>> And the NFL's most valuable defensive player, Pro Bowl linebacker, number 52, Ray Lewis! [ Crowd cheers ] >> Welcome to Baltimore and the electric atmosphere of the year's first playoff game, between the Titans and the Ravens. Good afternoon, everybody. I'm Mike Patrick. It's great to have you with us. Tennessee comes into this game with the NFL's best wild-card record. They are 12-4, and they are a complete team again because their star quarterback, Steve McNair, is back, the league's co-MVP coming off the best season of his career. For the Ravens, they have won five in a row in this series, and the formula is simple. Rely on a great defense and pound Jamal Lewis. In fact, he became the fifth player ever last week, Joe, to go over 2,000 yards in a single season. >> Well, Mike, you know the Baltimore Ravens are gonna run the football. As a matter of fact, it doesn't happen very often in the playoffs, when the number-one run defense goes up against the number-one run offense in the National Football League. It's happened twice. The defense has won both of them. I don't expect Jamal Lewis to gain 100 yards in this game against Tennessee. I just think he has to do what he's done so well -- control the game for the Ravens. >> All right. Thanks, Joe. Ray Lewis and Eddie George have met many times in many significant games. Paul, whoever wins that matchup today can determine the outcome. >> Yeah, but Eddie George is the inspirational leader of this Tennessee team, and he's had not much success against the Ravens in five straight losses. He's only averaged 55 yards a game. Ray Lewis is the heart and soul of this entire Ravens football team. He owns Eddie George. He said to us the other day, "My job is to stop Eddie George." I don't know of anybody else in the National Football League that can make that statement. So, today we're going to see two warriors go at it. >> So now it's just a dogfight. There's no love. There's no shaking hands. There's no smiling. It's nothing nice about this game. This game is business. This game's about you hit or you be hit. Deal with it. >> Steve McNair was already among the NFL's elite but this week received his highest honor as the league's co-MVP. Suzy Kolber has more. >> Well, Mike, to truly appreciate what this means to Steve McNair, you've got to go back, back to 1995. He was the third-overall pick in the draft from tiny Alcorn State. He sat for his first two seasons and since then developed a reputation as one of the toughest players in the game. But he was never bitter about the lack of recognition. But when word came yesterday, he broke down. >> The emotion that was going through my body, I couldn't explain. And the night before, it's like, "Do I have a chance? Do I have a chance?" Didn't get any sleep, thinking. I'm just like a little kid waiting on Christmas, trying to open their toys. And I'm like, "Do I have a chance? Do I have a chance?" And when he announced that, my teammates were the first thing I thought about, who gave me an opportunity and gave me the chance to be successful this year. And it was just amazing because I worked hard for those guys because I know those guys will work hard for me. >> Jeff Fisher delivered the message in a team meeting yesterday. He had the NFL record book in his hand, and he started reading names like Montana, Young, Favre. He said they all won Super Bowls after being named MVP. He looked at Steve and said, "You have your work cut out for you." And the team gave him a standing ovation. >> A jam-packed M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, almost 70,000 people, as the Ravens will get the ball first against the Tennessee Titans. This will not be a game for the faint of heart. Hentrich the kick to Brightful. And it goes into the end zone and out of the end zone. Ravens start from their own 20, with the NFL rushing champion, Jamal Lewis, the deep man in the backfield. They open up with two tight ends. Ricard, the blocking back, in front of Lewis. The quarterback, Anthony Wright. Wright bootleg after the fake. Being chased by Kevin Carter and throws it away. So, on first down, Baltimore tries to come up and cross up Tennessee with the play fake. And they face second and 10. Lewis. Nowhere to go. Lewis rushed for 2,066 yards, the second-highest total of any back in NFL history, as he was chasing Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season record. >> Ta-da! We were here last week when he got 2,000. Was that good? >> Does it count now if we can add more? >> [ Laughs ] I don't think so. >> You know what? I've got to believe the pressure. He just has to feel like so much pressure is off his shoulders that he can just go out and run with the football and be the back that he was for the previous 15 games. >> Third and 9. They'll spread the field this time, and keep an eye on Marcus Robinson, number 87. He's Anthony Wright's favorite receiver this year. They want the screen, and it's batted down and nearly intercepted. Keith Bulluck with the pressure, and Robaire Smith got a hand on the football. >> Oh, he got more than a hand on it. This could have been disastrous for the Ravens. He hits Robaire Smith literally right smack-dab in the nose with this ball. Unbelievable. That would have been a disaster for the Ravens. >> Dave Zastudil on to punt, and Mason is the deep man, averaging 12 1/2 yards a return. Zastudil suffered a broken nose and a concussion a week ago. >> And that was amazing because no one else got hurt. They went into overtime. No other player got hurt except the punter. Guess he didn't get hurt. >> Not his leg. Mason taken down at the 33. Tennessee with the opening possession from its own 33. Eddie George the single back. [ Crowd cheers ] McNair, plenty of time. And throws downfield complete to Drew Bennett out of UCLA, a gain of 17. >> Well, even though you can't run the football, Eddie George is still a threat. And Drew Bennett's gonna come across the formation. You see him on the left side. Then, when he drags underneath, he's got Ray Lewis chasing him, and Steve McNair gets to the most dangerous part of the field for this Baltimore Raven defense, and that is outside the pocket. >> Steve McNair put up brilliant numbers. Led the league in passer rating. 