Titans at Redskins
FedEx Field
Landover, Md.
Monday, Oct. 30, 2000
AT A GLANCE: Two first-place teams square off in a game that will
likely have a playoff atmosphere. The Titans are looking to distance themselves from the
Ravens in the AFC Central, while the Redskins want to pull away from the Giants.
|
| OVERVIEW: The Titans and Redskins are two of the hottest
teams in the league right now, as evidenced by their lengthy win streaks. The Titans (6-1)
have won six in a row after dropping their regular-season opener to the Bills. The
Redskins (6-2) opened up the season a disappointing 1-2 but have since won five in a row. The
Titans have a hold on first place in the AFC Central and are a perfect 4-0 in the
division. However, Titans fans are fretting over the health of franchise RB Eddie George,
who sprained a ligament in his right knee on the opening series of last week’s game.
He did not return, and his status was unknown at presstime, pending the results of an MRI,
which was scheduled to take place Oct. 23.
With the Giants (5-2) on bye, the Redskins claimed sole possession of first place in
the NFC East. While the team had been winning games, Washington did not look dominant
until last week’s 35-16 win in Jacksonville. The Redskins’ previous high in
scoring this season had been 21 points. They weren’t blowing out opponents either, as
their previous largest margin of victory was 10 points. Before Week Eight,
Washington’s average margin of victory was a measly 5.3 points.
Going back to last season, the Titans have won their last four regular-season games
straight up vs. NFC opponents. They are 3-0-1 vs. the spread in that span. The Redskins
are 3-1 straight up and 4-0 vs. the spread in their last four games vs. AFC teams.
WHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL:
It’s amazing what the Titans have accomplished thus far considering the injuries
that have hit their roster. QB Steve McNair and WRs Yancey Thigpen and Carl Pickens have
missed time this season, and now George’s status is up in the air. WR Kevin Dyson
(knee) is out for the year. |
|
|
| FedEx Field |
| Landover, Md. |
| Date: Monday, October 30, 2000 |
| 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Tennessee |
6-1-0 |
| |
Washington |
6-2-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tennessee |
3-3-1 |
| |
Washington |
4-3-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Tennessee (R) |
3-1-0 |
| |
Washington (H) |
3-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tennessee (R) |
1-2-1 |
| |
Washington (H) |
2-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Tennessee |
5-0-0 |
| |
Washington |
5-1-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Tennessee |
3-1-1 |
| |
Washington |
4-2-0 |
|
|
| Whatever happens with George, the Titans will remain a run-oriented team. Rodney
Thomas filled in for George last week and rushed for 53 yards on 18 carries. Thomas is
clearly not the same punishing runner that George is. Check the status of Pickens, who
may be ready to return from a hamstring injury. Without Pickens and Dyson, Derrick Mason
and Chris Sanders have been starting. Mason has very reliable hands, and McNair has come
to depend on him. Sanders has very good deep speed and is capable of making the big play.
Thigpen has been relegated to the No. 3 WR spot.
The Titans could have trouble through the air vs. two of the best starting cornerbacks
in the game — Champ Bailey and Deion Sanders. Bailey is becoming more physical, but
Sanders is proving to be human, as he’s been beaten more than once this year.
If the receivers are covered, look for McNair to target TE Frank Wycheck, who has been
a favorite target of McNair’s for years
The Redskins will have to be wary of McNair’s scrambling ability and try to keep
him in the pocket.
Tennessee’s offensive line has been very solid, but it will face a stern test vs.
a Washington defense that features stud pass rushers Bruce Smith and Marco Coleman.
WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL:
Washington is coming off its highest point total (35) and second-highest yardage total
of the year (399). For much of the season, the Redskins have been lacking the explosion on
offense that made them such a dangerous team in 1999.
Last week QB Brad Johnson quieted the critics who questioned his arm strength, and
Albert Connell also silenced the critics who said he wasn’t capable of consistently
being a game-breaking wide receiver. Connell racked up 211 yards on seven catches vs. the
Jaguars, including three touchdowns. Connell caught TD passes of 11, 49 and 77 yards.
WR James Thrash has very good speed and can be a threat as well. Check the status of
Irving Fryar (neck).
The Washington receivers will face a very solid Titans secondary that features CBs
Samari Rolle and Denard Walker and safeties Blaine Bishop and Marcus Robertson. The
safeties may also be asked to give help in run support, as Washington relies heavily on
the power running of Stephen Davis. Davis is averaging 100.3 yards rushing per game.
Titans MLB Randall Godfrey, who had a huge game last week, will play a large role in
trying to contain Davis
The Skins’ offensive line is banged up but still does a solid job of protecting
Johnson. Titans DLE Jevon Kearse’s production is down because of double teams, but
that has freed things up for DRE Kenny Holmes, who faces standout rookie OLT Chris
Samuels.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Oct. 22, 2000 |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
86 PICKENS, 85 Mason, 84 Yamini* |
| 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* |
| 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 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 |
| KR |
85 MASON, 22 Thomas |
| KC |
74 MATTHEWS, 60 Long |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
87 THRASH, 86 Fryar, 24 Bailey |
| OLT |
60 SAMUELS*, 64 Heck |
| OLG |
63 SIMS, 66 Moore*, 57 Leeuwenburg |
| C |
51 FISCHER, 57 Leeuwenburg |
| ORG |
57 LEEUWENBURG, 67 Fletcher, 68 Hutson |
| ORT |
76 JANSEN, 69 Ellis |
| TE |
80 ALEXANDER, 88 Jenkins, 89 Flemister* |
| WR |
83 CONNELL, 84 Reed, 13 Thompson |
| QB |
14 B. JOHNSON, 3 George, 8 Husak* |
| RB |
48 DAVIS, 22 Murrell, 20 Hicks |
| FB |
37 CENTERS, 45 Sellers |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
99 COLEMAN, 90 Lang |
| DLT |
95 WILKINSON, 90 Lang |
| DRT |
94 STUBBLEFIELD, 74 N. Harrison |
| DRE |
78 B. SMITH, 72 Kalu, 75 Ham* |
| SLB |
55 ARRINGTON*, 54 Jones |
| MLB |
50 D. SMITH, 55 Mitchell |
| WLB |
59 BARBER, 53 Mason, 58 Givens |
| LCB |
24 BAILEY, 26 Drakeford, 41 L. Harrison* |
| RCB |
21 D. SANDERS, 28 Green |
| SS |
29 SHADE, 31 Terrell |
| FS |
27 CARRIER, 23 Stevens |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
6 BARNHARDT |
| PK |
4 HEPPNER* |
| H |
6 BARNHARDT |
| PR |
21 D. SANDERS, 87 Thrash |
| KR |
87 THRASH, 22 Murrell |
| LS |
85 ZELENKA |
* Rookie |
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