Raven Defense Called for Some Early Hits

The Baltimore offense wasn’t very powerful this season, so it isn’t surprising to hear most of the verbal attacks against the Tennessee Titans being launched by the Raven defenders.

The most inflammatory comment came from cornerback Chris McAlister, who claimed that Titan running back Eddie George went soft after a hit by Raven linebacker Ray Lewis during the Nov. 12 game.

“Every time Eddie touched the ball after that, he just folded like a baby,” McAlister told Sports Illustrated. “Check the film. He’d hit the hole and hit the ground first thing. He didn’t want any part of us.”

The Ravens also are mouthing about how they have the superior defense in this matchup of the top two defenses in the league.

“I don’t know what they are thinking,” Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair said. “This team can collect the things being said and live with it, let our intensity rise at kickoff time.”

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Tennessee Coach Jeff Fisher said he wasn’t worried about the Titans losing any momentum during the bye week.

“I don’t have any concerns,” he said. “We had to refresh ourselves with some specific situation things. I thought it was beneficial and that the players took advantage of it. Not many players left town. They stayed in and got treatment and did extra running and lifting in anticipation for a very physical game this week.”

Fisher had to be encouraged by Saturday’s developments, when the home teams coming off bye weeks rolled to easy victories.

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The weather forecast for today’s game calls for cloudy skies with temperatures in the 40s and a chance of rain. . . . Last year brought the first all-transplant Super Bowl between the St. Louis Rams (of Los Angeles) and the Tennessee Titans (formerly the Houston Oilers). Now comes a new-nickname playoff matchup with the Titans and Ravens (formerly Cleveland Browns). It could have been worse: Among the finalists for a new name when the Browns moved to Baltimore were “Americans” and “Marauders.”