24 touchdowns, only 7 interceptions. That's why he was co-MVP with Peyton Manning. Eddie George. Tennessee into Baltimore territory for the first time in the game, just shy of the 45. Good protection for McNair. And he throws. Is it complete? It is, to the 31. And Frank Wycheck, who is probably going to call it a career when the playoffs are done, picks up 14 yards. >> Yeah, but Steve McNair will always tell you. I don't care about all the other receivers he has, that that man, Frank Wycheck, catching this ball here, is his go-to guy. He said, "He always has been, and he will be." >> One of only four tight ends ever with more than 500 catches in his career, and Tennessee moves the ball to the Raven 31. [ Crowd cheers ] This one is incomplete, off the hands of Bennett. Pressure from Kelly Gregg. >> Now we have seen both quarterbacks throw the ball and have it be bouncing around in the air, and both of them have caught a lucky break. Anthony Wright on that first series, now Steve McNair, although Bennett was wide open. You get a feel. Tennessee feels like, "Okay, we're gonna run sparingly. Steve McNair is our MVP. We're putting it on his shoulders to go out and win this game for us." >> Eddie George, room off the left side. And Eddie George drives inside the 20-yard line. They'll mark him out at the 18. Will Demps forced him out. >> This is one of the things you just didn't think you would see happen against this Baltimore Raven defense. Get to the outside. Look at how they block inside. And nobody came up on the outside. Demps never got there, but the linebacker never stayed to the outside. >> Eddie George, 128 straight starts. Nobody has ever started more games to begin a career as a running back. And only he and Jim Brown got to 10,000 yards without ever missing a start. George again. This time caught around the ankles by Anthony Weaver, who had a big game a week ago. This drive has already eaten up 52 yards. >> Brian Billick told us the other day, Joe, about McNair. What do you need to do with him? He says, "Keep him in the pocket." >> It's easier said than done. If Eddie George can run, then you can run the play-action. The linebackers have to respect that, and he's gonna get outside. And especially when you get in the red area here, it becomes so vitally important to keep Steve in the pocket. >> Second and 7. Eddie George. To the 11. Brought down by Marques Douglas, and right now you get the feeling Tennessee really has that Raven defense off balance. >> Well, you can't forget that this Tennessee Titan football team made it to the AFC Championship game. They've been in Super Bowls. They've been in championship games over the last four years. This is a very young, rebuilt Raven football team that hasn't felt this type of intensity before. >> But they're gonna spread some people out. [ Crowd cheers ] >> They haven't given up a touchdown on offense in the last 10 quarters. Third and 3. McNair, quarterback draw. He has room and has a first down inside the 5. >> What they were telling us, the Ravens, the day before about Steve McNair -- Steve McNair is a quarterback, they say, "Well, he's hurt." No, he isn't. Not for this game he isn't. You cannot bring him down by arm-tackling him. He is a strong runner. >> Well, you can construct any defense you want. You can stop the wide receivers. You can stop the running backs. The one thing you can't account for is a quarterback that can take off and run. >> First and goal. Running formation. Eddie George hit in the backfield and taken down! Kelly Gregg the nose tackle, who just got a 5-year contract extension because of plays like that. >> They're gonna make a 6-year extension after this one. Look at Kelly Gregg. You talk about being in the backfield. Look at the left-hand side of the screen. Bang! If you don't block, you're gonna get buried. He was in the backfield. Almost took the hand-off. >> Another one of those guys who nobody wanted. Bounced from practice squad to practice squad. But as a nose tackle, he's already been in on 100 stops this year. Chris Brown checks into the backfield, second and goal. [ Crowd cheers ] And McNair will use a time-out. McNair. They give it off to Brown, and Brown into the end zone for a touchdown. The rookie from Colorado. >> Well, if you're gonna run, why not run behind two big guys, Benji Olson and Fred Miller on the right side. Opened up a fantastic hole. Chris Brown is a changeup for the Tennessee Titan offense. He's quicker than Eddie George. Look at the hole. Really goes in untouched, and if you're gonna run against the Ravens, you've got to block Ray Lewis. There's a good job by Justin Hartwig, the center. >> Boy, I'll tell you, that's all three linemen on that right. Started with the center going right. Everybody took a man down. >> 44-year-old Gary Anderson for the point after. And Tennessee shocks this sellout crowd. They lead it, 7-0. It was a beautifully executed scoring drive by the Titans -- 10 plays, 67 yards, more than 5:00 taken off the clock. Lamont Brightful has to run up on it. Has a huge hole across the 40. And down near the 45-yard line There's a penalty on the play. >> Holding back at the 30-yard line, which will move the ball back to the 20-yard line. They're moving it further than that. They put it back on the 25-yard line. >> During the return, holding, number 32 of the receiving team. That's a 10-yard penalty. First down. >> Musa Smith called for the hold. First and 10 from the 15 for Baltimore. Wright straight back to throw. Good protection and completes it out to the 20, gain of about 5. Let's go to Suzy. >> Mike, if you want some insight into the Titans' game plan, all you have to do is the Titans, Week 7 against Carolina. At the time, Carolina had the number-one rush offense and a great defense, but the Titans were up 28-7 at halftime because they made them one-dimensional. And Jeff Fisher claims that the only time they really loaded up to stop the run was that week and against New Orleans. You saw the results. Stephen Davis, Deuce McAllister, who had almost 3,000 yards this year, totaled just 28 yards. >> The question is, can they do it to the NFL's leading rusher? They have so far, and they do on this play, as he picks up about 2 or 3. >> I think what's critical is -- they can hold Jamal. He averages 78 yards against them when he's played them before. They can hold him to under 100. But it's runs like this that are important and the third and shorts. That's where Baltimore has to convert them. I believe they'll have to throw on first and 10 to loosen up Tennessee a little bit. Jamal will get his chances, and he's gonna have to break one or two, but they can't try and make a steady diet of him. It's gonna fall on Anthony Wright's shoulders. >> And they're gonna have to throw the ball on third and short and not worry just about Jamal. >> Wright walking up and down the line, changing the play, perhaps. Third and 2. Out in the flat, just off of Heap's fingertips. The All-Pro tight end couldn't hold it. It's three-and-out for Baltimore. >> Well, Lamont Thompson was on him. But that ball was thrown -- should have been caught. That's the only place he could throw it where it has to be caught. That's to the outside. Would have been a first down. But that's another thing. Anthony Wright is gonna have to throw the ball on third down and short. >> Derrick Mason backpedals to near his 30 for Zastudil's kick. Another good one, beauty. Mason back to the 21. Trying to get to the sideline. A flag is down as he goes out of bounds. 