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Perfect 10: Collins, Titans Upend Jags With Big Second Half

POSTED: 11:10 pm EST November 16, 2008

(Sports Network) - Kerry Collins and Justin Gage connected on a pair of long touchdowns, including a back-breaking, fourth-quarter toss, as Tennessee shook off an 11-point halftime deficit to move to 10-0 for the first time in franchise history with its 24-14 triumph over Jacksonville.

The normally potent Titans rushing attack took a back seat to Collins for the second straight week, as the crafty, 14-year vet completed 13-of-23 passes for 230 yards with 56 and 38-yard TD passes to Gage, who finished with 147 yards receiving on four grabs. Brandon Jones also caught a TD pass from Collins.

Chris Johnson and LenDale White, who were held to just 20 combined yards rushing in last week's narrow victory over the Bears, combined for 116 yards on 31 carries for the Titans (10-0), who have shown their offensive balance over the past two weeks with Collins instrumental in the win against Chicago, going 30-for-41 for 289 yards and two touchdowns.

"Every week we're going to have teams trying to stop our run. If we want to be effective, we're going to have to throw the ball," Collins said.

Tennessee also extended a franchise-record with 13 straight regular-season wins dating back to December 16 of last season and notched its seventh straight road victory in the process.

Maurice Jones-Drew gained 66 yards on 17 carries and scored both touchdowns for the Jags (4-6), who ended a two-game slide with last weekend's blowout victory over the winless Lions. Jacksonville avoided back-to-back losses to winless clubs after an ugly loss to the Bengals but have still lost three of four overall.

Jones-Drew also had three catches for 27 yards to pace the Jags' receiving corps while David Garrard was just 13-of-30 passing for 135 yards and a pick in the loss.

"We started well but one half of football won't get it done," Jags head coach Jack Del Rio said. "Collins (Kerry) did a nice job throwing the football, making big plays and getting chunks -- and they just pulled away from us."

Trailing 14-3 to open the second half, Tennessee put together a scoring drive on its first series, with Collins throwing a skinny post inside the five to Jones, who took it in for the 13-yard score and a 14-10 game just under six minutes in.

A Jags punt gave Tennessee the ball back quickly, and Collins just as quickly turned the game for the visitors, finding Gage in stride up the left sideline on 3rd-and-3 for a 56-yard score to put the Titans up three, 17-14, midway through the third.

Jacksonville continued its putrid offensive display through the end of the third, finishing the frame with 14 total plays for 48 yards, having punted on each possession.

While the Jags couldn't move the ball on offense in the fourth, their defense helped keep them in the game until Collins let loose for another score.

Garrard was picked off by Chris Carr close to midfield, and Collins hit Gage four plays later on a 38-yard go-route that went for a score with just under four minutes left.

Jacksonville, which had no answer on offense in the second half, couldn't find one on its next series either and turned it over on downs, allowing the Titans to burn the remaining 2:20 to secure the victory.

"It was a tale of two halves," Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said. "The two throws to Justin (Gage) were huge in the second half -- twenty-one unanswered points and the defense stiffened up."

Rob Bironas opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal on the Titans' second series while Jacksonville struggled to move the ball early on.

However, the Jags started on their own 26 in the waning moments of the first and opened the second frame by finishing off the drive with a two-yard jaunt from Jones-Drew. Fred Taylor helped them get there with a 22-yard run.

The Jags defense did a good job of holding the Titans in check and forced a punt with a little over a minute left in the half. Brian Witherspoon's 31-yard return helped set the table as Jacksonville used all but 14 seconds to move 37 yards in five plays, with Jones-Drew bowling his way through defenders and over the goal-line for a one-yard score and 14-3 halftime lead.

Game Notes

Tennessee leads the all-time regular season series with the Jaguars, 16-12, including a 17-10 home victory when the teams met in Week 1. Last season, the teams engaged in an unconventional home-and-home split, including a 13-10 road win for the Titans in Week 1. The Jags' last home win over the Titans came in 2006, a 37-7 rout...Taylor had 58 yards on 12 carries...Jones had two catches for 23 yards...Both teams struggled on third down with Tennessee converting just 1-of-12 chances while Jacksonville was 3-of-15...The Jags captured the time of possession battle, 32:27-27:33.


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