Bills at Titans
Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tenn.,
Saturday, Jan. 8
AT A GLANCE: The Titans, making their first postseason trip since the
1993 season, host the first NFL playoff game in Tennessee. They face the Bills, who have
been to the playoffs in 10 of the last 12 seasons.
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| OVERVIEW: It seems that all the Tennessee Titans needed
to get into the playoffs was a new logo and a new home. After three consecutive 8-8
seasons as the Oilers, the newly named Titans established themselves as one of the
NFL’s better teams, finishing with a sterling 13-3 record. A big part of the
Titans’ success was their newfound home-field advantage. The once-nomadic club was
8-0 in its first season at Adelphia Coliseum. The reward is another home game, this one in
the wild-card round against the Bills.
While the Titans are making their first postseason appearance since the 1993 season,
the Bills have been in the playoffs in 10 of the last 12 years. They earned a berth this
season by going 11-5 in the AFC East, the league’s toughest division.
These franchises last met in the postseason on Jan. 3, 1993. In that game, Buffalo
overcame a 35-3 deficit to earn a 41-38 overtime win. That remains the biggest comeback in
NFL playoff history.
WHEN THE BILLS HAVE THE BALL:
Throughout the season, the Bills have needed to run the football to be effective.
Buffalo uses a RB-by-committee approach, with Antowain Smith (concussion; check status)
and Jonathan Linton carrying between the tackles and Thurman Thomas providing a change of
pace. Thomas, who missed most of the season with a liver contusion, seems to have a little
extra zip in his legs after the long layoff. He plays a big role on third downs and is a
dangerous receiver.
Wade Phillips made a surprise move when he elevated Rob Johnson to the starting QB spot
over Doug Flutie. Johnson's top target is WR Eric Moulds, who has size and speed. Moulds
set a playoff record in a wild-card game last season with 240 receiving yards. The Titans
may have Samari Rolle, their best cover corner, follow Moulds all over the field. Rolle
did a good job of locking up the opposition’s top wideout late in the season.
Meanwhile, fellow CB Denard Walker has been victimized lately.
The other key target in the Bills’ passing attack is TE Jay Riemersma, who has
developed into a very good red-zone target. |
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|
Profile |
| Adelphia Coliseum |
| Nashville, Tenn. |
| Date: Saturday, January 8, 2000 |
| 11:30 A.M. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Buffalo |
11-5-0 |
| |
Tennessee |
13-3-0 |
| Season Record vs. Spread: |
| |
Buffalo |
8-7-1 |
| |
Tennessee |
10-5-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Buffalo (R) |
5-3-0 |
| |
Tennessee (H) |
8-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record vs. Spread: |
| |
Buffalo (R) |
3-4-1 |
| |
Tennessee (H) |
6-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Buffalo |
5-0-0 |
| |
Tennessee |
10-3-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf vs. Spread: |
| |
Buffalo |
3-1-1 |
| |
Tennessee |
8-5-0 |
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| It was uncertain at presstime whether Titans FS Marcus Robertson, who was in a
motorcycle accident before last week’s game, would be available. If he can’t go,
speedy Anthony Dorsett fills in. The Bills must account for rookie DLE Jevon Kearse,
whose speed and playmaking ability have been on display all season. Kearse is still
learning, but he is an impact player already. He will line up against ORT Robert Hicks, a
massive player who has done a good job this season. The question is whether Hicks has the
quickness to lock on Kearse. Pro Bowl FB Sam Gash, a fine blocker, may be asked to help
Hicks.
C Jerry Ostroski (knee) did not play last week and may not be available for this
matchup. If he can’t go, young Bill Conaty would fill in. He will have his hands full
with a deep Titans defensive line.
WHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL:
The Titans’ first goal is to run the ball. Eddie George, a tall, tough runner, has
had a fine season, but he may find rough going against a Bills defense that has been among
the league’s best this season. NT Ted Washington clogs the middle, and ILBs Sam
Cowart and John Holecek are also fine run stoppers.
George has the luxury of running behind a solid offensive line that features veteran
Bruce Matthews and underrated OTs Jon Runyan and Brad Hopkins. Hopkins will have his hands
full with DRE Bruce Smith, who has been disruptive this season despite declining sack
totals. The Titans likely will have to use a tight end or back to double Smith.
