Into the Unknown

Amid talk of moving vans and moving quarterbacks, of the Georgia Dome and Georgia’s dome, of Jesus quotes and Hail Mary passes, of snowy skies and artificial turf, an amazing thing will happen today.

At 3:18 p.m., a football game will actually be played.

It is Super Bowl XXXIV, between the NFC’s St. Louis Rams and the AFC’s Tennessee Titans.

With fewer stars and more baggage than any other Super Bowl in recent history, this is a game desperately in need of something memorable.

With teams taking the Georgia Dome field as evenly matched as they are unknown, memorable could be a pretty good bet.

“I think it’s going to be a great Super Bowl, and that’s what it’s all about,” reminded Kurt Warner, Ram quarterback.

At least until embattled Ram owner Georgia Frontiere kisses the Lombardi Trophy, or embattled Titan owner Bud Adams gives it a bearhug.

The Rams can be breathtaking, with the league’s most valuable player, Warner, giving the ball to four of its quickest players--running back Marshall Faulk and receivers Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim.

No offense in the NFL scored more points or gained more yards.

The Titans, however, can be suffocating, with rookie defensive end Jevon Kearse leading a reckless defense that accounted for six turnovers in the AFC championship game victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Only one other NFL team had a better turnover percentage, and only two teams had a higher percentage of sacks.

When the Titans have the ball, quarterback Steve McNair does well passing or running or--the Rams dread this--doing both at once.

The Rams hope to stop that with a defense that ranked sixth in fewest yards allowed per game.

The teams played on Oct. 31, but, perhaps because it was Halloween, the mystery remains.

The Titans took advantage of Ram mistakes for a 21-0 lead at Nashville, but the Rams rebounded with three touchdown passes from Warner. Then, with seven seconds to play, Jeff Wilkins missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt that would have tied the score, and the Titans won, 24-21.

Wilkins is suffering from a sore leg today, but the Titans are suffering more with receiver Yancey Thigpen likely to sit out and safety Marcus Robertson sidelined because of injuries.

Much of the talk last week concerned the Rams’ move from St. Louis, and the Oilers’ move from Houston. But the NFL hopes for different shifts today--moving skeptical fans to the edge of their seats, and a confused league to the brink of a new era.

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*TENNESSEE vs. ST. LOUIS: TODAY, 3:15 p.m. Ch. 7