensive line play has kept Hasselbeck injury-free. He looked beaten up the past three years in Seattle. But with go-to receiver Kenny Britt lost for the year after blowing out a knee, Palmer will have to make a big adjustment. The rest of the receiving corps is unspectacular. Second tight end Jared Cook might be used more. Palmer has been effective with creative play-calls in crucial moments. The mystery in Nashville is when Pro Bowl running back Chris Johnson will come alive. He’s averaging 2.1 yards a rush and has nothing longer than nine yards since ending a 35-day holdout.

Defensive overview: Coordinator Jerry Gray’s unsung defense is ranked first in the league this week. Defensive line was always the team’s hallmark under former D-line coach Jim Washburn (who left for Philadelphia). Gray made his front four bigger, inserting ex-Browns tackle Shaun Smith next to rookie third-round pick Jurrell Casey in the interior. Gray also has his ends lining up closer to the tackles than the Titans previously played. Gray likes to mix up his looks, often using second-round rookie Akeem Ayers in different roles. The secondary is strong at cornerback and at safety. The defense already has six takeaways and is the AFC’s best in the red zone, yielding only two touchdowns in their opponents’ six visits inside the 20.

Special teams overview: Alan Lowery is in his 11th year as special teams coach. For most of his reign, his units have been upper echelon. Kicker Rob Bironas is as accurate as they come; his 85.1 field-goal percentage is fifth all-time. He only missed two last year but is 5-of-7 this year with a long of 51 yards. He has eight touchbacks on kickoffs in three games. Punter Brett Kern is 24th in gross average (41.9 yards) and 26th in net (34.6). Return specialist Marc Mariani made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. But he’s been stymied, returning only one punt and not having a single kickoff return because of touchbacks.

Players to watch:

• Running back Chris Johnson: The league’s premier home-run hitter at his position, he has only 98 yards on 46 attempts in three games after a long holdout resulted in a $53.5 million contract extension.

• Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck: Healthy and producing at a career-best pace, the 36-year-old ball distributor has totally silenced any hint of calls for No. 1 pick Jake Locker.

• Cornerback Cortland Finnegan: A one-time Pro Bowler with good ball awareness and a spunky attitude; not afraid to get loud and physical.

Injury report: Wide receiver Kenny Britt (knee) is out. Safety Chris Hope (shoulder) missed the last two games and will practice this week. Linebacker Gerald McRath (knee) will be evaluated during the week.

Small world: Offensive coordinator Chris Palmer was Browns head coach in 1999 and 2000. … Defensive lineman Shaun Smith played for the Browns 2007-08. … Quality control coach Charles London was assistant manager of Cleveland Browns Stadium 2007-08. … Receivers coach Dave Ragone is a Cleveland native and played at St. Ignatius High School.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans came out frustrated over how they opened the season and more than a bit desperate. They took it all out on the Baltimore Ravens, showing off a passing game with new quarterback Matt Hasselbeck that means Chris Johnson now has some help.

Hasselbeck threw for 358 yards and a touchdown, and the Titans gave new coach Mike Munchak a big win in their home opener by beating the Ravens 26-13 on Sunday.

Munchak called the victory a great recovery after a 16-14 loss at Jacksonville.

“We knew we couldn’t be 0-2,” Munchak said after getting a Gatorade bath in the final seconds and a game ball from owner Bud Adams in the locker room. “You can’t start a season 0-2. … We’ve been talking about winning at home since the first day I took the job.”

With the Ravens focused on stopping Johnson, Hasselbeck attacked through the air. Kenny Britt caught nine passes for 135 yards and a TD, while Nate Washington had seven more receptions for 99 yards. Rob Bironas also kicked four field goals as Tennessee (1-1) held the ball for more than 35 minutes and outgained Baltimore 432-229 in total offense.

Johnson had 24 carries for 53 yards, and he couldn’t be happier at how well his teammates performed.

“A lot of teams come in thinking they can just load the box and if they stop me, they can win. … It just showed we have other playmakers,” he said. “We have other ways to beat you. Hopefully, they help out and let other teams around the NFL know you just can’t stack the box and try to stop me and win.”

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens did put eight near the line of scrimmage at times to try to stop Johnson.

“Hasselbeck did a nice job of controlling the game as far as recognizing what we were in and getting them in the right play,” he said. “To me, that’s what a veteran quarterback does. He gets the ball out and he’s got some big targets. The credit goes to him. I think he was the guy that was the difference in the game.”

The Titans also showed off their revamped defense.

They sacked Joe Flacco three times and hit him repeatedly while forcing three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Ravens (1-1), who looked so dominant in routing Pittsburgh 35-7 in their opener, forced only one turnover.

“I think everybody didn’t play well, and that’s the bottom line,” Harbaugh said. “We win as a team, and we lose as a team. I’m not going to sit here and nitpick one guy.”

Baltimore had one last chance to get into the game in the fourth quarter, when Flacco drove the Ravens down to first-and-goal at the Titans 9. But Tennessee broke up two passes, the last by Cortland Finnegan, while the Ravens were called for delay of game. They had to settle for Billy Cundiff’s second field goal with 6:58 left to pull within 23-13.

Tennessee then ran out all but 31 seconds before Bironas kicked his fourth field goal to finish off the win. Hasselbeck kept calling plays, getting some defensive linemen to lift the heavy cooler to douse Munchak.

The Titans signed Hasselbeck to a three-year deal worth $9 million this season. Hasselbeck said he thought the offense was still a work in progress after the lockout, but Britt is making the transition a bit easier.

“He’s a very talented guy for a quarterback,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m not sure I’ve ever had a guy that talented. He’s got special abilities.”

The Titans set the tone from the opening kickoff, deferring to let Baltimore take the ball on offense. Tennessee forced the Ravens to go three-and-out on their first two possessions, with Alterraun Verner picking off a Flacco pass to end the third. Playing field position helped the Titans push the Ravens to start two drives at their own 4 and held them to 25 yards in the first quarter.

After going into halftime tied at 10 apiece, the Titans took control in the third quarter, outscoring Baltimore 10-0 and outgaining the Ravens 147-43. Javon Ringer finished off the opening drive with a 10-yard TD run on fourth-and-1 with Johnson on the bench.

