MIAMI (AP) - Fading to pass, ![]()
In the same way he salvaged the broken play, Locker and the Tennessee Titans saved their season Sunday, combining efficient offense with ball-hawking defense to beat the Miami Dolphins 37-3.
Tennessee (4-6) rebounded from a 51-20 defeat a week ago against the Bears that prompted owner Bud Adams to put the organization on notice.
"It went bad for us last Sunday, and we stuck together,'' coach Mike Munchak said. "It was exciting to see how we responded in a tough spot.''
The Titans came into the game on pace to set an NFL record for points allowed in a season, but their defense outscored Miami.
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Ryan Tannehill threw three interceptions for the Dolphins, who endured their most lopsided loss at home since 1968, and their worst anywhere since January 2000.
"Total embarrassment,'' linebacker Kevin Burnett said.
Two benchings by coach Joe Philbin failed to shake the Dolphins (4-5) out of their malaise.
Reggie Bush spent most of the first half on the sideline after his early fumble, and guard Richie Incognito sat briefly after committing a costly personal foul penalty.
"A dumb mistake on my part,'' Incognito said.
"If I'm a coach, I would have benched myself too,'' Bush said.
With 20 minutes left and the stands two-thirds empty, the only remaining drama was whether ![]()
He reached the mark late in the third period and finished with 126 yards on 23 carries, including a 17-yard touchdown run.
"Everybody wanted me to have 100 yards against them,'' Johnson said. "It was really a best-man-win-type scenario.''
Tannehill's six-week streak without an interception ended at 107 passes when ![]()
"I just needed to settle down a little bit,'' he said. "I got turned a little bit. I just had to take a couple plays off, but I got back in there.''
Tannehill went 23 for 39, but had a passer rating of only 42.4. What did the rookie learn?
"Don't throw it to the other team,'' Philbin said. "I hate to be a smart aleck.''
Locker, back after missing five games with a dislocated non-throwing shoulder, went only 9 of 21 for 122 yards but threw for touchdowns of 9 yards to ![]()
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"That's why we're excited about him,'' Munchak said. "He made some plays a lot of quarterbacks couldn't make.''
The Titans didn't commit a turnover after totaling five a week ago, while they had an interception from each starting linebacker - McCarthy, Ayers and ![]()
"That was fun to see,'' Munchak said.
The Titans' turnaround came as they head into their bye week. The Dolphins play Thursday at Buffalo.
"We've got to get back to work very quickly,'' Bush said. "We don't have time to sulk.''
NOTES: Tennessee's ![]()