2008 Tennessee Titans season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Tennessee Titans
year = 2008
record = 5-0
division_place = 1st AFC South
coach = Jeff Fisher
stadium = LP Field
playoffs = TBDThe 2008 Tennessee Titans season is the 49th season for the team in the National Football League, and their eleventh in Tennessee. They entered the season in an attempt to improve on their 10-6 record from 2007.

2008 NFL Draft

*1st round(24)-Chris Johnson, running back, East Carolina University
*2nd round(54)-Jason Jones, defensive tackle, Eastern Michigan University
*3rd round(85)-Craig Stevens, tight end, University of California
*4th round(103)-William Hayes, defensive end, Winston-Salem State University
*4th round(126)-Lavelle Hawkins, wide receiver, University of California
*4th round(134)-Stanford Keglar, linebacker, Purdue University
*7th round(229)-Cary Williams, cornerback, Washburn University

chedule

Pre-season

Regular season

Regular Season Results

Week 1: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Jaguars
R1=0
R2=7
R3=0
R4=3
RT=10
Home=Titans
H1=3
H2=7
H3=0
H4=7
HT=17"at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee"
* Game time: 1:05 PM EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 78 Degrees F
* Game attendance: 67,000
* Referee: Tony Corrente
* TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle & Solomon Wilcots

The Titans pulled off an important divisional win behind the strong running of rookie RB Chris Johnson, who rushed for 127 yards in his NFL debut, and the arm of backup quarterback Kerry Collins, who replaced starter Vince Young when he went down late in the 4th quarter. Young had been inconsistent, throwing 1 TD pass to Johnson and 2 INTs. However, Collins moved the ball down field effectively and that drive led to the eventual game winning touchdown run by LenDale White. Jacksonville trailed for much of the game and couldn't run the ball against a locked in Titans defense, who sacked Jaguars quarterback David Garrard 7 times. Both teams' defenses played well but the Titans held on. This game was also significant because the Jaguars, Texans, and Colts (in their debut at Lucas Oil Stadium) lost, so the Titans grabbed first place in the AFC South for the first week of the season, ending a 56 week streak of holding 1st place in the division by the Colts.

Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Titans
R1=0
R2=14
R3=3
R4=7
RT=24
Home=Bengals
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=0
HT=7"at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio"
* Game time: 1:02 PM EST
* Game weather: Partly Cloudy and Very Windy (S 21 MPH, gusts to 75 mph); 88 Degrees F
* Game attendance: 65,000
* Referee: Alberto Riveron
* TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui & Dan Fouts

The Titans stayed in 1st place thanks to the extremely strong wind from the remnants of Hurricane Ike (which interfered with an important field goal attempt by Shayne Graham) and a sloppy Cincinnati offense in a 24-7 rout. Chris Johnson ran for over 100 yards for the first time in his career and Kerry Collins had a good day filling in for the injured Vince Young. The Titans first scored on a 1-yd TD run by LenDale White after a scoreless 1st quarter and then Cincinnati scored its only touchdown with a Chris Perry 13-yd TD run on 4th down. The Titans, with a little over a minute left, drove the ball downfield and took a 14-7 lead at the half thanks to an 11-yd TD reception by Justin Gage. The knockout punch was delivered early in the 4th quarter with the Titans leading 17-7. Keith Bulluck recovered a blocked punt in the endzone to finish off the Bengals and keep the Titans perfect.

The win also gave the Titans their first 2-0 start for the first time since 1999.

Week 3: vs. Houston Texans

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Texans
R1=6
R2=6
R3=0
R4=0
RT=12
Home=Titans
H1=7
H2=14
H3=3
H4=7
HT=31"at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee"
* Game time: 1:02 PM EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 80 Degrees F
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Jerome Boger
* TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan & Rich Gannon

Coming off their road win over the Bengals, the Titans went home for a Week 3 duel with the Houston Texans. In the first quarter, Tennessee trailed early as Texans kicker Kris Brown got a 44-yard field goal. The Titans responded with RB LenDale White getting a 2-yard TD run. Houston drew close as Brown kicked a 24-yard field goal, yet Tennessee answered with QB Kerry Collins completing a 9-yard TD pass to TE Bo Scaife. The Texans replied with RB Steve Slaton getting a 6-yard TD run (with a failed PAT), while the Titans closed out the half with White's 1-yard TD run. In the third quarter, Tennessee increased its lead with kicker Rob Bironas nailing a 44-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Titans closed out the game with CB Cortland Finnegan returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown.

With the win, Tennessee acquired its first 3-0 start since their Super Bowl run of 1999.

Week 4: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Vikings
R1=0
R2=10
R3=0
R4=7
RT=17
Home=Titans
H1=10
H2=10
H3=3
H4=7
HT=30"at LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee"
* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 78°F (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 69,143
* Referee: Peter Morelli
* TV announcers (FOX): Matt Vasgersian, J.C. Pearson, & Nischelle Turner

Coming off their home win over the Texans, the Titans stayed at home for a Week 4 interconference duel with the Minnesota Vikings. In the first quarter, Tennessee drew first blood as kicker Rob Bironas got a 20-yard field goal, along with rookie RB Chris Johnson getting a 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Vikings responded with RB Adrian Peterson getting a 28-yard TD run. Afterwards, the Titans answered with Bironas kicking a 32-yard field goal, along with RB LenDale White getting a 1-yard TD run. Minnesota closed out the half with kicker Ryan Longwell getting a 42-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Tennessee increased its lead with Bironas nailing a 49-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Vikings tried to rally as Peterson got a 3-yard TD run, yet the Titans pulled away with Johnson getting a 6-yard TD run.

With the win, Tennessee acquired its first 4-0 start in franchise history.

Week 5: at Baltimore Ravens

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Titans
R1=0
R2=3
R3=0
R4=10
RT=13
Home=Ravens
H1=3
H2=0
H3=7
H4=0
HT=10"at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland"
* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 69°F (Partly Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 71,131
* Referee: Bill Carollo
* TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle & Solomon Wilcots

Coming off their home win over the Texans, the Titans flew to M&T Bank Stadium for a Week 5 defensive duel with the Baltimore Ravens. In the first quarter, Tennessee trailed early as Ravens kicker Matt Stover got a 38-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Titans tied the game with kicker Rob Bironas getting a 35-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Baltimore took the lead as RB Le'Ron McClain got a 1-yard TD run. Fortunately, in the fourth quarter, Tennessee rallied with Bironas nailing a 26-yard field goal, along with QB Kerry Collins completing an 11-yard TD pass to TE Alge Crumpler.

With the win, the Titans kept their perfect season alive as they entered their bye week at 5-0.

Division standings

Notes and references