Aug 9, 2008 - 11:30 PM
0 shoutsBy Chip Cirillo PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- A veteran middle linebacker and two young running backs led the Tennessee Titans to victory on Saturday night.
Keith Bulluck scored on a 13-yard interception return in the first quarter and rookie Chris Johnson and Quinton Ganther scored on long runs, sparking the Titans to a 34-13 win over the St. Louis Rams in the preseason opener at LP Field.
Johnson, a first-round draft pick from East Carolina, showcased his speed on a 66-yard touchdown run up the middle to give Tennessee a 17-3 lead in the second quarter.
Ganther, who has spent most of the past two seasons on the Titans' practice squad, scored two touchdowns in the second half and rushed for 115 yards on eight carries.
The former Utah running back scored on a 45-yard TD run after breaking a tackle in the third quarter and added a 2-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter to give the Titans a commanding 34-13 lead.
Rams starting quarterback Marc Bulger struggled in the first quarter, completing 3-of-9 passes for 29 yards with one interception and a 3.7 rating. St. Louis was without star running back Steven Jackson, who has yet to report to camp in a salary dispute.
John Vaughn, filling in for the injured Rob Bironas (groin), kicked field goals of 48 and 43 yards in the first half for Tennessee.
The two teams were very familiar with each other after practicing together four times in Nashville on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tennessee when cornerback Nick Harper suffered a mild concussion on the first play from scrimmage, which kept him out for the remainder of the game.
From the Bleachers
-
ST. LOUIS: 13
TENNESSEE: 34
Final
Aug 9 11:08 PM -
NFL
TD TEN
QUINTON GANTHER 2 YD RUN
(JOHN VAUGHN KICK)
ST LOUIS 13
TENNESSEE 34 14:01 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Aug 9 10:41 PM -
ST. LOUIS: 13
TENNESSEE: 27
End of 3rd
Aug 9 10:33 PM -
NFL
TD TEN
QUINTON GANTHER 45 YD RUN
(JOHN VAUGHN KICK)
ST LOUIS 13
TENNESSEE 27 4:18 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Aug 9 10:20 PM -
ST. LOUIS: 13
TENNESSEE: 20
Halftime
Aug 9 9:43 PM -
NFL
FG STL
JOSH BROWN 48 YD
ST LOUIS 13
TENNESSEE 20 0:06 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Aug 9 9:42 PM -
NFL
FG TEN
JOHN VAUGHN 42 YD
ST LOUIS 10
TENNESSEE 20 1:27 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Aug 9 9:35 PM -
NFL
TD STL
ANTONIO PITTMAN 2 YD RUN
(JOSH BROWN KICK)
ST LOUIS 10
TENNESSEE 17 3:30 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Aug 9 9:23 PM -
NFL
TD TEN
CHRIS JOHNSON 66 YD RUN
(JOHN VAUGHN KICK)
ST LOUIS 3
TENNESSEE 17 4:48 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Aug 9 9:17 PM -
NFL
FG TEN
JOHN VAUGHN 48 YD
ST LOUIS 3
TENNESSEE 10 14:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Aug 9 8:49 PM -
ST. LOUIS: 3
TENNESSEE: 7
End of 1st
Aug 9 8:45 PM -
NFL
FG STL
JOSH BROWN 44 YD
ST LOUIS 3
TENNESSEE 7 2:47 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Aug 9 8:38 PM -
NFL
TD TEN
KEITH BULLUCK 14 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN
(JOHN VAUGHN KICK)
ST LOUIS 0
TENNESSEE 7 7:41 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Aug 9 8:27 PM
