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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Titans couldn't pull off
another miracle at Adelphia Coliseum.
|  | | Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis scored on a 2-yard TD run in the Ravens' win over the Titans. |
The Titans, who found nearly every way to win at their new
stadium, discovered a new way to lose when Al Del Greco missed an
extra point and a field goal in the final minutes of a 24-23 loss
to Baltimore on Sunday.
"We thought it was some more of the magic we have here,"
Titans tackle Jason Fisk said. "It looked like we were going to do
it again."
Trent Dilfer passed to Patrick Johnson for a 2-yard touchdown
with 19 seconds left, and Matt Stover's extra point lifted the
Ravens into the lead. The defeat ended Tennessee's NFL record of 12
regular-season games without a loss at a new stadium.
The Titans pulled ahead for the first time at 23-17 on an
87-yard interception return for a touchdown by Perry Phenix with
2:30 left, but Del Greco missed his first extra point in 229 tries,
a streak that started in 1993.
Tennessee got the ball back with 19 seconds left, and Steve
McNair quickly moved the Titans (8-2) down the field to give Del
Greco a chance to win his second straight game with a last-second field goal.
But the man nicknamed "Automatic Al" hooked his 43-yard
attempt wide right, ending the Titans' eight-game winning streak
overall and the 12-game streak at Adelphia since it opened. The
home streak did not include the Music City Miracle in the playoffs
last season when the Titans scored on a kickoff return on the final
play.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Ravens: Can Brian Billick really rely on Trent Dilfer to get him to the
postseason?
Donahoe: Brian Billick has turned the reins over to Trent Dilfer, and
the last two weeks his move has paid dividends. In his first start this
season against the Steelers, Dilfer looked rusty. But the last two weeks
Dilfer has moved the Ravens and gotten them into the end zone. He threw what
appeared to be a killer interception today, but then very calmly Dilfer
drove the Ravens down the field and threw the game-winning touchdown pass
with seconds remaining. Dilfer has energized the Ravens' offense. He's a
competitor and plays with some fire, and statistically he's put up some good
numbers the last two games. If Dilfer can keep playing that way, he looks
like a quarterback who can get Billick and the Ravens to the playoffs.
Question on the Titans: With crucial misses in consecutive weeks, is
Al Del Greco's job in
jeopardy?
Donahoe: Despite some crucial misses today -- both an extra point and
a field goal -- Del Greco's job is not in jeopardy. Al has kicked in this
league for 16 years and has been one of the top kickers in the NFL over that
time. He had a bad today -- it happens to everyone. The best thing to do is
to not make excuses and then to move on. It would not surprise me if
somewhere down the road this year Del Greco kicks a game-winning field goal
for the Titans. He's that kind of kicker and that kind of professional.
He'll be back.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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"I've said before I get way too much credit and way too much
blame sometimes, but I don't think that's the case right here,"
Del Greco said.
The missed field goal wouldn't have mattered if only Del Greco
hadn't bounced his extra-point attempt off the upright after
Phenix's TD.
"We should not have let it get to where an extra point would be
the difference," Titans cornerback Samari Rolle said. "Al's a
pro. There's not another kicker in the league I'd like to have on
my team."
The victory pulled Baltimore (7-4) within 1½ games of the Titans
in the AFC Central Division in a game that seesawed in the final
minutes.
With the score 17-17, the Ravens were on the verge of taking the
lead when Phenix picked the ball off at the Tennessee 13. He
returned the first interception of his career 87 yards for the
Titans' first lead of the game, 23-17 with 2:30 remaining.
"I've been a sucker on that play a couple of times in my
career," Dilfer said.
Dilfer redeemed himself by moving the Ravens -- who snapped a
21-quarter touchdown drought only last week -- to the winning
points. He hit Shannon Sharpe with a 36-yarder on third-and-5, and
Dilfer was trying to find Qadry Ismail in the end zone when Titans
cornerback Dainon Sidney was flagged for interference.
That gave the Ravens the ball at the 2, and they scored three
plays later with 25 seconds remaining when Dilfer found Johnson in
the end zone. Johnson barely kept his second foot inbounds.
Stover, the AFC's leading scorer, didn't miss on his extra
point, putting the Ravens ahead.
"I'm getting too old for all these highs and lows," Ravens
tackle Tony Siragusa said. "It's like a roller coaster, and I
don't even go on roller coasters with my kids anymore because of my
heart."
For Baltimore coach Brian Billick, Del Greco's misses offered an
ironic payback for the Ravens.
"The old saying is that breaks will even themselves out if you
can last long enough," Billick said.
Dilfer was 23-of-36 for 281 yards and two touchdowns as the
Ravens rolled up 361 yards against the NFL's fourth-stingiest
defense.
Baltimore, featuring the league's best defense, held Eddie
George and the Titans to just 286 yards total offense. The Titans
managed only 62 yards rushing, their second-lowest total this
season.
Dilfer put the Ravens up 7-0 when he found Ismail for a 46-yard
touchdown in the first quarter. Baltimore then had its longest
scoring drive this season, going 96 yards in 10 minutes, 11 seconds
before Jamal Lewis ran in 2 yards for a 14-0 lead early in the
second quarter.
McNair tossed two touchdown passes in the second quarter to get
the Titans back in the game. He was 21-of-34 for 228 yards.
Game notes
Del Greco's missed extra point in the fourth quarter was
his first since Nov. 7, 1993, when he missed his last attempt
against the Seattle Seahawks. ... Five of the past seven games in
this series have been decided by four points or less. ... It was
the Ravens' seventh straight victory over an AFC Central opponent
on the road. ... Ravens fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo left the game
in the second half with turf toe. Ravens tight end Ben Coates also
bruised his thigh. ... The Titans are 22-3 in the AFC Central since
1998.
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ALSO SEE
Baltimore Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
Week 11 wrap-ups
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Al Del Greco was disappointed he couldn't come through for his team in the end.
wav: 193 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Trent Dilfer is excited about the Ravens' win over Tennessee, while Shannon Sharpe tells who he supports for president.
wav: 325 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Coach Jeff Fisher refuses to blame his kicker for the Titans' loss.
wav: 88 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Coach Brian Billick is proud of his team's fighting spirit.
wav: 127 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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