Titans outlast Lions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Call this one Music City Mayhem.
The Tennessee Titans are winless no more after an unforgettable overtime victory over Detroit featuring an endless stream of big plays, some suspect officiating and a huge mistake by the Lions on the final play.
Rob Bironas kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime, and the Titans stopped backup quarterback Shaun Hill on fourth-and-1 at the Tennessee 7 to finally pull out a 44-41 win Sunday where the Lions messed up trying to draw the defense offside.
“Obviously, there was a miscommunication, or I don’t know what you call it, from an enforcement standpoint,” coach Jim Schwartz said.
The Titans (1-2) blew a 20-9 halftime lead in a game featuring wild scoring swings. They became the first NFL team to score five TDs of 60 yards or longer in a single game.
“Piece of cake,” Titans quarterback Jake Locker said with a smile.
Detroit scored 18 straight points, then Tennessee answered with 21 before the Lions scored the final 14 of regulation in a span of 18 seconds – the first team to do that and force overtime in league history.
The touchdown that forced overtime came on a tipped desperation pass after Detroit recovered an onside kick and got an assist from the replacement officials who did not review a possible turnover.
A total of 46 points came in the fourth period. Then in overtime, Bironas’ third field goal put Tennessee ahead to stay.
The Lions (1-2) lost their second straight when Schwartz decided not to let Jason Hanson kick his fifth field goal.
| Detroit | 6 | 3 | 7 | 25 | 0 | — | 41 |
| Tennessee | 10 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 3 | — | 44 |
Det—FG Hanson 47
Det—FG Hanson 53
Ten—FG Bironas 31
Ten—Campbell 65 punt return (Bironas kick)
Ten—Cook 61 pass from Locker (Bironas kick)
Det—FG Hanson 33
Ten—FG Bironas 38
Det—LeShoure 1 run (Hanson kick)
Det—FG Hanson 26
Det—Burleson 3 pass from Stafford (Burleson pass from Stafford)
Ten—Reynaud 105 kickoff return (Bironas kick)
Ten—Washington 71 pass from Locker (Bironas kick)
Ten—Verner 72 fumble return (Bironas kick)
Det—Johnson 3 pass from Sh.Hill (Hanson kick)
Det—T.Young 46 pass from Sh.Hill (Hanson kick)
Ten—FG Bironas 26
A—69,143.
| Det | Ten | |
| First downs | 36 | 21 |
| Total Net Yards | 583 | 437 |
| Rushes-yards | 36-141 | 19-59 |
| Passing | 442 | 378 |
| Punt Returns | 0-0 | 3-73 |
| Kickoff Returns | 2-42 | 4-174 |
| Int. Ret. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 43-55-0 | 29-42-0 |
| Sackd-Yrds Lost | 1-8 | 0-0 |
| Punts | 4-39.0 | 1-41.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 1-1 | 2-2 |
| Penalties-Yards | 10-91 | 6-32 |
| Time of Poss. | 40:36 | 27:49 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Detroit, LeShoure 26-100, Bell 5-23, Stafford 2-12, Burleson 2-7, Sh.Hill 1-(minus 1). Tennessee, Locker 4-35, C.Johnson 14-24, Reynaud 1-0.
PASSING—Detroit, Stafford 33-42-0-278, Sh.Hill 10-13-0-172. Tennessee, Locker 29-42-0-378.
RECEIVING—Detroit, Johnson 10-164, Burleson 10-69, Pettigrew 8-61, T.Young 6-75, Bell 4-44, LeShoure 4-34, Logan 1-3. Tennessee, Wright 7-41, Britt 6-55, Stevens 5-63, Cook 4-77, Washington 3-112, Williams 2-20, C.Johnson 1-5, Q.Johnson 1-5.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Tennessee, Bironas 41 (WL), 48 (WL).