Titans-Dolphins
Dolphins 24, Titans 10
MIAMI (AP) - A workhorse once more, Ricky Williams wore down the Tennessee Titans until his final carry took him into the end zone, where he celebrated the touchdown that clinched the Miami Dolphins' latest win.
In his best performance since returning from a one-year retirement, Williams gained 172 yards in 26 rushes and helped Miami cap a perfect December by beating Tennessee 24-10 Saturday.
Williams has shared carries most of the season with Ronnie Brown. When knee and ankle injuries left the rookie inactive, Williams assumed his heaviest workload of the season.
``As the game goes on, I usually get stronger and more comfortable and have a better feel for what to do,'' the 2002 NFL rushing champion said. ``Life is about opportunities. Unfortunately Ronnie was down, so this week I made the most of the opportunity.''
The Dolphins (8-7), eliminated from playoff contention last week, have won five in a row for the first time since 1999. They went 4-0 in December under first-year coach Nick Saban, finishing the month unbeaten for the first time in 20 years.
``To watch this team grow and be part of it has been special,'' Williams said. ``We've made strides, and we can be confident that we can go into next season strong.''
The Titans (4-11) matched last season's loss total with one game still to go. They also lost quarterback Steve McNair, who strained a pectoral muscle in pregame warmups and came out in the second quarter.
``It got sore and more sore as the game went on,'' McNair said. ``It hurt more when I threw.''
Williams was dazed by a tackle in the fourth quarter, but quickly rejoined the lineup and looked even stronger and faster down the stretch. The 100-yard game was his first since 2003.
``I am so happy for Ricky,'' Saban said. ``He has played a great role for this team all year. He has been unselfish and has been a really good team guy.''
Nursing a 17-10 lead with less than 2 1/2 minutes left, Miami put the game in Williams' hands. He broke loose for a season-best 35-yard run and scored on a 19-yard run to clinch the win.
``We have a great deal of respect for Ricky,'' Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. ``But we never expected them to do that to our defense, especially when we were in some must-stop situations.''
Miami's Chris Chambers caught touchdown passes of 11 and 7 yards and surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in a season for the first time in his five-year career. He made five receptions for 51 yards and has scored in each of the past four games.
Tennessee's only touchdown came on a 55-yard pass from Billy Volek to Drew Bennett.
Otherwise, Volek struggled against a heavy pass rush, finishing 14-of-24 for 132 yards. He was sacked four times and lost his helmet as he threw an incompletion when hit by blitzing cornerback Reggie Howard.
McNair went 5-for-13 for 34 yards, and his final two throws were intercepted. Volek lost a fumble on a sack after the Titans reached the Miami 3-yard line on the first series of the second half.
``The only positive,'' Fisher said, ``is that it's over.''
Despite the Dolphins' fast finish, their bandwagon has yet to overflow. Announced attendance was a sellout of 72,001, but the stands were half empty for the Christmas Eve game.
Tank Williams recovered Gus Frerotte's fumble to give Tennessee a first down at the Miami 10, but the Titans settled for a 24-yard field goal by Rob Bironas and their only lead at 3-0.
Miami took advantage of a turnover to pull even. When the Titans' Ben Troupe attempted a one-handed catch, the ball deflected to linebacker Donnie Spragan, setting up Olindo Mare's 25-yard field goal.
McNair's next pass was also intercepted, by Sam Madison, and Miami then mounted a 61-yard drive capped by Chambers' 11-yard touchdown reception.
Following a punt, the Dolphins moved 48 yards in the final 1:43 of the half for another score. Chambers' second TD made it 17-3 at halftime.
Frerotte, a 12-year pro, tied his career high of 17 touchdown passes. He finished 14-for-30 for 151 yards.
Notes: McNair said he's uncertain whether he'll be able to play in the final game Jan. 1 at Jacksonville. ... Dangerous Titans rookie Adam ``Pacman'' Jones was limited to 25 yards in eight punt returns. ... Williams' 100-yard game was the 30th of his career. ... The Dolphins rushed for 192 yards, their highest total since 2002.
