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Tennessee's Bironas kicks Titans past Texans in tough tussle

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-25 09:18

HOUSTON: Rob Bironas kept the Titans' unlikely turnaround going with another winning kick against the Houston Texans.

Bironas (pictured) booted a 53-yard field goal with 47 seconds left and the Titans won their fourth straight after starting the season with six losses, beating the Texans 20-17 on Monday night.

Houston (5-5) had a chance to tie it, but Kris Brown's 49-yard attempt with one second remaining was wide left. It was his second miss of the game and the second straight game he's missed a chance to send the Texans to overtime.

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Bironas, meanwhile, beat Houston with a last-minute kick at Reliant Stadium for the second time in three seasons. In 2007, he kicked the game winner as time expired - and set an NFL record with eight field goals - in a 38-36 Titans' victory.

"I always feel good down here," Bironas said. "I like Houston. I don't think Houston likes me too much."

The city's football fans are more passionate about Vince Young, the Houston native and former Texas star. Some Texans fans still complain the team didn't take Young with the first pick in the 2006 draft and instead selected defensive end Mario Williams.

Young is now 2-0 in games he's started against the Texans in Houston. He ran for the winning touchdown in overtime as a rookie and he ran for 73 yards and threw a touchdown pass in Monday's game.

"It was a lot of love and lot of boos," Young said of the atmosphere. "It's definitely fun to play at home because I've got a lot of family members and a lot of fans who helped pretty much raise me and made me the man I am today."

The Titans (4-6) haven't lost since Young replaced Kerry Collins as the starting quarterback.

"Vince is not new to jumping in and winning," Titans running back LenDale White said. "It's very exciting. I am more happy to be winning these games, more than anything. Vince is doing the job for us."

The Titans started the go-ahead drive at the 6-yard line, but Houston safety John Busing was called for a 15-yard penalty on a horse-collar tackle of Chris Johnson. A 22-yard run by Johnson two plays later put the Titans on their 41 just before the two-minute warning.

Young had a 12-yard run for a first down later in the drive but the Titans couldn't keep it going and went to Bironas for the field goal, his second of at least 50 yards on Monday.

AP