NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans (2-1) conclude their preseason this week at home against the Minnesota Vikings (3-0). Kickoff at LP Field (capacity 69,143) is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT on Thursday, Aug. 28.
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 were on the road last week for the second consecutive preseason game. After falling behind 17-3, they scored 21 unanswered points to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 24-17. Bishop Sankey's three-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion provided the winning margin with less than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Titans quarterback Jake Locker played with the rest of the starters into the second half. The fourth-year signal caller was 12-of-17 for 188 yards, a touchdown and a passer rating of 126.6. His 63-yard touchdown pass to receiver Nate Washington sparked the team's comeback.
Through three weeks of the preseason, Locker ranks fourth among AFC passers and sixth among all NFL quarterbacks with a passer rating of 119.9.
The Titans offense as a whole has been effective throughout August. The unit is fourth in the NFL in total offense (375.0 yards per game), third in passing offense (266.3 yards per game), fourth on third down (48.6 percent), third in team passer rating (105.7) and first in efficiency inside the 20 (six touchdowns on six possessions).
*THE VIKINGS *
The Vikings kept their perfect preseason record alive last week with a convincing 30-12 road victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. They are one of four undefeated teams entering the final week of the preseason.
In the win, quarterback Matt Cassel passed for 152 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown to Cordarrelle Patterson. Rookie backup Teddy Bridgewater completed a pair of touchdown passes to tight end Allen Reisner. Meanwhile, the Vikings defense intercepted the Chiefs three times.
Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson has yet to play this preseason. The 2012 NFL MVP is entering his eighth season and leads the league in rushing yards (10,115) and rushing touchdowns (86) since the start of his rookie season.
The Vikings are in their first campaign under Mike Zimmer, a longtime NFL assistant who in January was named the ninth head coach in franchise history. Zimmer spent the last 14 seasons working as defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys.
ROSTER PARED TO 53 PLAYERS BY WEEK'S END
The Titans will be permitted to carry 75 players into this week's game following the first roster cutdown from 90 players on Aug. 26. On Aug. 30, two days after the Titans and Vikings meet, they must reach their regular-season limit of 53 players.
Players placed on reserve lists such as Injured Reserve, Physically Unable to Perform and Reserve/Suspended do not count towards the 53-man active roster limit.
After the final cutdown, a 10-player practice squad may be established as early as Aug. 31. One week later, the Titans kick off their regular season schedule against the Chiefs in Kansas City (noon, Sept. 7).