Tennessee Titans - Miami Dolphins Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout Tennessee Titans 10
Miami Dolphins 24
Seahawks 28, Titans 24[b][/b][color=#990000][/color]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Seattle Seahawks don't want to worry about what any other team in the NFL is doing.
With each victory, they are closer to making that reality.
Matt Hasselbeck threw three touchdown passes, including a 2-yarder to Darrell Jackson in the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks rallied for a 28-24 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday that clinched a first-round bye for the NFC West champions.
Seattle (12-2) won its 10th straight for the first time in team history and also matched the 1984 squad for most victories in a season.
The Seahawks had a chance to wrap up home-field advantage in the playoffs - another club first - on Sunday night, but NFC North-leading Chicago beat Atlanta in the late game to improve to 10-4.
``Our goal right now is to get the first-round bye,'' Hasselbeck said. ``We got it. Our next goal is to play at home. If Chicago takes care of business, great. If they don't, that's fine too. ... Instead of rooting for teams, it's been nice not to have to worry about teams.''
The Seahawks planned to watch the Atlanta-Chicago game via satellite on their flight home to Seattle on a jet from chairman Paul Allen. Coach Mike Holmgren planned to enjoy this victory before worrying about Saturday's game with Indianapolis.
``This might be the only time I ever root for the Falcons,'' Holmgren said.
Hasselbeck finished with 285 yards as the Seahawks beat the Titans (4-10) for the fifth straight time in their first meeting since 1998.
Shaun Alexander also ran for a touchdown, giving him an NFL-best 24, and the league's best rusher coming into the weekend became only the fifth player in NFL history to rush for 1,600 yards in consecutive seasons. He finished with 26 carries for 172 yards.
``It's great to know I'm going to be in the second round of the playoffs,'' Alexander said. ``This is a new door for us, but it's something we've been preparing for for a long time, so we're really excited.''
The Titans weren't happy with coming up close. They have lost five games by eight points or less this season.
``I'm not going to sit here and say we're four points behind a team that's got the best record in the NFC,'' Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. ``I can tell you this. I'm proud of the fight and proud of everything I got out of our football team.''
The Seahawks had to work a little harder in this game after blowing out Philadelphia and San Francisco the previous two weeks.
Steve McNair, playing perhaps his final game in The Coliseum with a $50 million bonus due in the offseason, chewed up one of the NFL's better defenses by attacking a secondary missing three defensive backs to injury.
He led the Titans to 24 straight points and a 24-14 lead midway through the third quarter. He threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns, and Jarrett Payton also ran for a TD.
The Titans had a chance to pad their lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, after keeping the drive alive with a fake punt for a 26-yard completion. Facing fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 6, Chris Brown tried to run right and was stopped for a 1-yard loss.
Hasselbeck responded with a 13-play, 93-yard drive that ended when Jackson scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:59 to go. Jackson was playing and starting for the first time since Seattle started this winning streak on Oct. 2 after missing time with a knee injury.
That left the Titans plenty of time, but McNair threw incomplete on a pass on fourth-and-2 at the Seattle 34.
``Teams like us, who haven't had as many wins, we kind of stumble a little bit to try to make some plays instead of keeping our composure as well,'' Titans tight end Ben Troupe said.
Seattle started the game where it left off after winning by a combined score of 83-3 in the previous two games. The Seahawks outgained Tennessee 195-24 on offense with Alexander rushing for 87 yards on his first eight carries.
Then Tennessee's Antwan Odom sliced through the line and blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt by Josh Brown early in the second. McNair moved the Titans on three straight drives of at least 78 yards that gave them a 21-14 lead early in the third.
Notes: Hasselbeck hasn't been intercepted in six road games this season, a stretch of 177 passing attempts. ... Jackson finished with six catches for 72 yards. ... McNair's second TD pass put him over 3,000 yards passing for the fifth time in his career and fourth in the past five seasons. The quarterback also wished his wife, Mechelle, a happy birthday on the Jumbotron.
Seattle Seahawks - Tennessee Titans Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout
Seattle Seahawks 28
Tennessee Titans 24
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