NASHVILLE — The last time Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan scored a touchdown covering more than 80 yards the 24-year-old figures he was, “Still playing Pop Warner football.”

The last time Titans quarterback Kerry Collins was timed in the 40-yard dash the 35-year-old figures, “I was at the (rookie) combine about 800 years ago.”

But then came Sunday at LP Field, the Titans matched against the feel-sad story of the young NFL season, the Hurricane Ike-ravaged Houston Texans, and Finnegan and Collins proved that every old highlight could turn new again in Tennessee's 31-12 win.

For his part, Finnegan iced this third Titans win in three tries by returning an interception 99 yards with 63 seconds to play.

“I can't keep this up,” said Finnegan, the Samford grad who now leads the NFL in interceptions with four and now owns the Titans’ franchise record for longest intereption return. “But I'll keep working hard to help us have the best defense in the league.”

As for Collins, his 17-yard scamper late in the first period set up the Titans' second touchdown, which gave them all the points they would ultimately need.

“I guess they forgot about me a little bit,” said Collins, who rushed three times for 30 yards, threw a touchdown pass and ran an offense that totaled 343 yards.

“I've lost a little weight and picked up my 40 time a little bit. If I really had to go out and run (a 40), I'd probably pull a couple of hammys (hamstrings). But it's fun to be a part of this.”

In the best of times this is not so much a fun AFC South showdown as a dysfunctional family feud. After all, the Titans once called Houston home before owner Bud Adams hauled the team off to Tennessee in 1997.

The NFL soon granted Houston a new franchise, which led the Texas city to approve a new stadium that it would never promise Adams. The fun hasn't stopped since.

There was nothing fun about Ike, however. It ravaged the east Texas coastline, all but erasing large portions of Galveston and doing billions of dollars of damage to Houston. Amid the widespread destruction, the Texans were forced to postpone their game against Baltimore until Week 8, their original bye week.

“The worst was definitely the power outage,” said Texans defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, who grew up in Huntsville, Ala. We're so comfortable with having power 24/7 and all of a sudden you don't have a microwave and the fridge is not working.”

Said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who began his career in Houston before the team moved to Music City, “It is hard to imagine what they went through. It is hard to imagine what basically the population has gone through there in south Texas. They are one of us.”

And all of that should never be forgotten. The Titans prepared for a football game last week the same way they prepare for games every week.

The Texans tried to prepare for a football game while putting their lives back together. It's not too hard to figure which team arrived at LP Field more relaxed and refreshed.

Still, the Titans have had their own issues thanks to the ongoing soap opera that is Houston native and injured Titans quarterback Vince Young. The third-year QB reportedly sprained his left knee in the season opener three weeks ago. The next day police were called to his home when someone told them he appeared suicidal. He hasn't played since, though he appeared to walk normally through the locker room on Sunday.

Then again, Young might be healing as fast as he can after watching Collins seamlessly guide the Titans to a 3-0 start heading into next week's visit from Minnesota.

“He's a great quarterback to work with,” said Titans wideout Justin McCareins. “Kerry throws a nice ball. He's very accurate. We are lucky to have him.”

Added running back Chris Johnston, “He drops back five steps and just puts the ball there. It's always right where you want it.”

The Titans' schedule has been right where they wanted it over these first three games. Until Jacksonville rallied at Indy on Sunday evening, no Titans foe had notched a single win. Though Jacksonville is supposed to be a playoff favorite, the Titans' three victims (Jax, Cincy and Houston) currently look as inept as the Three Stooges.

But a single moment from the opening period also details much reason to embrace this Titans mix of old and young, celebrated and unknown, future star and hanger-on.

After throwing an interception on the Titans' first play from scrimmage, Collins had something to say upon entering the huddle on the team's next possession.

Pulling everyone close he smiled and said, “That was a heckuva way to start out the game, huh?”

Said tight end Bo Scaife, “Everyone laughed. Everyone put it behind us.”

Eleven snaps later, the Titans led 7-3, Collins completing four passes in the drive totaling 50 yards. By the end of the game he'd become the 15th quarterback in NFL history to pass for 35,000 career yards.

“He knows how to manage a game,” said Scaife. “He knows how to create balance.”

Said Collins, “It's nice to be on a good team that's got a chance to win every week.”

Especially if it keeps making good on every one of those chances.