First Look: Super Bowl XXV

Baltimore (15-4) vs. New York Giants (14-4)

Jan. 28 at Tampa, Fla., 3:15 p.m., Channel 2

* How they got here: The Giants reeled off five consecutive victories at the end of the regular season to secure a playoff berth and home-field advantage. New York dispatched a tough Eagle team, 20-10, in a divisional playoff battle and then blew out the Vikings, 41-0, in the NFC championship game Sunday. Baltimore followed a stretch of five games in which they did not score a touchdown with seven consecutive victories to close out the regular season with their first playoff berth. The Ravens defeated the Broncos, 21-3, in the wild-card game, and defeated favored Tennessee (24-10) and Oakland (16-3) on the road. Of all the playoff teams this season, the Ravens were the only visiting team to win. Baltimore is only the seventh wild-card team to reach the Super Bowl.

* Last meeting: Sept. 14, 1997, Baltimore 24, New York 23. Baltimore’s Matt Stover kicked a 37-yard field goal with 34 seconds left to give the Ravens their first road victory in team history. New York’s Brad Daluiso missed two field goals and had an extra-point attempt blocked. The Giants got rushing touchdowns from Tiki Barber, Charles Way and Tyrone Wheatley. Vinny Testaverde threw two touchdown passes for the Ravens.

* About New York: After a particularly humiliating 31-21 defeat to the Detroit Lions on Nov. 19, Coach Jim Fassel took a chance and a page from past New York sports history and guaranteed victory. Fassel told anyone who would listen that his 7-4 Giants would make the playoffs. Two months later, Fassel looks like a genius, as the Giants have silenced most of their critics with a 14-4 record and a spot in the Super Bowl. Stifling defense has been a team trademark for many years, but this season the Giants have a versatile and balanced offense as well. Quarterback Kerry Collins overcame a string of personal problems to lead an offense that can run and pass with success. Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne front an outside-inside rushing attack that is bolstered with Collins’ timely passing to underrated receivers Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard. Defensive end Michael Strahan, linebacker Jessie Armstead and cornerback Jason Sehorn lead a defense that ranked fifth overall and finished No. 1 in the NFC against the run (72.3 yards a game).

* About Baltimore: When Coach Brian Billick took over the Ravens two years ago, he came with the billing of “offensive genius.” So it is ironic that he presides over perhaps one of the league’s finest defensive units ever. Baltimore led the league in points allowed (10.3) and rushing yards allowed (60.6) and finished second in total defense (247.9). The Ravens are led by the run-stuffing tandem of Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa at defensive tackle, linebackers Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware and safety Rod Woodson. Lewis responded to a difficult off-season by becoming the NFL defensive player of the year. Who needs an offense? Certainly not the Ravens, who have won their last 10 games (including playoffs) with much-maligned quarterback Trent Dilfer in control. After escaping a five-game stretch in which their only weapon on offense was kicker Matt Stover, the Ravens turned to Dilfer and he responded with efficient albeit unspectacular play. Strategically, the Ravens want to strike first and then let their defense take over. But Baltimore does have some talent on offense. Jamal Lewis emerged as a running threat in his rookie season and gained 1,364 yards. Shannon Sharpe and Qadry Ismail are Dilfer’s only consistent options at receiver.