Titans to host Cardinals in nationally-televised game on ESPN 

Chris Johnson and the Titans host the Arizona Cardinals in a nationally-televised preseason game (ESPN) on Thursday, Aug. 23 at LP Field.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The National Football League has announced its 2012 preseason schedule, which includes a primetime ESPN contest at LP Field between the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, Aug. 23.

The Titans open the preseason on the road against the Seattle Seahawks (weekend of Aug. 9-13). The following week they travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers (Aug. 16-20).  After playing the Cardinals in Week 3, they conclude their preseason slate at home against the New Orleans Saints (Aug. 29-31).

The game in Seattle will serve as a homecoming for two Titans quarterbacks.  Matt Hasselbeck became the Seahawks’ all-time leading passer during his career in the Emerald City.  He led the club to an appearance in Super Bowl XL. Second-year signal caller Jake Locker, likewise, has strong connections to the area.  A native of Ferndale, Wash., Locker started 40 games at the University of Washington and led the Huskies to a bowl victory to conclude his storied collegiate career. 

At Tampa Bay, Tennessee will face first-year Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano.  Two prominent members of the Titans, wide receiver Kenny Britt and cornerback Jason McCourty, played for Schiano at Rutgers University.

The matchup between the Titans and Cardinals will mark the second time in three years ESPN will feature the two teams from LP Field during the preseason.  They met in Week 2 of the 2010 preseason, with the Titans winning a 24-10 decision.  The Cardinals employ one of the NFL’s most dynamic offensive weapons in wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

The Titans and Saints conclude the preseason together for the third consecutive year.  The Titans won each of the first two tilts, including last year’s 32-9 victory at the Superdome.

Final dates and times of the Seahawks, Buccaneers and Saints games will be announced over the next month.  Those games will be broadcast on Nashville flagship WKRN-2 and several regional affiliates.

The NFL is expected to release the regular season schedule later in April. Single-game tickets for both the regular season and preseason will go on sale to the general public later this summer.

TITANS 2012 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Aug. 9-13 - at Seattle (time TBA, WKRN)
Aug. 16-20 - at Tampa Bay (time, TBA, WKRN)
Thursday, Aug. 23 - ARIZONA (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Aug. 29-31 - NEW ORLEANS (time, TBA, WKRN)

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