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Been a long time After 17 years, Matthews playing in first AFC title game
Posted: Thursday January 20, 2000 09:35 PM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The closest Bruce Matthews has ever been to the AFC championship game was when he watched his brother lose twice to the Denver Broncos. Until now. The Tennessee Titans left guard is preparing to finally play in the title game for the first time in his 17-year career. "To be on the verge of going to the Super Bowl ... to finally be this close is very exciting," Matthews said. The offensive lineman has enjoyed plenty of personal honors. He been selected to the Pro Bowl 12 times, just one below Reggie White's record, and is a six-time All Pro. But at this time of year, he's watched the playoffs on television. When the Titans (15-3) take the field Sunday in Jacksonville to play the Jaguars (15-2), it will be the franchise's first appearance in the AFC championship since 1979. Not even Matthews, 37, has played that long. When the Titans beat the Indianapolis Colts last weekend in the divisional playoffs, coach Jeff Fisher, a college teammate at Southern California, awarded a game ball to Matthews, not Eddie George who had run for 162 yards. The ball was for finally reaching the title game. "Seventeen years and finally you get an opportunity to actually play for the Super Bowl. I think he deserves it," said free safety Marcus Robertson. Matthews doesn't feel his age until a rookie reads the media guide or learns that he played with Fisher. Matthews quickly points out that Fisher is three years older than he is. It also hurts when someone asks if offensive line coach Mike Munchak, a Hall of Fame nominee, was any good. "That's when I start feeling a little ancient," said Matthews. The closest a member of the Matthews' family has come to the AFC championship was his older brother, Clay. He was a linebacker with the Cleveland Browns when they lost to the John Elway and the Denver Broncos in 1986 and 1987. Watching the Browns blow a seven-point lead thanks to "The Drive" in the 1986 game was the worst. "I remember laying on the couch, thinking I'm going to the Super Bowl [to watch Clay]," said Matthews. "It was the Rose Bowl that year. I lived in the next town over." On Dec. 6, Matthews started his 260th game, giving him the NFL record among offensive linemen. Matthews, who signed a four-year contract before the season began, can pass his brother (278) for most games played next season. "I want to keep playing for as long as I can. I'm not looking to retire anytime soon. I also realize it's a lot closer than it used to be," he said. In the meantime, Matthews isn't ready for this season to end. "We're going to go down to Jacksonville, play our ugly brand of football and hopefully get another win and hopefully do it in the Super Bowl," he said.
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