Titans Regain Their McFlair for the Dramatic

The Tennessee Titans think they have their winning attitude back. They can thank Steve McNair and Eddie George.

McNair threw for two touchdowns, including one in the fourth quarter, and George scored two touchdowns, the second on a two-yard run with 3:09 remaining, as the Titans rallied and beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-24, Sunday for their first season opening victory since 1999.

“This is the way we felt years ago,” Titan receiver Kevin Dyson said. “We kept fighting and found a way to win.”

The Titans, who lost five games at home in going 7-9 last season, led only once in the game, 7-0 after their opening drive, and turned the ball over four times.

They also lost three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jevon Kearse on the second play from scrimmage because of a broken left foot. He will have surgery today and will be sidelined six to eight weeks. They also had several players battling cramps in 90-degree heat.

Even a ruling on an onside kick by the Eagles went against them.

“No one blinked an eye,” Titan Coach Jeff Fisher said. “They just kept playing, and I’m especially proud of them.”

The defense sacked Donovan McNabb six times, intercepted him twice and shut down the Eagles in the second half. Philadelphia had 261 yards of total offense but only 78 in the second half. McNabb was 18 for 36 for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

The defending NFC East champions had two chances in the final 3:03, but the Eagles went three-and-out on their first possession. On the last Eagle possession, rookie Carlos Hall sacked McNabb for the third time, knocking the ball loose, and Titan end Kevin Carter recovered with 1:12 to go.

“This goes on my shoulders,” said Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid, whose team led, 24-10, at halftime. “This is my fault, and I take the full responsibility for it. I need to do a better job of being more aggressive in the second half and putting the players in a better position, and that is what I will do.”

Reid had McNabb handing off in the second half, and that is when the Eagles bogged down. McNabb said part of the problem came from the Titans disguising their defenses.

“We know that with the number of guys they were bringing that we had to get rid of the ball quick,” McNabb said.

The momentum shifted for good with Philadelphia leading, 24-13, at the end of the third quarter.

Andre Dyson intercepted a pass from McNabb. The Titans then got a key defensive pass interference call against former Tennessee safety Blaine Bishop for 40 yards, and McNair threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Justin McCareins five plays later with 12:49 to go.

The Titans tried for a two-point conversion, but McNair was stripped of the ball short of the goal line.

It didn’t matter.

Tennessee forced Philadelphia to punt, and McNair drove the Titans 84 yards in 14 plays by going six for nine for 81 yards. The highlight was a 39-yard catch-and-run by Derrick Mason on third and 19 to the Eagle 30. McNair finished 24 for 34 for 269 yards.