George Has Gorgeous Night for the Titans

Eddie George had a career-high 249 total yards and two touchdowns as the Tennessee Titans damaged the Oakland Raiders’ playoff hopes with a 21-14 victory Thursday night.

George carried 28 times for 199 yards, his most since getting 216 against the Raiders in 1997, against an Oakland defense that had been giving up only 90.3 a game. He also caught six passes for 50 yards.

“It’s just ironic,” George said of his big games against Oakland. “It’s just the next team on the schedule.”

The Titans (10-3) started slow, looking as if they were still reeling from last weekend’s 41-14 loss in Baltimore, their worst in two years. But Oakland (6-7) was just as bad, missing two field goals in the scoreless first half.

Coach Jeff Fisher had a feeling that George, who had topped 100 yards rushing in only three games this season, was ready for a breakout performance.

“He was possessed all week. He had that look in his eye beginning about 4 o’clock Sunday,” Fisher said.

George said the entire team was bitter over the loss to the Ravens and wanted redemption.

“We were quite upset,” he said. “We wanted to come out and prove something not only to the fans and the nation but ourselves that we’re a good team. We can bounce back from a defeat like that.”

The Raiders made adjustments trying to stop George, but it didn’t matter as they missed several tackles on the 6-foot-3, 240-pound back.

“He came out the other end when people hit him,” Oakland linebacker Sam Sword said. “You’ve got to wrap up a big back like that.”

The Titans wanted to make a good impression in their first national prime-time game since moving to Tennessee. They started slowly but woke up enough in the second half to seriously dent the Raiders’ playoff hopes.

Oakland outgained Tennessee 364 yards to 307. The Titans finished with four sacks and three takeaways, including a fumbled punt by Darrien Gordon in the final minute.

“I feel like we lost an opportunity tonight to climb right back into the thick of things,” Oakland Coach Jon Gruden said.