Titans buck losing trend, defeat Tampa Bay

Kicker Joe Nedney supplied the tourniquet by booting a game-winning field goal from 49 yards out in overtime Sunday, as the Tennessee Titans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-28, stopping the bleeding accompanied by a lackluster 0-3 start.

Brad Johnson tossed a five-yard TD pass across the middle to tight end Dave Moore with 54 seconds left in regulation to knot the score at 28-28. Keyshawn Johnson caught passes totaling 13, 19, and 26 yards during the drive. The Bucs (2-2) were facing a fourth-and-10 when Johnson completed the 13-yard gainer.

Tampa Bay cut into Tennessee's 28-14 lead after taking over about midway into the final quarter. A costly Titans penalty kept the drive alive. Johnson, in a fourth-and-seven situation at the Tennessee 36, was heavily blitzed and tossed a horrible wobbler downfield in a panic mode. Titans cover man DeRon Jenkins, however, was called for pass interference, resulting in a 22-yard penalty. Two plays later, Johnson nailed Jacquez Green for a six-yard touchdown. The extra point kick narrowed the Titans lead to 28-21.

Nedney missed a 48-yard try right before Tampa Bay's final TD.

It was the third time in the contest that a penalty on fourth down led to a Tampa Bay touchdown. The Titans came in averaging nine penalties per game and against the Bucs had a total of 12 for 117 yards.

The star of the game for the Titans had to be quarterback Steve McNair. The usually harried, skittery, and often confused QB showed discipline in being able to find targets, threw with verve and skill and showed that he could still scamper. He completed passes to eight different receivers in the first half.

A toss covering 37 yards from McNair to rookie Justin McCareins keyed the Titans' first TD during a first-possession drive. It came on a third-and-eight call at the Tampa Bay 37 and served as an omen of sorts. Tennessee entered the contest with the worst third-down conversion average (17 percent) in the NFL, but finished the day eight-of-16 in that department. A one-yard TD pass to Kevin Dyson finalized the drive.

Tampa Bay answered early in the second quarter. Needing four yards to convert on fourth down, the Titans aided by jumping offsides. Warrick Dunn took the opportunity on the next play to rush right for a five-yard TD, the first of two for a player who wasn't expected to play as late as Thursday due to an ankle sprain.

Tennessee responded with a 13-play drive covering 80 yards and capped by a one-yard TD sprint up the middle by McNair, amounting to the longest drive since a Dec. 17 contest last year against Cleveland.

The Titans took a 17-7 lead when, with the clock running near the end of the first half, they hurriedly lined up and Nedney added a 44-yard field goal as time expired.

Tampa Bay rallied late in the third quarter when Johnson teamed with Dunn for a 26-yard TD pass to cut the margin to 17-14. It was a 97-yard drive (aided again by a Titans penalty), the longest march in club history.

Tennessee responded early in the final quarter with a 45-yard FG from Nedney for a 20-14 lead, right after what appeared to be a TD catch by Dyson was nullified after a challenge from the Bucs. Titans Coach Jeff Fisher argued with the call to no avail.

The Titans came up next on the board again after rookie Andre Dyson (Kevin's brother) intercepted Johnson. Prior to the pickoff, the Titans had been the only NFL team without an interception this season.

At the 50-yard marker surrounded at midfield by the Titans' flame logo, RB Eddie George initiated the drive with a 27-yard rushing gain. He finished it with a four-yard goal run along the left side. A two-point conversion pass from McNair to Dyson upped the Titans' lead to 28-14.

George finished the day with 85 yards on 29 carries, his highest output of the season. He looked like the George of games past in the second half, running over people, dodging tackles and showing renewed fire while gaining 63 yards on 10 carries.

McNair finished 15-of-23 for 230 yards and netted 54 yards on the ground from nine carries. Johnson was 24-of-50 for 287 yards.

McCareins had two catches for 70 yards and fellow rookie Drew Bennett hauled in three grabs for 47 yards, including a key 14-yard catch in overtime to help setup Nedney's winning kick. George caught four passes for 47 yards.

Keyshawn Johnson nabbed eight passes for 140 yards for Tampa Bay.