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Associated Press 9y

Titans QB hurt again in 36-7 loss to Giants

NFL, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson dislocated his shoulder defending a pass, and safety Daimion Stafford suffered a concussion.

When Byron Stingily hurt an ankle, the Titans were down to their third offensive tackle in the game, a guy signed Tuesday and playing his first NFL game.

Then quarterback Zach Mettenberger hurt his sprained shoulder for a second week in a row and couldn't finish.

The Titans turned in one of their worst performances this season Sunday losing 36-7 to the New York Giants, who snapped a seven-game slide. Tennessee had a season-low with 207 yards total offense and allowed a season-high eight sacks in a game the Titans trailed 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.

First-year coach Ken Whisenhunt said it's not easy right now, especially with two top wide receivers already out with injuries too.

"Nobody really cares," Whisenhunt said. "We have to play the games on Sundays. This is an opportunity for some guys to step up and get a chance to show what they can do. That's what we are struggling through right now."

The Titans (2-11) certainly are struggling. Their skid now has reached seven straight and 10 of the last 11 -- the worst since 1994 when this franchise was the Houston Oilers in a 2-14 season that cost Jack Pardee his job. They couldn't even run out the final seconds of the first half when veteran Chris Spencer was flagged for a false start snapping the ball.

"We played poorly today," Titans tight end Delanie Walker said. "I felt like I played poorly today. It's like a trickle effect. One person plays poorly, and everyone plays poorly after that."

The Giants (4-9) won for the first time since Oct. 5 with two rookies having big games. Odell Beckham Jr. set a team rookie record with his fourth game with 100 yards receiving this season: 11 catches for 130 yards and a TD. Andre Williams ran for a season-high 131 yards, including a 50-yard TD.

The Titans had fans booing and even a handful wearing paper bags over their heads.

The Giants came in with an NFL-high 19 players on injured reserve but relatively healthy on offense, even with running back Rashad Jennings not starting because of a sore ankle that kept him out of practice. With Manning and Beckham connecting early and often, they helped the Giants dominate.

Eli Manning was excited the Giants got the win a week after blowing a 21-0 lead in losing to the Jaguars.

"We got off to the fast start which we've been doing the last few weeks, but we came out in the second half and finished the game," Manning said.

Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who played on this field in college at Tennessee State, had a 36-yard TD off an interception wiped out by a personal foul on Damontre Moore for a hit on Mettenberger. Josh Brown kicked his fifth field goal for a 36-7 lead.

Mettenberger fumbled when sacked, and Markus Kuhn ran the recovery 26 yards for a TD for a 17-0 lead. Mettenberger wound up sacked five times, the last sending him to the locker room early in the fourth quarter. Jake Locker finished for him and was sacked three times himself.

The Giants were up 23-0 at halftime. The lead that would have been even bigger if not for the Titans at least forcing them to settle for three field goals from Brown, two when New York had first-and-goal.

For Tennessee, the patchwork effect on offense showed. The Titans had only four players that started the season at their positions with left tackle Taylor Lewan and right tackle Michael Oher missing their second straight starts because of injuries. Stingily tried to return, but couldn't with his ankle.

The Titans' only points came when Marqueston Huff returned an interception 23 yards for a TD.

NOTES: New York snapped a five-game skid in this series vs. the Titans. ... Whisenhunt now is 2-2 against the Giants. ... Veteran RB Shonn Greene was a healthy scratch for Tennessee.

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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