Titans vs. Dolphins game review

The Tennessee Titans began their week with a lot of optimism going into the game with the Miami Dolphins. The buzz that reverberated was due to the Randy Moss signing and also sharing the division lead with the Indianapolis Colts. That optimism quickly changed as after the game as the Titans were defeated 29-17 in Miami.

It was a roller-coaster of a game with both starting QBs going down with injuries. Kerry Collins, who started for a injured Vince Young in the first place, left the game after halftime. Miami QB Chad Pennington only lasted two plays before he was hit while throwing an incompletion (Early world on the injury is that it a dislocated shoulder for the fourth time for Pennington) and was taken out of the game. Miami's recently demoted starter Chad Henne entered the game and in the 3rd quarter injured his knee late in the third quarter when hit attempting a pass. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam and said his knee hurt.

The game had a funny ebb and flow to it as the Titans Bo Scaife fumbled on their initial drive. The Dolphins would drive down the field on a 6 play, 80 yard drive that was capped off with a Ronnie Brown 2-yard rush for a score. The Titans would get on the board on their next drive as Chris Johnson started to find running lanes. Johnson gashed the Dolphins D for a 19-yard run at the beginning of the drive and capped it off with a spectacular 17-yard touchdown run. Miami would go for it on 4th down on their next drive and come up short, setting the Titans up with good field position at Miami's 28 yard line. The Titans would only be able to muster a FG out of the drive and went ahead 10-7, and that is how the 1st quarter would end.

In the 2nd quarter there wasn't much action. The Dolphins kicked a field goal to make it 10-10 on their first drive. Cortland Finnegan picked off Chad Henne mid way through the quarter and it was pretty much a punt fest other than that.

In the 3rd quarter, Vince Young would take over for the injured Kerry Collins. Young would fumble on his first drive and the Dolphins and former Titan Randy Starks would recover. The good field position for the Dolphins set up an easy score for the Phins. Chad Henne found an open Patrick Cobbs for a 13-yard TD pass. That score put the Dolphins up 20-10. After the kickoff was returned 27 yards, Vince Young and Chris Johnson would get hot. Johnson got it started with a 30-yard up the middle. Young would go on to connect on his next two passes, one to Javon Ringer on a dump off and another to Nate Washington. Johnson rushed again for another 8 yards and Young finished the drive off with two passes to Nate Washington, the second one going for a 14-yard touchdown. The score made it 20-17 Dolphins. Chad Henne would lead the Dolphins to a FG on the next series before getting hurt but score put Miami up 23-17.

Both the Titans and the Dolphins would go three and out on their next drive and than the 4th quarter of play began. Tyler Thigpen would come into the after the Chad Henne injury in the 3rd and spark the Dolphin offense. He initiated a 9 play drive that ended with a Anthony Fasano TD catch on his first drive. The Dolphins would try for the 2-point conversion and fail making the score 29-17. Tennessee would drive the field off the arm of Young and finally got Moss involved with a 26 yard catch that would be his only. Young however was sacked on 3rd and 10 on Miami's 29 and the Titans were forced to go for it on 4th and 20. Young floated a pass in the area of Justin Gage that was intercepted by Reshad Jones. That was the game as Miami was able to run a few plays and run out the clock.

The Titans now fall to 5-4 and their next game is at home vs. the Washington Redskins.

Game Observations:

The not so much Moss effect: I of course expected more out of Moss. The only catch he had came in the 4th but the QBs did try to get to him as he was targeted 4 times. He also drew a 33-yard defensive pass interference call but other than that was he was ineffective this game. It was actually a bad game for me,” said Moss

Chris Johnson was able to find running room and finished 117 yards on 17 carries. Moss did have an effect in that department as you didn't see as many 8 man fronts against the Titans. Look for more of the same from him as the year goes on.

The Dolphins Wildcat offense was extremely successful versus the Titans. After only gaining 30 yards on 20 snaps out of the formation, the Dolphins were able to get considerable chunks of offense against Tennessee.