Defense was the name of the game for the Titans on Sunday, as the Titans turned three turnovers into 21 points and took down the Jaguars 24-17.

''What happened today is that we took advantage of those situations—the interception returns for touchdowns, the strip and caused fumble, Pac’s returns, all those things,'' Head Coach Jeff Fisher said. ''So, we created opportunities for ourselves.''

Coming into the game, the Titans ranked 32 second in the NFL in total defense. After the game, the Titans may not move up in that category, but they will move up in the only category that counts for them, and that is the win category.

''Well, I mean, I don't care what the perception of me is out there,'' Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. ''I don't give one rat's behind about any stat other than winning. The only thing that matters is winning the game and that's what we did today.''

The Titans defense showed tremendous heart against the Jaguars, utilizing a bend but not break mentality. Because of the three turnovers that the Titans turned into immediate scores, the Titans defense did not get many breathers during the game.

''We played a lot of plays and they sucked it up and they went out and played,'' Schwartz said. ''Guys were cramping, guys needed IV's and things like that but they sucked it up and they played.''

During the third quarter, the Titans defense was on the field for 35 consecutive plays. During that stretch of 35 plays, the defense scored 14 points against the Jaguars. Defensive back Cortland Finnegan picked up a David Garrard fumble, and raced 92-yards for a touchdown.

''The coaches put me in the right spot,'' defensive back Cortland Finnegan said. I was determined from the start when I picked it up. I was just thinking ‘don’t get caught’. I just wanted to get in the end zone and put some points up on the board. You run faster when a play like that happens, and then you find out how winded you are at the end. It was a fun thing.''

On the next possession for the Jaguars, safety Chris Hope picked off his fourth interception of the year and took it to the house for a 61-yard touchdown.

''They always used to say 'defensive backs and linebackers are receivers who can’t catch', defensive back Chris Hope said. ''I played running back in high school and I take pride in scoring. So every time I get my hands on the ball I try to make something happen with it.''

''Throughout this last win streak, that we’ve had, the offense has played big, scoring points and making the plays for us. As a defense, we take pride in scoring our own touchdowns. Keith (Bulluck) said it earlier today when we broke it down: ‘Don’t go out and dominate. Go out and score touchdowns’. We all take pride in scoring when we get our hands on the ball''

In the third quarter, the Titans offense only put up 5 net yards and three points, while the defense accounted for 14 points in the third quarter.

''We also created problems for ourselves, defensively,'' Fisher said. ''To have to play that number of plays against them consecutively, you have to take your hat off to the defensive guys because that was a valiant effort to be on the field that long, and you have to give the defense credit for this win.''

Earlier in the game, on Jacksonville's first drive of the game, Adam ''Pacman'' Jones jumped in front of a David Garrard pass and sprinted 83 yards into the end zone for his first interception returned for a touchdown.

For the game, the Titans ended up with three touchdowns and 236 interception and fumble return yardage from the turnovers.

The defensive stats will not wow the coaching staff, but the effort the Titans gave on defense cannot be overlooked. The Titans defense was on the field for a total of 44:22 minutes and 82 plays during the entire game.

Fatigue began to play a factor down the stretch for the Titans, but after being embarrassed the last two go-arounds by the Jaguars, the Titans defense was determined to win this game.

The Titans defense gave up 396 total yards to the Jaguars, 202 of those yards came on the ground. Jacksonville converted 10-19 on third downs, but the Titans did hold the Jaguars on two crucial fourth down conversions.

Coming into the game with only 17 total sacks through 14 games, the Titans wrapped up Garrard in the backfield five different times on Sunday for 38 lost yards. Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard finished the day 22-of-37 passing for 237 yards and one touchdown. Despite those numbers, the Titans defense forced Garrard into three interceptions that led to 14 Titan points, while forcing a Garrard fumble that led to another 7 points.

The Titans are now riding their first five game winning streak since the 2003 season and are back at .500 for the first time since the second game of the 2005 season.

''You've got to find a way to get a win and we've gotten them a lot of different ways,'' Schwartz said. ''We've come back from 21 down, we've had them a lot of different ways and this was just another way to win. I'm proud of the guys. I thought they fought the whole game. They were tired and they were out there a long time but they found a way to come up with a play when they needed it.''