Sun Sep 28 16:51:40 2008

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Titans cash in on Vikings' mistakes, stay perfect on season

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Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Chris Johnson ran for two touchdowns and Rob Bironas booted three field goals as Tennessee improved to 4-0 for the first time in franchise history with a 30-17 win over Minnesota at LP Field.

Kerry Collins completed 18-of-35 passes for 199 yards for the Titans, who have won seven straight regular season games dating back to last season and snapped a four-game skid against the Vikings. Johnson had 61 yards rushing and Justin Gage had five receptions for 92 yards.

Gus Frerotte connected on 25-of-43 passes for 266 yards with an interception before leaving late in the game with a left hand injury for Minnesota (1-3), which shot itself in the foot with four turnovers and seven penalties, including four for holding.

Adrian Peterson ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries for Minnesota.

The Titans took the opening kickoff and used a nice mix of the run and pass to move easily down the field. Collins found a wide open Craig Stevens in the back of the end zone on a third down play from the two-yard line but the tight end ran a bad pattern and was unable to stay inbounds. Tennessee had to settle for a 20-yard Bironas chip shot to take an early 3-0 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the opening quarter.

The Titans found themselves right back in business when Minnesota fullback Naufahu Tahi fumbled after catching a pass in the flat. Stephen Tulloch recovered the ball at the Vikings 33 and Johnson eventually took it in from a yard out on a toss sweep to extend Tennessee's advantage to 10-0 with 4:05 left in the first.

The Vikings got back in the game with a 10-play, 80-yard march. Peterson capped the drive on the first play of the second quarter with an impressive burst off right tackle for a 28-yard TD run.

The Minnesota defense continued to struggle, however, giving up large chunks of yardage through the air. Collins hit Gage for gains of 28 and 25 yards to quickly put the Titans in field goal range again and Bironas was true from 32 yards out to put Tennessee up 13-7 with 10:19 left until halftime.

Things only got worse for the Vikings when Peterson fumbled inside his own 20. Tony Brown scooped up the ball and returned it to the Minnesota 12. After converting a fourth down, LenDale White plunged in from a yard out and the Titans had a comfortable 20-7 edge with less than four minutes to go in the half.

Frerotte managed to move the ball a little bit on Minnesota's ensuing possession, setting up a 42-yard Ryan Longwell field goal with 42 seconds remaining in the half.

Since the Titans had such an easy time moving the ball, they were intent on trying to get into field goal position again but the Vikings got their first break when Collins couldn't handle a bad shotgun snap and E.J. Henderson recovered the ball at the Tennessee 41.

After Frerotte hit Vinsanthe Shiancoe for an 11-yard gain, Longwell failed to take advantage, missing a 48-yard field goal when it banged off the right upright.

Bironas cashed in on the first scoring opportunity in the second half when he booted a 49-yard field goal with 6:54 left in the third quarter to put the Titans on top 23-10.

The Vikings made it interesting midway through the fourth quarter with an 11- play, 79-yard drive. Frerotte set up a TD by finding Bernard Berrian down the right sideline for a 28-yard gain down to the Tennessee three. Minnesota had trouble punching it in from there, but a roughing-the-passer penalty on Kyle Vanden Bosch gave them a fresh set of downs and Peterson did the rest, taking it in from three yards out to make it a one-possession game, 23-17, with six minutes left.

Any Minnesota momentum was quickly stemmed when Chris Carr returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards. Tennessee failed to score but Craig Hentrich placed a brilliant punt at the Vikings two-yard line.

Frerotte was then hurried on third down and threw an interception to Nick Harper, who returned it to the Minnesota six. Johnson went around right tackle on the next play for a six-yard TD to secure the game.

Game Notes

Vikings starting left defensive end Ray Edwards was among the inactives for the team with a shoulder injury...Henderson was carted off with a foot injury early in the second quarter but was able to return before halftime. He then left the game for good in the second half...Frerotte was knocked out on the interception...Titans coach Jeff Fisher beat the Vikings for the first time and is now 1-4 against them in his career.