Monday, December 31, 2012

Titans set TD returns record by ripping Jags

By TERESA M. WALKER

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 3:47 p.m. ET Dec. 30, 2012

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Darius Reynaud and rookie linebacker Zach Brown gave the Tennessee Titans some NFL history to celebrate before wrapping up an ugly season.

Tennessee became the first team in NFL history with two players scoring twice on returns in a game as the Titans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 38-20 Sunday in their season finale.

Reynaud scored on two punt returns and Brown returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and the Titans (6-10) finished by winning two of their final three games.

Reynaud also became the first player in franchise history to return two punts for TDs.

Titans owner Bud Adams will decide if that's enough to keep coach Mike Munchak with two years left on his contract after Tennessee set a franchise mark for most points allowed in a season with 465, worst in the NFL this season.

The Jaguars (2-14) wrapped up their worst season with their 12th loss in 13 games.

Now owner Shad Khan has to decide whether to fire general manager Gene Smith and possibly first-year coach Mike Mularkey and hope Kansas City upsets Denver later Sunday so the Jaguars can grab the No. 1 draft pick overall.

Fans showed their unhappiness with Tennessee's second losing season in three years by staying away, but the Titans at least made it interesting as Reynaud also set a franchise record with 160 yards on punt returns to go with his TDs of 69 and 81 yards.

Brown scored his two TDs after dropping another possible interception in the second quarter.

The Titans needed the 28 straight points from defense and special teams to take control on a day where their offense produced just one touchdown and a 48-yard field goal by Rob Bironas.

The Jaguars outgained Tennessee 375-221 and held the ball for more than 32 minutes. Mike Harris even blocked a Brett Kern punt and ran it back 19 yards for a TD with 2:16 left.

But Tennessee also sacked Henne seven times and finished with three interceptions.

Jacksonville led 14-7 with Henne tossing a 5-yard TD pass to Jordan Shipley and a 30-yarder to Justin Blackmon.

The Jaguars made Keith Toston the fifth different running back to start a game this season, and he had a career-high 66 yards on 12 carries by halftime as the Titans missed tackles and dropped three would-be interceptions. Toston finished with 74 yards.

The Titans took the lead for good in the span of 75 seconds as Brown picked off a Henne pass and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown with 1:48 left in the second quarter.

Derrick Morgan sacked Henne to force the Jaguars to punt, and Reynaud raced untouched 69 yards for a TD with 33 seconds left.

The Titans finally forced the Jaguars three-and-out to open the third quarter, and Reynaud made franchise history by returning his second punt 81 yards as he first went to his right before reversing back to the left and going up the sideline for a TD and a 28-14 lead.

Two plays later, Tommie Campbell deflected a Henne pass that Brown picked off and ran 30 yards for his second TD and a 35-14 lead.

---

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


advertisement

More news
Colts topple Texans from 1 seed

Andrew Luck threw a long touchdown pass and Deji Karim returned a kickoff 101 yards as the Colts defeated the Texans 28-16 in coach Chuck Pagano's first game back after battling leukemia.

Too little, too late for defending champ Giants

??There will be no repeat for the New York Giants. Not even a playoff berth.? The Giants (9-7) saw their playoff hopes end minutes after posting a 42-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles when Chicago beat Detroit 26-24 to eliminate the defending Super Bowl champions from playoff contention.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50325330/ns/sports-nfl/

powerball numbers freddie mercury Horshack Beady Eye david bowie Eric Idle rory mcilroy

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.