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Bironas boots unbeaten Titans past Packers

Nov 3, 2008 - 1:37 AM By Chip Cirillo PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Rob Bironas capitalized on his second chance to keep the Tennessee Titans undefeated.

Bironas kicked four field goals, including a 41-yarder in overtime, to lift the Titans to a 19-16 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Bironas, who missed a 47-yarder at the end of regulation, also made field goals of 31, 25 and 22 yards for the Titans (8-0), the NFL's last remaining unbeaten team.

"I'll take a miss any time we win," Bironas said. "I go out there expecting to make them all, but when I miss I'm ready to hit the next one. Redeem myself, I guess you'd say."

Rookie Chris Johnson rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown for Tennessee, which forced two turnovers. He also caught six passes for 72 yards.

"That's November football for you," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "That's a good football team we played today and we knew that all week. When you win eight games, you're going to need to win some on occasion like this."

Aaron Rodgers completed 22-of-41 passes for 314 yards and a touchdown for the Packers.

"I was disappointed with how I played," Rodgers said. "I feel our defense played well enough for us to win. I just didn't make enough plays and turned the ball over twice."

Tennessee built a 16-10 lead late in the third quarter, but Mason Crosby kicked two field goals to tie the game.

"We didn't perform well enough at the end to win the game," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "They were able to move the ball in both of their two-minute drills."

Packers running back Ryan Grant rushed for 86 yards on 20 carries.

Titans quarterback Kerry Collins passed for 180 yards and played a turnover-free game.

"Well, we found another way to win," Collins said. "I didn't play my best game and I think a lot of guys here will say the same thing. But I think the bottom line is we found a way to win and I think it's a testament to the guys' character and the belief that we have."

The Titans took a 3-0 lead on their first possession on Bironas' 31-yard field goal.

Green Bay (4-4) turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing possession, giving Tennessee good field position at its own 45-yard line. Twelve plays later, Bironas kicked a 25-yard field goal to increase the Titans' lead to 6-0 early in the second quarter.

The Packers finally got on the scoreboard when Crosby kicked a 23-yard field goal, narrowing the gap to 6-3 with 11:23 left in the first half. Greg Jennings set up the field goal when he caught a 52-yard pass from Rodgers, putting the ball on the Titans 10.

Green Bay took a 10-6 lead when Rodgers threw a 5-yard pass to Donald Driver with 4:23 left in the first half to cap a 12-play, 71-yard drive.

The Titans retaliated four plays later when Johnson scored on a 3-yard run, giving Tennessee a 13-10 lead. LenDale White set up the TD with a 54-yard run that put the ball on the Packers 20.

Tennessee capitalized on a turnover to increase its lead to 16-10 when Bironas kicked his third field goal, a 22-yarder, with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

Titans middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch recovered a fumble at the Packers 17 after Rodgers was sacked to set up the field goal.

Green Bay answered with Crosby's 25-yard field goal, narrowing the deficit to 16-13 with 11 seconds left in the third quarter. Crosby's third field goal, a 38-yarder, tied the game 16-16 with 5:30 left.