AFC conference
championship game |
Ravens at Raiders
Network Associates Coliseum
Oakland, Calif.
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001
AT A GLANCE: The Ravens didn’t do much offensively vs. the
Titans, but they made several big plays to advance. The Raiders played their first playoff
game since 1993 and didn’t disappoint with a 27-0 win over Miami.
|
| OVERVIEW: In a clash between two teams riding impressive
streaks, something has to give. And when the Raiders play host to the Ravens, something
will give in what promises to be one of the most physical matchups of the season. The
Raiders, winners of their last seven at home (including playoffs) by a startling average
of 27.6 points per game, enter this contest feeling healthier than they have in weeks. In
its 27-0 divisional win over Miami, Oakland held Dolphins RB Lamar Smith to just four
yards after he gained 209 vs. the Colts the week before. The Raiders also forced the
Dolphins into four turnovers.
The Ravens shocked the Titans in Tennessee for the second time this year, prevailing
24-10 on the strength of a defensive touchdown, a special-teams touchdown and two blocked
field-goal attempts. Baltimore is playing with immense confidence, having won nine in a
row though it mustered only 134 yards of offense vs. Tennessee.
Both Raiders head coach Jon Gruden (third year) and Ravens head coach Brian Billick
(second year) have helped their teams make dramatic strides with a mix of young talent and
veteran leadership.
WHEN THE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL:
With the Ravens’ passing game stuck in neutral, Baltimore will continue to rely on
talented rookie RB Jamal Lewis. The Ravens often choose to run behind mammoth OLG Edwin
Mulitalo and OLT Jonathan Ogden. FB Sam Gash has done a solid job leading the way for
Lewis and in blitz pickup. The Ravens are 6-0 overall when Lewis reaches the 100-yard
plateau, but he managed just 47 yards on 17 carries last week. |
|
|
| Network Associates Coliseum |
| Oakland, Calif. |
| Date: Sunday, January 14, 2001 |
| 4:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Baltimore |
14-4-0 |
| |
Oakland |
13-4-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
12-5-1 |
| |
Oakland |
12-5-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
7-2-0 |
| |
Oakland (H) |
8-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
6-3-0 |
| |
Oakland (H) |
7-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Baltimore |
13-4-0 |
| |
Oakland |
11-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
11-5-1 |
| |
Oakland |
10-3-0 |
|
|
| QB Trent Dilfer completed only five passes in the
win over Tennessee, finished 20th in the league in passer rating and trailed only the
Chargers’ Ryan Leaf in AFC interception percentage. But the only numbers that truly
matter are 9-1, which is Dilfer’s record as the Ravens’ starter. Dilfer tends to
get in trouble when he thinks there is more available to him than there is and when he
holds on to the ball too long in the face of a blitz. WR Qadry Ismail and TE Shannon
Sharpe are his favorite targets, but Dilfer must show the patience to attack
Oakland’s safeties in coverage. Oakland’s trio of cornerbacks, Charles
Woodson, Eric Allen and Tory James, are playing extremely well and are as physical at the
line of scrimmage as any.
The Raiders’ pass rush has been trouble for opposing quarterbacks, as Oakland
often rotates seven defensive linemen and is aggressive in its blitz packages.
WHEN THE RAIDERS HAVE THE BALL:
Oakland’s well-balanced attack was held in check for the most part by the
Dolphins’ defense, but the Raiders are finally close to healthy at both the RB and WR
positions.
Oakland carried the ball 45 times in the win over Miami, and although the Ravens’
boast the league’s top-ranked run defense, don’t expect the Raiders to abandon
their ground game if it gets off to a slow start.
RB Tyrone Wheatley carries the bulk of the load, but expect RBs Randy Jordan and Terry
Kirby and FB Zack Crockett to play a major role. RB Napoleon Kaufman re-injured his leg
last week, and his status was unknown at presstime. The same holds true for starting FB
Jon Ritchie, who hasn’t seen game action in a month. If both can play, they only add
to the Raiders’ arsenal in the backfield.
How the Raiders’ cohesive offensive line will be able to contain the Ravens’
hole-plugging DT duo of Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa will go a long way in determining
which team moves on to the Super Bowl.