Notes: Ravens NT Terrance Cody had a concussion, and returner David Reed was in a sling after the game with an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder. … Hasselbeck is the 33rd NFL player to throw for at least 30,000 yards in his career. This was the 22nd 300-yard passing game of his career. … Britt now has six 100-yard receiving games in his career. … The Titans also beat the Ravens six years ago to the day on Sept. 18, 2005, winning 25-10 in their home opener. … The Ravens missed out on their fifth 2-0 start in team history. … Harbaugh now is 1-2 against the Titans.

Nashville, Tn – The Tennessee Titans came out frustrated over how they opened the season and more than a bit desperate. They took it all out on the Baltimore Ravens, showing off a passing game with new quarterback Matt Hasselbeck that means Chris Johnson now has some help.

Hasselbeck threw for 358 yards and a touchdown, and the Titans gave new coach Mike Munchak a big win in their home opener by beating the Ravens 26-13 on Sunday.

Munchak called the victory a great recovery after a 16-14 loss at Jacksonville.

“We knew we couldn’t be 0-2,” Munchak said after getting a Gatorade bath in the final seconds and a game ball from owner Bud Adams in the locker room. “You can’t start a season 0-2. … We’ve been talking about winning at home since the first day I took the job.”

With the Ravens focused on stopping Johnson, Hasselbeck attacked through the air. Kenny Britt caught nine passes for 135 yards and a TD, while Nate Washington had seven more receptions for 99 yards. Rob Bironas also kicked four field goals as Tennessee (1-1) held the ball for more than 35 minutes and outgained Baltimore 432-229 in total offense.

Johnson had 24 carries for 53 yards, and he couldn’t be happier at how well his teammates performed.

“A lot of teams come in thinking they can just load the box and if they stop me, they can win. … It just showed we have other playmakers,” he said. “We have other ways to beat you. Hopefully, they help out and let other teams around the NFL know you just can’t stack the box and try to stop me and win.”

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens did put eight near the line of scrimmage at times to try to stop Johnson.

“Hasselbeck did a nice job of controlling the game as far as recognizing what we were in and getting them in the right play,” he said. “To me, that’s what a veteran quarterback does. He gets the ball out and he’s got some big targets. The credit goes to him. I think he was the guy that was the difference in the game.”

The Titans also showed off their revamped defense.

They sacked Joe Flacco three times and hit him repeatedly while forcing three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Ravens (1-1), who looked so dominant in routing Pittsburgh 35-7 in their opener, forced only one turnover.

“I think everybody didn’t play well, and that’s the bottom line,” Harbaugh said. “We win as a team, and we lose as a team. I’m not going to sit here and nitpick one guy.”

Baltimore had one last chance to get into the game in the fourth quarter, when Flacco drove the Ravens down to first-and-goal at the Titans 9. But Tennessee broke up two passes, the last by Cortland Finnegan, while the Ravens were called for delay of game. They had to settle for Billy Cundiff’s second field goal with 6:58 left to pull within 23-13.

Tennessee then ran out all but 31 seconds before Bironas kicked his fourth field goal to finish off the win. Hasselbeck kept calling plays, getting some defensive linemen to lift the heavy cooler to douse Munchak.

The Titans signed Hasselbeck to a three-year deal worth $9 million this season. Hasselbeck said he thought the offense was still a work in progress after the lockout, but Britt is making the transition a bit easier.

“He’s a very talented guy for a quarterback,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m not sure I’ve ever had a guy that talented. He’s got special abilities.”

The Titans set the tone from the opening kickoff, deferring to let Baltimore take the ball on offense. Tennessee forced the Ravens to go three-and-out on their first two possessions, with Alterraun Verner picking off a Flacco pass to end the third. Playing field position helped the Titans push the Ravens to start two drives at their own 4 and held them to 25 yards in the first quarter.

After going into halftime tied at 10 apiece, the Titans took control in the third quarter, outscoring Baltimore 10-0 and outgaining the Ravens 147-43. Javon Ringer finished off the opening drive with a 10-yard TD run on fourth-and-1 with Johnson on the bench.

Notes: Ravens NT Terrance Cody had a concussion, and returner David Reed was in a sling after the game with an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder. … Hasselbeck is the 33rd NFL player to throw for at least 30,000 yards in his career. This was the 22nd 300-yard passing game of his career. … Britt now has six 100-yard receiving games in his career. … The Titans also beat the Ravens six years ago to the day on Sept. 18, 2005, winning 25-10 in their home opener. … The Ravens missed out on their fifth 2-0 start in team history. … Harbaugh now is 1-2 against the Titans.

 

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans came out frustrated over how they opened the season and more than a bit desperate. They took it all out on the Baltimore Ravens, showing off a passing game with new quarterback Matt Hasselbeck that means Chris Johnson now has some help.

Hasselbeck threw for 358 yards and a touchdown, and the Titans gave new coach Mike Munchak a big win in their home opener by beating the Ravens 26-13 on Sunday.

Munchak called the victory a great recovery after a 16-14 loss at Jacksonville.

“We knew we couldn’t be 0-2,” Munchak said after getting a Gatorade bath in the final seconds and a game ball from owner Bud Adams in the locker room. “You can’t start a season 0-2. … We’ve been talking about winning at home since the first day I took the job.”

With the Ravens focused on stopping Johnson, Hasselbeck attacked through the air. Kenny Britt caught nine passes for 135 yards and a TD, while Nate Washington had seven more receptions for 99 yards. Rob Bironas also kicked four field goals as Tennessee (1-1) held the ball for more than 35 minutes and outgained Baltimore 432-229 in total offence.

Johnson had 24 carries for 53 yards, and he couldn’t be happier at how well his teammates performed.

“A lot of teams come in thinking they can just load the box and if they stop me, they can win. … It just showed we have other playmakers,” he said. “We have other ways to beat you. Hopefully, they help out and let other teams around the NFL know you just can’t stack the box and try to stop me and win.”

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens did put eight near the line of scrimmage at times to try to stop Johnson.

“Hasselbeck did a nice job of controlling the game as far as recognizing what we were in and getting them in the right play,” he said. “To me, that’s what a veteran quarterback does. He gets the ball out and he’s got some big targets. The credit goes to him. I think he was the guy that was the difference in the game.”

The Titans also showed off their revamped defence.