13-yard return after a 55-yard punt. We'll check the marker with referee Jeff Triplette. >> You're in your 17th game of the year, 4 preseasons. What's that, 21? And you're still hitting guys when you see their name on the back of their shirt? Is that dumb? >> During the return, holding, number 55 of the return team. That's a 10-yard penalty. It'll be a first down. >> 7-0, Tennessee over Baltimore in Baltimore, where we have had a little taste of spring in January today. Temperatures in the 60s. Tennessee takes over at its own 25. Eddie George back in the ballgame. Nice fake by McNair. Plenty of time to throw. And the play-action has worked beautifully so far. That's complete for a first down. And McAlister has to make the tackle on Mason. >> Well, I'll tell you, on this play-action pass right here, it froze the entire defense. Nobody got within 2 yards of the line of scrimmage. Just take a look at the line of scrimmage and see where the dark jerseys are. They're all along the line. McNair had all the time in the world to throw the ball. >> And he's 3 out of 4 so far. Virtually no pressure on the league's co-MVP. [ Crowd cheers ] This one's tipped by a Raven and intercepted by Will Demps! 30. Gets a block, 20. 10, 5. Touchdown! 56 yards! [ Crowd cheers ] If you make mistakes against the Ravens defense, they make you pay. >> It isn't just mistakes, Mike, and Steve McNair told us this yesterday when we sat with him. If the ball is tipped, what happens when the ball is tipped? They usually wind up with the football in their hands, and that's exactly what you saw. Ed Hartwell, number 56, hustling back. Will Demps playing center field, and Demps winds up taking it into the end zone. >> Matt Stover for the point after. And we have a tie game in Baltimore. Steve McNair had the second-lowest interception percentage in NFL postseason history, only to Bart Starr. But he was picked that time by Will Demps, and when you're intercepted by the Ravens, they return it in a heartbeat. >> They are so good at getting to the ball when it's bouncing up in the air. >> This may not be as good a defense as the one that won the Super Bowl, but it is more athletic, and it has more speed. Taken on a bounce by Shad Meier, the tight end. He takes it to the 37. >> Watch what happens on this particular pass play. Steve McNair from the right side is gonna try and hit a skinny post. That's Will Demps. He's just sort of playing center field, keeping an eye on McNair. Ed Reed comes into your picture, just manages to tip the ball. Ed Reed does an excellent job of reading McNair and then tipping. There's the tip. Trying to go to Mason. And there's Demps playing center field and picking off the ball as it bounces around in the middle. >> Ed Reed is an exceptional athlete, but he is also an exceptional student. He spends virtually every night at Ray Lewis' house watching film. He knows where the ball is going. Eddie George. And there is Ray Lewis to meet him at the 36. And you don't think that interception energized this group? >> Well, Ray Lewis told us the other day. He said, "My job is to stop Eddie George." And I'll tell you what. That's 52 on 27. Is he going right at him? You better put somebody on him to slow him down. >> Now, after the first drive that Tennessee went down the field, Ray Lewis almost went man-to-man on the sidelines to tell the defense that it's unacceptable what happened. That's acceptable, what he just did. >> Three tackles so far for the All-Pro linebacker. Eddie George again. Room to run this time, across the 40 to the 43. Blitz coming. They pick it up. McNair with plenty of time. He takes off, and McNair belted as he got to the 49. But that will be a first down. Riddick Parker, nice job chasing the play from behind. >> That entire play was set up because the guy that intercepted the ball, Will Demps, he had the outside contain on that side of the formation. He falls down and trips, and Fred Miller pushes him to the ground. You'll see it. Here's number 47. Now, he has contain. There's number 71. He tries to get up. That's what allows Steve McNair to get outside, and that is the way Tennessee can beat you. >> He did not push him to the ground. >> [ Laughs ] >> Trust me. That was not a push. >> [ Laughs ] >> First and 10 at the 49. George. Nice hesitation to wait for the blocks and the hole to open up. He picks up 3. Pushing and shoving after the play, and Kemoeatu made the tackle. >> You're gonna have holding on Brad Hopkins on number 94, Douglas. And that was back in the backfield, about the 45-yard line. >> Holding, number 72 of the offense. That's a 10-yard penalty. Still first down. >> That's amazing. He's only in his eighth year, and the guy hasn't ever missed the game. When you think about the bad toe he had in 2000. Then he comes back in 2002. He's got the toe and the ankle. He can barely move. We did a game when he basically limped off and on the football field. Talk about warrior. >> ...inadvertently went off. >> One of the things about Eddie George that he may have lost is that quick step, but he can still power. He can still get to the hole. He doesn't have that real quick burst once he gets there, but the way he's playing, hey. And that line he has? Who needs it? >> Chris Brown, who has the touchdown, comes in on first and 20. [ Crowd cheers ] Ravens stack the line of scrimmage. And Brown will get about 4. >> The thing about Chris Brown is he's a rookie third-round draft choice for them, and he runs with