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Titans-Vikings Game Notes

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PRESEASON LEADERS: In four preseason games, rookie running back Dalyn Dawkins led the Titans with 89 rushing yards on 30 attempts. Rookie receiver Deontay Burnett had the most receptions on the team, with 11 catches for 93 yards, while second-year wideout Taywan Taylor's 113 receiving yards and two touchdowns (on six receptions) paced the club. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert's 350 passing yards and two touchdowns (35-of-55 passing) were the most on the team, but Marcus Mariota's 105.1 passer rating was the highest of the three quarterbacks who took snaps during the preseason (11-of-18 for 165 yards, two touchdowns and one interception). Rookie wide receiver Cameron Batson recorded a team-high 161 yards on seven kickoff returns in addition to a team-high four punt returns for 19 yards. 

WHAT'S NEXT: The Titans soon must make significant roster reductions. Per NFL rules, the current 90-man roster must be trimmed to 53 players by 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 1. Players on reserve lists such as injured reserve and reserve/physically unable to perform do not count towards the 53-player limit. Teams are permitted to form a 10-man practice squad beginning Sunday, Sept. 2. The Titans open the regular season with a trip to play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 9.

FALK GETS THE START: With the Titans starters on offense not in action against the Vikings, rookie Luke Falk started at quarterback. The sixth-round pick from Washington State played the entire game and completed 13 of 24 passes for 114 yards.   

DAWKINS LEADS IN THE BACKFIELD: Undrafted rookie running back Dalyn Dawkins led the team in rushing against Minnesota. The Colorado State product recorded 17 rushing attempts for 53 yards.    

LONG SCORING DRIVE: The Titans used nearly two-thirds of the clock in the first quarter on one scoring drive. They drove 69 yards on 16 plays, consuming a total of nine minutes and 31 seconds. The series was capped with a 24-yard field goal by Ryan Succop.

TACKLE LEADER: Linebacker Nyles Morgan led the defense with eight tackles against the Vikings and also recovered a fumble by Vikings quarterback Peter Pujals in the fourth quarter.   

PRESEASON TACKLE LEADER: Linebacker Robert Spillane tied for second place with six tackles against the Vikings, giving him a team-leading 24 tackles in four preseason games. He had at least four tackles in each contest.    

STOP ON FOURTH DOWN: In the fourth quarter, the Titans came up with a big defensive stop on fourth down. On third-and-one from the four-yard line, cornerback Rico Gafford and linebacker Nyles Morgan combined to stop fullback Kobe McCrary for no gain. Then, on fourth-and-one, linebacker Robert Spillane and safety Steven Terrell stopped Kyle Sloter on a quarterback sneak to get the ball back for the Titans offense.

SACK AND FORCED FUMBLE: In the fourth quarter, third-year defensive lineman David King sacked Vikings quarterback Peter Pujals for a 22-yard loss. Additionally, King forced a fumble on the play, and the ball was recovered by King's teammate, linebacker Nyles Morgan.   

RUSHING DEFENSE: The Titans defense did not allow a preseason opponent to reach 100 rushing yards as a team. The Vikings had 35 rushing attempts for 96 yards. In previous outings, the Green Bay Packers rushed for 89 yards, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushed for 64 yards, and the Pittsburgh Steelers rushed for 61 yards. Additionally, no Titans opponent averaged more than 2.8 yards per carry during the preseason. 

PUNT TIPPED BY CUNNINGHAM: In the second quarter, a punt by Minnesota's Ryan Quigley was tipped by tight end Jerome Cunningham, which caused the punt to travel only 29 yards. 

CAPTAINS: The Titans game captains were quarterback Luke Falk, wide receiver Darius Jennings, running back David Fluellen, safety Brynden Trawick, linebacker Robert Spillane and long snapper Beau Brinkley.

The Tennessee Titans take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 of the preseason on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 at Nissan Stadium. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)

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