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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Minimizing mistakes and letting Mark Sanchez do his thing wound up a sufficient recipe for the Tennessee Titans to end a three-game losing streak and eke out a 14-10 win over the New York Jets on "Monday Night Football."

The Titans weren’t trying for a work of art and don’t particularly care that people who watched it might have wound up with headaches.

With five takeaways by the defense (call them giveaways by Sanchez, who threw four picks and lost a fumble, if you prefer), the offense could have and should have done far more.

Instead, the game came down to Sanchez’s finale gaffe, a low shotgun snap he failed to scoop that running back Bilal Powell kicked and linebacker Zach Brown recovered to end it with 43 seconds left.

“So many times in this game we could have took advantage and put a drive together and put it away and not made it so hard for us to get the victory,” running back Chris Johnson said. “Out of all the turnovers they got for us, we never really put a drive together and made it easy on our defense.”

Said coach Mike Munchak: “You should win it by more points.”

Let’s break the Titans’ fifth win of the season into three sections:

C.J.’s record run: Second-and-9 from the Tennessee 6-yard line, 9:06 on the clock in the second quarter. Johnson took the handoff, brushed past center Kyle DeVan, who had turned nose guard Sione Po’uha to the left, and was gone, easily outracing Yeremiah Bell.

The Jets' eight-man box and pursuit at the snap left the defense too flat, and once Johnson got through the line, there was no hope of stopping him from setting a franchise record for longest run from scrimmage. Previously he shared the record of 91 yards with Sid Blanks (1964).

In the locker room, on his way to the shower, DeVan detoured to Johnson’s locker. He’d learned the run was a record and wanted to offer his congratulations.

DeVan was cut by the Titans on Aug. 31 after training camp. They brought him back on Halloween, and he’s been off the roster and back on three times since.

“It was fun to get in there and block for C.J,” DeVan said. “With how they play defense, we just had to get C.J. out to the next level, and we were able to do that on that play.”

Johnson’s season average per carry jumped from 4.55 to 4.93 with the play. His other 20 carries on the night got him 28 yards.

He now has six touchdown runs of 80 or more yards. No other player in NFL history has more than three.

Johnson paid his small tribute to the victims of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn., by playing in shoes that had every victim's name written on them.

Locker’s defining drive: This marked Jake Locker's ninth NFL start, and he has yet to really produce a defining moment.

The go-ahead drive that produced the winning margin in this game will hold that title for the time being.

The Jets had just taken a 10-7 lead late in the third quarter, and the Titans got a 35-yard kickoff return from Darius Reynaud. Locker took Tennessee 64 yards in seven plays over 2 minutes and 59 seconds. He had passes of 21, 12 and 13 yards before taking a shotgun snap and heading left behind a convoy that helped him get into the end zone on a quarterback sweep.

The Titans didn’t even face a third down on the drive.

“I thought it was crisp, there was a lot of tempo, there weren’t any mental mistakes,” Locker said. “We executed really well. When you do those things, that’s what you’re capable of doing. We need to find ways to multiply that throughout a game.”

Tennessee converted just 2 of 13 third downs and was flagged for 14 penalties for 111 yards. Multiplying good drives can start with major changes in those two departments.

Plenty of picks: Two defensive backs who got big contract extensions in the recent past had big nights.

Cornerback Jason McCourty and safety Michael Griffin each tracked Sanchez for two picks.

“We knew coming into the game they were going to pound the ball, and we knew when they put the ball in the air, we were going to have opportunities to make plays,” McCourty said. "... The last few games it just seemed like they were pounding the ball, pounding the ball on the ground. They came out and threw the ball a few more times than we expected. We were able to make some plays on the ball in the air, and that gave us a chance.”

The takeaways were a lot more about point prevention than point production. Griffin’s second pick came on a ball throw from the Titans’ 23-yard line, and Brown’s fumble recovery was at the Titans’ 32.

The Titans' offense followed up the four interceptions with a grand total of 14 plays, 26 yards, 7:50 with the ball and four punts.

“We managed not to give them momentum with turnovers,” Locker said, finding the positive.

 

When Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis tore his knee in a Week 3 overtime win at Miami, it meant we were denied a marvelous matchup on Monday Night Football.

Hardly anyone in the NFL would try to cover Houston receiver Andre Johnson one-on-one.

Were Revis playing for the Jets at Met Life Stadium Monday, he’d be doing just that.

