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Collins, Titans coast past Bengals

Sep 14, 2008 - 10:10 PM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Kerry Collins made sure Vince Young was not missed, throwing for a touchdown pass to guide the Tennessee Titans to a 24-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Collins finished 14-of-21 for 128 yards and an 11-yard scoring pass to Justin Gage as the Titans (2-0) remained unbeaten despite the absence of Young.

The No. 3 overall pick in 2006, Young was injured in last week's opener and embroiled in controversy in the following days amid concerns over his emotional state.

Tennessee did not miss a beat without him.

"I wasn't worried about the stuff that went on this week being a distraction. I saw how the guys focused this week," Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said. "We won this game with Kerry. We won his last start but we're 18-11 with Vince as a starter."

Collins, who made his sixth start in his third season with the Titans, echoed the sentiments of his coach.

"It's one of the things you have to deal with in the NFL," Collins said. "Knowing I'm going to be in there for awhile helps my preparation. We focused all week. I'm just excited to play."

LenDale White ran for 59 yards and a touchdown and rookie sensation Chris Johnson had 109 yards on 19 carries to keep the Bengals (0-2) winless.

Johnson's 51-yard run set up Collins' scoring pass in the final minute of the first half, giving the Titans the lead for good at 14-7.

"After the way we played a week ago, the same things came back to bite us in the butt," Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said. "It goes to the fundamentals of what we're doing. You have to block. You have to throw and you have to run. We're not consistently executing well enough right now.

"Other than three snaps all day, we ran the ball pretty well. It was really hard to get the passing offense going today. That one is hard for me to evaluate."

Strong and swirling winds, courtesy of Hurricane Ike, made it difficult to establish a passing game.

"The winds were from the south at the start of the game," Fisher said. "But they were swirling at the end. They (Bengals) elected to defend the south goal in the fourth quarter but the wind worked against them. It really limited the playbook for both teams. I don't think we threw the ball in the fourth quarter."

Collins was used played in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands when he was with the New York Giants, but he said the conditions on Sunday were unique.

"I've never had to play in conditions like this and I've had some rough days with the Giants," Collins said. "It was almost impossible to throw."

Linebacker Keith Bulluck sparked another superb defensive effort by Tennessee, blocking a punt in the end zone and recovering it for a touchdown to give the Titans a 24-7 lead 55 seconds into the final quarter.

"The wind changed the game plan," Bulluck said. "They (Bengals) didn't pose any downfield threats. We were thinking field position rather than scoring points but I felt the ball hit my arm. Then I started looking for it. It was like an Easter egg hunt. I'd never had one (blocked punt) before."

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer had his second straight mediocre effort, completing 16-of-27 attempts for 134 yards and two interceptions.

"I've never played in a game like that before," Palmer said. "I don't know what the miles per hour were. In the middle of the field it was all right to left. Once you got down to the end zones it felt like it was coming off the river and swooping in a circular, clockwise motion. But it was gusty. It was never consistent."

Running back Chris Perry rushed for 64 yards on 21 carries and accounted for Cincinnati's lone touchdown with a 13-yard run in the second quarter that tied it at 7-7.

Perry has spent most of his four years on the sidelines with injuries. He appeared in a career-high 14 games in 2005 but was limited to six in 2006 and missed the entire 2007 season.

The Bengals waived Rudi Johnson and cast their lot with Perry.

"I thought Chris Perry got some things going and got to feel good and comfortable in there today," Lewis said. "We just have to keep him going."

A healthy running game would help the Bengals' offense, which has managed just one offensive touchdown in two games.

"We need to try to find a way to stay positive with how bad our offense has been," Palmer said. "I think the best way to look at our situation is that we're 0-2. We're by no means out of the playoffs. Who better to get our mind-set back than going into the defending world champion's home and getting a win?"

Cincinnati visits the New York Giants next Sunday.