his head down a little bit, like every rookie does. He hasn't learned the patience. He hasn't quite learned the nuances. He runs fairly straight up. Does a good job of protecting the ball. I believe within a year or two, he will be the heir apparent to that running back position for the Tennessee Titans, and they'll have a quicker, faster back. >> Well, Eddie George has a $7 million cap number next year. So, they're going to have to do something if he is to remain with this franchise. McNair, that little bootleg again. He's got room to run if he wants to. Throws at the last moment, and he's got McCareins. McCareins down to the 43, a yard shy of a first down. Ray Lewis on the tackle. >> You cannot let Steve McNair get outside, and Mike Heimerdinger, the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, is doing an excellent job putting his quarterback in positions to make plays. Here's the bootleg. You have to respect the run. Now you get him outside. You're never supposed to throw back across the formation, but McCareins does such a nice job of working into the hole and the void of the Raven defense and picking up a lot of yards. >> They've been able to seal that edge whenever they want to and get McNair outside. Now third and a yard. They started first and 20. McNair to throw, under pressure. Gregg can't get him. Throws on the run. Knocked away by McAlister at the sideline. Finally, some pressure on McNair. >> Kelly Gregg again. This guy comes up. They ran a play-action again, and McNair is the kind of guy that you better block him at the line of scrimmage. And Steve McNair, first of all, he's got to avoid. He's got to avoid right there, Gregg. And now he gets to the outside, and he's just throwing the ball away. He's not throwing it at anybody. >> And that's what you saw, a rookie mistake from Chris Brown. He went the wrong way on the play-action, which messed up the blocking up front, which made McNair get rid of the football. >> Two-time Pro Bowler Craig Hentrich is in to punt. He loves to kick knuckleballs in this situation. Spirals this one instead. And the fair catch bobbled! [ Whistle blows ] Brightful dives on it and got it back. >> ...turning that franchise around. >> The Ravens have done nothing on offense, and yet they're in a 7-7 ballgame. >> Jamal Lewis stacked up at the line again, and Tennessee is just doing everything they can to take away the run. >> That's 3 rushing times for 3 yards, period. >> Jamal Lewis went over the 2,000-yard mark and advanced all the way to number two a week ago, when we were here in Baltimore. 2,066 yards for the season. In that game, he passed O.J. Simpson, Terrell Davis, and Barry Sanders. Only Eric Dickerson had a better single-season mark in NFL history. >> This is no small back, folks. This is a big guy. [ Whistle blows ] >> He can run like a small back, but he's 240 and runs right over top of you. >> Prior to the snap, false start, 66, on the offense. 5-yard penalty -- it's still second down. >> Bennie Anderson. >> All right, this is their third possession, and you know. It's not strangers. I mean, Tennessee is saying, "Okay, Anthony Wright, if you want to beat us, you're gonna have to. You're the only guy, 'cause we're gonna shut Jamal Lewis down." When I say "shut him down," I'm talking about keeping him under 100 yards. >> When you see total yards of 9 in 3 possessions, that tells you you're doing a pretty good job. >> After the penalty, second and 15. Wright to throw from his end zone. Under pressure. Lewis on the screen, and right there was Samari Rolle, who read it perfectly from his corner and came up to make the tackle. >> Do you know what one of the problems with this screen is that the Ravens are running? When they run it to the one side, the receiver on that side, Joe, goes down about 6 yards and just turns himself in and faces the safety like he's gonna block him. So, he's already determining that there's a screen coming. He's telling everybody in the secondary, "Screen is here." >> Third and 17 for an offense not known for its big plays. Wright, quarterback draw. And dives out to the 12. Art Modell hoping to catch lightning in a bottle one more time, as he completes his 43rd year as an NFL owner, with the Browns and Ravens franchises. Won one NFL championship in Cleveland, won a Super Bowl in 2000 with the Ravens, his final season as the owner. Zastudil punting. Derrick Mason. 35, still on his feet. Finally down there. Great field position for Tennessee after a 15-yard punt return. Look at the numbers. The Ravens have 15 yards in this game. Count them -- 15. >> And Anthony Wright has 8 of the rushing yards of the 11 that are up there. Jamal Lewis has done nothing. >> Really interesting to see what field position was so far in this game. We've only been through one quarter, but it can't be good for the Ravens. >> And both coaches knew this would be a field-position game. Eddie George stacked up by Ed Hartwell, number 56, who along with Ray Lewis, the inside linebackers in this 3-4 scheme. >> Just like Tennessee knows that Jamal's not gonna be able to run against them, you know that Tennessee has got to believe that they're not gonna be able to run effectively against the Ravens. And look at the way they started. They're gonna have to take advantage of this good starting position and get some points on the board, or else, as we've seen happen so often, games turn, and this thing starts to balance itself out. Tennessee's got to get something out of this drive. >> You don't let a defensive team as good as the Ravens stay in the ballgame. >> Second and 9, Eddie George. This time trying to get up the left side. They seal the corner, and Eddie George with another nice gain near the 25-yard line. He picked up 9 yards. >> He hasn't lost speed. >> No, he hasn't, and you know where they're running? They're running to Terrell Suggs, number 55, the right defensive end. Now he's playing for Peter Boulware. He's not as big, and he just can't quite make the plays. And that's also a rookie, Jarret Johnson, at that end. So, they've got two young guys playing outside on the left side of Tennessee's offense, and that's where they want to run. >> Eddie George has already picked up 36 yards on 9 carries. Now they face third and 1. >> Sneak it. >> And McNair does just that. Had his legs cut out from under him. This spot will be close. >> Marques Douglas dove at his legs and cut him down. >> If