FOR USE AS DESIRED

            NFL-73               11/9/01

 

RAVENS & TITANS -- BOTH ON STREAKS -- CLASH MONDAY NIGHT

 

The opponents are the AFC’s past two representatives in the Super Bowl.

 

Last year, these teams placed 1-2 in the AFC Central.

 

Last time in Nashville, they met in a hard-fought AFC Divisional Playoff game.

 

This Monday night, the Baltimore Ravens, winners of their past two games, visit the Tennessee Titans, who have won three of their last four.

 

It will be a big night.  And it could be a big night for Ravens tight end SHANNON SHARPE, who needs three receptions to pass Ravens vice president OZZIE NEWSOME (662) for the most catches by a tight end in NFL history.  Sharpe has 19 receptions (253 yards) in his past three games against Tennessee.

 

Last November 12, Sharpe’s Ravens were the first visiting team to win a game at Tennessee’s Adelphia Coliseum (24-23), ending Tennessee’s 12-game regular-season home win streak (and they took the Divisional Playoff, too, 24-10).  The Titans had not lost since opening the stadium in 1999.   Sharpe had eight receptions for 92 yards in the game.

 

However, it is on the defensive side of the ball that Baltimore gets the most respect.  This season, the Ravens have the NFL’s No. 2 defense, allowing only 266.0 yards per game.

 

“They have a good plan, they tackle well and they are difficult to fool in any way,'' Titans offensive coordinator MIKE HEIMERDINGER says.  “That's the challenge.  I don't know that anybody could tell you differently.”

 

Quarterback STEVE MC NAIR, who accounted for four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) against Jacksonville last Sunday, is up for the challenge.

 

“We just have to make some plays,” says McNair.  “Whatever it takes, we have to do it.  If that’s running the ball, throwing the ball, whatever.  We have to do it.”

 

Baltimore head coach BRIAN BILLICK expects his defense to be ready.  “The defense for the most part is playing very well, but they're not as dominant as last year,” Billick says.  “We’re a good defense.  We're not the best defense yet, but we're certainly capable of that and hopefully we're closing in on that.  Now's a good time to do it."

 

Ravens cornerback DUANE STARKS, who had an interception when the teams met this past October 7, agrees.

 

“We’ve won three in a row against them now,” Starks said.  “That gives us a mental edge.”

 

***MNF***

 

It won’t be a surprise if the Ravens-Titans’ game comes down to the wire.  Five of the past eight meetings between the teams have been decided by four points or less.  This season, both teams have been effective in tight games as they rank among the league’s top five in games decided by seven points or less.  Following are the clubs in 2001 with the best records in such games (minimum three games):