They sacked Joe Flacco three times and hit him repeatedly while forcing three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Ravens (1-1), who looked so dominant in routing Pittsburgh 35-7 in their opener, forced only one turnover.

“I think everybody didn’t play well, and that’s the bottom line,” Harbaugh said. “We win as a team, and we lose as a team. I’m not going to sit here and nitpick one guy.”

Baltimore had one last chance to get into the game in the fourth quarter, when Flacco drove the Ravens down to first-and-goal at the Titans 9. But Tennessee broke up two passes, the last by Cortland Finnegan, while the Ravens were called for delay of game. They had to settle for Billy Cundiff’s second field goal with 6:58 left to pull within 23-13.

Tennessee then ran out all but 31 seconds before Bironas kicked his fourth field goal to finish off the win. Hasselbeck kept calling plays, getting some defensive linemen to lift the heavy cooler to douse Munchak.

The Titans signed Hasselbeck to a three-year deal worth $9 million this season. Hasselbeck said he thought the offence was still a work in progress after the lockout, but Britt is making the transition a bit easier.

“He’s a very talented guy for a quarterback,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m not sure I’ve ever had a guy that talented. He’s got special abilities.”

The Titans set the tone from the opening kickoff, deferring to let Baltimore take the ball on offence. Tennessee forced the Ravens to go three-and-out on their first two possessions, with Alterraun Verner picking off a Flacco pass to end the third. Playing field position helped the Titans push the Ravens to start two drives at their own 4 and held them to 25 yards in the first quarter.

After going into halftime tied at 10 apiece, the Titans took control in the third quarter, outscoring Baltimore 10-0 and outgaining the Ravens 147-43. Javon Ringer finished off the opening drive with a 10-yard TD run on fourth-and-1 with Johnson on the bench.

Notes: Ravens NT Terrance Cody had a concussion, and returner David Reed was in a sling after the game with an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder. … Hasselbeck is the 33rd NFL player to throw for at least 30,000 yards in his career. This was the 22nd 300-yard passing game of his career. … Britt now has six 100-yard receiving games in his career. … The Titans also beat the Ravens six years ago to the day on Sept. 18, 2005, winning 25-10 in their home opener. … The Ravens missed out on their fifth 2-0 start in team history. … Harbaugh now is 1-2 against the Titans.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—The Tennessee Titans came out frustrated over how
they opened the season and more than a bit desperate. They took it all out on
the Baltimore Ravens, showing off a passing game with new quarterback Matt
Hasselbeck(notes) that means Chris Johnson now has some help.

Hasselbeck threw for 358 yards and a touchdown, and the Titans gave new
coach Mike Munchak a big win in their home opener by beating the Ravens 26-13 on
Sunday.

Munchak called the victory a great recovery after a 16-14 loss at
Jacksonville.

“We knew we couldn’t be 0-2,” Munchak said after getting a Gatorade bath
in the final seconds and a game ball from owner Bud Adams in the locker room.
“You can’t start a season 0-2. … We’ve been talking about winning at home
since the first day I took the job.”

With the Ravens focused on stopping Johnson, Hasselbeck attacked through the
air. Kenny Britt(notes) caught nine passes for 135 yards and a TD, while Nate
Washington(notes) had seven more receptions for 99 yards. Rob Bironas(notes) also kicked four
field goals as Tennessee (1-1) held the ball for more than 35 minutes and
outgained Baltimore 432-229 in total offense.

Johnson had 24 carries for 53 yards, and he couldn’t be happier at how well
his teammates performed.

“A lot of teams come in thinking they can just load the box and if they
stop me, they can win. … It just showed we have other playmakers,” he said.
“We have other ways to beat you. Hopefully, they help out and let other teams
around the NFL know you just can’t stack the box and try to stop me and win.”

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens did put eight near the line of
scrimmage at times to try to stop Johnson.

“Hasselbeck did a nice job of controlling the game as far as recognizing
what we were in and getting them in the right play,” he said. “To me, that’s
what a veteran quarterback does. He gets the ball out and he’s got some big
targets. The credit goes to him. I think he was the guy that was the difference
in the game.”

The Titans also showed off their revamped defense.

They sacked Joe Flacco(notes) three times and hit him repeatedly while forcing
three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Ravens (1-1), who looked so
dominant in routing Pittsburgh 35-7 in their opener, forced only one turnover.

“I think everybody didn’t play well, and that’s the bottom line,” Harbaugh
said. “We win as a team, and we lose as a team. I’m not going to sit here and
nitpick one guy.”

Baltimore had one last chance to get into the game in the fourth quarter,
when Flacco drove the Ravens down to first-and-goal at the Titans 9. But
Tennessee broke up two passes, the last by Cortland Finnegan(notes), while the Ravens
were called for delay of game. They had to settle for Billy Cundiff’s(notes) second
field goal with 6:58 left to pull within 23-13.

Tennessee then ran out all but 31 seconds before Bironas kicked his fourth
field goal to finish off the win. Hasselbeck kept calling plays, getting some
defensive linemen to lift the heavy cooler to douse Munchak.

The Titans signed Hasselbeck to a three-year deal worth $9 million this
season. Hasselbeck said he thought the offense was still a work in progress
after the lockout, but Britt is making the transition a bit easier.

“He’s a very talented guy for a quarterback,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m not
sure I’ve ever had a guy that talented. He’s got special abilities.”

The Titans set the tone from the opening kickoff, deferring to let Baltimore
take the ball on offense. Tennessee forced the Ravens to go three-and-out on
their first two possessions, with Alterraun Verner(notes) picking off a Flacco pass to
end the third. Playing field position helped the Titans push the Ravens to start
two drives at their own 4 and held them to 25 yards in the first quarter.

After going into halftime tied at 10 apiece, the Titans took control in the
third quarter, outscoring Baltimore 10-0 and outgaining the Ravens 147-43. Javon
Ringer(notes) finished off the opening drive with a 10-yard TD run on fourth-and-1 with
Johnson on the bench.

Notes: Ravens NT Terrance Cody had a concussion, and returner David Reed(notes) was
in a sling after the game with an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder. …
Hasselbeck is the 33rd NFL player to throw for at least 30,000 yards in his
career. This was the 22nd 300-yard passing game of his career. … Britt now has
six 100-yard receiving games in his career. … The Titans also beat the Ravens
six years ago to the day on Sept. 18, 2005, winning 25-10 in their home opener.
… The Ravens missed out on their fifth 2-0 start in team history. … Harbaugh
now is 1-2 against the Titans.