they put it on the line, he's got a first down. And it is a first down. By the no-o-o-se of the ball -- just by the nose. >> You okay? >> Yeah, I just wanted... >> You all right? >> No-o-se of the ball. >> What was that coming out? >> Well, I want to let them know it's a little foggy in here. Ships are coming in. >> They'll bring out the chains. >> This better be by the nose of the ball. By the nose. >> I think he's short. >> Whoo! >> Out of here. >> Talk about my eyes, not yours. >> Wow, don't let them stretch that chain again. >> [ Laughs ] Just made it. >> Well, before the game, I went down and added an extra link. [ Laughs ] >> Well, that's all that they made it by was that link. First and 10 at the 25. Tennessee has been impressive on offense. Eddie George. Nice cutback. Dives into the 20, to about the 18-yard line. Gary Baxter, the safety, had to make the tackle. He splits his time between safety and corner. >> Boy, I'll tell you what. These running plays, when you're putting your team, and especially against this defense, into a second-and-4, second-and-3 situation, that whole playbook opens up to you. And I don't care that you're inside the 20-yard line. [ Crowd cheers ] >> You don't think that offensive line is pumped up to get Eddie George some yards? And he has run beautifully in the first half. George again. This time hit at the line. Can't go anywhere. Marques Douglas with the tackle. Has Ray Lewis affected Eddie George physically and mentally? >> What can you say? When you've been beaten five times in a row, you can say pretty much anything, and you can't argue the fact. "Well, no he's not..." Oh, well, you just wait for the opportunity to play again, and you get up, and you play as hard as you can, and you hope for a victory and say, "Well, he's not in my head." [ Laughs ] >> And he's got a smile on his face right now, facing third and about 3. McNair with time. Throws. Intercepted! [ Crowd cheers ] Ed Reed. The second pick by that secondary. Reed, who had 7 during the regular season, returns it for 22 yards. Eddie George hurting on the sideline after trying to make the tackle on the interception return, the frustration evident. He has had a brilliant first half, 11 carries, 44 yards. Slammed to the ground on the tackle against Ed Reed. They are looking at his left shoulder. He came off holding his hand. We'll get an update as soon as we can. Baltimore, after the second turnover, starts from its own 29. Jamal Lewis. Against the number-one rush defense in the NFL has done nothing. Let's go to Suzy. >> Mike, going back to that turnover, Steve McNair told us last night how aware he was of safety Ed Reed, the way he reads patterns. Reminds him of Rod Woodson -- always in the right place at the right time. And, in fact, of course, he's matched Rod Woodson's team record of 7 interceptions in the regular season. Steve said they wanted to take advantage of his aggressiveness, but it's burned him twice. In the first quarter, he tried to audible, and of course that tipped pass. >> And Reed is still a work in progress, only his second year, but he's already in the Pro Bowl. And Jamal Lewis stuffed at the line of scrimmage again. The 31-yard line, by the way, is the best field position the Ravens have had yet in this game, their own 31. >> Well, you can't say it's all the Tennessee defense. The Ravens have generated nothing on offense. They had a chance to convert a first down. Todd Heap dropped a pass two drives ago. But that's as close as they've come to converting anything. You cannot ask Anthony Wright to convert third and 9 against the best defense in football. >> And they are still looking for their first first down of the ballgame. Chester Taylor, number 29, comes in. [ Whistle blows ] And they'll whistle the play dead on third and 9. And the news is horrible for Tennessee. >> Prior to the snap, false start, number 86 of the offense. That's a 5-yard penalty. It's still third down. >> Dislocated left shoulder is the preliminary report on Eddie George. He's going to the locker room for X-rays. >> Let me tell you. The thing that you lose with Eddie George, and you put a Chris Brown in to play, is you lose the veteran experience. But, more importantly, it's the pass blocking and it's the chipping and it's the helping out of Steve McNair that gets lost, not necessarily just the running ability of the back. >> Third and 14. The Ravens unable to generate anything offensively. Wright. Dumps it off, and that one is complete on the short toss to Chester Taylor. Keith Bulluck covers him easily. They'll have to punt it away. >> I'll tell you what the problem that Anthony Wright is having, and that's reading defenses. And what the Tennessee Titans are doing -- you hear about eight men in the box. Well, they're bringing safeties and corners up, and they're not necessarily there to blitz. But as soon as they see him take that short drop, bang, they're gone. >> The other problem is third and 14, Paul. >> Well, yeah. >> [ Laughs ] >> There aren't many plays for third and 14. >> I was just gonna say. I think the yardage might have a little bit to do with it, too. >> Here's one for third and 14. Just punt. >> Mason is deep. Zastudil, another good punt. Mason from the 24. Slips one tackler. Demps takes him down at the 33. There's also a flag. A wicked-hitting game so far. And Steve McNair, the co-MVP of the league, has already turned it over twice to that opportunistic Ravens defense. >> During the return, illegal block in the back, number 23 of the return team. That's a 10-yard penalty -- first down. >> Chris Brown, big hole off the right side, and Brown up across the 30 to the 34-yard line. >> What you lose with Eddie George is experience and overall play at the running back position. What you gain with Chris Brown is an explosiveness and some speed that this offense doesn't have. Now, Eddie George can make that cut and probably only get about 7, 8 yards. Chris Brown can take stuff a lot further. >> Eddie George in the locker room being X-rayed for a possible separated shoulder. It may be on the back of Chris Brown. Back in Baltimore, 7-7, Tennessee against the Ravens. >> Now, the other thing -- the Tennessee Titans don't need to change anything that they've done on offense. It still moves Steve McNair around. Have him be a little more careful, a little more cautious with the football, but that would be the only emphasis that you could