NASHVILLE, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Joe Nedney kicked a 49-yard field goal 2:38 into overtime Sunday to give the Tennessee Titans their first win of the season, a 31-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Winners of a league-high 26 games over the last two years, the Titans (1-3) lost their first three games to Miami, Jacksonville and Baltimore, scoring just 36 points.
Another loss would have virtually ended the season for the Titans. The last team to lose its first four games and still make the playoffs was the 1992 San Diego Chargers.
With their season at stake, Tennessee repeatedly gave Tampa Bay (2-2) chances to get back in the game. The Titans allowed the Buccaneers to convert fourth downs on three of their touchdown drives, two of them with penalties.
An offside penalty by defensive end Kevin Carter nullified an interception by cornerback DeRon Jenkins and the Bucs capitalized as Brad Johnson threw a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dave Moore with 54 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, tying the game.
In overtime, the defense forced a punt and the Titans took over on the Tampa Bay 48. Steve McNair's 15-yard pass to rookie Drew Bennett positioned Nedney for his third field goal of the game, a knuckleball that started out left but split the uprights.