Updated Sep 18, 2011 6:13 PM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)

The Tennessee Titans came out frustrated over how they opened the season and more than a bit desperate. They took it all out on the Baltimore Ravens, showing off a passing game with new quarterback Matt Hasselbeck that means Chris Johnson now has some help.

Hasselbeck threw for 358 yards and a touchdown, and the Titans gave new coach Mike Munchak a big win in their home opener by beating the Ravens 26-13 on Sunday.

Munchak called the victory a great recovery after a 16-14 loss at Jacksonville.

”We knew we couldn’t be 0-2,” Munchak said after getting a Gatorade bath in the final seconds and a game ball from owner Bud Adams in the locker room. ”You can’t start a season 0-2. … We’ve been talking about winning at home since the first day I took the job.”

With the Ravens focused on stopping Johnson, Hasselbeck attacked through the air. Kenny Britt caught nine passes for 135 yards and a TD, while Nate Washington had seven more receptions for 99 yards. Rob Bironas also kicked four field goals as Tennessee (1-1) held the ball for more than 35 minutes and outgained Baltimore 432-229 in total offense.

Johnson had 24 carries for 53 yards, and he couldn’t be happier at how well his teammates performed.

”A lot of teams come in thinking they can just load the box and if they stop me, they can win. … It just showed we have other playmakers,” he said. ”We have other ways to beat you. Hopefully, they help out and let other teams around the NFL know you just can’t stack the box and try to stop me and win.”

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens did put eight near the line of scrimmage at times to try to stop Johnson.

”Hasselbeck did a nice job of controlling the game as far as recognizing what we were in and getting them in the right play,” he said. ”To me, that’s what a veteran quarterback does. He gets the ball out and he’s got some big targets. The credit goes to him. I think he was the guy that was the difference in the game.”

The Titans also showed off their revamped defense.

They sacked Joe Flacco three times and hit him repeatedly while forcing three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Ravens (1-1), who looked so dominant in routing Pittsburgh 35-7 in their opener, forced only one turnover.

”I think everybody didn’t play well, and that’s the bottom line,” Harbaugh said. ”We win as a team, and we lose as a team. I’m not going to sit here and nitpick one guy.”

Baltimore had one last chance to get into the game in the fourth quarter, when Flacco drove the Ravens down to first-and-goal at the Titans 9. But Tennessee broke up two passes, the last by Cortland Finnegan, while the Ravens were called for delay of game. They had to settle for Billy Cundiff’s second field goal with 6:58 left to pull within 23-13.

Tennessee then ran out all but 31 seconds before Bironas kicked his fourth field goal to finish off the win. Hasselbeck kept calling plays, getting some defensive linemen to lift the heavy cooler to douse Munchak.

The Titans signed Hasselbeck to a three-year deal worth $9 million this season. Hasselbeck said he thought the offense was still a work in progress after the lockout, but Britt is making the transition a bit easier.

”He’s a very talented guy for a quarterback,” Hasselbeck said. ”I’m not sure I’ve ever had a guy that talented. He’s got special abilities.”

The Titans set the tone from the opening kickoff, deferring to let Baltimore take the ball on offense. Tennessee forced the Ravens to go three-and-out on their first two possessions, with Alterraun Verner picking off a Flacco pass to end the third. Playing field position helped the Titans push the Ravens to start two drives at their own 4 and held them to 25 yards in the first quarter.

After going into halftime tied at 10 apiece, the Titans took control in the third quarter, outscoring Baltimore 10-0 and outgaining the Ravens 147-43. Javon Ringer finished off the opening drive with a 10-yard TD run on fourth-and-1 with Johnson on the bench.

Notes: Ravens NT Terrance Cody had a concussion, and returner David Reed was in a sling after the game with an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder. … Hasselbeck is the 33rd NFL player to throw for at least 30,000 yards in his career. This was the 22nd 300-yard passing game of his career. … Britt now has six 100-yard receiving games in his career. … The Titans also beat the Ravens six years ago to the day on Sept. 18, 2005, winning 25-10 in their home opener. … The Ravens missed out on their fifth 2-0 start in team history. … Harbaugh now is 1-2 against the Titans.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—The Tennessee Titans came out frustrated over how
they opened the season and more than a bit desperate. They took it all out on
the Baltimore Ravens, showing off a passing game with new quarterback Matt
Hasselbeck(notes) that means Chris Johnson now has some help.

Hasselbeck threw for 358 yards and a touchdown, and the Titans gave new
coach Mike Munchak a big win in their home opener by beating the Ravens 26-13 on
Sunday.

Munchak called the victory a great recovery after a 16-14 loss at
Jacksonville.

“We knew we couldn’t be 0-2,” Munchak said after getting a Gatorade bath
in the final seconds and a game ball from owner Bud Adams in the locker room.
“You can’t start a season 0-2. … We’ve been talking about winning at home
since the first day I took the job.”

With the Ravens focused on stopping Johnson, Hasselbeck attacked through the
air. Kenny Britt(notes) caught nine passes for 135 yards and a TD, while Nate
Washington(notes) had seven more receptions for 99 yards. Rob Bironas(notes) also kicked four
field goals as Tennessee (1-1) held the ball for more than 35 minutes and
outgained Baltimore 432-229 in total offense.

Johnson had 24 carries for 53 yards, and he couldn’t be happier at how well
his teammates performed.

“A lot of teams come in thinking they can just load the box and if they
stop me, they can win. … It just showed we have other playmakers,” he said.
“We have other ways to beat you. Hopefully, they help out and let other teams
around the NFL know you just can’t stack the box and try to stop me and win.”

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens did put eight near the line of
scrimmage at times to try to stop Johnson.

“Hasselbeck did a nice job of controlling the game as far as recognizing
what we were in and getting them in the right play,” he said. “To me, that’s
what a veteran quarterback does. He gets the ball out and he’s got some big
targets. The credit goes to him. I think he was the guy that was the difference
in the game.”

The Titans also showed off their revamped defense.

They sacked Joe Flacco(notes) three times and hit him repeatedly while forcing
three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Ravens (1-1), who looked so
dominant in routing Pittsburgh 35-7 in their opener, forced only one turnover.

