Titans-Colts Game Notes

KLUG GETS TWO SACKS ON SAME DRIVE: In the second quarter, Titans defensive tackle Karl Klug helped end a Colts drive with a pair of sacks of Andrew Luck.  On first down, he dropped Luck for a six-yard loss, and two plays later, he ended the series with a 10-yard sack.  That gave Klug three sacks in 2012 and 10 in his two-year career.

WRIGHT THIRD IN ROOKIE RECEIVING FOR THE FRANCHISE: With five receptions for 39 yards against the Colts, wide receiver Kendall Wright became the third all-time leading receiver among franchise rookies.  Wright, whose 55 receptions lead all NFL rookies this season, passed former running back Sid Blanks, who caught 56 passes as an Oilers rookie in 1964.  Wright trails only Bill Groman (72 in 1960) and Ernest Givins (61 in 1986) on the list.

WITHERSPOON SCORES ON DEFENSE: With 4:40 remaining in the second quarter, Derrick Morgan's pressure of Andrew Luck led to an interception by linebacker Will Witherspoon.  Witherspoon raced 40 yards to the end zone to give the Titans a 17-7 lead.  He notched his 13th career interception (first of 2012) and the third touchdown of his 11-year career.   His score against the

SHUFFLED LINE: Due to injuries, the Titans started the game with three changes on the offensive line from the previous week's game (Dec. 2) against the Houston Texans.  Mike Otto recorded his fourth career start, filling in at right tackle in place of David Stewart, who suffered a season-ending leg injury against the Texans.  In the same game, normal starting left guard Steve Hutchinson was lost for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.  Fernando Velasco started in his stead after previously playing center in every game this season.  With the move by Velasco, Kevin Matthews recorded his second career start at center.                                                                                                                     

BRITT'S EIGHT RECEPTIONS FOR 143 YARDS: Fourth-year wide receiver Kenny Britt recorded the second-highest totals of his career in both receptions and receiving yards.  He totaled eight catches against the Colts for 143 yards, recording his seventh career 100-yard receiving game and his first of 2012.  The last time he reached 100 yards was Sept. 18, 2011, one week before suffering a season-ending knee injury.  Against the Colts, he recorded two 46-yard catches in the second quarter to set a new season long.  Each of the receptions led to field goals for the Titans.  

CHRIS JOHNSON IN ELITE COMPANY: On a five-yard run in the first quarter, running back Chris Johnson went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth consecutive season to begin his career.  He became the third rusher in franchise history to reach five 1,000-yard seasons, joining Eddie George and Earl Campbell.  Additionally, he joined an elite list of NFL players to rush for 1,000 yards in his first five seasons.  That list now includes Johnson, Barry Sanders (1989-98), Corey Dillon (1997-02), Curtis Martin (1995-04), George (1996-00), Eric Dickerson (1983-89), LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-08) and Tony Dorsett (1977-81).

JOHNSON PASSES GIVINS: In the first half, running back Chris Johnson passed former Oilers wide receiver Ernest Givins (8,280 scrimmage yards) for third place on the team's all-time career scrimmage yards list. With 8,318 combined rushing and receiving yards in five NFL seasons, Johnson trails only Eddie George (12,153) and Earl Campbell (9,292) in team annals.  Against the Colts, Johnson rushed for 44 yards on 19 carries and caught three passes for 15 yards. 

HOT START FOR LOCKER: In the first half, Jake Locker completed 15 of 20 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, amounting to a passer rating of 125.6.  His 18-yard touchdown pass to Jared Cook was the 13th touchdown pass of his two-year career and his ninth of 2012.  

LOCKER'S RUSHING TOTALS: Second-year quarterback Jake Locker led the Titans and set a new career high with 51 rushing yards on four attempts, topping his previous high of 38 yards the previous week against Houston (Dec. 2).  In the first quarter, he scrambled for a 32-yard gain to set a new career long (31 vs. Detroit, 9/23/12). 

TITANS RECORD 10-MINUTE DRIVE: In the second half, Jake Locker directed a 16-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard field goal from Rob Bironas.  The drive's 10:08 time of possession set a season high, and the 16 plays on drive also tied a season high (Sept. 9 vs. New England). 

WASHINGTON EXTENDS STREAK: With a 15-yard reception in the fourth quarter, wide receiver Nate Washington extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 75, including all 61 games he has played with the Titans. 

WYNN GETS SECOND SACK OF SEASON: On the opening drive of the third quarter, Titans defensive end Jarius Wynn got the defense its fourth sack of the game. Wynn, who has 6.5 sacks in his four-year career, has two sacks since joining the Titans as a free agent on Nov. 7. 

FIRST INTERCEPTION FOR AFALAVA: As time in the first half expired, safety Al Afalava recorded his first career interception.  The third-year player was a member of the Colts in 2010. 

BIRONAS REACHES 900: With a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter, Rob Bironas became the second player in franchise history to reach 900 career points.  He joined Al Del Greco, who totaled 1,060 points from 1991 through 2000.  Against the Colts, Bironas made three of four field goals, with his only miss a 57-yard attempt. 

MORGAN NOTCHES SACK: On a third-down play in the second quarter, defensive end Derrick Morgan was credited with an eight-yard sack to end a Colts drive. It gave Morgan 3.5 sacks in 2012 and 7.5 in his career.

CAREER HIGH FOR COOK: Jared Cook's 18-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter gave him eight career touchdowns and a career-high four total touchdowns in 2012 (three in 2011).  

TOUCHDOWN ON FIRST DRIVE: To cap the opening drive of the game, Jake Locker found Jared Cook for an 18-yard touchdown.  It marked the seventh time in 2012 the Titans scored on their first possession and the second time they opened with a touchdown drive (Oct. 21 at Buffalo). 

DEBUT FOR PRESTON: In the first quarter, first-year wide receiver Michael Preston made his NFL debut.  In the second quarter, he notched his first career reception on an 11-yard pass from Jake Locker.  Preston, an undrafted free agent from Heidelberg University in 2011, spent his entire rookie season and the first 12 games of 2012 on the practice squad. 

TITANS INACTIVES: The Titans' seven inactives against the Texans were quarterback Rusty Smith, wide receiver Damian Williams, linebacker Colin McCarthy, guard Mitch Petrus, tackle Daniel Baldridge, wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins and defensive tackle DaJohn Harris.