“Let’s face it, Andre Johnson is as good as it gets in this league as a receiver,” Jets coach Rex Ryan told Houston reporters on a conference call Wednesday. “But we would actually put Revis out there by himself and, not saying not to worry about it, but a lot of straight man-coverage against him and bet you we’re the only team in the league that would do that.”

Without Revis, Kyle Wilson steps into the lineup. He and Antonio Cromartie will be charged with slowing Johnson, but they’re sure to get help from one of three safeties -- LaRon Landry, Yeremiah Bell or Eric Smith.

It’s a shame we won’t see the matchup of two premiere guys. But the Texans won’t be sad to miss Revis, especially a year after they were the team missing key pieces for so many matchups.

Houston Texans

Former Texans receiver Jacoby Jones welcomes his move to new surroundings in Baltimore. "Change is good in life," said Jones, whose muffed punt in last season's playoffs led to a Ravens touchdown in a game Baltimore won by seven. "It’s always good to have a breath of fresh air.”

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts appear to be feeling the absence of top draft pick Andrew Luck, who is missing this week's organized team activities and can't report to the team's facilities until after his final exams at Stanford. "For him to be here, taking snaps, building chemistry, the timing with the offense, timing with the receivers, all those kind of things ... it’s days lost,’’ coach Chuck Pagano told the Indianapolis Star's Mike Chappell of the quarterback. “It’s like money you never get back."

The team signed four more draft picks Wednesday: fifth-rounder Vick Ballard, sixth-rounder LaVon Brazill, and seventh-round selections Tim Fugger and Chandler Harnish.

Becoming head coach of the Colts "has been a whirlwind" Pagano says in a Q&A with Chappell.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Though he hasn't been cleared for contact, linebacker Paul Posluszny is participating in this week's organized team activities as he recovers from January shoulder surgery. "As far as working out, being functional, the strength, the stability -- everything is back," Posluszny, who expects to be at full strength for training camp, told the team's official site. "I’m still not allowed to be in contact, but other than that, it feels great. It feels normal to me."

The Jaguars don't mind practicing in the rain, writes Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert isn't taking his starting job for granted, writes Stellino.

Tennessee Titans

As expected, receiver Kenny Britt had minor surgery on his right knee in an effort to boost his return from torn ligaments suffered in September. The procedure will "probably accelerate his rehab," Titans general manager Ruston Webster told the Tennessean. Also in Jim Wyatt's notebook: The Titans have not had any contract talks with franchise player Michael Griffin, but the safety is working out with teammates. And third-round pick Mike Martin signed a four-year deal.

And after thoroughly examining other options at center, it looks like the Titans will go with one of their own this fall, writes Wyatt. Eugene Amano, the regular starter the past two seasons, will have to hold off Kevin Matthews, Fernando Velasco and rookie William Vlachos for the job, Webster said.

The Titans are in the running for former Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell, writes Terry McCormick.

Picking a starting quarterback can be a difficult proposition, but for the Titans, Webster says choosing between Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker could come down to a simple "gut feeling," writes Elliot Harrison of NFL.com.

Houston Texans

Houston has signed five members of its 2012 draft class: center Ben Jones, receiver Keshawn Martin, defensive end Jared Crick, kicker Randy Bullock and tackle Nick Mondek.

Coach Gary Kubiak told James Casey that the team plans to use him as both a fullback and tight end this season, reports the Houston Chronicle's John McClain. "He’s going to play everywhere,” Kubiak said. “He’s our starting fullback. He’s a starting [tight end] if we go to two tights. It’s still about versatility with James.”

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts begin organized team activities Tuesday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Complex.

The Colts suffered more than their fair share of injuries in 2011, continuing a trend going back to 2006, writes Stampede Blue's Brad Wells.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Coach Mike Mularkey likes Blaine Gabbert's ability to deal with criticism, something he had to do a lot during his rookie season. Mularkey: "I give him credit for handling the negativity -- I haven't seen it affect him."

With Josh Scobee out in a contract impasse, the Jaguars signed former Georgia kicker Brandon Coutu for a look during OTAs, which begin Tuesday.

Scobee and running back Maurice Jones-Drew are not expected to attend OTAs, reports the Florida Times-Union's Tania Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans reportedly hosted veteran safeties Yeremiah Bell and Chris Crocker on Tuesday, reports the Tennessean's Jim Wyatt.

Coach Mike Munchak said receiver Kenny Britt, who's recovering from ACL and MCL surgery, may need a second procedure on his knee before he's ready to play this season, reports Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.

Kicker Rob Bironas, coming off one of his best seasons, credits his consistency on the field to plenty of rest off of it, writes Wyatt.