Jim Wyatt
NASHVILLEIn the final dress rehearsal for the regular season, Titans quarterback Cam Ward made a nice impression.
In his first game at Nissan Stadium, Ward orchestrated a beautiful scoring drive in the team's eventual 23-13 win over the Vikings in the preseason finale for both teams.
On the team's second possession, Ward drove the Titans 90 yards on 13 plays, in 8:33.
Ward played just two series, and he completed 3-of-4 passes for 36 yards, with a passer rating of 102.1, before being relieved by back-up Brandon Allen in the second quarter.
With the win, the Titans finished the preseason with a 2-1 record.
Ward and the first-team offense minus Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, JC Latham, Lloyd Cushenberry and Kevin Zeitler played 16 offensive plays in the contest before giving way to the back-ups. The offense went three-and-out on its opening possession before getting the ball back and then looking smooth.
Ward connected on a 17-yard throw to Van Jefferson, a 13-yard pass to Chimere Dike and a six-yard pass to Tyler Lockett on the scoring drive, which was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by Julius Chestnut with 12:15 left in the second quarter to make it 7-3.
Tennessee's starting defense, including defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons played two series in the contest, against Minnesota's back-ups.
The Vikings managed an early field goal, which was answered by Tennessee's touchdown.
Jefferson had a big first half for the Titans, catching three passes for 102 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown catch with gave Tennessee a 14-3 lead, and that was the score at halftime
An interception by linebacker James Williams Sr. ended a Minnesota drive at the one-yard line late in the first half.
Early in the third quarter, kicker Joey Slye booted a 63-yard field goal to give the Titans a 17-3 lead.
A 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Brosmer to tight end Bryson Nesbit made it 17-10 with 8:34 left in the third quarter.
Slye then added a 30-yard field goal to give the Titans a 20-10 lead with 10:40 left in the contest before Vikings kicker Will Reichard made a 58-yard field goal to make it 20-13 with 7:52 left in the contest.
Slye added a 53-yard field goal, making him 3-of-3 for the night, to close out the scoring with 1:49 left.
All NFL teams, including the Titans, must trim their rosters to 53 players by Tuesday.
The Titans kick off the regular season on September 7 at the Denver Broncos.
