• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Titans use big plays to upend Jaguars

Dec 18, 2006 - 12:51 AM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Adam "Pacman" Jones and the Tennessee Titans feasted on the big play.

Jones returned an interception 83 yards for a touchdown and broke off a long kickoff return to set up another score as the Titans extended their winning streak to five games with a 24-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rookie cornerback Cortland Finnegan returned a fumble 92 yards for a touchdown and linebacker Chris Hope brought back an interception 61 yards for a score in the third quarter for the Titans (7-7), who won their fifth straight and for the seventh time in nine games following an 0-5 start.

"We took advantage of the interception returns for touchdowns, the strip and the caused fumble, Pac's (kickoff) return, all those things," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We created opportunities for ourselves."

The plays by Finnegan and Hope on consecutive possessions in the third quarter changed the momentum of the game and gave the Titans a 24-10 lead.

Tennessee converted four turnovers into 21 points.

Jacksonville lost despite controlling the ball for nearly 45 minutes, holding a 396-98 advantage in total yards and garnering 23 first downs compared to five for Tennessee.

"This is a real clear example where turnovers were the story," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We played some very strong football all day long. Any time you are having turnovers that are being returned for touchdowns, when you have those things happening it ends up being the difference maker. You can't have those balls returned for touchdowns."

Jones started to turn the tide when he returned the second-half kickoff 70 yards. That led to Rob Bironas' 27-yard field goal, which tied the game at 10-10.

Rookie Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown for the Jaguars (8-7), who are fighting for a wild-card spot. Their loss clinched the AFC South title for the Indianapolis Colts.

It was a rough afternoon for Jaguars quarterback David Garrard, who threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Two of the critical mistakes came in the third quarter.

With the Jaguars on the verge of snapping a 10-10 tie, Garrard scrambled up the middle and had the ball knocked out by linebacker David Thornton. Finnegan, a seventh-round pick, scooped up the ball and raced down the left sideline before cutting back to the middle of the field on his way to the end zone.

"I was determined from the start when I picked it up," Finnegan said. "I was running behind (Garrard), and they stripped it out. And I was definitely determined to get it."

On the Jaguars' next possession, Garrard had his pass intended for rookie tight end Marcedes Lewis intercepted by Hope, who went untouched down the left sideline to make it 24-10 with 1:08 left in the third quarter.

"Wins aren't always pretty," Hope said. "Playing 93 snaps and only giving up (17) points, I'll take that any day of the week. But we still have a long way to go."

Garrard threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones with 2:37 remaining to cap the scoring.

Garrard completed 22-of-37 passes for 233 yards. He also rushed for 43 yards on six attempts.

"I have not had and interception or fumble returned since I have been here," Garrard said. "To have every one of them today definitely breaks your heart. The defense was playing great, the offense was moving the ball, special teams were playing good, and I definitely let everyone down today. You can be a million bucks one game and a dollar bill next."

Jacksonville was unable to manage a final drive after getting back the ball at its own 11 with just over a minute remaining without a timeout.

It was a quiet game for Titans scintillating rookie Vince Young, who completed 8-of-15 passes for just 85 yards. He also managed just four rushing yards on four attempts.

"This will show that it doesn't take just offense to win games," Young said. "It takes offense, defense and special teams to win the game. Overall, the defense had the upper hand today, and I applaud those guys a whole lot. It was beautiful to see those guys out there making plays."

Jones' first huge play was his interception return for a score that opened the scoring.

Jones-Drew scored on a 12-yard run with 3:03 left in the first quarter, tying the game at 7-7.

Jones-Drew saw most of the work in the Jacksonville backfield after Fred Taylor suffered a hamstring injury on a 35-yard run in the first quarter.