make. >> And get back to the big tight end, Kinney, number 88. >> Steve McNair, who had been so protective with the ball in his last 74 throws. He's been picked off twice in 8 tries in this game. Now McNair wants to run. And he's drilled by Lewis at the 35. [ Crowd cheers ] All-Pro against All-Pro. >> I'll tell you. Now, you talk about Ray Lewis and how he's gonna hit you and all the things that happen, but I'm gonna tell you the guy with a lot of guts, and that's Steve McNair. Now, Ray Lewis is dropping back. He sees him running. You think he's gonna back down? Look at Steve McNair. He popped him with a shoulder. Now, I know Ray Lewis got the better end of that deal, but Steve McNair will not, will not back away from anybody. >> Six first-half tackles for Ray Lewis. Brown. Lowers his head. Gets to the 40. >> Ray Lewis is now playing in a 3-4 defense. He played in a 4-3 for years up until this year. Career highs in interceptions, as well as tackles. What the 3-4 allows him to do is he doesn't have to just stay in behind two big guys in the middle. He can move around. He has a lot more liberty to be able to freelance within this offense. Mike Nolan does a good job of giving him a chance to pattern-read, as well as read the offensive linemen. He has that ability 'cause he has people to back him up in the 3-4. >> Third and 4, approaching 7:00 to go, first half. [ Crowd cheers ] Four-man rush. McNair throws on the run. That's going to be short of a first down. Up at the 43-yard line as Wycheck made the catch, and Chad Williams made the solid tackle. >> Yeah, it's good to go to your go-to guy, but Wycheck is not far enough down the field. >> I want to tell you something. If I'm the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh ran a fake punt against them for 81 yards and a touchdown. It's only fourth and 1. Jeff Fisher is a pretty darn good gambling kind of coach. And you can see that the Ravens basically have their defense on the field still. >> Hentrich is in to punt. Brightful from the 18. Nowhere to go. Buried at the 20. 39-yard kick. Back to M&T Bank Stadium. Ravens take over at the 20. They have not gotten out of their own territory. Carter. Just came in and leveled Anthony Wright. He had a free run at him. >> Somebody forgot to block this guy. I mean, Carter's pretty big. Look at 93. He's dancing. Kevin Carter -- nobody touched him. And you've got to block a lineman. Before you block anybody else, block a lineman. Look at this. Nobody -- absolutely nobody -- even looked at him. Now, number 39, Ricard in the backfield, he was there, but he never looked. I'll tell you what. I really wouldn't look over there, either. >> He didn't want him. He's looking for a smaller guy, a guy with a smaller number. >> 290 with a full head of steam. Draw play, Lewis. First time tonight he's had a chance to run at all. Takes it across the 20, to the 21. Good, solid tackle by Andre Dyson. >> Basically, the Tennessee Titans have dominated this football game, on offense in particular in the first half. And, Paul, you made the point. Sooner or later, you have to expect the Ravens are gonna come up with some kind of a play. But Tennessee cannot continue to keep this game close, and you see the job that their defense has done rushing. Only 18 yards rushing for Baltimore. That's fine, but that could swing in the second half. Tennessee's got to start taking advantage of the great field positions that they've had. >> And they're facing a Tennessee defense best in the NFL on third down in the last five years. They just don't convert third downs. Except now. Taylor across midfield for the first time in the ballgame. A gain of 30. >> The credit for that play goes to the offensive line. Tennessee brought more than the normal four rushers, and the offensive line did an excellent job. Of course, it's the biggest offensive line in football. Here, they're bringing eight. Look at the big clog up in the middle. What a nice job by Mike Flynn and Mulitalo and Bennie Anderson. The center and the two guards did an excellent job giving Anthony Wright a chance to step up and throw the ball. >> Boy, that's so correct because you had two guys in the middle block three people. When you can put two guys to take out three, you got time. >> First first down of the ballgame for the Ravens. Heap. Nice catch and a perfect throw to the 35. >> Oh, he got behind Tank Williams, and Tank didn't have a chance. You talk about the perfect throw. This throw by Anthony Wright to Todd Heap was right on target. It's to the outside. Tank Williams is number 25. Here comes the ball up over the top. Bulluck the linebacker can't get up. Look where Tank Williams is. He's sitting inside. Heap is to the outside. That's the perfect throw. >> Do not discount Anthony Wright. He is a very athletic quarterback. He has a big arm. He has produced some big games, especially in the come-from-behind variety. Wright on the roll. He wants to run. 25 and out of bounds. [ Crowd cheers ] >> The thing about Anthony Wright is he provides something that Kyle Boller doesn't, the other quarterback on the roster, and that's athletic ability to get outside. Orlando Brown, his right tackle, caved in the entire side. Kevin Carter was looking for another big shot. And he got outside of him. >> He is a free agent out of South Carolina. He was with Dallas. Had to replace the injured Troy Aikman. Went 1-4. He has bounced around the NFL. Started with Pittsburgh. Now he ends up with Baltimore. He's been 5-2 as a starter. Lewis. Lumbers for a couple down to the 23. There's a flag down at the end of the play. >> This the stupidity of "Zeus," the right tackle, Orlando Brown, number 78. You know that -- now he's pushing his own players around. Orlando Brown's temper has gotten him in more problems. >> And he levels Jevon Kearse, Joe. This is absolutely stupid. You're downfield. Look at this. This is after the play. Now watch. He just takes Jevon Kearse and throws him on the ground. Well, Jevon, come on. >> After the play is over, personal foul, unnecessary roughness, number 78 of the offense. That's a 15-yard penalty, and it will be second down. >> And you can see how upset he is. Now Kearse did a flop, but he was still pushed. >> But he was pushing his own teammates around, and give Brian Billick a lot of credit. This is like calling a 20-second time-out in basketball. Bring him over to the sideline. It's Brian's job to