NASHVILLE – For one day at least, the kids were all right. More than all right.
Patriots first-round picks Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower combined for a game-turning play in the first half, second-round pick Tavon Wilson snagged his first interception, and second-year running back Stevan Ridley had the best game of his young career as New England got the 2012 season started Sunday with a 34-13 win over the Titans at LP Field.
The Patriots won their ninth straight season opener, as Tom Brady completed 23 of 31 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The offensive line, which has been a concern for weeks, held up fairly well for the quarterback, who was sacked only one time, and the line also did a good job blocking for Ridley.
It didn’t take long for the youngsters to start asserting themselves: early in the second quarter with the Titans just inside New England territory, quarterback Jake Locker threw a wobbly pass for Nate Washington near the goal line. Kyle Arrington, in coverage, batted the ball up and Wilson made the diving catch in the end zone for the pick.
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barry chin/globe staff
Aaron Hernandez scored the team’s first touchdown of the season in the opening quarter.
The offense wasn’t able to convert the turnover into points, but there was no issue getting a score on Tennessee’s second turnover. On the Titans’ next possession, they were backed up to the goal line, and a first-down pass from Locker to Washington, a catchable ball, went right between the receiver’s hands.
On second down, Locker handed off to Chris Johnson, who was nothing like the absolutely electric running back he was in 2010, and Hightower came up quickly, dropping him for a 3-yard loss.
On the next snap, Jones beat left tackle Michael Roos for a strip sack, and Hightower was right there to pick it up and go the short 6 yards for a touchdown.
The rookies enjoyed their celebration, with Jones doing what looked to be a hula dance in the end zone.
The score put the Patriots up, 14-3, and they never looked back.
Tennessee got on the board on its very first drive, settling for a field goal after what clearly looked like pass interference on Devin McCourty in the end zone on third down was not called. The Titans took the 3 points.
That drive included a gutsy fourth-and-1 call by Titans coach Mike Munchak, who let Locker, making his first-ever start, pass instead of trying a sneak. Locker floated a pass to Washington on the left sideline, and he came down with a 23-yard reception.
New England punted on its first possession, but then settled in on its second, with a 28-yard reception by Rob Gronkowski, a 17-yard run by Ridley, and then 23-yard touchdown from Brady to Aaron Hernandez making short work of a 67-yard drive.
The Patriots scored again in the second quarter, this time on a short pass to Gronkowski in the back right corner of the end zone, and took a 21-3 lead into halftime.
The Titans had three big plays on their first drive of the third quarter, including a 16-yard screen to Johnson, really the only impact play the back made all afternoon.
For the day, Johnson had 11 carries for just 4 yards, though he did have six catches for 47 yards.
Locker showed his athleticism on the touchdown pass – Jones had him wrapped around the waist, but he still got the pass away to Washington. Steve Gregory and Devin McCourty were the nearest defenders on the play, but Washington still had an easy path into the end zone.
Ridley made his mark on the game on the Patriots’ fourth touchdown drive, when he picked up 35 of 48 yards, including the 1-yard score, putting New England ahead, 28-10.
The Patriots knocked both Washington and Locker out of the game when the young QB, who threw several high passes, did so again, and Washington was clobbered by Jerod Mayo and Wilson.
Washington, knocked out, let go of the ball, which Patrick Chung picked up, believing it was a fumble. Locker injured his left shoulder tackling Chung. And after the play was reviewed, it was called an incomplete pass.
Try BostonGlobe.com today and get two weeks FREE.Shalise Manza Young can be reached at [email protected].
Patriots first-round picks Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower combined for a game-turning play in the first half, second-round pick Tavon Wilson snagged his first interception, and second-year running back Stevan Ridley had the best game of his young career as New England got the 2012 season started Sunday with a 34-13 win over the Titans at LP Field.
The Patriots won their ninth straight season opener, as Tom Brady completed 23 of 31 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The offensive line, which has been a concern for weeks, held up fairly well for the quarterback, who was sacked only one time, and the line also did a good job blocking for Ridley.
It didn’t take long for the youngsters to start asserting themselves: early in the second quarter with the Titans just inside New England territory, quarterback Jake Locker threw a wobbly pass for Nate Washington near the goal line. Kyle Arrington, in coverage, batted the ball up and Wilson made the diving catch in the end zone for the pick.
Continue reading below
Aaron Hernandez scored the team’s first touchdown of the season in the opening quarter.
The offense wasn’t able to convert the turnover into points, but there was no issue getting a score on Tennessee’s second turnover. On the Titans’ next possession, they were backed up to the goal line, and a first-down pass from Locker to Washington, a catchable ball, went right between the receiver’s hands.
On second down, Locker handed off to Chris Johnson, who was nothing like the absolutely electric running back he was in 2010, and Hightower came up quickly, dropping him for a 3-yard loss.
On the next snap, Jones beat left tackle Michael Roos for a strip sack, and Hightower was right there to pick it up and go the short 6 yards for a touchdown.
The rookies enjoyed their celebration, with Jones doing what looked to be a hula dance in the end zone.
The score put the Patriots up, 14-3, and they never looked back.
Tennessee got on the board on its very first drive, settling for a field goal after what clearly looked like pass interference on Devin McCourty in the end zone on third down was not called. The Titans took the 3 points.
That drive included a gutsy fourth-and-1 call by Titans coach Mike Munchak, who let Locker, making his first-ever start, pass instead of trying a sneak. Locker floated a pass to Washington on the left sideline, and he came down with a 23-yard reception.
New England punted on its first possession, but then settled in on its second, with a 28-yard reception by Rob Gronkowski, a 17-yard run by Ridley, and then 23-yard touchdown from Brady to Aaron Hernandez making short work of a 67-yard drive.
The Patriots scored again in the second quarter, this time on a short pass to Gronkowski in the back right corner of the end zone, and took a 21-3 lead into halftime.
The Titans had three big plays on their first drive of the third quarter, including a 16-yard screen to Johnson, really the only impact play the back made all afternoon.
For the day, Johnson had 11 carries for just 4 yards, though he did have six catches for 47 yards.
Locker showed his athleticism on the touchdown pass – Jones had him wrapped around the waist, but he still got the pass away to Washington. Steve Gregory and Devin McCourty were the nearest defenders on the play, but Washington still had an easy path into the end zone.
Ridley made his mark on the game on the Patriots’ fourth touchdown drive, when he picked up 35 of 48 yards, including the 1-yard score, putting New England ahead, 28-10.
The Patriots knocked both Washington and Locker out of the game when the young QB, who threw several high passes, did so again, and Washington was clobbered by Jerod Mayo and Wilson.
Washington, knocked out, let go of the ball, which Patrick Chung picked up, believing it was a fumble. Locker injured his left shoulder tackling Chung. And after the play was reviewed, it was called an incomplete pass.
Try BostonGlobe.com today and get two weeks FREE.Shalise Manza Young can be reached at [email protected].