Nashville, TN (My Sportsbook) - Vincent Fuller returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter to give Tennessee the lead for good, as the Titans held on for a 20-13 win over the
Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons had one last chance to send the game into overtime when they sacked Tennessee punter Craig Hentrich on the Titans 19-yard line with 2:24 left in the fourth quarter.
On the very next play, Warrick Dunn brought Atlanta down to the one-yard line, but the Titans responded with a huge goal line stand. The Falcons attempted a sweep to the right, but Tennessee got to quarterback Byron Leftwich right after the snap and his toss to Dunn was behind the Atlanta tailback. Dunn fell on the loose ball at the nine-yard line.
An offsides penalty brought Tennessee to the four-yard line, but Kyle Vanden Bosch sacked Leftwich on fourth down to seal the win.
Vince Young had a shaky outing for the Titans (3-1), completing 20-of-33 passes for 157 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
Leftwich took over for an ineffective Joey Harrington and completed just 2- of-8 passes for 28 yards and an interception. Harrington completed 16-of-31 passes for 87 yards and an interception for the Falcons (1-4).
Atlanta took advantage of a LenDale White fumble in the first quarter, as DeAngelo Hall picked up the loose ball along the sidelines and ran it back 56 yards for the touchdown.
The Titans got good field position on the ensuing kickoff and Young led Tennessee on a quick six-play, 58-yard scoring drive. Young hooked up with Brandon Jones for a 16-yard reception to the Atlanta three yard line and Chris Brown ran it in on the next play to tie the game at 7-7.
Michael Boley picked off Young deep in Falcons' territory on the last play of the first quarter and the Falcons, thanks in part to a fake punt, drove down the field and took the lead on Morten Anderson's 32-yard field goal. However, Rod Bironas' 30-yard field goal for Tennessee as time expired in the first half tied the game at 10-10.
Trey Lewis intercepted Young to start the second half and Anderson's 28-yarder put Atlanta up 13-10.
Bironas' 40-yarder made it 13-13 and Falcons returner Jerious Norwood took the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to the Tennessee 26-yard line. Atlanta, however, came up empty as Anderson's 48-yard attempt was short.
The Falcons had another golden opportunity to regain the lead later in the third when Titans punt returner Chris Davis muffed a punt on the Tennessee 42- yard line. Harrington, though, threw behind Michael Jenkins and Fuller came up with the pick and ran it back for the go-ahead touchdown with one minute left in the third quarter.
Falcons punter Michael Koenen hooked a 50-yard field goal attempt wide left early in the fourth quarter. Young was then picked off for the third time with 3:20 left in the fourth, but Atlanta gave the ball right back when David Thornton intercepted Leftwich.
Game Notes
Dunn finished with 10 carries for 27 yards and two catches for 12 yards...Young completed passes to nine different receivers...White rushed for 32 yards while Brown added 27 yards on the ground.
