Chris Johnson got to perform his celebratory dance after all. Six plays after his 81-yard touchdown run was overturned, Johnson took a pitch from Vince Young and scurried 2 yards for a go-ahead score and led the Tennessee Titans to their second straight win with a 34-27 victory over the stumbling San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Young showed his comeback is legitimate, outplaying fellow first-round draft pick Alex Smith down the stretch. Young has been clutch twice in as many weeks, getting the Titans (2-6) in the end zone when it mattered. Johnson converted on fourth-and-inches for his second TD of the day, making up for those six points that were negated only a few minutes earlier after it was determined he stepped out of bounds on the long run. Going for it when the Titans could have tied it with a field goal was a sign of coach Jeff Fisher's faith in Young and Co. to get it done. The Titans beat Jacksonville last Sunday to end an eight-game losing streak dating to December. Suddenly, this team has found some much-needed momentum. Tennessee has its first back-to-back wins since victories over the Lions and Browns in Weeks 13 and 14 last season on the way to a 13-3 finish. Smith threw two interceptions in the final 6:24 and three in all, fumbled twice and was sacked four times _ not the kind of day he'd hoped for in his first home start in more than two years. Smith took over the starting job at halftime against Houston on Oct. 25 when coach Mike Singletary benched Shaun Hill. After Johnson's score, Chris Hope intercepted a pass by Smith on San Francisco's ensuing series to set up a 28-yard field goal by Rob Bironas, then Cortland Finnegan added a late 39-yard interception return for a touchdown to seal it. Stunned San Francisco (3-5) has lost four straight following a 3-1 start _ and the 49ers have little time to recover. The Chicago Bears come to town for a Thursday night game. Young and Johnson were all smiles on the sideline as they stood together and waited out the end of this one. Continued... |