I am going to hate this week....

Don't know.
Rice was suited up this week but didn't play. Been out 3 weeks to injury.
I don't care for McGahee...especially now that he has showed his true colors.
He plays for himself...his own words!
McLain is a bull but he has only ran once for more than 100 yards and that was on Dallas where he had that 82 yd run at the end.
I think it comes down to the O-Lines myself as far as which team will move it on the ground.

 

If you dont get pressure on him of course hes not going to get rattled, thats one of the reasons why Miami lost. Dont think hes going to be able to sit back their and pick and choose where he wants to go. Miami didnt match up well at all with the Ravens

 

I'm pretty scared of this game. Guess it's my old ratbird hate stirring up. But I think we Titans do win a slugfest.


By Position:

QB: Edge = Kerry Collins. It's his experience that will lead him to better performance.

RB: Edge = Chris Johnson. We have the better duo with Johnson and LW. McGahee, McLain, and Ray Rice have be formidable, but I don't think they are as stout.

WR: Edge = DMase & company... by a long shot. We gotta make sure not to give up a game changing pass play. I think we'll pressure the QB enough to negate this Ratbird edge.

TE: Edge = Scaife & Crumpler. Seems like Scaife's career is on the rise and Heap hasn't been very impressive in recent seasons. What gives with him?

OL: Edge = Tennessee. WOW, the oldest starting Raven O-lineman is 26 years old!! Crazy young. I give us the edge in experience and our always under-rated tackles. Chime in Raven fans, I'm curious to hear about your o-line.



I think we both amazing juggernaut defenses. I'd like to think we have the advantage because of our amazing D-line. Still Ed Reed and Ray Ray are future HoFers.


Besides the major things, turnovers & no game-changing plays, I think the running game will be the most important to this game. Their backs don't scare me, our backs SHOULD scare them!

 

That impact will show up in the 4th quarter when their D needs to make a stop. Will they be able to stand up to the fresher legs of the Titans?

I think having no break is an advantage for Baltimore in the first half, the Titans will have to get back in sync and get used to the hitting again. We may be behind at the half, but after the Ravens sit it will be harder on them to get back up and go again.

The Titans lines will win the 3rd quarter, pull ahead, and the 4th quarter will be played by both sides on heart alone. That's where I think the home field comes into play and allows the Titans to dig deeper and win the day, like a marathon runner slugging through the last mile hearing the cheers pull them through the finish.

The kicking games and who is able to maintain the better field positon will be a big factor. This is the kind of game where special teams is just as important as the offense and defensive teams.

This is our time, this our year, the Titans will not go one and out, not this time...

The Lombardi is within our reach, closer than anyone outside the team imagined it would be, because of the team efforts and sacrifices that began on the plane trip home from San Diego last year, grew in the humidity of Training Camp, took root in the victories of the season among outside skepticism, blossomed with the best record at the season's end, and will bear fruit in this post season that we will never forget...

 

I think Ray is gona run out of gas even before the game starts:ha:


<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u218/dounkin/?action=view&current=thunderpants1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u218/dounkin/thunderpants1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

I have a feeling you are going to hate next week even more...

 

I like how some of you Ratbird fans don't think we have a chance

 

I cannot argue the experience factor. Hopefully that's countered by Flacco having at least one playoff win and no losses, unlike Kerry. But Collins certainly does have a lot more NFL QB experience.

I think this position is very, very close. By individual yardage I'd give the edge to the Titans.

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I agree with your assessment. Mason is a true possession receiver and Clayton has made some monster catches the past few weeks. But pressure on Flacco could negate that. However, if Rice plays this week, short dump-offs to Rice would help make up for that, as he tends to break one or two for huge gains.

For catching passes and yardage, the Titans win this one big-time. Not because Heap stinks this year, but due to the fact that Heap has been utilized much more as a blocking TE to protect a rookie QB. Add that to Wilcox being hurt most of the year and Tennessee wins the TE battle.

Experience-wise the Titans come out on top. At the start of this season the inexperience of the Ravens O-line was my biggest concern. Especially when Yanda was lost on IR. But they have played well above their experience level this year. I realize Miami may not have the best defense in the AFC, but they have a decent pass rush and Porter was a sack leader this season. The O-line was dominant allowing the Ravens to gain over 150 yards on the ground and kept the Dolphins from registering one sack.

As far as Special Teams are concerned, I think Tennessee has a decent edge in kickoff and punt returns. Field goal kickers are comparable inside 45 yards. I will admit that Stover has struggled on longer FG's, and that can always make or break a playoff run. I think Koch is having one helluva season punting the ball and pinning oposing teams within the 20 yard line. That can also be crucial in the playoffs.

 

Tell us about it. The Chargers punter (Scifres?) beat us in the regular season game, and really hurt us in the playoffs as well. Then again, we had a terrible punt return team last year.

I agree with the rest of your post, although I think the gap between your RBs and ours is bigger than you let on.