 |
| |
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
EVENTS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
Familiar foe Titans hope to avenge lone loss at Adelphia
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Forget the talk that the Baltimore Ravens are the last team the Tennessee Titans wanted to see in the playoffs. Head coach Jeff Fisher heard Baltimore head coach Brian Billick make that comment shortly after the Ravens beat the Denver Broncos 21-3 Sunday, earning a trip to Nashville to play the Titans in an AFC divisional playoff game on Jan 7. But he refused to take the bait. "It didn't come from us," Fisher said. "Why would we not want to play a team that we're familiar with? We have respect for everybody. When you get a chance to play a team where there's familiarity, it makes the preparation week a little easier." Sure, the Ravens handed the Titans their one and only loss on Nov. 12 since moving into Adelphia Coliseum two seasons ago. But Fisher pointed out that the Titans, who drove down the field in the final 19 seconds, only lost 24-23 because Al Del Greco hooked a 43-yard field goal right as time expired. That loss ended the Titans' NFL record at 12 consecutive victories to christen a new stadium. The Titans are 16-1 at Adelphia counting their only playoff game here last season. Fisher would only praise the Ravens, who have won eight games in a row. "They've gotten things going. Trent's [Dilfer] very comfortable in the offense. They're running the ball effectively, and obviously their defense is very, very impressive to watch, let alone to attack," Fisher said. The Titans (13-3) took advantage of their bye week to rest up with both Sunday and Monday off, but Fisher expects players to drift in Monday to start studying now that they know they will be playing the Ravens for a third time this season. Tennessee returns to the practice field Tuesday, and everyone is expected to work out with the exception of All Pro left guard Bruce Matthews. He wore a walking boot last week to protect a case of turf toe on his right foot, and Fisher said he may not practice until Thursday. The Titans split the season series with the Ravens, winning in Baltimore 14-6 after losing All Pro Eddie George to a sprained knee following his first carry, and then falling at home. If past history is any indication, it will be a tight game. Five of the past seven regular season games have been decided by four points or less, and Adelphia will be packed since the Titans sold the last available tickets last week. Fisher thinks it will be fun as the Titans try to use their home-field advantage for their first divisional playoff game in Nashville. "We're going to need the fans," he said. "It's going to be one of those deals where we need the 12th man again this week. Obviously, they've had a huge impact in our success. We're just really looking forward to this opportunity to have the first one here."
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
