NASHVILLE, Tenn. --The Tennessee Titans (1-3) play their second consecutive road contest this week, traveling to Minnesota to face the Vikings (3-1). The late-afternoon kickoff at Mall of America Field (capacity 63,731) is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Oct. 7.
THE BROADCAST
This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Bill Macatee will handle play-by-play duties while Steve Tasker provides analysis.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, color commentator Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.
Additionally, Sports USA will broadcast the game to a national radio audience. Bob Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst) have the call.
LAST WEEK
The Titans traveled to division-rival Houston last week and were defeated by a final score of 38-14.
In the loss, running back Chris Johnson produced his first 100-yard game of 2012 and the 29th 100-yard game of his five-year career. Rushing for 141 yards on 25 carries, Johnson recorded his highest rushing total since Dec. 4, 2011 at Buffalo.
At quarterback, the Titans were dealt a significant loss early in the game. Starter Jake Locker was knocked out of the contest with a left shoulder injury he suffered on the team's second offensive series. Matt Hasselbeck stepped in and passed for 193 yards and touchdowns to tight end Craig Stevens and Kendall Wright.
However, the Titans were unable to overcome three costly turnovers that the Texans turned into 17 total points.
THE VIKINGS
The Vikings visited Detroit last week and left with a 20-13 victory. They scored their only touchdowns on special teams—a 105-yard touchdown by Percy Harvin on the game's opening kickoff and a 77-yard punt return by Marcus Sherels—and added a pair of field goals.
The Vikings already have won as many games in 2012 as they did in all of 2011. They own at least a share of first place in the NFC North after four weeks, with the 2-1, division-rival Chicago Bears visiting Dallas on Monday, Oct. 1.
Minnesota's ground attack is spearheaded by running back Adrian Peterson, who is in his sixth NFL season. Peterson's 2011 season was cut short by a knee injury, but he has returned to start every game in 2012 through four weeks. Since he entered the NFL in 2007, no NFL running back has more rushing yards than Peterson.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings are led by four-time All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen. In 2011, Allen led the NFL with 22 sacks, coming within a half sack of the all-time NFL record.
QUARTERBACKS LINKED BY 2011 DRAFT
The Titans and Vikings each have second-year signal callers who were among the highly-touted players at their position entering the 2011 NFL Draft.
With the eighth pick, the Titans selected Locker from the University of Washington. As a rookie, he sat behind Hasselbeck and came off the bench in five total games. He won the starting job in 2012, however, and in his first four career starts he has completed 67 of 106 passes for 781 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions (90.2 passer rating).
Four picks after the Titans selected Locker, the Vikings took Florida State's Christian Ponder. After beginning the 2011 campaign as a backup, Ponder started the final 10 games of the season and passed for 1,853 yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Thus far in 2012, Ponder is 84-of-123 for 824 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions (97.8 passer rating).
