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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Adelphia Coliseum doesn't quite roll off
the tongue when talking of great NFL homes such as Lambeau Field,
Mile High Stadium and even Arrowhead Stadium. Just give the
Tennessee Titans some more time.
Al Del Greco kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime as the
Titans rallied for a 17-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in
their home opener Sunday.
|  | | Titans quarterback Steve McNair is carted off in the fourth quarter after a hard hit by Duane Clemons. |
The victory kept the AFC champions (1-1) from going into the bye
week without a victory. It also kept them undefeated in their new
home, tying the NFL record held by the 1971 Dallas Cowboys with
nine consecutive victories to christen a new stadium.
"We take a lot of pride in playing here at this coliseum and to
win like this will probably add that much more hype to the mystique
of this coliseum," Titans safety Marcus Robertson said.
"It's a fun place to play. I love the crowd here, and we don't
lose here. That's the bottom line. We don't lose here."
They should have.
The Chiefs (0-2) failed to score a touchdown in the first
quarter despite five plays inside the Titans 10. They watched Pete
Stoyanovich miss a field goal miss. And they had a chance to win
with the game tied 14-14 late in regulation. But they couldn't move
forward enough.
A pass interference call against Denard Walker, who missed the
season opener under a one-game suspension by the NFL, moved the
Chiefs to the Titans 43. Elvis Grbac then found Tony Gonzalez with
a 9-yarder to the 34, seemingly setting up Stoyanovich to win it.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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This was a game that Kansas City appeared to have won, but Tennesee rallied with a late touchdown from Neil O'Donnell to Yancy Thigpen to tie the game and send it into overtime.
This was a tough loss for the Chiefs, as they start the season at 0-2 -- though they certainly appear to be a better football team than that record indicates.
Wide receiver Kevin Dyson stepped up big for the Titans. And O'Donnell came up with a strong performance in relief of Steve McNair to get the game into OT and get Tennessee in position for the winning field goal.
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He never got the chance. Chiefs receiver Derrick Alexander was
penalized for pass interference and Grbac picked up a penalty for
intentional grounding, pushing the Chiefs to their own 45. They
wound up punting and heading into overtime.
"We had a great opportunity," Grbac said. "We let it slip
right through our hands."
Once in overtime, it was all Titans, who won the coin toss and
needed just five plays to move 48 yards for Del Greco's winning
field goal with 12:02 remaining.
"I overheard a number of our players saying it shouldn't be
that hard," Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said. "The fact of the
matter is that it is that hard to win in the NFL."
Tennessee got into overtime thanks to some late help from Neil
O'Donnell. The backup quarterback came in with 6:25 left after
Steve McNair was carted off with a bruised chest. McNair was taken
to Baptist Hospital for tests.
The Titans said Sunday night that X-rays showed no broken bones
in McNair's bruised sternum, but that the quarterback would remain
at the hospital for a further test Monday.
O'Donnell's was sacked with 3:11 to go, ending a drive. He
didn't waste his next opportunity, moving the Titans 56 yards in
eight plays, capped by an 8-yard toss to Yancey Thigpen with 50
seconds remaining for a 14-14 tie.
"We said all along we are very fortunate to have two great
quarterbacks," tight end Frank Wycheck said. "You can't win in
this league nowadays without two solid starters. Neil drove us up
and down the field."
The Chiefs controlled most of the game with a relentless pass
rush that came up with four sacks. The hit that knocked out McNair
came from end Duane Clemons. McNair walked to the sideline, but
laid down on the ground and was carted to the locker room several
minutes later for X-rays.
"Steve's a tough guy, and he'll bounce back from it,"
O'Donnell said. "I've been trying to teach him for two years how
to slide."
McNair helped Kansas City score both its touchdowns, but Fisher
said receivers ran the wrong routes. Donnie Edwards stepped in front
of a pass for Carl Pickens and returned it 42 yards untouched and
tied the game 7-7 seconds before halftime.
James Hasty intercepted in the third quarter and returned it 38
yards. That set up the Chiefs' only TD drive as Grbac hit Alexander
on a 16-yard TD for a 14-7 lead.
O'Donnell was 11-of-17 for 132 yards, and Eddie George, held in
check much of the game, finished with 21 carries for 80 yards.
Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham was still answering reports his
wife had to talk him out of quitting following last week's loss.
"Someone tried to blow things out of proportion, and that
sickens me to my stomach when they don't know what a coach tries to
do to motivate his team. And obviously the team's motivated," he
said.
Game notes
The Titans' 9-0 start at Adelphia tied two other teams
for most victories at a new stadium. The Akron Indians (League Park
in 1920) and the Buffalo Bisons (Canisius Field, also 1920) also
did it. ... The victory tied the franchise's record of nine
straight at home (Houston Oilers in 1990-1991). ... Wycheck threw a
30-yard TD to Kevin Dyson in the second quarter, now has two TDs
passing in his career. ... Hasty moved into sixth on the career
interception list with 42.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Kansas City Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
Titans' McNair knocked out vs. Chiefs
Week 2 wrap-ups
Week 2 infirmary report
TJ's Take on Week 2
Week 2 stats leaders
Prime Time Players
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