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Baxter Bits: Titans (15-3) at Jaguars (15-2)
By Russell S. Baxter
Special to ESPN.com
The Titans head to ALLTEL Stadium for the second time this season as these now-fierce rivals square off in the postseason for the first time ever.
|  | | | Eddie George has topped the 100-yard mark in both the Titans' playoff wins. |
In Week 3 at ALLTEL Stadium, Jacksonville owned a 17-7 lead heading into the third quarter but Titans PK Al Del Greco connected on a pair of field goals and QB Neil O'Donnell threw a 12-yard TD pass to TE Michael Roan with just 3:26 to play to give Tennessee a 20-17 advantage. Jaguars QB Mark Brunell guided his team down the field and to the Titans' 3-yard line, but CB Samari Rolle intercepted Brunell in the end zone to end the Jaguars' threat in a 20-19 triumph (the Titans took an intentional safety).
Three months later at Adelphia Coliseum (Week 16), Titans QB Steve McNair completed 23-of-33 passes for 291 yards and five touchdowns and RB Eddie George added 102 yards on the ground as Jeff Fisher's club rolled up 476 total yards in a surprising 41-14 triumph.
While these teams have now split their 10 previous encounters (5-5), the Titans have won three straight in this series dating back to the clubs' second meeting in 1998, and also own a 4-1 road mark in this series dating back to its inception in 1995, when the then-Houston Oilers defeated the Jaguars, 10-3, on opening day at Jacksonville in the Jaguars' first-ever regular-season game in franchise history.
Also worth noting that the road team owns an 8-2 mark in this series, with 9 of the 10 contests decided by 8 or fewer points.
Numbers: Including playoffs, the Titans have totaled 60 sacks in 18 games in '99, this after totaling just 30 sacks in 16 games in '98. Including playoffs, the Titans have rushed for 130 or more yards in six straight games.
Including playoffs, the Jaguars have seen a player gain 100 or more yards rushing in 15 of their last 35 games dating back to 1998, tripling the number of 100-yard rushing performances that the Jaguars managed in the regular- and postseason combined (5) during their first three years in the NFL (1995-97). Including playoffs, the Jaguars have totaled 62 sacks in 17 games in '99, this after totaling just 30 sacks in 16 games in '98. The Jaguars have totaled three or more sacks in 13-of-17 contests in '99, including playoffs. They have forced 67 turnovers in 27 wins, eight turnovers in eight losses dating back to '98, including playoffs. Including playoffs, the Jaguars have allowed 163 points in 15 wins, 61 points in two losses in '99. They have limited the opposition to 10 or fewer points in 10-of-17 contests (including playoffs) in '99. Including playoffs, the Jaguars have limited the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in 12-of-17 contests in '99. Including playoffs, the Jaguars have committed 13 turnovers in 15 wins, seven turnovers in two losses in '99. Jaguars RB James Stewart has scored at least one touchdown in 10 of his last 15 contests (including playoffs) in '99. Including playoffs, WR Jimmy Smith has totaled 100 or more yards receiving in four straight games and seven of his last eight contests.
The Coaches: Titans head coach Jeff Fisher is 2-0 in postseason play, while Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin is 4-3 in postseason play.
Postseason History: The Titans are making their 16th overall playoff appearance (11th since merger) and are 11-13 in postseason play (9-10 since merger), while Jaguars are making their 4th consecutive and 4th overall playoff appearance (4th since merger) and are 4-3 in postseason play (4-3 since merger).
Things To Look For: Jeff Fisher's team isn't pretty or explosive, but keeps getting the job done and certainly owns the psychological advantage here as they've handled the Jaguars in three straight meetings. And while Tom Coughlin will certainly have no problem getting his troops motivated for this battle, he must also guard against a major letdown considering how easily his Jaguars disposed of the Dolphins.
Etc.: The Titans are just 2-4 lifetime in AFC/AFL Championship Games (0-2 in AFC Championship Games,
2-2 in NFL Championship Games, all as the Houston Oilers) and making their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 1979, when the then-Houston Oilers lost at Pittsburgh, 27-13, under since-departed head coach O.A. "Bum" Phillips. A Tennessee victory would make the Titans the sixth Wild Card team to advance to the Super Bowl, joining the Cowboys (X), Raiders (XV), Patriots (XX), Bills (XXVII) and Broncos (XXXII), and the seventh non-division champion to advance to the Super Bowl, including the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (IV).
The Jaguars are making their second conference title game appearance in four seasons and their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 1996, when they lost at New England, 20-6. Including playoffs, the Titans have won six straight games. Since 1995, the Titans are 12-9 at home vs. AFC Central foes and 14-7 on the road in divisional contests. The Titans are 16-2 vs. AFC Central rivals dating back to '98. Including playoffs (2-0), the Jaguars have won seven straight home games and are 16-2 in their last 18 home games dating back to '98, both of those losses to the Oilers/Titans. Including playoffs (2-0), the Jaguars are 30-4 in their last 34 home games dating back to 1996, three of those four losses to the Oilers/Titans. Including playoffs (2-0), the Jaguars are 32-10 lifetime at home (30-10 in regular season, 2-0 in playoffs), four of those 10 losses to the Oilers/Titans. The Jaguars are 41-12 in their last 53 regular-season games (45-15, including playoffs) dating back to 1996, this after managing just an 8-19 record in their first 27 contests dating back to their debut season in 1995. Including playoffs, the Jaguars are 53-34 in their 87-game history (1995-99), including 29-13 vs. AFC Central rivals, five of those 13 losses to the Oilers/Titans.
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