“I think everybody didn’t play well, and that’s the bottom line,” Harbaugh
said. “We win as a team, and we lose as a team. I’m not going to sit here and
nitpick one guy.”

Baltimore had one last chance to get into the game in the fourth quarter,
when Flacco drove the Ravens down to first-and-goal at the Titans 9. But
Tennessee broke up two passes, the last by Cortland Finnegan(notes), while the Ravens
were called for delay of game. They had to settle for Billy Cundiff’s(notes) second
field goal with 6:58 left to pull within 23-13.

Tennessee then ran out all but 31 seconds before Bironas kicked his fourth
field goal to finish off the win. Hasselbeck kept calling plays, getting some
defensive linemen to lift the heavy cooler to douse Munchak.

The Titans signed Hasselbeck to a three-year deal worth $9 million this
season. Hasselbeck said he thought the offense was still a work in progress
after the lockout, but Britt is making the transition a bit easier.

“He’s a very talented guy for a quarterback,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m not
sure I’ve ever had a guy that talented. He’s got special abilities.”

The Titans set the tone from the opening kickoff, deferring to let Baltimore
take the ball on offense. Tennessee forced the Ravens to go three-and-out on
their first two possessions, with Alterraun Verner(notes) picking off a Flacco pass to
end the third. Playing field position helped the Titans push the Ravens to start
two drives at their own 4 and held them to 25 yards in the first quarter.

After going into halftime tied at 10 apiece, the Titans took control in the
third quarter, outscoring Baltimore 10-0 and outgaining the Ravens 147-43. Javon
Ringer(notes) finished off the opening drive with a 10-yard TD run on fourth-and-1 with
Johnson on the bench.

Notes: Ravens NT Terrance Cody had a concussion, and returner David Reed(notes) was
in a sling after the game with an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder. …
Hasselbeck is the 33rd NFL player to throw for at least 30,000 yards in his
career. This was the 22nd 300-yard passing game of his career. … Britt now has
six 100-yard receiving games in his career. … The Titans also beat the Ravens
six years ago to the day on Sept. 18, 2005, winning 25-10 in their home opener.
… The Ravens missed out on their fifth 2-0 start in team history. … Harbaugh
now is 1-2 against the Titans.

Munchak called the victory a great recovery after a 16-14 loss at Jacksonville.

“We knew we couldn’t be 0-2,” Munchak said after getting a Gatorade bath in the final seconds and a game ball from owner Bud Adams in the locker room. “You can’t start a season 0-2. … We’ve been talking about winning at home since the first day I took the job.”

With the Ravens focused on stopping Johnson, Hasselbeck attacked through the air. Kenny Britt caught nine passes for 135 yards and a TD, while Nate Washington had seven more receptions for 99 yards. Rob Bironas also kicked four field goals as Tennessee (1-1) held the ball for more than 35 minutes and outgained Baltimore 432-229 in total offense.

Johnson had 24 carries for 53 yards, and he couldn’t be happier at how well his teammates performed.

“A lot of teams come in thinking they can just load the box and if they stop me, they can win. … It just showed we have other playmakers,” he said. “We have other ways to beat you. Hopefully, they help out and let other teams around the NFL know you just can’t stack the box and try to stop me and win.”

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens did put eight near the line of scrimmage at times to try to stop Johnson.

“Hasselbeck did a nice job of controlling the game as far as recognizing what we were in and getting them in the right play,” he said. “To me, that’s what a veteran quarterback does. He gets the ball out and he’s got some big targets. The credit goes to him. I think he was the guy that was the difference in the game.”

The Titans also showed off their revamped defense.

They sacked Joe Flacco three times and hit him repeatedly while forcing three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Ravens (1-1), who looked so dominant in routing Pittsburgh 35-7 in their opener, forced only one turnover.

“I think everybody didn’t play well, and that’s the bottom line,” Harbaugh said. “We win as a team, and we lose as a team. I’m not going to sit here and nitpick one guy.”

Baltimore had one last chance to get into the game in the fourth quarter, when Flacco drove the Ravens down to first-and-goal at the Titans 9. But Tennessee broke up two passes, the last by Cortland Finnegan, while the Ravens were called for delay of game. They had to settle for Billy Cundiff’s second field goal with 6:58 left to pull within 23-13.

Tennessee then ran out all but 31 seconds before Bironas kicked his fourth field goal to finish off the win. Hasselbeck kept calling plays, getting some defensive linemen to lift the heavy cooler to douse Munchak.

The Titans signed Hasselbeck to a three-year deal worth $9 million this season. Hasselbeck said he thought the offense was still a work in progress after the lockout, but Britt is making the transition a bit easier.

“He’s a very talented guy for a quarterback,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m not sure I’ve ever had a guy that talented. He’s got special abilities.”

The Titans set the tone from the opening kickoff, deferring to let Baltimore take the ball on offense. Tennessee forced the Ravens to go three-and-out on their first two possessions, with Alterraun Verner picking off a Flacco pass to end the third. Playing field position helped the Titans push the Ravens to start two drives at their own 4 and held them to 25 yards in the first quarter.

After going into halftime tied at 10 apiece, the Titans took control in the third quarter, outscoring Baltimore 10-0 and outgaining the Ravens 147-43. Javon Ringer finished off the opening drive with a 10-yard TD run on fourth-and-1 with Johnson on the bench.

Notes: Ravens NT Terrance Cody had a concussion, and returner David Reed was in a sling after the game with an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder. … Hasselbeck is the 33rd NFL player to throw for at least 30,000 yards in his career. This was the 22nd 300-yard passing game of his career. … Britt now has six 100-yard receiving games in his career. … The Titans also beat the Ravens six years ago to the day on Sept. 18, 2005, winning 25-10 in their home opener. … The Ravens missed out on their fifth 2-0 start in team history. … Harbaugh now is 1-2 against the Titans.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

With a stifling defensive effort, the Baltimore Ravens made a statement
during their opening-weekend victory.

The Tennessee Titans are trying not to panic after failing to move the ball
with much consistency in Week 1.

Baltimore tries to open 2-0 for the third time in four seasons while
Tennessee hopes to regroup during Mike Munchak’s home coaching debut Sunday.