calm him down a little bit and try and do it. >> We said Jevon Kearse was just rolling around on the ground. I'll tell you what. He limped off the field. Jevon Kearse got hurt, and Brown is a big man. He threw him on the ground. >> And he is nasty. >> And this is not like a 20-second time-out in basketball. There aren't any 360-pound guys playing that game. Wright throws in rhythm. Inside the 30. Terry Jones Jr., the backup tight end. And here comes Orlando back in the game. >> The reason they took him off the field -- just tell him exactly what he did wrong, and, of course, the league will fine him for that, I would think. And calm him down a little bit. They've got two of the best tackles in the game. Jonathan Ogden, they talk about him, number 75. They say they never worry about the left side of their offensive line because nobody is gonna beat Jonathan Ogden. >> I don't think they have to worry about the right side, either. >> [ Laughs ] >> 6'8", 360. Heap out in the flat, submarined there at the 25 by Dyson. And we'll give you the AFC Pro Bowl starters. Matt Stover, his season's numbers. Will try a 43-yard field goal. In the playoffs, Stover 2 out of 4 career from 40 to 49. The holder is Zastudil. Stover won last week's game against Pittsburgh with a long field goal in overtime. And drills this one. And the Ravens, with their first show of offense in the entire ballgame, move into Tennessee territory and take the lead. >> The other thing that was impressive is they overcame the big 15-yard personal foul that was called on Zeus, Orlando Brown, their right tackle. Now it's up to Tennessee to start mounting some more offense. And I would say if Eddie George comes in and plays, he's not gonna be anywhere near as effective as he was in the first quarter of this football game. >> Orlando Brown is the guy you may remember who was hit in the eye by Jeff Triplette with the penalty flag, which is weighted on the bottom. Lost his vision, was out of football for three years. He had such a temper in Cleveland that they sent him to a psychiatrist, who told him he wanted to have him put a fish bowl in his locker because it would calm him down. That's why I quit majoring in psychology. >> His mom in high school taught mythology, and she's the one that decided he should be Zeus. >> Tell you one other thing that happened in this last drive. This last drive has now made Tennessee aware of Anthony Wright. They were ignoring Anthony Wright for about a quarter and a half, and now they better not ignore him anymore. >> And that should help Jamal Lewis. >> Exactly. >> 10-7, Baltimore. Wade Richey, second in the NFL in touchbacks, booms one to McCareins, who will bring it out of the end zone. Can't get past the 20. Let's go to Suzy. >> Well, Mike, when Jeff Fisher announced to the team that Steve McNair was the MVP, he also presented game balls to the training staff because they have so much to do with it. We know the injuries McNair has played through. This year he has a cracked bone spur in his left ankle. Playing with a strained right calf. Earlier this season, a dislocated finger. Last year, he was so injured, he couldn't even practice for the last month of the season. And talk about tough. How about Eddie George? He'll return soon, as well. >> And they'll need him, Suzy. And McNair and George the heart of this offense. Draw play, Brown. Gets 5. >> You just see Chris Brown running differently toward the line of scrimmage than an Eddie George would. As soon as he starts to feel and sense contact, you see him sort of cringe in a little bit. He runs upright, and if he's running upright, and Ray Lewis is on the other side, he will not be upright very long. >> Clock is running. Tennessee has 2 time-outs left at its disposal. Another draw play, Brown. Ray Lewis is in on the stop along with Riddick Parker. >> They ran two draws and what happens? When you run draws, all you do is give the defense time to get prepared for it. Here comes the draw. Now look at how much time it takes to run that draw. When you do that, you've got linemen, Parker, downfield. Ray Lewis upfield. >> Jeff Fisher is doing this because they're not trying to score. What they're doing is they're trying to go into halftime at 10-7 in this ballgame. >> And Baltimore's not trying to stop the clock, either. >> Baltimore has 3 time-outs, and Tennessee has 2. >> McNair drops it off to Brown, and Brown dragged down by Lewis. [ Crowd cheers ] 8 tackles in the first half for Ray Lewis. >> Now the Ravens take one of their time-outs. >> Now they're gonna try and block the punt. That's the only reason why they would do it at this time. >> Ray Lewis is all over the field. We know that, but he's covering Brown, the back coming out of the backfield. But the thing about Ray Lewis -- you see where he is all the time. You see all the things that he does, and he's always in a position. But when he tackles you, you go down. You don't need two people. >> And the reason why I think he's the best to ever play the game is because he combines the speed, the power, the hands in pass coverage, the athletic ability to be able to go sideline to sideline. There have been some great linebackers, but I don't think there hasn't been one that has that rare combination that he has. >> What he said, though, is the best linebacker? I don't think there's any question. He wants to be the best player that's ever played the game of football. And we're talking about all positions. >> Keep an eye on number 20 for Baltimore, Ed Reed. He is the punt-blocking specialist, from the right side. Can't get in there, and they kick it away. Fair catch made at the 29 with only 22 seconds to go after a 42-yard kick. Ray Lewis miked up in week 10 against the Rams. >> They think they ready! They don't know nothing about us yet. Walk with that swagger, boy. Walk with that swagger. Let's make them play football tonight! They're gonna have to play football soon! We got to believe in this, man! We got to believe in this! Touchdown! Yeah! Shh! Here we come! Here we come! It's a man's game now. It might not be pretty, but they got to come see about us. >> On the field, off the field, it doesn't matter. You wonder if he could possibly have any adrenaline left when it's over. Chester Taylor. One of the defenders went for the strip, didn't make a tackle, and Taylor was able to get 10 more yards. >> That was Jevon Kearse. Jevon Kearse, it was almost