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Titans defense stops Jets

Dec 24, 2007 - 2:59 AM By Chip Cirillo PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) - Tony Brown was so excited after making the game-clinching sack that he celebrated by rolling on the field like a log pushed down a hill.

Thanks to a strong showing by Brown and the rest of the defense, the Tennessee Titans will roll into Indianapolis next week with a shot at the playoffs after posting a 10-6 win over the New York Jets at LP Field on Sunday.

If the Titans (9-6) beat the defending Super Bowl champion in the regular-season finale, they will earn an AFC wild card berth. But if Tennessee falls and Cleveland loses at home to San Francisco, the Browns will earn the spot.

"When the schedule came out I think most people looked at that last game and said that's going be the one you're going to need to get in," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "Two weeks ago, we said we had to win out. We had to win three. We won the first and the second, but we certainly have a big challenge on our hands to say the least."

Tennessee's defense kept the team's playoff hopes alive by holding New York (3-12) to one touchdown.

The Titans sacked Jets quarterback Chad Pennington six times, including three sacks by defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.

"That's part of my job description," Vanden Bosch said of the sacks. "Whatever happens, we just try to disrupt things in the backfield. That's kind of the way it's gone all year. (Defensive tackle) Albert Haynesworth is a disruptive force, and I just kind of play off of him."

Vanden Bosch, Haynesworth and kicker Rob Bironas were each named to the Pro Bowl earlier this week. Vanden Bosch leads the Titans with 12 sacks this season.

Titans running back LenDale White also put his stamp on the victory, rushing for 103 yards on 23 carries. The second-year pro out of Southern California broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his NFL career, exiting the game with 1,063 yards.

"The 1,000-yard mark is great, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't go to the playoffs," White said. "I play this game to win. I don't go out there just to get stats and be the guy in the Pro Bowl or anything. That's not what I want. What I want is a Super Bowl ring."

The defense set up the Titans' only touchdown when Reynaldo Hill intercepted a pass by Pennington at the New York 40-yard line late in the first quarter. Five plays later, Chris Brown scored on a 4-yard run to give the Titans a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

New York answered on the ensuing possession when Pennington threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery to narrow the gap to 7-6, but Antwan Odom blocked Mike Nugent's extra-point attempt.

Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck, a New York native, made one of the game's biggest plays when he intercepted Pennington's pass in the end zone late in the first half after the Jets had driven to the Titans 8.

"They just made a slight adjustment in their coverage," Pennington said. "Actually, I had Brad (Smith) in the end zone on the baseline on a post. The slight adjustment they made, they dropped the "mike" linebacker, which was Bulluck, deeper than normal."

Pennington, a Tennessee native, said he didn't see Bulluck until he threw the football. Three plays earlier, Nugent kicked a 36-yard field goal, but Brown was penalized for leverage and New York elected to keep the ball.

"With Bulluck, he's a guy that leads their team in interceptions," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "He's got very good awareness and he's a rangy guy for a linebacker. I think it was one of those things where we thought we could get it in there, squeeze it there and he made a nice play, a rangy play, like he does week in and week out."

Bironas finished the scoring with a 46-yard field goal with 6:36 left in the third quarter.

New York drove to the Tennessee 45-yard line on its final possession in the fourth quarter, but Brown sacked Pennington for a 10-yard loss to end the drive.

"We've got to get more touchdowns in the red zone and not settle for turnovers or three points," Jets wide receiver Justin McCareins said. "It is too competitive of a league."