NASHVILLE, Tenn. — This week the Tennessee Titans (2-10) play host to the New York Giants (3-9). Kickoff at LP Field (capacity 69,143) is scheduled for noon CST on Sunday, Dec. 7.
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THE BROADCAST
The game will be televised regionally on FOX, including Nashville affiliate WZTV FOX 17. Thom Brennaman will handle play-by-play duties, and David Diehl will serve as analyst. Laura Okmin will report from the sidelines.
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, gameday host Rhett Bryan and sideline reporter Jonathan Hutton.
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TITANS BEGIN FINAL QUARTER OF SEASON
The Titans have four games in December to conclude their 2014 season, with three of the remaining contests to be played at home. They welcome the New York Jets to LP Field a week after hosting the Giants, followed by a trip to Jacksonville for a Thursday night matchup with the Jaguars. The season concludes at home versus the Indianapolis Colts.
Last week, the Titans traveled to Houston to face the AFC South rival Texans. They fell behind 24-0 in the first half and were never able to catch up, ultimately losing by a final score of 45-21. It was their sixth consecutive loss.
Rookie quarterbackZach Mettenbergerrecorded his fifth career start but was unable to finish the contest. Through two-and-a-half quarters, he completed 13 of 19 passes for 184 yards, a touchdown and an interception. However, he was taken to the turf byJ.J. Wattin the third quarter and suffered a right shoulder injury, ending his day.
Mettenberger's season passing totals stand at 93-of-155 for 1,287 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions. His 87.8 passer rating leads the four NFL rookie quarterbacks who have recorded at least one start this season, ahead of Minnesota'sTeddy Bridgewater(79.0), Oakland'sDerek Carr(74.4) and Jacksonville'sBlake Bortles** (72.2).
When Mettenberger left the game, Jake Locker entered to see his first action since Oct. 5. The Texans maintained their control of the scoreboard with Locker in the game, victimizing the fourth-year signal caller on two interceptions. Locker did manage to complete a touchdown pass to Nate Washington, who reached career milestones of 400 receptions and 40 touchdown catches.
Kendall Wright had the biggest day among Titans receivers, hauling in seven passes for 132 yards. He also became the only player for the franchise other than Ernest Givins to reach 50 receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons.
The Titans offensive line was beset by injuries last week. The unit arrived in Houston down three starters from the previous week in Philadelphia: left tackle Taylor Lewan (inactive with an ankle injury), center Brian Schwenke (injured reserve/knee) and right tackle Michael Oher (did not play/toe). Will Svitek, Chris Spencer and Byron Stingily started in those spots, respectively. Then during the third quarter, right guard Chance Warmack went down briefly with an ankle injury and was replaced by the newly-signed Eric Olsen.
THE GIANTS
Having lost seven consecutive games, the Giants are tied with the Washington Redskins for third place in the NFC East. Last week they traveled to another AFC South opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and fell by a final score of 25-24. The Giants built a 21-0 lead in the first half, only to see the Jaguars storm back and ultimately win on a 43-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Tom Coughlin is in his 11th season as head coach of the Giants and his 19th NFL season as a head coach. The two-time Super Bowl Champion is second in Giants history for career wins by a head coach, trailing only Steve Owen.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning was 24-of-34 passing for 247 yards and a touchdown against the Jaguars. The 11th-year veteran reached the 3,000-yard passing mark for the 10th consecutive season in the loss. With more than 38,000 career passing yards, he is the franchise's all-time leader in every major passing category. Additionally, his 163 consecutive starts make up the third-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history, behind Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.
HISTORY
This week's game marks the 11th meeting between the Titans and Giants. The series is tied 5-5, dating back to Sept. 16, 1973, when the Giants defeated the Houston Oilers 34-14 in the season opener at Yankee Stadium.
Of all opponents that have been in existence since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Giants, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have played the Oilers/Titans the fewest amount of times—10 games each.
After the Giants won the first five matchups with the franchise, the Titans/Oilers have won the last five meetings. The streak includes a 10-6 Oilers win in 1997, a 28-14 win in 2000, a 32-29 overtime victory in 2002, a come-from-behind 24-21 win in 2006, and most recently a 29-10 decision in 2010.
The win over the Giants in 2000 was against a team that would eventually win the NFC Championship and play in Super Bowl XXXV. Steve McNair passed for three touchdowns and Eddie George rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown on 35 carries as the Titans held the ball for more than 42 minutes in the game.
On a cold and windy day at the Meadowlands in 2002, McNair helped force overtime with a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion in the final seconds of regulation, and Joe Nedney sealed the win when he connected on a 38-yard field goal. George rushed for 64 yards to pass Earl Campbell as the all-time rushing leader in franchise history.
In 2006, rookie quarterback Vince Young led arguably one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history against the Giants. Down 21-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Titans rallied to score touchdowns on three consecutive drives and then won the game on a 49-yard field goal by kicker Rob Bironas. It tied for the second-biggest comeback in NFL history with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter and was the largest comeback in NFL history (fourth quarter or otherwise) led by a rookie quarterback.
The 2010 matchup marked the first-ever Titans-Giants game at MetLife Stadium. The Titans defense forced three turnovers, while Chris Johnson rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries to help the Titans to a 29-10 victory.
