Sunday
NFL News, Top PostsRecaps: Titans remain in playoff hunt
The Tennessee Titans aren’t going away. While their chances appear faint, the Titans (7-7) kept their slim playoff hopes alive by striking a blow to the Miami Dolphins following a 27-24 overtime victory on Sunday.
Kicker Rob Bironas connected on a 46-yard field goal in the final frame, keeping the Titans in proximity of a wildcard berth in the AFC.
The loss dropped Miami 2 games behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East.
It’s difficult to fathom that the Titans were once 0-6 and looking like they may get the first overall pick in April’s draft.
Suborn head coach Jeff Fisher, relenting to his owners request, finally inserted Vince Young into the starting role, which the quarterback responded by winning 7 of the team’s next 8 games.
Young continued his push for a new contract extension, putting up 236 yards and 3 TDs, with 2 of those strikes going to receiver Justin Gage.
The amazing Chris Johnson remained in hot pursuit of a 2,000-yard season, carrying the ball 29 times for 104 yards – the 9th straight game he’s rushed for more than 100 yards.
The second-year back is now 270 yards away from the magical mark.
The Dolphins’ appeared headed for a comeback win after erasing an 18-point deficit in the third quarter.
Quarterback Chad Henne rallied his troops to three unanswered scores, including a 10-play, 90-yard drive that sent the game into overtime after Ricky Williams converted a 2-point conversion.
Henne couldn’t carry the momentum into overtime, throwing an inception into the waiting arms of safety Michael Griffin.
A needless personal foul penalty on Miami receiver Greg Camarillo took the Titans into scoring position before Bironas’s nailed his 8th career game-winning kick.
Patriots 17, Bills 10: It wasn’t pretty, but the Patriots (9-5) put some distance between them and their 2 remaining threats – Miami and N.Y Jets – in the AFC East. Randy Moss bounced back from a terrible game last week, catching 5 balls for 70 yards and a TD to help hold off the Bills (5-9).
New England’s defense had a terrific game, sacking Buffalo quarterbacks 6 times, including 3 by Tully Banta-Cain.
Falcons 10, Jets 7: A day after the Falcons (7-7) were officially eliminated from the NFL playoff race, the team handed a potential devastating blow to New York’s (7-7) hopes.
Held in check for the majority of the contest, Matt Ryan – returning from a turf toe injury that sidelined him for 2 games – found tight end Tony Gonzalez on a 4th-down play with 1:38 left.
Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, who also returned to action, failed to rally his team after a final throw ended with his 3 pick of the afternoon.
Cardinals 31, Lions 24: The enigmatic Cardinals (9-5) needed a late touchdown to put away lowly Detroit (2-12), and also got help from the Eagles to clinch the NFC West title for the second straight year.
Kurt Warner hit receiver Anquan Boldin on a 5-yard hookup with 1:54 remaining. Beanie Wells gave the Cardinals a boost in the running games, rushing for 110 yards and 1 TD.
Philadelphia then secured the division for Arizona by defeating the San Francisco 49ers.
Browns 41, Chiefs 34: The beleaguered Browns (3-11) saw 2 of their players post record-setting days, efforts that helped Cleveland turn away the Chiefs (3-11).
Running back Jerome Harrison rushed for a team record 286 yards and 3 TDs – the last coming with 44 seconds left to hand the Browns a rare win.
Joshua Cribbs, meanwhile, returned 2 kickoff returns of 100 and 103 yards for TDs in the first half, breaking an NFL mark.
Titans 16, Rams 13: Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson hooked up early and often as the Texans (7-7) barely got by 1-13 St. Louis.
Schaub piled up 367 yards and 1 TD through the air, while Johnson hauled in 9 catches for 196 yards.
Still, the Texans needed a 28-yard field goal from Kris Brown with 4:36 remaining to hold off the Rams.
