Recap: Titans 23, Buccaneers 17
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 27, 2011
Chris Johnson ran for a season-high 190 yards, Matt Hasselbeck threw a 2-yard touchdown to Damian Williams on fourth-and-goal and the Tennessee Titans held on for a 23-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Rookie Tommie Campbell returned a kickoff 84 yards and Rob Bironas kicked three field goals for Titans (6-5), who needed a win to stay within striking distance of Houston (8-3) in the AFC South.
The Buccaneers (4-7), meanwhile, have lost five straight and are all but out of playoff contention in the NFC.
Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman nearly pulled off his ninth-career fourth-quarter comeback, but he fumbled on fourth-and-short at the Titans’ 25-yard line and Tennessee ran out the clock. It was fitting that the game ended with a fumble on a day when rainy conditions led to a combined nine turnovers.
In the end, the Titans finally got a return on their investment from Johnson, who has struggled since signing a four-year, $54 million deal.
After rushing for just 13 yards on 12 carries in last week's loss to Atlanta, Johnson finally looked like a former 2,000-yard rusher. His 34-yard run to the Buccaneers’ 41-yard line was one of the biggest plays of the game.
Tennessee then drove to the 2-yard line before Hasselbeck hit Williams in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score. Hasselbeck, who was playing with elbow and forearm injuries suffered last week, redeemed himself for a previous mistake that allowed Tampa Bay to take the lead.
Aqib Talib stepped in front of Hasselbeck's pass and returned it 27 yards for a score, giving the Buccaneers a 17-10 lead early in the fourth.
Nov 27, 2011
Chris Johnson ran for a season-high 190 yards, Matt Hasselbeck threw a 2-yard touchdown to Damian Williams on fourth-and-goal and the Tennessee Titans held on for a 23-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Rookie Tommie Campbell returned a kickoff 84 yards and Rob Bironas kicked three field goals for Titans (6-5), who needed a win to stay within striking distance of Houston (8-3) in the AFC South.
The Buccaneers (4-7), meanwhile, have lost five straight and are all but out of playoff contention in the NFC.
Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman nearly pulled off his ninth-career fourth-quarter comeback, but he fumbled on fourth-and-short at the Titans’ 25-yard line and Tennessee ran out the clock. It was fitting that the game ended with a fumble on a day when rainy conditions led to a combined nine turnovers.
In the end, the Titans finally got a return on their investment from Johnson, who has struggled since signing a four-year, $54 million deal.
After rushing for just 13 yards on 12 carries in last week's loss to Atlanta, Johnson finally looked like a former 2,000-yard rusher. His 34-yard run to the Buccaneers’ 41-yard line was one of the biggest plays of the game.
Tennessee then drove to the 2-yard line before Hasselbeck hit Williams in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score. Hasselbeck, who was playing with elbow and forearm injuries suffered last week, redeemed himself for a previous mistake that allowed Tampa Bay to take the lead.
Aqib Talib stepped in front of Hasselbeck's pass and returned it 27 yards for a score, giving the Buccaneers a 17-10 lead early in the fourth.
