CJ Leads NFL in Rushing Over Last Five Weeks

After a slow start out of the gate, running back Chris Johnson has rushed for an NFL-high 550 yards over the last five weeks (since Sept. 27).

He has rushed for more than 90 yards in four of the five games during that period, including 141 yards at Houston (sept. 30), 91 yards against Pittsburgh (Oct. 11), 195 yards at Buffalo (Oct. 21) and 99 yards last week against Indianapolis (Oct. 28).

Leading rushers over the last five weeks (since Sept. 27):

550 – Chris Johnson (Tennessee)
545 – Adrian Peterson (Minnesota)
483 – Stevan Ridley (New England)
476 – Ahmad Bradshaw (N.Y. Giants)
454 – Alfred Morris (Washington)

Of his 98 rushing attempts over the last five weeks, Johnson has been able to avoid negative runs on all but seven of those. His 7.1 percent rate of being tackled for a loss ranks sixth in the NFL during that timespan among runners with at least 50 attempts. It is also significantly improved from his career tackled-for-loss percentage of 13.0.

Lowest percentage of runs for negative yards over the last five weeks (since Sept. 27; minimum 50 attempts):

3.3 – Ray Rice (Baltimore)
3.7 – Shonn Greene (N.Y. Jets)
4.3 – BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Cincinnati)
5.8 – Ahmad Bradshaw (N.Y. Giants)
6.9 – Ryan Matthews (San Diego)
7.1 – Chris Johnson (Tennessee)
7.1 – Stevan Ridley (New England)

Hasselbeck, Wright Thriving on Third Down

The Titans offense has two of the NFL’s top performers on third down in 2012. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has a 102.8 passer rating on third down, ranking him sixth in the league and fourth in the AFC. He has completed 43 of 58 passes (74.1 percent) for 482 yards, two touchdowns and only one interception.

Highest NFL passer rating on third down in 2012:

117.1 – Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh)
111.3 – Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay)
110.2 – Tom Brady (New England)
106.8 – Peyton Manning (Denver)
106.4 – Michael Vick (Philadephia)
102.8 – Matt Hasselbeck (Tennessee)

Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver Kendall Wright leads the entire NFL with 19 total receptions on third down. Wright posted 15 of his third-down receptions in October, an NFL high for the month. His totals include a 23-yard touchdown reception from Hasselbeck on third-and-11 last week against the Colts.

Most receptions on third down in 2012:

19 – Kendall Wright (Tennessee)
17 – Wes Welker (New England)
16 – Michael Crabtree (San Francisco)
16 – Victor Cruz (N.Y. Giants)
16 – Brandon Marshall (Chicago)
16 – Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis).

Wright not only leads the league in receptions on third down but also has been consistently converting the plays to first downs. Out of his 19 third-down catches, 14 have resulted in first downs for the Titans. He is tied with Colts receiver Reggie Wayne for the most third-down conversions among receivers in 2012.

Most third-down receptions for a first down in 2012:

14 – Kendall Wright (Tennessee)
14 – Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis)
13 – Victor Cruz (N.Y. Giants)
13 – Percy Harvin (Minnesota)
13 – Brandon Marshall (Chicago)

CJ Heats up in November

If history is any indication, Chris Johnson’s recent hot streak should continue over the month of November.

Johnson increased his production in October, averaging 102 yards per game during the month. But November is when the Titans’ running back has been at his best.

Since his rookie year of 2008, Johnson has played in 17 November games, averaging of 104.8 rushing yards, more than any other month of the year.

Chris Johnson’s career statistics by the month:

September – 1,273 yards (74.9 per game) – 17 games
October – 1,567 yards (82.5 per game) – 19 games
November – 1,781 yards (104.8 per game) – 17 games
December – 1,385 yards (92.3 per game) – 15 games
January – 234 (78.0 per game) – 3 games

Johnson’s 104.8 rushing yards per game in November are more than any other player (minimum 10 November games played) since the start of the 2008 campaign.

Most rushing yards per November game, 2008–2011 (minimum of 10 games):

104.8 – Chris Johnson (Tennessee)
101.6 – Michael Turner (Atlanta)
97.6 – DeAngelo Williams (Carolina)
90.5 – Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville)
89.8 – Steven Jackson (St. Louis)

Titans, Bears Among Interconference Leaders

The Titans and Bears enter this week’s showdown with two of the NFL’s best inter-conference records over the last several years.

