Titans Use Late Score, Big Defense to Beat Ravens

The Tennessee Titans are still unbeaten, thanks to a late touchdown drive and a defense that outperformed the top-ranked unit in the league.

Baltimore Ravens' Ray Lewis, top, tackles Tennessee Titans' LenDale White during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

(AP)

Kerry Collins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:56 left to rally Tennessee past the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 Sunday.

The Titans (5-0) trailed 10-6 in the fourth quarter before Collins directed an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive. The march was aided by a penalty against Baltimore's Terrell Suggs, who was flagged for a blow to Collins' helmet — although the hit appeared to be little more than incidental contact.

The call came on a third-and-10 from the 20. Collins threw an incomplete pass on the play, but was provided with a new set of downs and coolly directed Tennessee into the end zone.

Baltimore rookie quarterback Joe Flacco was then intercepted by Nick Harper, assuring the Ravens (2-2) a second straight defeat.

The game was marred by several skirmishes, most of which resulted in personal foul penalties. Tennessee was penalized 10 times for 78 yards, including two 15-yard infractions that fueled both Baltimore's scoring drives.

The Ravens received 11 penalties for 91 yards in a matchup between two teams that once were, and seem to still be, bitter rivals.

Frustrated by Baltimore's top-ranked defense for much of the game, Collins finished 17-for-32 for 163 yards and two interceptions.

Flacco went 18-for-27 for 153 yards and two interceptions.

The Ravens took a 10-3 lead with a 71-yard touchdown drive at the start of the second half. Flacco threw a 22-yard pass to Demetrius Williams and the Titans received two personal foul penalties before Le'Ron McClain scored from the 1. Tennessee also received a 15-yard penalty on the conversion.

The Titans closed to 10-6 with 12:49 left when Rob Bironas kicked a 26-yard field goal to end a 13-play, 81-yard drive that featured three completions to Brandon Jones for 54 yards.

Tennessee made only four first downs and 68 yards in a penalty-filled first half, which ended 3-3.