NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans (1-0) continue their preseason schedule this week with a trip to face the New Orleans Saints (1-0). Kickoff at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (capacity 73,000) is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT on Friday, Aug. 15.
THE BROADCAST
The game will be televised regionally on the Titans Preseason TV Network, including flagship WKRN-Channel 2 in Nashville. Cory Curtis will handle play-by-play duties while former Titans running back Eddie George provides analysis. Audra Martin will report from the sidelines.
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, analyst Frank Wycheck, gameday host Rhett Bryan and sideline reporter Jonathan Hutton.
LAST WEEK
The Titans opened the preseason last week at LP Field against the Green Bay Packers. In a game played mostly under heavy rain conditions, the Titans pulled out a 20-16 victory. The rainfall amount reportedly reached three inches in the vicinity of the stadium, making ball security a problem for both squads. They combined for eight total fumbles.
However, Jackie Battle's seven-yard touchdown run with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Titans their first lead of the evening, and the defense got a fourth-down stop in the final minute to seal the victory.
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After Locker came out of the game, Charlie Whitehurst worked in relief and completed 10 fo 15 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown (106.0). Zach Mettenberger, a rookie sixth-round pick from Louisiana State University, worked the fourth quarter. His completions of 26 and 38 yards on consecutive plays helped set up Battle's game-winning score.
With the Titans relying on the ground game during the downpour, Shonn Greene got their scoring started with a 13-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He totaled 20 yards on four carries.
Rookie Bishop Sankey received the bulk of the rushing attempts, recording a team-high 37 yards on 13 carries. He also led the offense with 38 receiving yards on three catches, including a five-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Last week's preseason opener was the first for Ken Whisenhunt on the Tennessee sideline. He became the 17th head coach in franchise history and the third in the "Titans era" on Jan. 13. A former Georgia Tech walk-on and an assistant at Vanderbilt University from 1995 to 1996, Whisenhunt came to Tennessee with 17 years of NFL coaching experience and nine NFL seasons as a player.
*THE SAINTS *
The Saints began the preseason last week in St. Louis. Playing without quarterback Drew Brees, they used 83 rushing yards by Mark Ingram and 179 passing yards by third-string quarterback Ryan Griffin to defeat the Rams 26-24. Luke McCown started at quarterback in place of Brees, who was out with an oblique injury, and McCown completed seven of 10 passes for 49 yards and an interception.
The Saints have made the playoffs five times since Sean Payton was named their head coach in 2006. The stretch includes a Super Bowl XLIV Championship following the 2009 campaign and a Wild Card berth in 2013.
Brees, who also arrived in the Crescent City in 2006, owns a resume that includes three Offensive Player of the Year awards and seven Pro Bowls. He is the second player in NFL history to pass for over 4,000 yards in eight-straight campaigns and the first to have four 5,000-yard passing seasons.