Since the start of the 2006 campaign, the Bears own the NFC’s fourth-best record against the AFC, going 15-11 (.577). The Titans are the second-ranked AFC club against the NFC in the same time period with a 20-6 record (.769).

Best inter-conference records by AFC and NFC teams from 2006–2012:

IN GAMES VS. NFC

23 wins – New England Patriots
20 wins – Tennessee Titans
19 wins – Pittsburgh Steelers
18 wins – Baltimore Ravens
17 wins – Indianapolis Colts

IN GAMES VS. AFC

19 wins – Atlanta Falcons
16 wins – N.Y. Giants
16 wins – New Orleans Saints
15 wins – Chicago Bears
15 wins – Philadelphia Eagles

Missed Opportunities Cost Titans in Loss to Colts

On Sunday we played against a division rival that was just as hungry as we were for a victory. In the end, the Colts won in overtime, 19-13, in a game in which a few missed opportunities and misfortunates ultimately cost us the game.

On offense we continued to be consistent running the ball as Chris Johnson had 21 rushing attempts for 99 yards. Matt Hasselbeck was also solid, completing 22 of 29 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown.

However, our offense sputtered in the red zone as we scored just one touchdown and had three field goal attempts, missing one that could have been the difference in the game.

On defense we held the Colts to six points until the final three minutes of the game, when Colts rookie QB Andrew Luck led his team on an 80-yard drive to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Our defense was able to apply consistent pressure on Luck as we recorded two sacks, several knockdowns and QB hurries. However, Luck was also able to elude some tacklers and make some big plays down the field. He was impressive, completing 26 of 38 passes for 297 yards, one touchdown and an interception. That interception was a great play and catch by safety Michael Griffin to stop a Colts scoring drive.

We know we left a lot of plays out there on the field Sunday. This loss will sting for a while, but we have to move on and get to work as we prepare for this week’s opponent, the Chicago  Bears Sunday at LP Field.

The Bears are 6-1 and have one of the NFL’s top defenses and several offensive weapons. We know that we will have to give our best effort to come out with a victory on Sunday — nothing else is on our minds.

VIDEO: Douzable’s breakdown with TE Jared Cook and DE Derrick Morgan

Titans defensive end Leger Douzable will offer his perspective on the previous game and upcoming opponent all season long in his exclusive blog on Titans Online!

Bironas Approaching Another Club Record

Rob Bironas provided the game-winning score last week at Buffalo with an extra point. The Titans defeated the Bills 35-34.

Bironas is approaching a team record for consecutive extra points made. The current record holder, Al Del Greco, made 229 consecutive PATs from 1993–2000. Bironas’ effort against the Bills gave him 226 in a row, a streak he began on Sept. 17, 2006.

Most consecutive PATs made, franchise history:

229 – Al Del Greco
226 – rob Bironas
79 – Gary Anderson
76 – Al Del Greco

CJ’s 110-Yard Games Place Him in Elite Company

Chris Johnson rushed for a season-high 195 yards on 18 carries (10.8 avg.) with two touchdowns last week at Buffalo, marking the 27th game of his five-year career with 110 or more rushing yards.

With at least 110 rushing yards against Indianapolis on Sunday, Johnson will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown (28) for the second-most 110-plus yard rushing games in a player’s first five NFL seasons. Johnson is currently tied for third on the list with Walter Payton (27).

Players with the most rushing games of 110 or more yards in their first five seasons:

35 – Eric Dickerson (LA Rams/Indianapolis, 1983-87)
28 – Jim Brown (Cleveland, 1957-61)
27 – Chris Johnson (Tennessee, 2008 to present)
27 – Walter Payton (Chicago, 1975-79)
26 – Emmitt Smith (Dallas, 1990-94)

CJ Moving up Franchise’s All-Time Combined Net Yards List

Chris Johnson’s 195 rushing yards last week ranked third in his career and 11th in Oilers/Titans history. The performance also put him over the 6,000-yard rushing mark for his career.

