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Giants, Titans should top familiar foes
Updated: Saturday January 06, 2001 10:05 AM
Sunday's playoff games both feature one major element that Saturday's games do not have -- familiarity between the teams. The Titans and Ravens, as well as the Giants and Eagles, will be facing each other for the third time this season. And with all the information available from the past matchups, you could paralyze yourself trying to find an edge. For starters, the Ravens are the only team to ever beat the Titans at Adelphia Coliseum, holding Eddie George to 28 yards in that game. Baltimore is looking for another dominating defensive effort and that starts with middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Two weeks ago, the Jets didn't even try to run the ball against the Baltimore defense, and in last week's wild-card round, the Broncos learned they couldn't run against the Ravens no matter how hard they tried. The Titans defense is a pretty good one itself, and, likewise, they will key on Jamal Lewis, the rookie back who had 99 yards rushing against them last time. The Ravens will have to get the ball to Lewis with screens and swing passes more than just running him to their left behind Jonathan Ogden. Against Denver, Lewis carried the ball to the left side 27 times, and only six times to the right.
The Giants, on the other hand, have the more balanced offense, and their best weapon is Tiki Barber, broken arm and all. In the regular-season finale, Barber had 80 yards rushing, 47 receiving and 35 in punt returns, so the Eagles must find multiple ways of defending him. I think McNabb will have trouble single-handedly winning another big game. And I think scoring will be scarce in the Titans-Ravens game. But in the quarterback matchup of Steve McNair versus Trent Dilfer, I like McNair on his home field. Look for both home teams to advance. Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a Pro Football coach, scout, and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Chat with Pat each Wednesday at 1:00 PM.
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