Titans Continue Best Start as Saints Collapse Again

NEW ORLEANS — The Tennessee Titans did not score in the first half. Not to worry, they are making a habit of coming back.

And besides, they were playing the New Orleans Saints, the masters of the second-half collapse.

The Titans (5-1) rallied to win in the second half for the fourth time this season, while the Saints (1-4) lost a second-half lead for the fourth consecutive game in Tennessee’s 24-21 victory Sunday.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Tennessee Coach Jeff Fisher said. “It came down to the wire like we expected. But the bottom line was, we felt regardless of what we did starting on Wednesday through this afternoon, we have to find a way to be 5-1 on the off week, and we did.”

Defensive tackle Jason Fisk and cornerback Donald Mitchell intercepted passes in the closing minutes to secure the outcome as the Titans continued their best start since 1991, when they opened 7-1 as the Houston Oilers.

The Titans took their first lead of the game on the first series of the fourth quarter when Neil O’Donnell passed to Kevin Dyson for an 11-yard touchdown that put Tennessee ahead, 14-13.

With 5:12 left, Fisk grabbed a pass from Billy Joe Tolliver on the Saint 19 and returned it to the 10.

But the Titan offense stalled and Al Del Greco kicked a 19-yard field goal to put Tennessee up, 17-13.

On the Saints’ next offensive play, Mitchell intercepted Tolliver’s pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown, making it 24-13.

The Saints, outscored 51-8 in the fourth quarter this season, then drove to their first fourth-quarter touchdown of the year when Tolliver hit Lamar Smith for a four-yard score with 45 seconds left. Tolliver also passed to Brett Bech for the two-point conversion.

“It’s frustrating. You go out there, you got 53 guys battle all day, you make two bad throws that determine the outcome of the game,” said Tolliver, who completed 28 of 45 passes for 354 yards. “Every game in this league comes down to two or three plays, and those were the two plays.”

Eddie George, who had only 277 yards rushing in Tennessee’ first five games, rushed for 155 in 28 carries. Fellow Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams gained 35 yards in 17 carries for the Saints.