The play of QB Steve McNair is the X-factor for the Titans. When he’s on, the
offense is very tough to stop. Tennessee may try to roll McNair out early to help him get
in rhythm. McNair’s scrambling ability will also be a factor. McNair can make
something out of nothing by using his mobility.
Tennessee’s leading receiver is H-back Frank Wycheck, but the key guy is WR Yancey
Thigpen. The oft-injured veteran brings a deep threat to the offense and gives McNair a
reliable set of hands in key situations.
The Bills’ top cover corner is Thomas Smith. On the other side, rookie Antoine
Winfield has moved into the starting lineup. The Titans may try to exploit his lack of
size. The Bills use more zone than man coverage.
Game preview and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 2, 2000 |
|
Bills depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
80 MOULDS, 81 P. Price*, 89 Loud |
| OLT |
70 FINA, 69 Spriggs |
| OLG |
79 BROWN, 74 Nails, 66 Allotey |
| C |
60 OSTROSKI, 63 Conaty, 61 Zeigler |
| ORG |
61 ZEIGLER, 74 Nails |
| ORT |
77 HICKS, 69 Spriggs |
| TE |
85 RIEMERSMA, 84 Collins*, 88 Jackson* |
| WR |
83 REED, 82 K. Williams, 86 McDaniel |
| QB |
11 JOHNSON, 7 Flutie, 10 Van Pelt |
| HB |
23 A. SMITH, 35 Linton, 34 Thomas, 31 Gordon* |
| FB |
33 GASH, 35 Linton |
| DEFENSE |
| DLE |
90 HANSEN, 75 Wiley, 98 Moran |
| NT |
92 WASHINGTON, 93 P. Williams |
| DRE |
78 B. SMITH, 75 Wiley, 91 Price |
| LOLB |
59 ROGERS, 53 Newman* |
| LILB |
52 HOLECEK, 51 Cummings, 55 Foreman* |
| RILB |
56 COWART, 58 Perry |
| ROLB |
99 NORTHERN, 96 Brandenburg |
| LCB |
26 WINFIELD*, 25 Greer |
| RCB |
28 T. SMITH, 26 Winfield* |
| SS |
20 JONES, 22 Porter |
| FS |
24 SCHULZ, 29 Carpenter* |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
9 MOHR |
| PK |
2 CHRISTIE |
| H |
9 MOHR |
| PR |
82 K. WILLIAMS, 81 P. Price* |
| KR |
82 K. WILLIAMS, 81 P. Price* |
| KC |
76 ALBRIGHT, 63 Conaty |
* Rookie |
|
|
Titans depth
chart |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
87 DYSON, 81 Sanders, 85 Mason |
| OLT |
72 HOPKINS, 76 Mathews |
| OLG |
74 MATTHEWS, 71 Piller* |
| C |
60 LONG, 74 Matthews |
| ORG |
75 OLSON, 66 Layman |
| ORT |
69 RUNYAN, 76 Mathews |
| TE |
89 WYCHECK, 88 Harris, 80 Roan, 84 Brown |
| WR |
82 THIGPEN, 83 Byrd, 86 Kent |
| QB |
9 McNAIR, 14 O'Donnell, 13 Daft* |
| FB |
41 NEAL, 80 Roan |
| RB |
27 E. GEORGE, 20 Thomas, 26 S. George |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
90 KEARSE*, 94 Frederick |
| DLT |
91 EVANS, 96 Jones, 78 Thornton* |
| DRT |
97 FISK, 95 Salave'a |
| DRE |
92 FORD, 99 Holmes |
| LLB |
55 ROBINSON, 54 Glover* |
| MLB |
52 WORTHAM, 59 Colman |
| RLB |
58 BOWDEN, 50 Killens, 51 Favors |
| LCB |
25 WALKER, 37 Sidney |
| RCB |
21 ROLLE, 30 Mitchell*, 38 McCullough |
| SS |
35 PHENIX, 23 Bishop |
| FS |
31 ROBERTSON, 33 Dorsett, 24 Jackson |
SPECIALISTS |
| P |
15 HENTRICH |
| PK |
3 DEL GRECO |
| H |
15 HENTRICH |
| PR |
85 MASON, 83 Byrd, 26 S. George |
| KR |
85 MASON, 20 Thomas, 26 S. George, 33 Dorsett |
| KC |
74 MATTHEWS, 60 Long |
* Rookie |
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