2012 » on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San An

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Its deja vu all over again for the Tennessee Titans, who are starting out 1/3 for a third straight season and fourth in the past five years.Even with a new coach, they are struggling to clean up penalties and turnovers that have cost them in back-to-back losses. The latest mistakes cost special teams coordinator Bobby April his job on Monday, a day after his unit gave up 10 points in a 27-20 loss at Houston.Coach Mike Mularkey said he just didnt see improvement out of special teams before deciding to fire an assistant who worked for him in Buffalo in 2004-05. Mularkey spoke with Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk on Sunday night and says he isnt worried about his own job security.He also insists the Titans are better.Were very close. I know people are tired of hearing that, Im tired of saying it. But its a fact, Mularkey said.Theres a few plays, four to five plays a game, that have made a difference in the outcome of these games. I know in the past two years if we had been down 14 points in Houston, that would not have been a pretty outcome. And this team is competing with every team that weve played and had a chance to win every game we played. Weve got to find a way to win.The Titans came into this season expecting a turnaround behind a new general manager with Mularkey fully in charge, having been given the job permanently in January along with 23 new players on the roster. Now a month into the season, they are on the same track that wound up costing Ken Whisenhunt his coaching job after a 1-6 start.Linebacker Derrick Morgan sees a difference in this team from previous squads, especially in how the Titans responded when falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter in Houston.In years past, we more than likely wouldve folded in that situation, Morgan said. But I think we did a great job battling back and tying it up and actually making it a four-quarter game. ... We still lost the game, but you can kind of see incremental improvements in the team.The Titans have had the ball late in each of the last two losses with a chance to either force overtime or go for a 2-point conversion and the win. But theyve put themselves in catch-up mode with too many mistakes.The second-least penalized team in the NFL last season, the Titans have been flagged for 19 penalties for 163 yards combined the past two games. A penalty for 12 men on the field at the end of the first half turned a punt by Houston into a 45-yard field goal and a 20-17 halftime lead for the Texans.The Titans also gave up a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter that decided the game, which certainly didnt help April. Steve Hoffman, who is in his fourth season as an assistant with Tennessee and his 27th in the NFL, will take over special teams.Tennessees losses have come against teams with a combined 9-2 record in Minnesota, Oakland and Houston. The schedule for the rest of October gives the Titans a much more even playing field against opponents who are 3-13 combined. They visit Miami (1-3) on Sunday before hosting Cleveland (0-4), Indianapolis (1-3) and Jacksonville (1-3).Weve got to find a way to win, and weve got to find a way to cut down on critical mistakes at crucial times in the game and just play a complete game, Morgan said. Right now each phase is taking a turn at coming up short.Game notesMularkey said DL Al Woods will miss up to a month after pulling a calf muscle at Houston. S DaNorris Searcy will be held out of practice Wednesday but may have a chance to return. ... The Titans signed NT Antwaun Woods to the practice squad and released WR Jordan Leslie.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-NFLFollow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalkerNike Epic React Flyknit China . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Nike Epic React Flyknit Clearance . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.nikereactsale.com/ . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Nike Air More Uptempo China . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Nike React Clearance . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division.RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Eddie Lack on injured reserve with a concussion and called up veteran Michael Leighton to replace him.General manager Ron Francis announced the moves Monday night, after Lack was injured during practice earlier in the day.The 35-year-old Leighton is 6-2-1 in 10 appearances with Carolinas AHL affiliate in Charlotte. His career record in the NHL is 35-41-4, thoough he has played only three NHL games since the 2009-10 season.ddddddddddddhe Hurricanes signed him during the offseason to provide depth behind Lack and Cam Ward, who has taken control of the position. Ward has won four straight games and last week went 3-0-0 with a 1.01 goals-against average. ' ' '