Johnson broke loose for touchdown runs of 52 and 89 yards Sunday while setting an all-time franchise rushing record with 228 yards in a 30-13 victory against Jacksonville (3-4).

Johnson's two long runs — the second of which left him stretched out in the end zone gasping for air for a few minutes — were what Tennessee needed to offset Maurice Jones-Drew's two long hauls of 79 and 80 yards for Jacksonville touchdowns.

BOX SCORE: Titans 30, Jaguars 13

It was the first time in NFL history there were four touchdown runs of longer than 50 yards in the same game, according to NFL record books.

But the proudest person at LP field might have been Titans owner Bud Adams.

The 86-year-old Adams dodged specifically answering whether he directly ordered Titans coach Jeff Fisher to start Young at quarterback over Kerry Collins.

But Adams clearly took immense pride in the performance of Young as the Titans (1-6) bounced back from the 59-0 drubbing two weeks ago at New England, before their bye week.

"I thought he did a great job, and showed he could do it," Adams said of Young, who finished 15-for-18 for 125 yards, with no interceptions.

Speaking in the Titans locker room, Adams recounted details of Young's high school and collegiate history to reporters, and how he still feels lucky Tennessee was able to get him with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2006 draft.

"I said this guy is going to be the guy," Adams said.

Young didn't have any completions longer than 18 yards, and had two near-interceptions early. His best throw was perhaps a cross-field dart to Nate Washington, and he effectively scrambled for time on drive-sustaining completions.

His running statistics — 12 runs for 30 yards — were diminished by late-game kneeldowns, but he did convert a third down with a scramble on each of Tennessee's first two touchdown drives.

Young's one touchdown toss, six yards to a well-guarded Washington in the back of the end zone, came on an arcing touch pass. That kind of deft throw was largely missing from Young's repertoire during his last run at the Titans starter, from mid-2006 through the opening game of last season.

Young said "It was a great feeling being back out there with my teammates," and added that, "That year off has helped me a lot."

He also received a late-game hug from Tennessee's oft-gruff offensive coordinator, Mike Heimerdinger.

"He's just personally seen me grow a little bit tonight, and he gave me love," Young said.

Fisher said Young's performance was "efficient," and added that, "I said all along that he has stayed focused, prepared himself. He had fun tonight and it was good to see."

Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio blamed himself for the defeat, and said the Jaguars allowed Tennessee "to basically cram it down our throats."

For Tennessee, just as important as Young's arm or Johnson's runs was that its defense finally showed a resemblance to the unit that led the Titans to a 13-3 mark last season.

The Titans limited Jacksonville to 1:52 of possession time in the first quarter and 20:17 for the game. Tennessee also had two interceptions — as many as it had in its five previous games, and applied pressure that helped limit David Garrard to a 14-for-27 passing night, for 139 yards and a 35.9 passer rating.

"This is how we expected to come out the whole season, but it didn't happen," Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck said.

Bulluck conceded that horrible tackling helped Jacksonville's two long touchdown runs, but said that after finally getting the first victory of the season he wasn't terribly bothered by seeing Jones-Drew amass 177 rushing yards on just eight carries.

"Any other time I would care," Bulluck said, "but this time I wouldn't have cared if he had run for 300 yards, you know what I mean?"

Enlarge By Wade Payne, AP Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) is congratulated by quarterback Vince Young (10).