Final
Titans look to avoid trap against Texans
Dec 9, 2008 - 3:25 PM Houston (6-7) at Tennessee (12-1) 1:00 pm ESTHOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Tennessee Titans have their sights set on home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but first they must avoid a potential trap game against Matt Schaub and the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Tennessee, which was only the 10th team since the 1970 merger to start 10-0, captured its first AFC South title since 2002 with a 28-9 victory over Cleveland last week.
Rookie of the Year candidate Chris Johnson ran for 136 yards and a score and LenDale White added 99 yards and another TD. The Titans, who have won 15 of their last 16 games, became the first team to secure a postseason berth.
"Obviously, we're all pleased and happy we won the division," said quarterback Kerry Collins, who completed 14-of-23 passes for 155 yards with two scores and a pair of interceptions.
"We know there's a lot of things left we want to accomplish. (Sunday) was a good first step."
Tennessee knows how important home-field advantage is. The Titans had to go on the road in the AFC Divisional Playoffs last year, and were bounced by the San Diego Chargers. They made it a goal to host a playoff game this season.
"It's a rewarding feeling. Our goal when we left the playoff game in San Diego, the day we came back, was to have a home playoff game this year," Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said.
"That was our first goal, first and foremost. We've now guaranteed that. We'll move onto the next step, hopefully.
The Titans hold a two-game lead over Pittsburgh (10-3) for home field and host the Steelers in two weeks. Fisher mostly likely will warn his team of the dangers of looking too far ahead.
It may be a moot point, though. If Tennessee wins and Pittsburgh loses to Baltimore on Sunday, the Titans clinch home field.
Nevertheless, the Tennessee must be wary of Houston, which racked up 549 yards in a 24-21 win over Green Bay last week. Schaub returned from a four-game absence and threw for a career-high 414 yards and two touchdowns.
Schaub's injured knee was put to the test after Kris Brown kicked a game-winning 40-yard field goal.
"Kris jumped on me and just held on and I said, 'Come on, we've got more guys to celebrate with,'" Schaub said. "It was just excitement, one of those team wins. You just want to go around and give everyone a hug."
Schaub and the Texans have not had much to celebrate about against the Titans lately. Tennessee has won seven straight meetings and 11 of the last 13 encounters. The Titans picked off Schaub three times in a 31-12 win in Nashville on September 21.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE 3 3 3 3 12
HOUSTON 0 10 0 3 13 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 26 YD, 6:22. Drive: 6
plays, 24 yards in 2:57. Key plays:
fumble recovery by Titans'
Haynesworth at Houston 32; Collins
14-yard pass to Gage to Houston 15.
TENNESSEE 3-0
Dec 14 4:19 PM - NFL
FG TEN
ROB BIRONAS 34 YD
TENNESSEE 12
HOUSTON 13 5:23 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Titans 12, Texans 13 4th - 5:23Dec 14 3:49 PM - NFL
FG HST
KRIS BROWN 24 YD
TENNESSEE 9
HOUSTON 13 11:45 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Titans 9, Texans 13 4th - 11:45Dec 14 3:29 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE 3 3 3 9
HOUSTON 0 10 0 10 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 26 YD, 6:22. Drive: 6
plays, 24 yards in 2:57. Key plays:
fumble recovery by Titans'
Haynesworth at Houston 32; Collins
14-yard pass to Gage to Houston 15.
TENNES
Dec 14 3:14 PM - NFL
FG TEN
ROB BIRONAS 51 YD
TENNESSEE 9
HOUSTON 10 9:40 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Titans 9, Texans 10 3rd - 9:40Dec 14 2:55 PM - NFL
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE 3 3 6
HOUSTON 0 10 10 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 26 YD, 6:22. Drive: 6
plays, 24 yards in 2:57. Key plays:
fumble recovery by Titans'
Haynesworth at Houston 32; Collins
14-yard pass to Gage to Houston 15.
TENNESSEE
Dec 14 2:32 PM - NFL
FG TEN
ROB BIRONAS 23 YD
TENNESSEE 6
HOUSTON 10 0:02 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Titans 6, Texans 10 2nd - 0:02Dec 14 2:28 PM
TD HST ANDRE JOHNSON 13 YD PASS FROM MATT SCHAUB (KRIS BROWN KICK)
Titans 3, Texans 10 2nd - 11:03Dec 14 1:48 PM
TD HST ANDRE JOHNSON 13 YD PASS FROM MATT SCHAUB (KRIS BROWN KICK)
Titans 3, Texans 10 2nd - 11:03Dec 14 1:48 PM
TD HST ANDRE JOHNSON 13 YD PASS FROM MATT SCHAUB (KRIS BROWN KICK)
Titans 3, Texans 10 2nd - 11:03Dec 14 1:48 PM- NFL
TD HST
ANDRE JOHNSON 13 YD PASS FROM MATT SCHAUB
(KRIS BROWN KICK)
TENNESSEE 3
HOUSTON 10 11:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Titans 3, Texans 10 2nd - 11:03Dec 14 1:48 PM - NFL
FG HST
CHRIS BROWN 32 YD
TENNESSEE 3
HOUSTON 3 14:57 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Titans 3, Texans 3 2nd - 14:57Dec 14 1:35 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE 3 3
HOUSTON 0 0 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 26 YD, 6:22. Drive: 6
plays, 24 yards in 2:57. Key plays:
fumble recovery by Titans'
Haynesworth at Houston 32; Collins
14-yard pass to Gage to Houston 15.
TENNES
Dec 14 1:33 PM - NFL
FG TEN
ROB BIRONAS 26 YD
TENNESSEE 3
HOUSTON 0 8:38 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Titans 3, Texans 0 1st - 8:38Dec 14 1:15 PM
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