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  Saturday, Aug. 5 8:00pm ET
Fade route has Titans, fans thrilled
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- It's a play the Tennessee Titans might have preferred to keep hidden until the regular season. The temptation to show off new receiver Carl Pickens turned out to be too strong.

Carl Pickens
The Titans liked what they saw of Carl Pickens, including a TD catch in the corner of the end zone.

Facing fourth-and-goal near the Chiefs' goal line, Steve McNair found Pickens in the left corner on a fade route for a 2-yard touchdown Saturday night as the Titans beat the Kansas City Chiefs 14-10 in the exhibition opener for both teams.

It's a play very familiar to Pickens, a two-time Pro Bowler whose bitter relationship with the Cincinnati Bengals ended last month when he was released. But he hadn't had much opportunity to practice the play since he joined with the Titans for the first time only five days ago after signing a five-year, $20 million contract.

"Steve made a perfect throw," Pickens said.

Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger agreed that McNair made a great pass, but he thought the play was dead when Chiefs cornerback Eric Warfield lined up outside of Pickens. He said that is why the Titans signed Pickens.

McNair said his chemistry with Pickens will only get better.

"We still need to iron out some wrinkles, but he is going to be an excellent option for us," he said.

Rodney Thomas' 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter turned out to be the game-winner as the Titans beat the Chiefs in an exhibition for the first time since the AFL-NFL merger. The former Houston Oilers hadn't won since 1963, losing eight consecutive exhibitions to the Chiefs.

Elvis Grbac was nearly perfect for Kansas City and left with the game tied. He was 8-for-9 passing for 63 yards, including a 16-yard TD toss to Tony Gonzalez on the opening drive with Tennessee getting little pressure on him.

"I'm really pleased with the quarterback," Kansas city coach Gunther Cunningham said. "Elvis was as relaxed as I've seen him."

Warren Moon did not play as Cunningham tried to protect the 43-year-old backup quarterback from a banged-up offensive line. That left Todd Collins, the Chiefs' No. 3 quarterback the past two seasons, to play the second quarter and most of the third as he tries to challenge Moon for the backup role. Collins was spotty despite completing 10-of-19 for 76 yards. His best completion came on a 22-yarder to Kevin Lockett, but that was helped as Titans cornerback George McCullough looked inside and the receiver ran past him for the catch.

It was a messy game in the exhibition opener for both teams. The Chiefs had eight of their 12 penalties in the first half, and the Titans had seven for 55 yards.

Neither coach was happy with the mistakes, and Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said the only positive for the Titans was the victory.

The highlight for the Chiefs may have been the moment of silence remembering the late Derrick Thomas. Video screens played a montage of his career before the moment, and several of the Chiefs held up their helmets.

"His presence is definitely missed," linebacker Marvcus Patton said. "Just being in the locker room without him, as well as on the field is a strange feeling."

Ted White nearly rallied the Chiefs' backups in the final minute. He hit Scott Cloman on what would have been a 30-yard TD, but Cloman only got his left toes down and the Chiefs turned the ball over on downs two plays later.

The highlight for the Titans was what they hope is a glimpse of the upcoming season.

Pickens, who dropped his first pass, finally connected with McNair on an 8-yarder in the second series. McNair later found Pickens in the left corner on a fade for the TD. The receiver whose bitter eight-year relationship with the Cincinnati Bengals finally ended with his release last month kept the ball as a souvenir.

The receiver said catching his first pass helped him relax. Pickens, who can't remember the last time he played in a sold-out stadium, said he kept glancing around Adelphia Coliseum.

"I can get used to this," he said.
 


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