Each week this season, Titans Online is taking a look back at a game in franchise history against the upcoming opponent.
Sept. 11, 2004: Titans 17, Dolphins 7
This flashback goes to the season-opener of the 2004 season that was moved up one day and played on a Saturday because of Hurricane Ivan's impending landfall.
The Titans recorded three important interceptions, including one against Miami backup QB A.J. Feeley that Lamont Thompson returned 37 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead in the third quarter.
Tennessee held Miami to zero points, three first downs and 76 total net yards in the first half. The Titans perplexed Dolphins starting QB Jay Fiedler, who went 5-for-13 passing for 42 yards and two interceptions for a passer rating of 8.0 in the first half, and prompted his benching at halftime.
Samari Rolle recorded the first interception of Fiedler in the end zone to prevent a score by Miami with 8:20 left in the first half, and Andre Dyson ended the Dolphins' next possession with a pick at the Tennessee 35-yard line that he returned 11 yards with 3:55 remaining before halftime.
The second interception moved momentum to the Titans, who got a 52-yard run by Chris Brown on the next play to set up a 1-yard touchdown pass from Steve McNair to Erron Kinney for a 7-0 lead with 1:49 left in the first half.
Brown finished his first career start with 16 carries for 100 yards (6.3 per carry), and McNair was an economical 9-for-14 passing for 73 yards and a 101.2 passer rating. Derrick Mason led the Titans with three catches for 51 yards.
Aaron Elling added a field goal to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive that consumed more than eight minutes of the fourth quarter for a 17-0 lead with 6:48 remaining in the game. Elling also handled punting duties in his only game with the Titans and averaged 45.3 yards on six punts.
Tennessee's bid for the shutout ended when Feeley completed a 15-yard TD pass to Randy McMichael with 3:22 left.
Randy Starks made his professional debut and recorded one of three Titans sacks on the day. Starks will be involved in this Sunday's game, but as a member of the Dolphins.
