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Running game, defense carry Titans past Raiders

Oct 29, 2007 - 5:10 PM By Jim Diamond PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) - In a game billed as a battle of two highly rated rush defenses, the Tennessee Titans finally established their running game in the second half to defeat the Oakland Raiders, 13-9, on Sunday.

LenDale White rushed for a career-high 133 yards on 25 carries and backup Chris Henry added 48 yards and scored the only touchdown as the Titans handed the Raiders their third straight defeat.

"The game play this week was to go three tight ends and pound the ball hard on the run," Titans quarterback Vince Young said. "In the passing game, we had some dropped balls and some miscommunications, we just all need to get on the same page."

Tennessee (5-2) had to turn back a late drive by the Raiders, who moved to the Titans' 26-yard line with 2:00 remaining.

The Titans defense stiffened, with Alfred Haynesworth sacking Daunte Culpepper before Mike Williams dropped a pass on 4th-and-14 to seal it.

"Mike is a big-play player, I have all the confidence in the world in him, but he just didn't make the play right there," Culpepper said. "If we had the same situation again, I would go right back to him if his number is called and he is open."

"It was a drop," Williams said. "It's a situation that you want to be in as a player, and it just didn't work out."

In the first half, both teams failed to generate much offensively. The Raiders (2-5) held the Titans to just 70 totals yards and allowing Tennessee just three first downs.

The game's first touchdown wasn't scored until 2:24 was remaining in the third quarter. Henry's 24-yard touchdown run completed a four play 69-yard drive for a 10-9 lead.

"The difference in the game was the four-play 69-yard drive with four runs," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "That turned the game around for us."

Henry's touchdown came after back-to-back runs by White of 27 and 14 yards.

"Our offensive line wore their defensive front down," Henry said. "It's so easy to run and be comfortable behind them, I am just taking my steps and seeing the plays develop."

White was the workhorse for the Titans, gaining 96 of his 133 yards in the second half.

"Now that I am finally in the offense, I'm getting comfortable," White said. "Things are slowing down for me, I'm able to hit the holes and I am really feeling this offense."

After playing four of their first six games on the road, Sunday's game against the Raiders was the first game of a three-game homestand for the Titans.

Rob Bironas accounted for Tennessee's only first-half points with a 35-yard field goal with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter. Bironas had kicked an NFL-record eight field goals in last week's 38-36 win over the Houston Texans.

"This is a disappointing loss for our defense," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. "They played great today, and everything we talked about all week about what we needed to do to win the game, our defense did it."

Culpepper was an efficient 10-of-19 for 122 yards in the first half, but the Raiders were unable to reach the end zone. He finished 15-of-32 for 167 yards and an interception.

All nine Oakland points came from the left foot of kick Sebastian Janikowski, who connected on field goals of 50, 43, and 54 yards. The 54-yarder came as time expired in the first half.

"There is not a weak spot on our defensive line," Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "We are going to get after people because we have playmakers all the way across."

Young returned to the Titans' starting lineup after missing last week's game at Houston with a strained right quadriceps. He completed just 6-of-14 passes for 42 yards.

"We had some difficulty throwing the football," Fisher said. "They were taking things away, but we hung in there and found a way to win the ballgame."

After a Travis LaBoy sack and forced fumble gave Tennessee possession at Oakland's 9-yard line with 12:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Titans were only able to add another Bironas field goal to extend their lead to 13-9.

"I got off the ball really well and came around the corner and was able to wrap Culpepper up," LaBoy said.