Raiders QB Rich Gannon uses a lot of different receivers in the course of a game, but
his favorites are veteran WRs Tim Brown and Andre Rison. He also involves any number of
the versatile running backs. The Dolphins tried in vain to shadow Gannon, but he was able
to frustrate Miami by avoiding the pressure and scrambling for four first downs in five
rushing attempts.
One of the few weaknesses on Baltimore’s defense could be the inconsistent play of
CB Duane Starks. But the Ravens have done a remarkable job of tackling and batting down
passes of late, which may not bode well for Gannon’s low-trajectory, sidearm throws.
The Ravens’ special teams accounted for a touchdown last week. Baltimore boasts a
solid unit in terms of kicking (Matt Stover), returning (Jermaine Lewis) and coverage.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 7, 2001 |
OFFENSE |
| WR |
87 ISMAIL, 80 Stokley, 86 Davis |
| OLT |
75 OGDEN, 71 Folau |
| OLG |
64 MULITALO, 77 Vickers, 74 Bobo |
| C |
60 J. MITCHELL, 62 Flynn, 66 Hudson |
| ORG |
62 FLYNN, 77 Vickers, 74 Bobo |
| ORT |
70 SWAYNE, 71 Folau, 72 Williams |
| TE |
82 SHARPE, 81 Coates, 85 Jones |
| WR |
83 JOHNSON, 84 Je. Lewis, 11 Nash |
| QB |
8 DILFER, 12 Banks, 7 Redman* |
| RB |
31 JA. LEWIS* 33 Holmes |
| FB |
32 GASH, 29 Evans |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
90 BURNETT, 93 K. Washington |
| DLT |
95 ADAMS, 79 Webster |
| DRT |
98 SIRAGUSA, 91 Dalton |
| DRE |
99 McCRARY, 96 Thomas* |
| LLB |
58 BOULWARE, 51 Brown |
| MLB |
52 R. LEWIS, 50 Jackson, 57 Brigance |
| RLB |
55 SHARPER, 48 Davis, 57 Brigance |
| LCB |
22 STARKS, 38 Trapp |
| RCB |
21 McALISTER, 35 Bailey, 25 Love |
| SS |
20 HERRING, 43 Poindexter |
| FS |
26 WOODSON, 45 Harris, 42 A. Mitchell |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
5 RICHARDSON |
| PK |
3 STOVER |
| H |
5 RICHARDSON, 80 Stokley |
| KR |
45 HARRIS, 33 Holmes, 87 Ismail |
| PR |
84 JE. LEWIS, 22 Starks, 26 Woodson |
| KC |
66 HUDSON, 62 Flynn |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 BROWN, 88 Dunn |
| OLT |
65 SIMS, 74 Stinchcomb |
| OLG |
76 WISNIEWSKI, 65 Sims |
| C |
63 B. ROBBINS, 62 Treu |
| ORG |
79 COLLINS, 73 Ashmore |
| ORT |
72 KENNEDY, 73 Ashmore |
| TE |
83 DUDLEY, 87 Brigham |
| WR |
82 JETT, 80 Rison, 1 Porter* |
| QB |
12 GANNON, 14 Hoying, 16 Peete |
| RB |
47 WHEATLEY, 28 Jordan, 26 Kaufman, 42 Kirby |
| FB |
32 CROCKETT, 40 Ritchie |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
94 BRYANT, 91 Upshaw |
| DLT |
90 JACKSON, 92 Ioane* |
| DRT |
96 RUSSELL, 57 Coleman |
| DRE |
51 JOHNSTONE, 99 Taves |
| SLB |
59 THOMAS, 50 Barton |
| MLB |
54 BIEKERT, 55 Brooks |
| WLB |
58 ALEXANDER, 53 Smith |
| LCB |
24 WOODSON, 23 Gordon |
| RCB |
21 ALLEN, 20 James |
| SS |
49 POPE, 37 Harris |
| FS |
33 DORSETT, 27 Branch |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
9 LECHLER* |
| PK |
11 JANIKOWSKI* |
| H |
9 LECHLER* |
| PR |
23 GORDON |
| KR |
26 KAUFMAN, 27 Branch |
| KC |
62 TREU |
* Rookie |
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