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GAME DAY PREVIEW Game time: 1:00pm ET Tennessee (9-2-0) at Baltimore (4-7-0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Records
The Titans (9-2) are 6-1 this season in games decided by six points or less, including a 14-11 win over Baltimore in October. Tennessee has outscored the opposition 63-53 in the fourth quarter and has produced four second-half comeback victories. "I don't know if there's a magic potion. It's just that our team doesn't panic," coach Jeff Fisher said. "Two or three years ago, we looked for one or two guys to make the play. Now, everyone wants to do it. It's a challenge." Conversely, a close game is a curse to the Ravens. Baltimore (4-7) has lost five games by seven points or less, including a 30-23 defeat against Jacksonville last week in which the Ravens allowed 23 points in the final 11 minutes. "Obviously we're missing something. I'm sure if we were able to isolate it, we would," Baltimore defensive end Michael McCrary said. So, if this Sunday's game between Baltimore and the Titans turns out to be another close call, then it's advantage Tennessee. "It's just a matter of confidence," Titans tight end Frank Wycheck said. "The past few years, we didn't know how to win a tight game. Then we pulled one out against Cincinnati (36-35) in the opener and learned from it. Now, all the guys are stepping up and making big plays." Because they've flourished in tense games, the Titans are vying for the AFC Central lead and seemingly playoff-bound. Baltimore, on the other hand, is headed toward a fourth straight losing season. "When you're in that situation and you've won more than you lost, you tend to have confidence that you're going to find some way to pull that game out," Ravens quarterback Tony Banks said. "That's what they've been doing. Our games and their games look real similar. But they're just pulling it out at the end, either on special teams, defense or offense." Back in October, backup Neil O'Donnell led the Titans past the Stoney Case-led Ravens. Steve McNair is now at quarterback for Tennessee and Banks is directing the Baltimore offense, but there's no reason to expect this game will be any different than the first one. Five of the last six games in the series have been decided by four points or less, and that does not bode well for the Ravens. "We just have to find a way to get over the hump. We have to go get a victory instead of hope to win," offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden said. "If we need a touchdown at the end, we have say, 'Let's go get a touchdown' instead of saying, 'Let's try to get a touchdown.' It's an attitude. But we're working towards it." The Titans are striving for their 14th straight division victory, which would match Dallas for the second-longest such streak since 1970. It will be the 260th career game for Tennessee guard Bruce Matthews, a record for NFL linemen. "How does he keep doing that, game after game, year after year?" Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "It's amazing. I don't know if anybody will ever do that again." Certainly not Ogden, 25, who can't envision coming anywhere close to duplicating Matthews' 17-year run.
"I think he's crazy. He should be in Florida, looking at his
stocks or something," Ogden said, shaking his head. "He must
really love the game. I love the game, and I know I can't play that
long."
Records source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited. | ALSO SEE NFL Scoreboard Tennessee Clubhouse Baltimore Clubhouse NFL Week 13 previews
War Room preview: Titans at Ravens
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