NFL Playoffs: Ravens-Titans Divisional Round Preview and Prediction
Sadly, there are no true Midwest teams left in the NFL playoffs. The Colts were our last great hope, but their season fizzled in overtime against the Chargers. I’m not a Colts fan by any means, but at least covering their playoff run would have given us something to do here at Midwest Sports Fans.
As it is, we will have to adopt a team that is kind of in the Midwest…but not really: The Tennessee Titans.
As everyone knows, the Titans used the mustache voodoo of Jeff Fisher to jump out to a great start this season before falling back to the pack a bit. Led by a great game with rookie RB Chris Johnson and LenDale White, efficient QB play by Kerry Collins, and one of the most dominant defensive lines in the NFL, the Titans were able to secure the #1 seed in the AFC Playoffs.
And their reward?
The Baltimore Ravens, whose defense and running game are absolutely hitting on all cylinders right now. The Ravens and Titans will duke it out this weekend for the chance to go to the AFC Championship game, in what should be a physical, smash-mouth type of game that may make you sore just watching it from your couch.
Here are the particulars of the game, including TV schedule, announcer lineup, and point spreads. (As usual, point spread and over-under odds sponsored by the NFL Football Handicapping experts at DocSports.)
Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
- Saturday, January 10, 2009
- TV Schedule: 4:30 ET on CBS
- Announcer lineup: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
- Point Spread: Tennessee Titans -3
- Over-Under: 34 1/2
(Follow the link to see the TV schedule, announcer pairings, and point spreads for the other NFL Divisional Round Playoff games this weekend.)
Before I give you mine, what is your prediction?
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And some good links as you get ready for gameday:
Ravens-Titans GameCenter with stats, team, info, etc. – (NFL.com)
Don’t forget that the Titans have a great defense too – (Thomas George, NFL.com)
Ravens-Titans Scouting Report – Expect a physical game (Pat Kirwan, NFL.com)
Injury News: Haynesworth practices, but Ed Reed, Todd Heap, and Derrick Mason do not — (Pro Football Talk)
I am really excited for this game. While I hate the Ravens, of course, there is no denying that the star power and play-making ability of their defense makes them an intriguing team to watch. What has been surprising about Baltimore this season has been the proficiency of their offense.
I think people are going a little too overboard in their praise of Joe Flacco — he is managing games and not making critical mistakes, but is by no means winning games — but the consistency of their run game has been deadly in recent weeks. Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee have used huge 4th quarter bursts to salt games away against Dallas and Miami, and it will be imperative that Tennessee stop these two guys in the second half and give Kerry Collins and the offense a chance to win the game.
I do think that Tennessee will somewhat put the clamps on Baltimore’s run game, but they won’t stop it completely. And I’m not sure I totally trust Joe Flacco to stay out of trouble against a physical, ball-hawking D.
However, I just can’t pick against the Ravens D. Ed Reed is a one man wrecking crew in the secondary, Ray Lewis has been playing great, and Terrell Suggs has been a monster rushing the passer. Tennessee has a right to demand respect for their defense, but they don’t have the proven big-game playmakers that the Ravens do. If Chris Johnson can break some runs, and Kerry Collins can hit some passes downfield, Tennessee has a chance.
But I think Baltimore is coming out ahead in this one, and moving on to face Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.
And if that happens, at least the Browns can take some pride that they played in the division with the two best teams in the AFC. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t compete with them. This weekend will be another reminder of why.
Baltimore Ravens 20 | Tennessee Titans 13
Tags: nfl playoffs, prediction, preview, tennessee titans
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