Young Titans’ Defense Comes of Age

Tennessee Titan linebacker Keith Bulluck was so elated over teammate Brad Kassell’s interception return for a touchdown that he grabbed the first football he saw and punted it into the stands.

Oops. That was the ball Kassell wanted for his trophy cabinet.

“If he has to buy it, I’ll buy it for him,” Bulluck said of the ball, which now belongs to a fan.

Bulluck and the Titans were in a giving mood Sunday after proving they really can tackle in beating the Baltimore Ravens, 25-10, in their home opener.

Steve McNair threw a touchdown pass, Rob Bironas kicked field goals of 39, 29 and 47 yards and Rob Reynolds blocked a punt in the end zone for a safety as the NFL’s youngest team easily dismantled a supposedly improved Raven offense.

The rebuilding Titans (1-1) had replaced five starters on defense this off-season, but they outplayed Baltimore’s Pro Bowl-stocked unit with six sacks and two turnovers, including Kassell’s 21-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.

The Ravens (0-2) struggled for a second straight week on offense, and not even a change in quarterback seemed to help. Anthony Wright started for Kyle Boller, who was booed when he left with a hyperextended right big toe in last week’s 24-7 loss to Indianapolis.