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Who's marching to Atlanta?
Special to ESPN.com
The Jaguars are favored by a touchdown over the Titans, while the Rams are a 13½-point pick to beat the Bucs. So the matchup for Super Bowl XXXIV is a no-brainer, right?
Not so fast, my friend.
We asked our NFL experts to identify which two teams will meet in Atlanta on Jan. 30 and explain why they'll get there. While our panel agreed with the oddsmakers on the explosive Rams, they were split on the result of the AFC title game.
Here are their picks for Super Bowl XXXIV:
Rams vs. Titans
St. Louis is the most complete team in football, so the Rams will win the NFC. In the AFC, I'm concerned about Tennessee's ability to score points. Everybody thinks we saw what Jacksonville can really do when it scored 62 against Miami, but that was a little bit of an aberration. Miami's poor play had as much to do with that as the Jaguars. Although they will score points, the Jaguars will be hard-pressed to score a lot of points against the Tennessee defense. The Titans will find themselves in a close game, and they have confidence after winning two in a row against the Jaguars.
Rams vs. Jaguars
The Rams are too consistent on offense to be shut down by the Bucs defense, and Tampa Bay doesn't have the offensive firepower to match St. Louis. The Rams special teams have a definite edge, and they have the home-field advantage. For the Jaguars, the third time will be the charm. Ultimately, Steve McNair's inconsistency will be exploited.
Rams vs. Titans
I picked the Bucs and the Jaguars at the beginning of the season, but I believe St. Louis and Tennessee are the two best teams right now. The Rams create too many mismatch problems for Tampa Bay. The Bucs don't have enough explosiveness on offense. Can they win if they force a few turnovers? Yes. They need to play on the Rams' side of the field most of the game. If they go three-and-out a few times against the Rams, they won't be able to play catch-up. In the AFC, everybody says it's tough to beat a team three times in a row, but the Titans play good defense and have a power running game. They are confident and believe they can beat the Jaguars a third time. Tennessee is the most relaxed team I have seen all year.
Rams vs. Jaguars
I picked Jacksonville at the beginning of the year. Even though the Jaguars have lost to the Titans twice, I think they are playing well. The Jags' 62-7 victory over Miami was a good confidence booster for a team that was struggling toward the end of the year. This game is a great matchup of weapons, in Fred Taylor and Eddie George. The Jaguars have the advantage because if Taylor isn't hot, Mark Brunell can throw to Jimmy Smith or Keenan McCardell. If George is stopped for Tennessee, Steve McNair has Frank Wycheck and George out of the backfield, but he doesn't throw much down the field. It would more difficult for Tennessee to have a vertical passing game than Jacksonville. The Jaguars are hitting their stride, and I think that will continue. In the other game, it's tough for an ex-defensive lineman to pick a great offense over a great defense. If Tampa Bay wins, it will be because of its defense. But St. Louis has too many weapons. The Rams threw to 10 different receivers against Minnesota, including an ex-defensive lineman. The key is Kurt Warner. The Rams have tremendous speed, and Warner hits them in stride, using their speed. The Rams defense doesn't get enough credit.
Rams vs. Jaguars
I feel good about saying the Rams are going to the Super Bowl because they are at home, have that fast offense and own a defense that was able to withstand attacks from the Vikings offense. The Bucs have the smartest defense around, but it will be tough for them to match up on turf. The Rams have the best chance because they will score touchdowns. Of Shaun King's 146 passes during the regular season, only two traveled farther than 20 yards downfield. To beat the Rams, the Bucs have to throw the ball downfield a lot to win. That will be tough for Tampa Bay. I don't have great conviction about the AFC title game because the Titans have shown they can beat the Jaguars and know how to manage the game to win on the road. But the Jaguars' firepower, as long as Mark Brunell is healthy, gives them a slight edge, along with the home-field advantage.
Rams vs. Titans
The Rams have the most complete team and are the most explosive on offense, defense and special teams. The Titans will beat Jacksonville a third time because they have a better offensive line and defensive line, and that's where you win championships -- down in the trenches.
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