Additionally, Johnson leapfrogged into fifth place on the franchise’s all-time combined net yards list. Combined net yards take into account rushing, receiving and all returns.

Johnson’s 6,141 career rushing yards and 1,536 receiving yards (no return yards) give him a total of 7,677 combined net yards in his five seasons with the Titans.

Against the Bills, he moved past former Oilers wide receiver Drew Hill, who netted 7,500 yards during his career.

Johnson is within 1,100 yards of Ernest Givins, whose 8,704 combined net yards rank fourth in team annals.

Most career combined net yards* in franchise history:

12,153 – Eddie George
11,202 – Derrick Mason
9,292 – Earl Campbell
8,704 – Ernest Givins
7,677 – Chris Johnson
7,500 – Drew Hill

Titans Look to Regain Homefield Advantage

This weekend the Titans begin their only two-game home stand of 2012. They face the Colts on Sunday (Oct. 28) and return to LP Field a week later to meet the Chicago Bears (Nov. 4).

The Titans are 2-1 at home this season. They defeated the Detroit Lions (Sept. 23) and Pittsburgh Steelers (Oct. 11) after dropping their home opener to the New England Patriots (Sept. 9).

With a win against the Colts, the Titans would have their first three-game home winning streak in a season since 2009. They won five in a row that season at LP Field, where the Titans are 67-40 (.626) all-time during the regular season.

There is a history at LP Field of opposing offenses finding trouble at the line of scrimmage. From 2007 through last season, the Titans benefitted from 69 false start penalties by opponents at LP Field. That number tied the Minnesota Vikings for third in the NFL behind the Arizona Cardinals (University of Phoenix Stadium) and Detroit Lions (Ford Field).

The Titans are still looking to draw their first opponent false start penalty at home in 2012.

Most opponent false start penalties drawn by a home team, 2007–2011:

82 – Arizona Cardinals (University of Phoenix Stadium)
71 – Detroit Lions (Ford Field)
69 – Tennessee Titans (LP Field)
60 – Minnesota Vikings (Mall of America Field)
66 – Houston Texans (Reliant Stadium)
64 – Kansas City Chiefs (Arrowhead Stadium)
63 – St. Louis Rams (Edward Jones Dome)
61 – Seattle Seahawks (CenturyLink field)
60 – Chicago Bears (Soldier Field)
58 – Baltimore Ravens (M&T Bank Stadium)

Big Plays Late Help Titans Edge Bills

As we prepared last week to take on the Buffalo Bills, we knew that we were going to need to run the ball effectively, force turnovers on defense, and avoid committing turnovers on offense. We knew this would be a hard-fought game that would likely come down to the final minutes.

Boy, were we right.

Jason McCourty made a key interception late in the game that set up Matt Hasselbeck’s game-winning touchdown pass to Nate Washington on fourth down with just over a minute left.

It was a tight one, but were relieved to escape Ralph Wilson Stadium with a 35-34 victory that put us in better position in the log-jammed AFC.

VIDEO: Watch Interview with Nate Washington and Jordan Babineaux

Chris Johnson got us going early, displaying his quickness on a 16-yard touchdown run. He later ripped off an 83-yard touchdown, showing his All-Pro form from the 2009 season. Matt Hasselbeck also had a productive day. He was decisive with his reads and accurate throwing the ball. Overall, the offense was sharp, racking up over 390 yards of total offense.

Our defense didn’t play its best game, but managed to make enough key plays at the end to come out victorious. We gave up over 382 yards on offense to the Bills, but were able to force a pair of big turnovers. Kameron Wimbley sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Derrick Morgan. That play, combined with McCourty’s interception in the final minutes, was huge in this game.

We’ve won back-to-back games for the first time this season, but there’s plenty of room for improvement. We have got to start tackling better on defense and stay consistent in running the ball on offense. I’m sure we will focus on tackling in practice this week as we prepare to take on the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at LP Field.

While the game at Buffalo wasn’t perfect, it was an important win that kept us in the thick of things in the AFC. At this point, all of the games are very important. We can’t take anyone lightly from here on out.

Titans defensive end Leger Douzable will offer his perspective on the previous game and upcoming opponent all season long in his exclusive blog on Titans Online!