DETROIT, Mich. – As Titans coach Mike Mularkey made his way to the field for Sunday's game, he crossed paths with cornerback Perrish Cox.
According to Mularkey, Cox made a prophetic statement leading up to kickoff.
"We talked about needing (an interception), and he said before the game walking down the tunnel he was going to get one," Mularkey said of Cox.
Cox ended up getting that interception, of course. He picked off Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford with 22 seconds left to preserve Tennessee's 16-15 win.
With a smile, Cox said it's not necessarily a sign he should play the lottery tonight.
"I always tell everybody I'm going to get an interception," Cox said laughing. "You have to believe it, and that's my main goal."
Stafford credited Cox for the well-timed play. The Lions were on their own 45 when Cox picked off Stafford at the 47-yard line.
"Guy made a good play," Stafford said of Cox. "He was guarding Anquan (Boldin) on the outside and just kind of sloughed off, and that's a tough one. (Eric) Ebron had some tough outside leverage, so he kind of had to cut his route short and it was the right job by him. Obviously, hindsight's 20-20, I wish I wouldn't have thrown it. But he was guarding somebody else and came off and made the play."
Cox admittedly struggled earlier in the game.
He gave up some plays, and missed a tackle that resulted in a big play for the Lions.
"I didn't have the first half I wanted, but my teammates and coaches had faith in me,'' Cox said. "They just told me to keep my head up and you'll make the play. I just wanted to make a play, man. The offense scored and came through and left it in our hands, and I was glad I could make a play.
"… If you're a corner, things are going to happen. You can't be perfect every play. It's a tough position when you're going against a couple of world-class athletes. … But my brothers, they had my back and had confidence in me. At the end of game the opportunity came, and I was glad I made the play. A big weight got lifted off of me."
Cox's play was part of another impressive defensive effort for the Titans, who sacked Stafford four times. Outside linebacker Brian Orakpo led the way with two sacks, and linebacker Kevin Dodd and defensive lineman Karl Klug also recorded a sack.
In two games, the Titans defense has only allowed one touchdown.
"That was huge for Perrish,'' linebacker Avery Williamson said. "I was so happy for him. I think that just shows our defense never gives up, and that has been our mindset since last year.
"When things don't go your way you have to keep fighting. We kept fighting, and we came out victorious."
The Tennessee Titans take on the Detroit Lions in Week 2 action at Ford Field. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
