Titans win while Rams' rushing game takes break

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans found their running game Saturday night while the St. Louis Rams' rushing offense rested on the sideline.

Undrafted rookie John Simon scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter as the Titans edged the defending NFC champion Rams 28-26 in the preseason opener for both teams. The Titans, who lost the 2000 Super Bowl to St. Louis, have beaten the Rams in six consecutive exhibitions.

With 54 seconds left, Tennessee had to stop Lamar Gordon from the 1 on a second attempt at a two-point conversion after a penalty. The Rams recovered the onside kick but turned the ball over on downs with 13 seconds remaining.

St. Louis played it safe by keeping leading rusher Marshall Faulk off the field. Kurt Warner came in for only one series and tossed just one pass. Still, he left with the Rams leading 10-0 in the first quarter.

The Titans helped St. Louis to its early lead as Steve McNair fumbled on their first play from scrimmage. Don Davis picked up the loose ball and ran 23 yards for a 7-0 lead. The Titans couldn't have started much worse as they were flagged four times over the first seven plays, including twice on a punt.

But Tennessee's Eddie George, coming off his worst season as a pro, looked good. He carried only 11 times in one exhibition in 2001 as he recovered from toe surgery.

On Saturday, George carried eight times for 44 yards, with a long of 15 yards, in just over a quarter.

Tennessee didn't have a problem running no matter who took the ball. The Titans ran 35 times for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Former Rams back Robert Holcombe had 16 carries for 62 yards, more than he had all last season, and Simon had 78 yards on six rushes.

The Rams managed just 70 yards on 23 carries with one touchdown. Jamie Martin was only 11-of-15 for 95 yards with the extra work with Warner sitting.

The Titans couldn't pass at all. Titans coach Jeff Fisher kept everyone but George on the field until they finally scored, and that took most of the first half.

McNair missed on his first nine passes before finally finding Holcombe on a 2-yarder in the second quarter. McNair completed his next two, including an 11-yarder on fourth-and-1 that set up Holcombe's 1-yard TD plunge that cut it to 10-7 with 4:35 left in the half.

Warner was in for six plays. He handed off to Trung Canidate four times and tossed an incomplete pass before Matt Simonton, signed a few days ago to fill in for Jeff Wilkins, kicked a 41-yard field goal.

The Rams stayed fairly conservative as they ran on seven of their first 11 plays. Canidate gained 18 yards on 11 carries.

Martin managed to set up only a 27-yard field goal by Simonton. He sprained his right shoulder when sacked by Titans rookie Carlos Hall late in the third quarter.

Noteworthy

Former Southeast Missouri State University star Jason Witczak, who is trying to make the Titans as a free agent, kicked extra points following Tennessee's final two touchdowns.

The Rams host the Bears at 7 p.m. Friday.