The Ravens, who were ousted in the playoffs last season by Pittsburgh,
opened 2011 with a bang, routing the Steelers 35-7 last Sunday.

“This is just a start,” said receiver Anquan Boldin(notes), who had four catches
for 74 yards and a touchdown. “We wanted to come out and make a statement, but
we think we can only get better from here.”

Baltimore recorded three interceptions and recovered four fumbles in a
performance that resembled that of the defensive unit which led the team during
its 2000 Super Bowl run. The Ravens also had four sacks – three from Terrell
Suggs(notes), who with 71 1/2 surpassed Peter Boulware for the most in franchise
history.

“Seems like every year he hits double-digits in sacks,” Ravens defensive end
Cory Redding(notes) said. “Dudes really have to look out for him. Quarterbacks really
have to find him on the field. They have to account for this guy, because if
they don’t he’s going to put the quarterback on his back.”

Tennessee quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes) knows all too well of Suggs’ defensive
prowess. Hasselbeck was sacked eight times in two games against Baltimore while
with Seattle, including twice by Suggs during a 44-41 Ravens overtime victory
Nov. 23, 2003.

In his first game with Tennessee, Hasselbeck completed 21 of 34 passes for
263 yards with two touchdowns and an interception last Sunday. However, Chris
Johnson, who joined the team roughly two weeks ago following a holdout, rushed
for just 24 yards on nine carries as the Titans fell 16-14 at Jacksonville.

“Don’t over-panic,” Munchak told the Titans’ official website. “We have a
very good opponent coming in. You have to believe in everything that you’ve
done. You don’t throw everything away after one game because certain things
didn’t work out the way you wanted.

“The NFL is a tricky thing because one week it changes so much. Football can
get very humbling real fast. It’s a brand new opportunity. We’ve got 15 more of
these and we still have an opportunity to do something special.”

On what was a quiet offensive day for the Titans, Kenny Britt(notes) shined,
hauling in five passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

While Britt will have to worry about going up against seven-time Pro Bowl
safety Ed Reed(notes), who is coming off the 12th multi-interception game of his
career, Ravens rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith(notes) is expected to miss a few weeks
with a high ankle sprain.

Tennessee, which surrendered an average of 133.0 rushing yards en route to
losing nine of 10 to close last season, surrendered 323 total yards during its
opener – 163 on the ground.

The Titans’ inability to stop the run could mean another big day for Ray
Rice(notes), who ran for 107 yards and caught four passes for another 42 against the
Steelers, scoring twice. Joe Flacco(notes) also impressed, throwing for 224 yards and
three TDs.

While Johnson struggled in the opener, he has averaged an NFL-best 114.2
rushing yards over the previous two seasons at home.

“He is what they call their home-run hitter,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis(notes)
said. “He is their offense, he’s their heartbeat. And if you look at what they
did last weekend … you’ve got to know that he’s definitely going to touch the
football a lot this week. And we’re prepared for it.

“It should be a great test for us. But when you talk about just skill and
talent, he is a special, special talent.”

Tennessee and Baltimore have split 16 meetings, with the Titans taking the
last matchup 13-10 on Oct. 5, 2008.

With a stifling defensive effort, the Baltimore Ravens made a statement
during their opening-weekend victory.

The Tennessee Titans are trying not to panic after failing to move the ball
with much consistency in Week 1.

Baltimore tries to open 2-0 for the third time in four seasons while
Tennessee hopes to regroup during Mike Munchak’s home coaching debut Sunday.

The Ravens, who were ousted in the playoffs last season by Pittsburgh,
opened 2011 with a bang, routing the Steelers 35-7 last Sunday.

“This is just a start,” said receiver Anquan Boldin(notes), who had four catches
for 74 yards and a touchdown. “We wanted to come out and make a statement, but
we think we can only get better from here.”

Baltimore recorded three interceptions and recovered four fumbles in a
performance that resembled that of the defensive unit which led the team during
its 2000 Super Bowl run. The Ravens also had four sacks – three from Terrell
Suggs(notes), who with 71 1/2 surpassed Peter Boulware for the most in franchise
history.

“Seems like every year he hits double-digits in sacks,” Ravens defensive end
Cory Redding(notes) said. “Dudes really have to look out for him. Quarterbacks really
have to find him on the field. They have to account for this guy, because if
they don’t he’s going to put the quarterback on his back.”

Tennessee quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes) knows all too well of Suggs’ defensive
prowess. Hasselbeck was sacked eight times in two games against Baltimore while
with Seattle, including twice by Suggs during a 44-41 Ravens overtime victory
Nov. 23, 2003.

In his first game with Tennessee, Hasselbeck completed 21 of 34 passes for
263 yards with two touchdowns and an interception last Sunday. However, Chris
Johnson, who joined the team roughly two weeks ago following a holdout, rushed
for just 24 yards on nine carries as the Titans fell 16-14 at Jacksonville.

“Don’t over-panic,” Munchak told the Titans’ official website. “We have a
very good opponent coming in. You have to believe in everything that you’ve
done. You don’t throw everything away after one game because certain things
didn’t work out the way you wanted.

“The NFL is a tricky thing because one week it changes so much. Football can
get very humbling real fast. It’s a brand new opportunity. We’ve got 15 more of
these and we still have an opportunity to do something special.”

On what was a quiet offensive day for the Titans, Kenny Britt(notes) shined,
hauling in five passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

While Britt will have to worry about going up against seven-time Pro Bowl
safety Ed Reed(notes), who is coming off the 12th multi-interception game of his
career, Ravens rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith(notes) is expected to miss a few weeks
with a high ankle sprain.

Tennessee, which surrendered an average of 133.0 rushing yards en route to
losing nine of 10 to close last season, surrendered 323 total yards during its
opener – 163 on the ground.

The Titans’ inability to stop the run could mean another big day for Ray
Rice(notes), who ran for 107 yards and caught four passes for another 42 against the
Steelers, scoring twice. Joe Flacco(notes) also impressed, throwing for 224 yards and
three TDs.

While Johnson struggled in the opener, he has averaged an NFL-best 114.2
rushing yards over the previous two seasons at home.

“He is what they call their home-run hitter,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis(notes)
said. “He is their offense, he’s their heartbeat. And if you look at what they
did last weekend … you’ve got to know that he’s definitely going to touch the
football a lot this week. And we’re prepared for it.

