The Titans have won three straight! Read more at Music City Miracles. The Bills…haven’t! Read more at Buffalo Rumblings.
Titans 41, Bills 17: Johnson Runs, Catches For 232 Total Yards
Nashville, TN (Sports Network) – Chris Johnson registered 232 all-purpose yards with two running touchdowns, as the Tennessee Titans routed the Buffalo Bills, 41-17, at LP Field.
Johnson rushed 26 times for 132 yards and caught nine passes for 100 yards, while Vince Young threw for 210 yards on 17-of-25 efficiency with a TD and an interception for the Titans (3-6), who have won three straight since getting hammered 59-0 at New England on October 18. Nate Washington chipped in with a 14-yard TD catch.
Wide receiver Kenny Britt made his first NFL start in place of the injured Justin Cage and had two grabs for 55 yards. Vincent Fuller had a 26-yard interception return for a score, while Rod Hood added 31-yard pick for a TD.
Lee Evans had four receptions for 50 yards with two scores, while Terrell Owens had three catches for 85 yards for Buffalo (3-6), which had a bye last weekend, but suffered a 31-10 loss to Houston on November 1.
Trent Edwards returned to his starting role after missing the better part of three games following a concussion suffered against the Jets on October 18 and finished 18-of-28 passing for 185 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Ryan Fitzpatrick took over for Edwards late in the fourth quarter and finished 2-of-7 with six yards and a pick that was returned for a score.
With the game tied at 17 after three quarters, Young orchestrated a 12-play, 56-yard drive early in the fourth. After leading the offense down to the Buffalo 13-yard line and facing a 3rd-and-10, the signal-caller scrambled around the right end and took it to the one-yard line. Following two failed plays Johnson took the handoff, broke a tackle then went into the end zone standing for the score. Rob Bironas then tacked on a 51-yard field goal with 3:21 left for a 27-17 Titans lead.
Fuller’s 26-yard interception return for a touchdown with under three minutes remaining and Hood’s 31-yard pick six with less than a minute to play accounted for the 41-17 final score.
After the Titans went three-and-out on their first possession of the contest, Buffalo capitalized on its initial drive. Running the “wildcat” formation, Fred Jackson took the snap from center and found a wide-open Evans for 27-yard score.
Tennessee quickly tied things when Johnson went around right tackle and sprinted the distance for a 28-yard touchdown. Then a Young-to-Washington 14- yard connection put the hosts in front 14-7 in the last minute of the opening quarter.
Bironas’ 38-yard field goal early in the second added to the Titans’ advantage. On the Bills’ ensuing drive, Edwards hooked up with Owens for 46 yards and following a false start penalty, Edwards spotted Evans in the end zone to make it a 17-14 game with a shade over seven minutes to play in the period.
Bironas’ 60-yard effort with a second remaining came up well short and Tennessee took a three-point lead into the break. However, Rian Lindell’s 25- yard chip shot early in the third quarter tied the game at 17.
Tennessee will visit Houston on November 23, while Buffalo plays at Jacksonville on November 22…The Titans improved to 25-14 in its all-time regular season series against Buffalo, and have won each of the last three head-to-head meetings with the Bills…Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd had an interception and now has seven picks in his last four games…Young improved to 21-12 in his career as a starter.
- Via Sports Network.
See More:
