Sep. 29--NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Minnesota Vikings are built to win games in the trenches, with three Pro Bowlers on both the offensive and defensive lines.
The Vikings can block and tackle with the best. Apparently, so can the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans pushed around the Minnesota offensive and defensive fronts Sunday and won, 30-17, for the first 4-0 start in franchise history.
The Vikings, with their behemoth Pro Bowl defensive tackle tandem of Kevin and Pat Williams, led the NFL in run defense last season, when they allowed seven rushing touchdowns in 16 games. They ranked third through the first three games this season, allowing three rushing touchdowns.
But the Titans rushed for three touchdowns themselves against the Vikings, two by rookie Chris Johnson and one by LenDale White.
The Vikings ranked eighth in the NFL in sacks last season and improved their pass rush in 2008 by adding NFL sack leader Jared Allen in a trade with Kansas City. But the Titans did not allow a sack Sunday, giving Kerry Collins time in the pocket to complete 18 of 35 passes with no turnovers.
Tennessee's was the defensive front that caused havoc. But it wasn't surprising, given that the Titans have a pair of veteran Pro Bowlers up front in end Kyle VandenBosch and tackle Albert Haynesworth.
"We knew it was going to be a very physical game," Titans defensive tackle Tony Brown said. "I took this game very personal. With all those Pro Bowlers on the field on both sides, no one was paying attention to little old me. I was just trying to have some fun out there."
And have fun he did. Brown collected 1 1/2 sacks and a game-high four quarterback pressures. He also recovered a fumble. So did linebackers Keith Bulluck and Stephen Tulloch.
Haynesworth added two sacks, and the Titans defensive front held defending NFC rushing champion Adrian Peterson to 80 yards. Titans cornerback Nick Harper chipped in an interception.
Add it all up, and the Titans dominated the Vikings with four sacks and four takeaways. Tennessee leads the NFL with 12 takeaways after a month.
"We stress doing your job and trying to play physical," Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "We believe they [turnovers] will come if we do that. We don't try to trick it up."
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Elstunn GUnn 