“It should be a great test for us. But when you talk about just skill and
talent, he is a special, special talent.”

Tennessee and Baltimore have split 16 meetings, with the Titans taking the
last matchup 13-10 on Oct. 5, 2008.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew(notes) wishes Chris
Johnson had waited another week before reaching his deal because he expects the
three-time Pro Bowler to hit the ground running after his contract holdout.

Jones-Drew has talked to people who worked out with Johnson during the NFL
lockout and that contract holdout, so he knows the Titans running back is ready
to go. He also knows how crucial Johnson is to the Tennessee Titans.

“People want to talk about quarterbacks and all those things, but you can’t
mention the Tennessee Titans without Chris Johnson,” Jones-Drew said Wednesday.
“He is one of the top playmakers in this league and in our division.”

Whether Johnson can be that playmaker Sunday in the season opener at
Jacksonville remains to be seen after barely a week’s worth of work with his
teammates.

Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer has seen enough in a couple days
to be impressed with Johnson. Palmer calls the running back a true professional
ready both on the field and in the playbook with the coordinator’s tweaks to
Tennessee’s offense and a new quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck(notes). No one is saying
yet how many carries Johnson will have in Jacksonville.

“Conditioning-wise, you have to be concerned about that,” Palmer said.
“The other guys have been going for over a month, and you know you’ve got to
take and bring him along. Don’t overload him and make sure you don’t do
something to damage him. Jim Skipper, our running backs coach, will monitor
that, and we’ll take the actions that we have to do during the course of the
game.”

Johnson worked out in Orlando before getting his four-year extension for $53
million, so he thinks he’ll be ready for the heat in Jacksonville. But Johnson
said he didn’t work out with pads, so the running back who wants the ball as
much as possible isn’t sure how much he will be able to do physically until he’s
on the field Sunday.

The Titans need Johnson running as much as possible.

Johnson ranks third all-time in the NFL in yards rushing during the month of
September. He averages 98.9 yards trailing only Jim Brown (110.8) and
Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson (110.9).

Against Jacksonville, Johnson has run 111 times for 632 yards for an average
of 5.7 yards per carry. He had the best game of his career against the Jaguars
rushing for 228 yards on Nov. 1, 2009, on his way to 2,006 yards, and Tennessee
is 4-2 in his six games.

“I like playing against them because I’m from Florida, and that’s a town
where a lot of people from home get to come see me play …,” Johnson said.
“Then again, it’s kind of like a rival game between us and Jacksonville … We
don’t like each other. It’s always a good game. They want to run the ball, we
want to run the ball. So it’s sort of … a matchup between me and Jones-Drew.
And our defense trying to stop him and their defense trying to stop me, so it’s
always a fun game.”

With Jacksonville releasing David Garrard(notes) on Tuesday and naming Luke McCown(notes)
the starter, Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray doesn’t expect any change
in the Jaguars’ offense.

“They’re going to run the football. They’ve done that the last five or six
years. They’ve done it really well,” Gray said.

The key is how is Jones-Drew feeling. He didn’t have much of a preseason
himself, recovering from surgery to fix torn meniscus in his right knee after
rushing for 1,324 yards last season. The opener will be his first full game
since December with only five carries for 14 yards last week in the preseason
finale against St. Louis.

“I feel great. I think rehab went well,” Jones-Drew said. “This long
offseason obviously helped me more than it did some other guys, but I was able
to do my rehab process on my own and not really be rushed back. Talking to Dr.
(James) Andrews, who did my surgery, not forcing me back in training camp was
also a great idea. I feel fresh and I’m the lightest I have ever been and I’m
just ready to play.”

The Titans may have to make a roster move to give Johnson some help. Javon
Ringer(notes) missed practice Wednesday with a sore back after a sore hip kept him out
of three preseason games. Titans coach Mike Munchak expects Ringer back
Thursday, but adding another running back is likely if Ringer can’t play. The
only other running back on the roster is rookie Jamie Harper(notes).

“We’re not looking for any excuses. We’re looking like there’s no reason
this shouldn’t work well,” Munchak said of the rushing offense. “We’re
blocking well up front. The tight ends are blocking well. We just got to fit
them in and know yeah, they haven’t had as many reps as we’d like. But we need
to go down there and produce.”

Munchak does have an idea of how Johnson can help both the Titans and
himself.

“It’s just a matter of going out there and hitting a couple plays and
having some success early. I think will make a big plus for all of us,” Munchak
said.

Notes: Defensive ends Jason Jones(notes) and Derrick Morgan(notes) did not practice
Wednesday. Munchak expects Jones (left knee) to return Thursday. Morgan is
expected to miss Sunday’s opener after having arthroscopic surgery on his left
knee Aug. 29.

