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Defenses in limelight when Ravens clash with Titans

Jan 6, 2009 - 11:55 PM Baltimore (12-5) at Tennessee (13-3), Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Few could have imagined a berth in the AFC title game would hinge on a matchup between Kerry Collins and Joe Flacco.

Then again, with the way their respective teams play defense, it may not matter who is at quarterback when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Tennessee Titans on Saturday in the AFC divisional round.

That's not to say Collins or Flacco have played poorly. Neither quarterback was expected to sniff the field this season but both have performed admirably while playing in the shadow of two of the NFL's most ferocious defenses.

Tennessee sports the league's second-stingiest defensive unit in the league, giving up an average of 14.6 points per game. Baltimore ranks third at 15.3.

When the teams met in Week Five, grizzled veteran Collins drove the Titans 80 yards for the winning touchdown, tossing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:56 to play in a 13-10 victory.

Collins, who replaced an ailing Vince Young in Week One and never came out of the lineup, finished 17-of-32 for 163 yards and a pair of interceptions against a team that picked him off four times in Super Bowl XXXV, when he was with the New York Giants.

Flacco, a rookie who was thrust into the starting lineup following injuries to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith in the preseason, also had two interceptions against the Titans but he threw just five picks in his last 11 games.

"Turnovers are going to be a key factor, and the run game and stopping the run and who's making the plays down the field," said Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, who is in his 15th season - the longest tenure of any active coach.

The Ravens showed how critical turnovers can be in a dominating 27-9 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the AFC wild-card game last weekend.

Baltimore forced five turnovers and picked off four passes by Miami quarterback Chad Pennington - more than double his regular-season total of seven.

Safety Ed Reed had two of the four interceptions, returning one 64 yards for a touchdown to put the Ravens ahead for good.

"No one is surprised by the way Ed Reed plays. Ed Reed is maybe the best player in the game," Ravens rookie coach John Harbaugh said. "You could certainly make an argument for it."

It marked the 11th time this season that an opponent failed to score more than 13 points against Baltimore's defense, which has held five of its last seven foes to 10 points or fewer.

"Well, it'll probably be the most physical game we've played and I'm expecting it to be the most physical game they've played," Fisher said. "We'll see what happens. I'm sure they're talking about this is all about the last man standing."

Flacco, just the eighth rookie QB to start a playoff game since 1966, completed just 9-of-23 passes for 135 yards, but played mistake-free football as the Ravens improved to 10-2 in their last 12 games.

The Titans have relied on a formula similar to Baltimore, holding 11 opponents to 14 points or fewer en route to ending Indianapolis' five-year reign atop the AFC South.

Tennessee also has gotten a lot of mileage from its ground game, including flashy rookie Chris Johnson, who ripped off 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns despite sharing time with LenDale White.

Johnson was held to 44 yards on 18 carries by the Ravens, who have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 36 straight games. White, who had 15 rushing touchdowns, managed just four yards on three carries, but Collins rescued the team with the late drive.

"What makes them so good is they've got great talent, they're well coached, they play football the fundamental way," Harbaugh said. "They're tough, they're disciplined, they run the ball, they stop the run, they play great defense, they play great special teams, they block, they tackle.

"They're just a good fundamental football team all the way across the board."

Tennessee is hoping to welcome back two of its top defensive linemen, Pro Bowl tackle Albert Haynesworth and end Kyle Vanden Bosch, from injuries. Both players practiced Tuesday.

"Both players are very good against the run and then of course the two of them together can pressure the passer," Fisher said. "I can't predict how much they're going to play or how long they're going to play but they got some quality work done today at practice."