Young Stuns Arizona, Tennessee Titans With Fifth-Straight

NFL News - November 30th, 2009 - Written by John

It hasn't been since the 2006 National Championship game that Vince Young played on the same field as Matt Lienart, but again, the suave, athletic quarterback spoiled the day with a last-second score.

Young threw a touchdown pass to Kenny Britt on fourth down as time expired to lead the Tennessee Titans to a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. It was the fifth win in a row for the Titans, who started the 2009 NFL Season 0-6, and upset the two-point underdog status.

"You guys don't mind if I sit down and do this do you? OK. WOW! What a great finish!" Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher told reporters after the game. "We've had some finishes around here, but I can't remember one like that. Just a tremendous finish."

Young and Leinart dueled as star quarterbacks for Texas and USC, respectively, and met in the Rose Bowl, where Young dashed for a touchdown on fourth-and-five with six seconds remaining to give the Longhorns the title over the Trojans. Both were selected in the first round of the ensuing draft, but only Young had seen considerable time in the NFL since. Arizona starter Kurt Warner was knocked out of last week's game against St. Louis, and was stiff this morning, and was held out of the game.

Leinart was admirable in his wake, completing 21 of 31 passes for 220 yards. But again, Young was better. Finally allowed to let loose, he threw for a career-high 387 yards, winning for the ninth-straight time as a starter. The righty commanded an 18-play drive to win it, going 99 yards with just over two minutes left. He was 9-of-16 for 94 yards, including the 10-yard dart to Britt to win it. Young also converted on fourth down three times to keep the drive going, including the final play of the game.

For the Arizona Cardinals, it stirred up memories of last year's championship game, in which they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a final drive.

"It's as close to that as possible because we knew today that it would be difficult against this team, and our team rallied and pulled together. When you're six seconds away from winning it, it makes it even tougher," head coach Ken Whisenhunt said on ESPN.

"There's not a lot you can do when he extends the play like that," Whisenhunt added of Young."

For Tennessee, it was just another day in the office by Chris Johnson, who rushed for at least 125 yards for the sixth-straight week, tying an NFL record. He ran for 154 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, including a long of 85, which was his lone score.