Chris Hope has started every game the past three seasons for Tennessee and went to the Pro Bowl in 2008. Michael Griffin has missed one game since becoming a starting safety in 2007 and made two Pro Bowl appearances.
So when the Tennessee Titans added seven-year veteran Jordan Babineaux to the mix Friday, coach Mike Munchak says it’s to add depth and stir up the competition.
Hope welcomes the challenge.
“For the past (four) years, it’s been only me and Griff taking every snap,” Hope said after practice Friday night. “It’s been fortunate we haven’t been bit by the injury bug because we haven’t had any true backups with experience other than Vinny Fuller.”
The secondary has taken the brunt of the criticism of the defense over the past two seasons when Tennessee went 8-8 and 6-10. Hope said the unit was an easy target after three of the four starters went to the Pro Bowl in 2008. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan was the third Pro Bowler that year and was also chosen as an All-Pro.
“You look the past two years, it’s not like we played terribly bad. We may not have met expectations, but we didn’t play terribly bad. But name a group that didn’t play to expectations the past (two years). We went through a lot of turmoil the last two years,” Hope said. “It’s an opportunity for everybody to get a fresh start.”
Tennessee dealt with all that turmoil in January when owner Bud Adams agreed to release Vince Young, which happened last week, and coach Jeff Fisher left the team nearly four weeks after that decision. Munchak was promoted to head coach, and he brought in Jerry Gray as his new defensive coordinator.
Gray is trying to improve a defense that ranked 26th in total yards allowed per game and 29th against the pass. Hope had only one interception in 2009 with six tackles for loss while Griffin had four interceptions and 153 tackles.
Babineaux said he kept waiting for an offer from Seattle after spending the first seven years of his career with the Seahawks. But he never got that offer. Tennessee called with a one-year offer, and Babineaux agreed to follow Gray, his position coach in Seattle last season, to the Titans.
“I went where I was wanted,” Babineaux said. “Had they wanted me, I’d have stayed and the deal would’ve been done. I’m here in Tennessee. Now I’m in Nashville, and I’m looking forward to being a great addition to this defense.”
Babineaux said he can play both free and strong safety, though he likes being close to the line of scrimmage. He’s eager to join a defense with Hope and Griffin and push himself harder. Babineaux, an undrafted player out of Southern Arkansas in 2004, started 16 games last year and had two interceptions.
“I feel the urgency now that I have changed and being in Seattle the past seven years, there was a bit of comfort,” Babineaux said. “I’m ready to get back out there and showcase my talent, and I think Tennessee is going to give me an opportunity to do that.”
Munchak said Babineaux is definitely going to compete for a starting job.
“So he’s coming here already knowing the system, which is … a big plus,” Munchak said. “We’re hoping that all these guys compete, and they have to compete like they’re going to start because one injury and they are starting. We want that mentality that they feel they can start and play in this game.’
The question is how much of a competition this will be. Hope is in the final year of the contract that brought him from Pittsburgh after helping the Steelers win the 2006 Super Bowl, and he’s due $6.5 million.
Hope said he’s not the highest-paid safety in the NFL and noted some big deals recently for safeties. He’s still working hard and challenges anyone to check film to see if he’s slowed down as he heads into his 10th season.
With Gray tailoring the defense around his players’ strengths, Hope expects the secondary to be back as a strength once again. He said he and Finnegan talked earlier Friday about the opportunity they have now.
“He’s allowing me me to play more than safety,” Hope said of Gray. “It’s only going to bring out the best in all of us. Cort’s playing nickel, something he excelled at as a rookie and allowed him to make a lot of plays as a rookie … Griff is getting the opportunity to move around. I think it’s a plus for everybody.”
Notes: LT Michael Roos (back) missed his third straight practice. WR Damian Williams (rib) sat out practice after a collision Thursday night. WR Kenny Britt (right hamstring) has yet to practice in camp but is close to returning. DT Sen’Derrick Marks (shoulder) also has yet to practice. … The Titans released OL Anquez Jackson. … The Titans will hold a free practice Saturday at LP Field to cap the first week of camp. In a bid to entice fans, hot dogs will be just $1.

Hope welcomes the challenge.

“For the past (four) years, it’s been only me and Griff taking every snap,” Hope said after practice Friday night. “It’s been fortunate we haven’t been bit by the injury bug because we haven’t had any true backups with experience other than Vinny Fuller.”

The secondary has taken the brunt of the criticism of the defense over the past two seasons when Tennessee went 8-8 and 6-10. Hope said the unit was an easy target after three of the four starters went to the Pro Bowl in 2008. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan was the third Pro Bowler that year and was also chosen as an All-Pro.

“You look the past two years, it’s not like we played terribly bad. We may not have met expectations, but we didn’t play terribly bad. But name a group that didn’t play to expectations the past (two years). We went through a lot of turmoil the last two years,” Hope said. “It’s an opportunity for everybody to get a fresh start.”

Tennessee dealt with all that turmoil in January when owner Bud Adams agreed to release Vince Young, which happened last week, and coach Jeff Fisher left the team nearly four weeks after that decision. Munchak was promoted to head coach, and he brought in Jerry Gray as his new defensive coordinator.

Gray is trying to improve a defense that ranked 26th in total yards allowed per game and 29th against the pass. Hope had only one interception in 2009 with six tackles for loss while Griffin had four interceptions and 153 tackles.

Babineaux said he kept waiting for an offer from Seattle after spending the first seven years of his career with the Seahawks. But he never got that offer. Tennessee called with a one-year offer, and Babineaux agreed to follow Gray, his position coach in Seattle last season, to the Titans.

“I went where I was wanted,” Babineaux said. “Had they wanted me, I’d have stayed and the deal would’ve been done. I’m here in Tennessee. Now I’m in Nashville, and I’m looking forward to being a great addition to this defense.”

Babineaux said he can play both free and strong safety, though he likes being close to the line of scrimmage. He’s eager to join a defense with Hope and Griffin and push himself harder. Babineaux, an undrafted player out of Southern Arkansas in 2004, started 16 games last year and had two interceptions.

“I feel the urgency now that I have changed and being in Seattle the past seven years, there was a bit of comfort,” Babineaux said. “I’m ready to get back out there and showcase my talent, and I think Tennessee is going to give me an opportunity to do that.”

Munchak said Babineaux is definitely going to compete for a starting job.

“So he’s coming here already knowing the system, which is … a big plus,” Munchak said. “We’re hoping that all these guys compete, and they have to compete like they’re going to start because one injury and they are starting. We want that mentality that they feel they can start and play in this game.’

The question is how much of a competition this will be. Hope is in the final year of the contract that brought him from Pittsburgh after helping the Steelers win the 2006 Super Bowl, and he’s due $6.5 million.

Hope said he’s not the highest-paid safety in the NFL and noted some big deals recently for safeties. He’s still working hard and challenges anyone to check film to see if he’s slowed down as he heads into his 10th season.

With Gray tailoring the defense around his players’ strengths, Hope expects the secondary to be back as a strength once again. He said he and Finnegan talked earlier Friday about the opportunity they have now.

“He’s allowing me me to play more than safety,” Hope said of Gray. “It’s only going to bring out the best in all of us. Cort’s playing nickel, something he excelled at as a rookie and allowed him to make a lot of plays as a rookie … Griff is getting the opportunity to move around. I think it’s a plus for everybody.”

Notes: LT Michael Roos (back) missed his third straight practice. WR Damian Williams (rib) sat out practice after a collision Thursday night. WR Kenny Britt (right hamstring) has yet to practice in camp but is close to returning. DT Sen’Derrick Marks (shoulder) also has yet to practice. … The Titans released OL Anquez Jackson. … The Titans will hold a free practice Saturday at LP Field to cap the first week of camp. In a bid to entice fans, hot dogs will be just $1.

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