NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans (2-1) play their second of three consecutive home games this week, welcoming the New York Jets (2-1) to LP Field (capacity 69,143). Kickoff is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Sept. 29.
THE BROADCAST
This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Greg Gumbel will handle play-by-play duties while Dan Dierdorf 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, analyst Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.
Additionally, Sports USA will broadcast the game to a national radio audience. Adam Amin (play-by-play), Doug Plank (analyst) and Justin Cazana (sideline reporter) will have the call.
LAST WEEK AGAINST SAN DIEGO
The Titans played their home opener last week against the San Diego Chargers and pulled out a dramatic 20-17 victory. Quarterback Jake Locker completed the game-winning, 34-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Justin Hunter with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The score capped a 94-yard drive that began with 2:05 on the clock and no timeouts remaining for the Titans.
Locker, who made his 14th career start last week, had one of his most productive games as a pro, completing 23 of 37 passes for 299 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions (96.6 passer rating). He added 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on five rushing attempts, giving him 367 combined rushing and passing yards.
Eight of Locker's completions went to ninth-year wide receiver Nate Washington, who set a new career high with 131 receiving yards. Washington was one of six players to catch at least one pass during the late touchdown drive.
Meanwhile, running back Chris Johnson contributed 90 yards on 19 rushing attempts, doing his part to help the Titans control the ball for more than 31 out of 60 minutes. It was the Titans' third consecutive game with a time of possession above 30 minutes, and they also became the fifth NFL team in the Super Bowl era to commit zero turnovers through their first three games of the season.
The Titans defense allowed only 277 total yards in the game (compared to 452 by the Titans) and limited the Chargers to three of nine on third down. The defense ranks in the upper half of the league in several categories through three weeks, including points allowed per game (11th with 18.7), yards allowed (eighth with 307.7) and sacks (tied for eighth with nine).
*THE NEW YORK JETS *
The Jets are in their fifth season under head coach Rex Ryan. In four previous years under Ryan, the Jets finished in the NFL's top five in defense three times and led the NFL in passing defense over that span.
Jets began the 2013 campaign with a last-second, 18-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and followed that with a narrow 13-10 loss at the New England Patriots in Week 2.
In Week 3, the Jets hosted the Buffalo Bills and earned their second win of the season. Geno Smith's second touchdown pass of the game, a 69-yard completion to Santonio Holmes, was the difference in a 27-20 victory. Bilal Powell rushed for 149 yards for the Jets, while on the defensive side of the ball, seven different Jets contributed to eight total sacks.
Smith has started each of the first three games this season The second-round pick out of West Virginia has completed 55 of 102 passes for 801 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.
PLAY IT FORWARD EQUIPMENT DRIVE
At the Titans-Jets game this week, fans are encouraged to participate in the Sports Fund Play It Forward Sports Equipment Drive. Volunteers for the Sports Fund, an initiative of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, will be positioned outside of LP Field before the game to collect donations of new and gently-used sports equipment. Items collected will be sorted and distributed to local nonprofits which fit The Fund's mission of providing team membership experiences to at-risk youth in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee.
