FINAL SCORING MARGIN LARGEST IN PRESEASON SINCE 2003: The Titans' defeated the Saints 32-9. The 23-point margin of victory was the largest in the preseason by the Titans since they won by 24 points (27-3) at Green Bay on Aug. 28, 2003.
TITANS FINISH PRESEASON 3-1: The Titans finished the 2011 preseason with a 3-1 record. It marked the fourth time in five years they recorded three wins in the preseason (3-1 in 2007, 3-1 in 2008, 3-2 in 2009).
TITANS CLOSE PRESEASON AGAIN WITH A WIN: The Titans now have a six-game winning streak in preseason finales. They have not lost in the final week of the preseason since 2005 against the Packers.
TURNOVER RATIO: The Titans forced five turnovers against the Saints without committing a turnover themselves. They finished the preseason with a plus-nine turnover ratio, which ranked second in the NFL.
HASSELBECK'S PLAYING TIME: Matt Hasselbeck started at quarterback and played the game's first two series. He was two-of-five for 37 yards. In four preseason starts, Hasselbeck totaled 26 completions and 301 yards on 42 pass attempts with no interceptions or touchdowns. His preseason passer rating was 85.5.
LOCKER'S BEST SHOWING: Rookie quarterback Jake Locker had his most productive preseason outing against the Saints. He was 15-of-17 for 132 yards and one touchdown (118.6 passer rating), while also rushing for 39 yards and one touchdown on three carries. Locker finished the preseason ranked first among all NFL rookies in both passer rating (88.5) and completion percentage (65.3).
ROOKIE DT NOTCHES SAFETY, TWO SACKS: Rookie defensive tackle Karl Klug got the Titans on the scoreboard in the first quarter. The fifth-round pick out of Iowa sacked Saints quarterback Sean Canfield in the end zone for a safety. Then, in the fourth quarter, Klug recorded his second sack of the game, dropping Canfield* *for a five-yard loss on third down.
HARPER GETS THIRD CONSECUTIVE START: In Chris Johnson's absence, combined with Javon Ringer's hip injury, rookie Jamie Harper notched his third consecutive start at running back. The fourth-round pick from Clemson finished the preseason with 38 carries for 168 yards (4.4 avg.) and three touchdowns. His yardage total led the Titans and ranked eighth in the NFL in the preseason.
BABINEAUX CONTRIBUTES TO CONSECUTIVE TAKEAWAYS: In the first quarter, safety Jordan Babineaux forced a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Jason McCourty. The takeaway resulted in a 32-yard field goal by Rob Bironas. On the ensuing Saints possession, Babineaux intercepted a Sean Canfield pass, which the Titans turned into a touchdown run by Jake Locker.
CURTIS SEES FIRST ACTION: Veteran wide receiver Kevin Curtis was signed as an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 6, less than a week prior to the game in New Orleans. He was in a Titans uniform for the first time against the Saints, and in the first quarter, he tallied his first reception, a 20-yard pass from Jake Locker. Later in the same drive, however, Curtis suffered a hand injury on his second reception and had to leave the game.
CAMPBELL GETS SECOND INTERCEPTION: For the second consecutive week, rookie cornerback Tommie Campbell recorded an interception. Against the Saints, he picked off a bobbled pass from Sean Canfield to Montez Billings. The previous week against the Bears, Campbell returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown.
TITANS SCRATCHES: Titans players out of action against the Saints due to injuries were running back Javon Ringer, tackle Troy Kropog, wide receiver Marc Mariani, safety Chris Hope, cornerback Pete Ittersagen, and defensive linemen Jacob Ford, Derrick Morgan and Jason Jones. Starting cornerback Cortland Finnegan, as well as safeties Michael Griffin and Chris Hope, also were held out of the lineup.
HAWKINS PROVIDES SPARK ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Lavelle Hawkins provided a spark on special teams to begin the second half. He returned the opening kickoff of the third quarter 67 yards, setting up a 41-yard field goal by Rob Bironas.
WILLIAMS SCORES ON PUNT RETURN: In the fourth quarter, second-year wide receiver Damian Williams gave the Titans a 32-0 lead with a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown.
