Brady, Pats top Titans

Dec 31, 2006, 22:10 GMT

Nashville, TN - Tom Brady threw for 225 yards and a score while Corey Dillon added a pair of rushing touchdowns, as New England ended Tennessee's slim playoff hopes with a 40-23 victory on the rain-soaked LP Field.

Despite having already clinched the AFC East title for the fifth time in the past six seasons, Brady played into the early portion of the fourth quarter and completed 15-of-24 pass attempts. Matt Cassel then came in under center before giving way to the 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde.

Testaverde capped the game's scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass to Troy Brown in the final minutes. That score was significant because it gave Testaverde a TD pass in 20 straight seasons, an NFL record.

'Guys were playing hard today,' said Brady. 'Guys really wanted to win and put a lot into it. We go through all those weeks of practice not to go out there and lose. It's nice when the reward is to go out there and really play well.'

Dillon ended with 67 yards rushing while Laurence Maroney chipped in with 73 yards on the ground with a score. Reche Caldwell had a big game receiving as he hauled in four passes for 134 yards with a TD catch.

The win gave New England (12-4), winners in six of its last seven games, a chance at the third seed in the AFC, but the Colts defeated Miami on Sunday to claim that spot, leaving the Patriots as the fourth seed.

Rookie of the Year candidate Vince Young threw for 227 yards on 15-of-36 passing with two interceptions for the Titans (8-8), who had a six-game winning streak that erased the memory of an 0-5 start halted. Young also ran for a score.

'We knew what was coming at training camp,' Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said. 'We saw the development, we saw the progress at camp. It didn't come as a surprise. I think everybody expected him to do some of the things he did this year, even the run today.'

Fisher also confirmed after the game that the Titans have picked up his option for next year and hopes to work out a long term deal with the club.

Tennessee needed a win and a host of other games to turn out a certain way to get into the playoffs, but all that became moot by the end of the game.

Travis Henry ran for 102 yards on 21 carries, while Drew Bennett had four catches for 75 yards.

Due to the playoff implications for the Titans, the game was emotionally charged and both teams combined for 19 penalties for a combined 248 yards.

The Titans struck first on Rob Bironas' 25-yard field goal to cap a nine-play, 52-yard drive.

New England, though, scored the game's next 19 points to seize control.

On the first drive after Tennessee's score, Dillon keyed a game-tying drive after hauling in a short pass from Brady that he took 52 yards to the 19. That led to a 28-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 6:02 left in the frame.

An unnecessary roughness penalty and a holding call -- both by Jacob Bell -- forced the Titans to punt from deep in their own territory and the Patriots took over in Tennessee territory.

The Patriots proceeded to march to the 21 before Dillon broke through off the right tackle to the end zone with 1:48 to play in the first. Gostkowski's kick after the score was blocked, though, making it a 9-3 contest.

Young was sacked by Jarvis Green and fumbled on the Titans' following possession as Rosevelt Colvin recovered at the 24. The turnover led to a 26- yard chip shot by Gostkowski early in the second.

A one-yard TD run by Dillon capped a 10-play, 91-yard drive with 4:59 left until the half to make it 19-3. Brady was sharp, completing six passes on the march including a long 49-yard pass to Caldwell.

Travis Henry attempted to get the Titans back into the game on the next drive as he rushed for gains of 25, seven and 34 yards to get to the New England two. The Titans only went backwards from there though, and Bironas pushed a 23-yard field goal try wide right.

Adam 'Pacman' Jones sent the Titans into the break down just nine when he took a New England punt through a seam up the middle before putting a move on Todd Sauerbrun and racing into the end zone to complete an 81-yard punt return.

A 27-yard field goal by Bironas on a drive that featured three 15-yard penalties on the New England defense made it 19-13 with 7:05 to go in the third.

Brady quickly tried to douse the Titans' comeback hopes as on the first play from scrimmage, he hit Caldwell along the left side and Caldwell slipped through the defense to finish off a 62-yard TD pass.

Then it was Young's turn, as on his first resulting play from scrimmage, he fired down the right side and Brandon Jones made a leaping catch for a 53-yard gain. The Titans again failed to capitalize and had to settle for Bironas' second straight 27-yard field goal to make it 26-16 with 4:26 left in the third.

New England went three and out and Young made things happen with his feet in the form of a 28-yard touchdown run that saw him weave through the Patriots defense to pull his club within 26-23 with 1:26 left in the third.

'Man, I've been moving around since January after the Rose Bowl,' Young said. 'I'm not happy that we lost. but at the same time, I get to kick my feet up a little bit because it has been a long year for me coming off the Rose bowl, coming to pro day, all that crap that went on to get to this point today.'

The Titans had trouble sustaining any offense after that and the Patriots later stretched their lead to 33-23 midway through the fourth. Maroney set up his own one-yard TD run with 6:40 left after busting 31 yards down the left sideline before being pushed out.

Testaverde's TD throw accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

New England safety Rodney Harrison suffered what appeared to be a knee injury after a low block early in the second.

New England ended 7-1 on the road.

Brady improved to 21-4 with 32 touchdown passes in December starts.

Dillon rushed for at least 12 touchdowns for the third straight season.

New England corner Asante Samuel intercepted his ninth and 10th pass of the season.

Young ended the campaign 8-5 as a starter.

Henry went over 1,200 rushing yards for the third time in the past five seasons.

© 2006 The Sports Network