LOCKER'S FIRST START ENDS WITH INJURY: Second-year quarterback Jake Locker, the eighth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, recorded his first career start. He completed 23 of 32 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown and one interception for a passer rating of 89.2, and he also rushed twice for 11 yards. However his afternoon ended prematurely due to injury. While making a tackle on an interception early in the fourth quarter—the ruling on the field was reversed and the play changed to an incompletion—Locker sustained a left shoulder injury. Matt Hasselbeck entered the game as Locker's replacement.
ROOKIE THOMPSON IN STARTING LINEUP: The Titans opened the game in a three-tight-end set, including veterans Jared Cook and Craig Stevens. Rookie Taylor Thompson, a fifth-round draft pick out of Southern Methodist, was the third tight end, earning a start in his first NFL game.
FIRST CATCH BY WRIGHT GOES FOR 17 YARDS: With the Titans facing a third-and-seven early during their first offensive series, rookie Kendall Wright picked up the first down with a 17-yard gain on his first NFL reception. The 20th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft finished the day with five receptions for 37 yards.
ROBERT JOHNSON NOTCHES FIRST START: Titans safety Robert Johnson made his first NFL start in the game. He lined up alongside Michael Griffin. Johnson, a fifth-round pick in 2010 out of Utah, appeared in three games as a reserve in 2011 after being inactive in every contest as a rookie.
WASHINGTON OVER 4,000: With a 24-yard reception in the first quarter, wide receiver Nate Washington moved past 4,000 career receiving yards. With the play, Washington extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 63 (49 games with the Titans). He finished the game with two receptions for 53 yards.
BIRONAS EXTENDS STREAK: Rob Bironas booted a 28-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 24-yarder in the fourth quarter. That gives him 17 consecutive made field goals dating back to last season. The streak ranks sixth in franchise history, three away from the team's all-time record of 20.
FOURTH-AND-ONE GAMBLE: The Titans kept their offense on the field when they faced a fourth-and-one at New England's 37-yard line. Jake Locker then found Nate Washington down the sideline for a 24-yard gain and a first down.
LOCKER TO WASHINGTON TD: Early in the third quarter, Jake Locker and Nate Washington connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass. It was Locker's fifth career touchdown pass and Washington's 32nd career touchdown reception. As a rookie in 2011, Locker completed three of his four touchdown passes to Washington.
ROOS EXTENDS STREAK: Tackle Michael Roos notched his 113th consecutive start, the longest among current Titans and the second-longest streak in the NFL among offensive tackles.
COOK LEADS IN RECEIVING YARDS: Tight end Jared Cook led the Titans with 64 yards on four carries, including a 35-yard catch on the team's first offensive snap of the third quarter. Cook's 16 yards-per-catch average was in line with his 2011 season average of 15.5, which ranked second in the NFL among tight ends.
WIMBLEY GETS FIRST SACK AS A TITAN: In the second quarter, defensive end Kamerion Wimbley recorded his first sack in a Titans uniform, dropping Tom Brady for an eight-yard loss on third down. Wimbley, a free agent addition in the offseason, now has 43.5 career sacks with the Browns, Raiders and Titans.
LP FIELD SELLOUT: The regular-season opener marked the 137th consecutive sellout at LP Field, dating back to the stadium's opening in 1999.
INACTIVES: Tennessee's seven inactives for the game were quarterback Rusty Smith, defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, running back Javon Ringer, linebacker Zac Diles, tackle Mike Otto, tackle Byron Stingily and defensive end Pannel Egboh.
