October 5, 2008

BALTIMORE (cbssportsline.com/AP) -- The Tennessee Titans are still unbeaten, thanks to a late touchdown drive and a defense that outperformed the top-ranked unit in the league.

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

The Titans had an impressive opening drive ruined when Baltimore's Haloti Ngata deflected a Collins pass into the arms of teammate Justin Bannan. The Ravens then moved 46 yards, aided by a third-down personal foul against Chris Hope, before Matt Stover kicked a 38-yard field goal.

Tennessee's next possession ended the same way as the first, with an interception deep in Baltimore territory -- this time by Chris McAlister. Minutes later, an apparent interception by the Titans' David Thornton was wiped out after a replay review.

But on Baltimore's next drive, Flacco rolled right and threw an ill-advised pass across his body that Michael Griffin turned into his fourth interception, setting up a game-tying field goal.

Stover missed a 45-yard field-goal try with 10 seconds left in the half.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service