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AFC Championship Game breakdown
Posted: Tuesday January 18, 2000 02:37 PM
| | | Edges | | Jaguars | | Titans |
| Mark Brunell says his knee feels fine. If it is I like him over
...
| QB
 | ... Steve McNair, who can look a lot better some days and a lot worse
others. If it comes down to the backups Tennessee's Neil O'Donnell has already
beaten the Jaguars. |
| Jacksonville's Fred Taylor looked great the other day rushing for 135
yards on 18 carries. Plus, the Jags have 1,000-yard reserve back James Stewart
waiting in the
wings. | RB
 | The Titans counter with Eddie George. Eddie carried the Titans on his
back last week, when he rushed for 162 yards in 26 carries. Taylor can sting you
at any time, George will wear you down. |
| The loss of Tony Boselli will hurt the the Jaguars. | OL
 | Meanwhile, the Titans have two Pro Bowlers on their line in tackle John
Runyan and guard Bruce Matthews. |
| Jacksonville has the third-best tandem in the league in Jimmie Smith and
Keenan McCardell. Only Minnesota's corps and the Rams receivers can top this
duo.
| Rec
| The Titans receivers aren't bad, either, but for this game the edge goes
to the Jags. |
| The Jaguars' front four were very productive this year, mostly because of
defensive coordinator Dom Capers' scheme. Undersized defensive end Tony Brackens
can rush the passer, but has trouble when there are two tight ends in the game
and he has to play down
inside. | DL
| I might take Jevon Kearse over any defensive player in the league if I
was starting a franchise today. And I like the other Titans linemen, too --
especially Kenny Holmes. |
| Jacksonville's Kevin Hardy is the best linebacker in this game
... | LB
| ... but as a group I like the Titans 'backers. Eddie Robinson, Barron
Wortham, and Joe Bowden are all good tacklers who can run to the football. |
| Both teams have exceptionally hard-hitting safeties who can punish you
like a linebacker, but Jacksonville's may have a little more range in the open
field. Aaron Beasley and Fernando Bryant give the Jags an advantage at
CB. | DB
| Titans corner Samari Rolle is an emerging star, and he's played his best
football against the Jaguars. |
| Keep your eye on the Titans' Anthony Dorsett. He seems to make every
special teams tackle. | ST
| I give the kicking edge to Tennessee. Heintrich is an excellent punter,
and Del Greco is an old pro you can count on. |
| Tom Coughlin hasn't faced near as much adversity to get to the
championship game, but he is well-prepared and he will have his team ready on
Sunday. | Coach
| Jeff Fisher pulled one out of the hat against Buffalo two weeks ago and
then he went into Indianapolis and shut down Manning, James, and Harrison. | |
Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years in the NFL as a coach, scout and personnel
administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNNSI.com. He previews this weekend's AFC Championship Game matchup.
The Jaguars will win if: The Jacksonville offense eliminates the
interceptions (six) that they gave up in two losses to the Titans during the
regular season. ... If running back Fred Taylor runs the ball
well. Taylor did not play in the first loss and was held to 44 yards in 15
carries in the second
game.
The Titans will win if: Quarterback Steve McNair has the kind of
game he had the last time the Titans beat the Jaguars. McNair threw five TD
passes and was 23 of 33 for 291 yards. ... Running back Eddie George has
a big game. In the first Jags-Titans contest George rushed for 57 yards; in the
second, for 102. The Titans need another performance like the latter --
especially on the
road.
The key matchups: Rookie sensation/defensive end Jevon Kearse on Jaguars right tackle Leon Searcy. ... Jacksonville wide receiver Jimmie Smith on Titans cornerback Samari Rolle. Rolle had three interceptions in the 41-14 blow out. ... Titans safety Blaine Bishop (who comes up and plays like a linebacker) vs. Taylor.
Don't be surprised if: This is a low-scoring game because these teams know each other so well. ... Jacksonville defensive coordinator Dom Capers zone blitzes McNair more than usual in an attempt to confuse him and get him to hold the ball.
X factors: McNair as a running back. Every team in the league knows McNair likes the quarterback draw in the red zone, but no one has figured out how to stop it. ... Titans TE Frank Wycheck caught nine passes the last time these two teams played, and I expect the same production from him again because of the blitz defenses.
Prediction: If you look inside the numbers of the first Jacksonville loss to Tennessee, you will see 231 yards offense for the Titans, compared with 369 yards for the Jaguars; 40 yards rushing for the Titans to 137 for Jacksonville. I'm going to defy logic and go with Jacksonville.
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