Crash of the Titans

The Baltimore Ravens have mastered the formula for defeating the Tennessee Titans: a great defense and a lousy day by Titan kicker Al Del Greco.

As a result, the Ravens are not just the only team to beat the Titans in Adelphia Coliseum. They’re the only team to do it twice.

“This is our house!” proclaimed Raven linebacker Anthony Davis as the clock expired in their 24-10 divisional playoff victory over the Titans. “This is our house!”

Nearby, defensive lineman Tony Siragusa donned sunglasses in preparation for the Ravens’ trip to California and the AFC championship game against the Oakland Raiders.

So the Ravens got the last word after a contentious buildup that included trash-talking comments from Baltimore players and Coach Brian Billick that were replayed on the video screen for the Tennessee fans to see before the game.

The Ravens were able to withstand two blocked punts in their own territory and a total of six first downs in the game. Their quarterback, Trent Dilfer, completed only five of 16 passes for 117 yards. They even managed to outscore Tennessee, 14-0, in the fourth quarter despite holding the ball for only eight plays and 3 minutes 43 seconds.

That’s because the defense scored as many touchdowns as it gave up (one) and the special teams blocked two Del Greco kicks--the second of which was returned for the go-ahead touchdown.

“You knew it was going to come down to something like that,” Billick said. “With two big, physical teams, you knew it was going to come down to something unique.”

Especially if you watched the previous game between these two teams. On Nov. 12, the Ravens ended Tennessee’s 12-game home winning streak with a 24-23 win thanks in part to Del Greco, who missed an extra point and later missed a field goal as time expired.

The Titans--who were favored to make a return trip to the Super Bowl--did many things right Sunday. They outgained the Ravens, 317-134, in total yards. Their 126 yards rushing were more than twice what Baltimore opponents averaged during the season. On defense, they limited the Ravens to 49 rushing yards. “I guess it wasn’t supposed to happen for us today,” Titan Coach Jeff Fisher said. “If you look at the stats, we did exactly what we needed to offensively, defensively. We had some opportunities.”

The Raven defense gave its offense opportunities as well. Especially by allowing a total of only three points after the two blocked punts. The defense needs to do more than its part with an offense that scored an average of 1.8 touchdowns a game this season.

So what exactly does the Baltimore offense produce?

“Just wins,” Shannon Sharpe said. “That’s all we produce is wins. We don’t put a whole lot of points--we don’t score 30 points. We don’t have a receiver that can go in and get you 180 yards, 200 yards. We don’t have a quarterback that’s going to throw for 350. But I’ll tell you what we do have: a team that’s going to the AFC championship.”

Actually, Sharpe is turning into a big-play specialist.

After Tennessee drove 68 yards for an Eddie George touchdown in its first possession, Sharpe found himself wide-open for a pass he took 56 yards to the Tennessee two to set up a Jamal Lewis touchdown run.

Sharpe took a deflected pass 58 yards for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in the first playoff game.

His secret?

“I’m fast,” Sharpe said with a laugh. “I’m faaast, man.”

Both teams had issues with the kicking game. Del Greco missed a 45-yard field goal attempt that was tipped by Baltimore’s Keith Washington. Baltimore went three-and-out and then punter Kyle Richardson’s kick was blocked by Chris Coleman and recovered by Tennessee at the Raven 25.

But the Titans couldn’t convert because Del Greco missed again. This time his 31-yard attempt dinged the left upright.

Coleman blocked another Richardson punt after Baltimore’s first possession of the third quarter and the Titans recovered at the Baltimore 27. The Raven defense held, and this time Del Greco made his 21-yard field goal. Baltimore kicker Matt Stover tied the score with a 38-yard field goal later in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Del Greco came on again. By this time he must have wished he were sitting somewhere sipping a cappuccino. His 37-yard attempt was blocked by Washington, and Anthony Mitchell took it 90 yards the other way for a touchdown.

“You don’t expect someone to run back [a field goal attempt for] a touchdown,” Del Greco said. “It was a huge play, and I feel I was a big part of the loss--not the whole reason--but I never imagined a game like this.”

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis put the game out of reach when he intercepted a pass bobbled by George and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NFL PLAYOFFS

The Best Offense Is a Good Defense?

The Raven defense outplayed its offense Sunday at Tennessee:

RAVEN OFFENSE

Yards: 134

Time on field: 19:31

Points: 10

RAVEN DEFENSE

Yards: 140

Time on field: 40:29

Points: 14

Don’t You Forget Me

Raider Coach Jon Gruden reminds Raven Coach Brian Billick that Baltimore will have to get by Oakland to get to the Super Bowl. D6

UP NEXT

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sunday

NFC

Minnesota at

N.Y. Giants

9:30 a.m., Ch. 11

AFC

Baltimore at

Oakland

1 p.m., Ch. 2

FIRST LOOKS

A quick capsule look at Sunday’s conference championship matchups. D7

SUPER BOWL

Jan. 28

At Tampa, Fla.

AFC champion vs.

NFC champion

3:15 p.m., Ch. 2

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

He Doesn’t Quite Feel at Home

Titan kicker Al Del Greco has had his share of trouble at home against the Ravens this season:

NOV. 12, 2000

BALTIMORE 24, TENNESSEE 23

* On fourth and two with 14:53 to play in the game, Del Greco makes a 23-yard field goal to tie the score, 17-17.

* With 4:07 to play, Titans score to take a 23-17 lead, but Del Greco misses the extra point.

* With the Titans trailing, 24-23, with four seconds left, Del Greco’s 43-yard field-goal attempt goes wide right.

JAN. 7, 2001

BALTIMORE 24, TENNESSEE 10

* On fourth and nine with 2:27 to play in the first half, Del Greco’s 45-yard field-goal attempt is blocked by Keith Washington, preserving a 7-7 tie.

* On fourth and eight with 18 seconds left in the half and the score tied, 7-7, Del Greco’s 31-yard attempt bounces off the left upright.

* On fourth and three with 8:23 remaining in the third, Del Greco makes a 21-yard field goal, giving the Titans a 10-7 lead.

* On fourth and one with 12:25 to play in the game, Del Greco’s 37-yard field-goal attempt is blocked by Washington. Anthony Mitchell recovers the ball at the Baltimore 10 and returns it for a touchdown and a 17-10 Raven lead.

Field-goal percentage among active kickers since 1993:

*--*

Kicker, current team FG-FGA Pct. Al Del Greco, Tennessee 194-230 .8434 Gary Anderson, Minnesota 204-242 .8429 Mike Hollis, Jacksonville 157-189 .831 John Carney, San Diego 197-238 .828 Matt Stover, Baltimore 200-242 .826

*--*