AFC divisional
playoff game |
Ravens at Titans
Adelphia Coliseum
Nashville, Tenn.
Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001
AT A GLANCE: The two top-rated defenses square off in
this matchup of AFC Central rivals. The Titans are looking to avenge their only loss at
home in 17 games (including playoffs), handed to them by the Ravens in Week 11.
|
| OVERVIEW: The Ravens enter this game after winning their
first playoff game since moving to Baltimore, a 21-3 decision against the Broncos. It was
the Ravens’ eighth straight victory. The Titans are coming off a bye week as the
No. 1 seed in the AFC. They have won their last four games, shutting out their last two
opponents. The Titans have allowed a paltry 7.0 points per game over the last six games.
Much has been said of these teams’ defensive rankings, with the Titans miffed that
they haven’t been mentioned with the Ravens as one of the top defenses in the league.
The Ravens finished the season ranked second in overall defense, with the Titans ahead of
them.
But while the Titans allowed fewer yards per game, the Ravens allowed fewer points and
created more turnovers. Baltimore finished the season at plus-23 in turnover margin, while
Tennessee finished even.
The Titans would argue that they allowed only 26 fewer points than the Ravens and
believe they should be just as highly respected.
Special teams also could weigh in heavily, with two of the top return specialists
taking part. Titans PR-KR Derrick Mason is headed to the Pro Bowl, and Ravens PR Jermaine
Lewis led the league in punt-return average this season. He also had two punt returns for
touchdowns.
WHEN THE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL:
The Ravens believe that with their defense, all the offense needs to do is put up 21
points and they can win. But the Ravens may struggle to do that against a very aggressive
Titans defense that has found its stride at just the right time.
The Titans will look to shut down RB Jamal Lewis, who they know will be forced down
their throats. Lewis is the best weapon the Ravens have on offense and may have to carry
the team on his shoulders. |
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|
| Adelphia Colisem |
| Nashville, Tenn. |
| Date: Sunday, January 7, 2001 |
| 12:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Third |
| Season Record: |
| |
Baltimore |
13-4-0 |
| |
Tennessee |
13-3-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
11-5-1 |
| |
Tennessee |
7-8-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
6-2-0 |
| |
Tenneessee (H) |
7-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
5-3-0 |
| |
Tennessee (H) |
4-4-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Baltimore |
12-4-0 |
| |
Tennessee |
11-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
10-5-1 |
| |
Tennessee |
7-5-1 |
|
|
| Much criticism has fallen on second-year DE Jevon
Kearse because he doesn’t have as many sacks as he had last season. But the Titans as
a whole have a higher sack percentage. DE Kenny Holmes has been very good opposite Kearse,
and DT Jason Fisk has done well against the run. Tennessee will rely on its solid LB
corps to spy on Lewis and force QB Trent Dilfer into making mistakes. The linebackers will
have the added task of covering stud TE Shannon Sharpe, who is clearly Dilfer’s No. 1
target.
The Ravens’ offensive line hasn’t protected the quarterback well, but the
line stepped up last week, allowing only two sacks. Of course, Dilfer suffered a minor
concussion in the game, but he came back and is expected to play against the Titans.
Aside from Sharpe, the Ravens have hardly any consistent receiving weapons. WR Qadry
Ismail has had a couple of good games, but he needs to be more reliable.
WHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL:
The Ravens’ defense knows Titans RB Eddie George will try to run them down, but
they aren’t worried. The Ravens haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 34 games.
In the teams’ first matchup in Week Eight, George carried once before hurting his
knee and leaving the game. In the second matchup, George was ineffective, carrying 12
times for 28 yards.
George faces a front line that had been playing lights-out and stepped it up even
further last week. The Ravens had not had much of a pass rush until last week, when DE
Michael McCrary exploded with three sacks.
The Titans must realize that the best way to beat the Ravens is through their
secondary, which isn’t as strong as the rest of the defense. The unit will be
hampered a bit by SS Kim Herring’s sprained ankle. Herring was questionable at
presstime but will likely try to play for this game.
QB Steve McNair has showed more poise this season by not taking off as soon as he had
early in his career. McNair senses the rush well and has been looking downfield more while
on the move instead of pulling the ball down immediately. McNair will keep the
Ravens’ LB corps on its toes. LB Ray Lewis will have his hands full, but he
definitely has the ability to keep up.
The Titans expect WRs Carl Pickens and Yancey Thigpen to step up now that they are near
100 percent. Mason has been the Titans’ No. 1 wide receiver and has proven to be
reliable in that role.
Ravens PK Matt Stover and Titans PK Al Del Greco are two of the better kickers in the
business. Both will be under pressure to hit their kicks.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 1, 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 |
85 MASON, 86 Pickens |
| OLT |
72 HOPKINS, 73 Sanderson |
| OLG |
74 MATTHEWS, 69 Piller |
| C |
60 LONG, 74 Matthews |
| ORG |
75 OLSON, 66 Dinapoli |
| ORT |
71 MILLER, 76 Mathews |
| TE |
89 WYCHECK, 88 Kinney*, 83 Leach* |
| WR |
81 SANDERS, 82 Thigpen, 17 Coleman* |
| QB |
9 McNAIR, 14 O'Donnell, 12 Volek* |
| RB |
27 GEORGE, 22 Thomas, 20 Green* |
| FB |
41 NEAL |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
90 KEARSE, 96 Embray*, 93 Frisch* |
| DLT |
78 THORNTON, 98 Smith*, 77 R. Walker |
| DRT |
97 FISK, 95 Salave'a |
| DRE |
99 HOLMES, 92 Ford |
| LLB |
51 FAVORS, 53 Bulluck*, 50 Killens |
| MLB |
56 GODFREY, 57 Chamberlin* |
| RLB |
55 ROBINSON, 59 Sirmon* |
| LCB |
25 D. WALKER, 37 Sidney |
| RCB |
21 ROLLE, 38 McCullough, 33 Booker |
| SS |
23 BISHOP, 35 Phenix, 28 Morris* |
| FS |
31 ROBERTSON, 32 Myers* |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
15 HENTRICH |
| PK |
3 DEL GRECO |
| H |
15 HENTRICH |
| PR |
85 MASON, 31 Robertson |
| KR |
85 MASON, 22 Thomas |
| KC |
74 MATTHEWS, 60 Long |
* Rookie |
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