Arizona Cardinals vs Tennessee Titans Recap - First Half
Chris Johnson and Vince Young decimated Arizona. The Titans took the lead and held on till the end, never giving the Cardinals a chance and winning the game 24-10.
The First quarter started off slow for both teams. Arizona kicked off and then Vince Young started the first drive at the Tennessee 12 yard line. Four plays later and still at the 21 yard line Brett Kern punt 55 yards to the Arizona’s 24 yard line which was carried 8 yards before the Cardinals resumed play. Their drive proved equally unfruitful and the Cardinals had to punt at the 41 yard line. The two sides went back and forth without getting any points. 7 minutes into the first quarter and after four unsuccessful drives, the Titans took back possession on the 15 yard line with Vince Young leading.
After two plays taking them to the 28 yard line Vince Young aimed for Craig Stevens who was going deep and right. The 30 yard pass was caught flawlessly just as free safety Kerry Rhodes forced Stevens off the field. After an incomplete pass, Vince threw another 28 yard pass from the 42 yard line to Nate Washington and Chris Johnson rushed six yards to the Arizona 14 yard line. It was Johnson again for the 8 yard touchdown ploughing through the field and forcing his way to the endzone. Right at the endzone, Safety Adrian Wilson and Linebacker Paris Lenon got their hands on Johnson and brought him down but it was already too late for the Cardinals. Rob Bironas took the extra point and it was good.
The next time the Titans gained possession, things don’t go as smoothly. Less than 2 minutes before the end of the first quarter, Vince Young almost lost possession to the Cardinals following a fumble. At the 34 yard line Young was looking for someone open but found no one. He took to the left, rushing 3 yards while being charged by defensive ends Campbell and Dockett. In an effort to throw off his pursuers, Young faked a pass which backfired for him as the ball slipped from his hand. However Young was able to recover it before the cardinals could converge on him.
The first quarter ended with the Titans leadings 7 to nothing and with possession of the ball.
Vince again continued for the Titans from the 45 yard line. The Titans got off to an excellent start to the second quarter with Young throwing a 25 yard pass to tight end Bo Scaife. Over the next 5 plays the Titans moved forward slowly to the 8 yard line. Paris Lenon and Adrian again pulled through for the Cardinals defence, sacking Young for a loss of 3 yards. Bogged down by the Cardinals, the Titans opted for the field goal on the 11 yard line and it was good. The Titans moved up to 10 nothing over the Cardinals after just minutes into the 2nd quarter.
Arizona's offense only started to take shape when Derek Anderson took over for Matt Leinart. Derek began his drive on the Arizona 37 yard line and moved up to the Tennessee 43 yard line in 3 plays with a 13 yard pass to wide receiver Steve Breaston.
On the 43 yard line Derek found Stephen Williams open and heading down the field on the left. Safety Chris Hope and cornerback Jason McCourty were moving in on him but Derek completed the pass 37 yard pass before they were able to catch up to him. Williams was taken down as soon as he had the ball in his hands. Anderson was bogged down at the endzone and unable to punch throw for touchdown the Cardinals take up field goal formation. The field Goal was good but the Cardinals were still trailing by 7 points. No more points were scored in the second half.
The two teams tried to get yards but neither was able to gain more than 20 yard in six drives in the final 7 minutes of the second quarter. The Titans stood at 10 against the Cardinals’ 3 points.
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