Tennessee Titans (0-1) vs. Arizona Cardinals (1-0)
Nashville, TN — The Tennessee Titans return home this week to play the Arizona Cardinals at LP Field (capacity 69,143). Kickoff for the AT&T Boys & Girls Club Game is scheduled for 7:00pm CDT on Monday, August 23rd.
The game marks the 12th home preseason opener at LP Field, where the Titans own a 15-7 all-time preseason record since the stadium opened in 1999. They are 8-3 in previous home preseason openers at LP Field.
This is the fourth consecutive year AT&T has sponsored the team’s annual preseason contest recognizing the Boys & Girls Club. For the occasion, AT&T has donated 500 tickets to the Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee, offering a chance to see a Titans game to many who may not otherwise have the opportunity to witness a game at LP Field. Representatives of the Boys & Girls Club and AT&T will be recognized during the game. The Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee has five locations, reaching over 3,500 youth per year in Davidson and Williamson counties.
The Broadcast
ESPN will broadcast the game to a national television audience. In the Nashville market, the game can be seen on WKRN News 2. Mike Tirico will handle play-by-play duties, while Ron Jaworski and Jon Gruden will provide color commentary. The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, color commentator Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.
Last Week
In last week’s preseason opener in Seattle, the Titans jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with a touchdown drive by the offensive starters. However, the Seahawks went on to score 20 consecutive points, and a late Titans rally was not enough to prevent a 20-18 defeat.
The Titans scored touchdowns on a pair of one-yard runs. Chris Johnson reach the end zone to cap his brief, five-carry evening, and rookie LeGarrette Blount scored the other Titans touchdown in his preseason debut. However, it was Javon Ringer who led the team in rushing. The second-year running back led the squad with 60 yards on seven carries, including a long run of 46 yards.
Vince Young was one of many Titans starters to play just two series. He completed five of six passes for 78 yards and one interception before allowing Chris Simms and rookie Rusty Smith to finish the game at quarterback. Back-up Kerry Collins was given the evening off.
Defensively, Titans highlights included sacks by defensive ends Jason Babin and Eric Bakhtiari and interceptions by cornerbacks Ryan Mouton and Alterraun Verner. The Cardinals opened last week at home against the Houston Texans. After falling behind 16-0, the Cardinals scored 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win the game 19-16. Starting quarterback Matt Leinart completed six of seven passes for 49 yards in limited action. He was relieved by Derek Anderson and later by John Skelton, whose 15-yard touchdown pass to Jason Wright gave the Cardinals the win.
