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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- It's a play the Tennessee Titans might have preferred to keep hidden until the regular season. The temptation to show off new receiver Carl Pickens turned out to be
too strong.
|  | | The Titans liked what they saw of Carl Pickens, including a TD catch in the corner of the end zone. |
Facing fourth-and-goal near the Chiefs' goal line, Steve McNair
found Pickens in the left corner on a fade route for a 2-yard
touchdown Saturday night as the Titans beat the Kansas City Chiefs
14-10 in the exhibition opener for both teams.
It's a play very familiar to Pickens, a two-time Pro Bowler
whose bitter relationship with the Cincinnati Bengals ended last
month when he was released. But he hadn't had much opportunity to
practice the play since he joined with the Titans for the first time only five days ago after signing a five-year, $20 million contract.
"Steve made a perfect throw," Pickens said.
Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger agreed that McNair made
a great pass, but he thought the play was dead when Chiefs
cornerback Eric Warfield lined up outside of Pickens. He said that
is why the Titans signed Pickens.
McNair said his chemistry with Pickens will only get better.
"We still need to iron out some wrinkles, but he is going to be
an excellent option for us," he said.
Rodney Thomas' 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter turned out to be the game-winner as the Titans beat the Chiefs in an
exhibition for the first time since the AFL-NFL merger. The former
Houston Oilers hadn't won since 1963, losing eight consecutive
exhibitions to the Chiefs.
Elvis Grbac was nearly perfect for Kansas City and left with the game tied. He was 8-for-9 passing for 63 yards, including a 16-yard
TD toss to Tony Gonzalez on the opening drive with Tennessee
getting little pressure on him.
"I'm really pleased with the quarterback," Kansas city coach
Gunther Cunningham said. "Elvis was as relaxed as I've seen him."
Warren Moon did not play as Cunningham tried to protect the
43-year-old backup quarterback from a banged-up offensive line.
That left Todd Collins, the Chiefs' No. 3 quarterback the past two
seasons, to play the second quarter and most of the third as he
tries to challenge Moon for the backup role.
Collins was spotty despite completing 10-of-19 for 76 yards. His
best completion came on a 22-yarder to Kevin Lockett, but that was
helped as Titans cornerback George McCullough looked inside and the
receiver ran past him for the catch.
It was a messy game in the exhibition opener for both teams. The
Chiefs had eight of their 12 penalties in the first half, and the
Titans had seven for 55 yards.
Neither coach was happy with the mistakes, and Tennessee coach
Jeff Fisher said the only positive for the Titans was the victory.
The highlight for the Chiefs may have been the moment of silence
remembering the late Derrick Thomas. Video screens played a montage of his career before the moment, and several of the Chiefs held up their helmets.
"His presence is definitely missed," linebacker Marvcus Patton
said. "Just being in the locker room without him, as well as on
the field is a strange feeling."
Ted White nearly rallied the Chiefs' backups in the final
minute. He hit Scott Cloman on what would have been a 30-yard TD,
but Cloman only got his left toes down and the Chiefs turned the
ball over on downs two plays later.
The highlight for the Titans was what they hope is a glimpse of
the upcoming season.
Pickens, who dropped his first pass, finally connected with
McNair on an 8-yarder in the second series. McNair later found
Pickens in the left corner on a fade for the TD. The receiver whose
bitter eight-year relationship with the Cincinnati Bengals finally
ended with his release last month kept the ball as a souvenir.
The receiver said catching his first pass helped him relax. Pickens, who can't remember the last time he played in a sold-out stadium, said he kept glancing around Adelphia Coliseum.
"I can get used to this," he said.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Kansas City Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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