like a punch to try to knock the ball out. And now they're in position. Watch number 90, Jevon Kearse. He's gonna read the play. Jonathan Ogden -- first of all, Jevon Kearse can't see around Jonathan Ogden. He's seeing nothing but purple. Now watch Jevon. He sees the play. And what he tries to do now is just knock the ball out. Look at this punch. And the worst part about it? He didn't even hit the arm with the ball in it. >> Well, Chester Taylor moved it to the other hand just as Jevon started to load it. If you're the Baltimore Ravens right now, what you want to do is you want to try and hit a pass 15, 18 yards. Give Wade Richey, who has a very good leg, and he handles the long stuff. Zastudil handles the shorter stuff. I'd say within 55 yards, Wade Richey has a chance to be able to make a field goal. >> And don't be afraid to throw it in the middle, 'cause you have time. >> And a time-out. >> Anybody can take a time-out. Anybody. >> Anthony Wright has hit his last 7 passes. Pressured by Carter. using a lot of time. Now he throws it away with 1 second on the clock. >> Take a knee. >> I think that's exactly what's gonna happen. >> Anthony Wright -- Kevin Carter is after him. You think he would have had him. Anthony Wright just shows everything. Here's Steve McNair. >> He looked good. >> I like the way he moves around. >> Anthony Wright, Steve McNair, both of them getting outside the pocket, challenging the defenses. And I think that's gonna be a big thing in the second half is containing these quarterbacks. >> They're gonna throw the big one. >> Three Tennessee Titans are back at the goal line. Wright unloads deep, tipped, almost caught. Still loose. And may have been intercepted, and it is. Picked off by Dyson. That's the half. Welcome back to Baltimore, everybody, in a 10-7 Baltimore halftime lead. Joe, you talked about the defense against Jamal Lewis at the beginning of the broadcast. They have done a great job against Jamal. >> Through most of the first half, that's exactly what the Titans have done defensively. They've held him to only 12 yards. But at the end of the half, we saw Anthony Wright throw a little bit more. If Anthony Wright can have success, it looks like Jamal will get a chance to run a bit more. >> McCareins on the return. Cut down at the 17-yard line. Well, with Jamal Lewis held in check, they're trying to put pressure on the quarterback. What about the other side of the ball? >> Well, we talked about Ray Lewis, and we talked about Eddie George. Now, Eddie George had a few pretty good runs, but when you look at Ray Lewis, you know that he's going to be all over the field. And, what, 8 tackles in the first half alone? >> Right. >> I would imagine he'll have at least that many in this second half. >> Oh, yeah, I think Ray Lewis is gonna have to control Steve McNair more than the running game now. >> And Eddie George, with a dislocated shoulder, back in the lineup at tailback. >> This is one of those games, Michael, where you're never hurt. It's a playoff game. You're not hurt. I don't care what your injury is. You're not hurt. >> You may not be hurt, but your effectiveness is gonna be questioned, I think, and that's gonna be the big thing with Eddie George. How effective can he be? >> There will be no review since it is not a reviewable situation. >> There you go. >> Jeff Triplette making the call, and Tennessee will start from its own 18-yard line. George ran very effectively, very hard in the first half until he hurt his shoulder. Steve McNair needs to go back to play-action and throw the short routes. >> Eddie George. Anybody who has ever had a dislocated joint of any kind knows the pain involved. This guy had a dislocated shoulder in the first half. He's back in there. >> Well, you see he's wearing a harness. The black thing that's hanging outside of his shirt is a harness that goes around the shoulder, around the torso of his body to basically hold the shoulder in place. What amazes me is on that play, he held the ball in his left hand. When they helped him up off the ground, they pulled him up with his left arm. >> Second and 7. McNair, a short throw, and he skips it incomplete. Let's go to Suzy. >> Well, I spoke to both coaches at halftime. Brian Billick said, obviously very impressed with the way the Titans defense was shutting down Jamal. But he said once they committed to stop the run, they knew they had to make the plays outside. Then it became a matter of trying to get into a rhythm -- too many dropped balls. But you saw at the end of that first half, they finally started to get it going. Now, Jeff Fisher said he is really just concerned that time of possession -- keep that ball away from the Ravens. He knew his defense could shut down Jamal. >> Boy, and they have done a beautiful job of it, too, Suzy. Tyrone Calico, a receiver with great speed, is in for Tennessee on third and long. McNair throws on the run. Almost picked again. Will Demps had a shot at it and couldn't get it. >> I think Steve McNair is hurt. I think he hurt his right calf or right foot on the throw prior to this one. He was moving it around on the previous play to this one. He makes the throw. You'll see the throw. The throw goes into the ground. He really gets nothing on it, and it's his right leg, that right calf. See where he looked down? And he's sort of playing with it. Remember, the calf was a problem to him before? And he looked very ineffective and not able to move on the last one. >> Right calf and left ankle. Hentrich off the side of his foot. Gets a great bounce. And will roll all the way inside the 20, to the 15-yard line. Ravens' football with a 3-point lead and 13:50 to go, third quarter. Jamal Lewis, the NFL rushing champion, held to 12 yards in the first half -- his worst first-half performance since the last time he played the Titans, in 2002. >> What do you think the odds were at halftime Anthony Wright would have 19 yards rushing and Jamal Lewis 12? >> Not very good. Play-action by Wright. Heap -- what a catch! >> Oh, what a throw, too. >> Lance Schulters was right there, but that ball was perfectly thrown. >> Anthony Wright's ability to throw the football is really the wild card for the Baltimore Ravens. You know what you get in the running game. You know what you get on defense. But can Anthony Wright make plays with his arm? Does a nice job of firing this rocket, and that's why this man's going to the Pro Bowl, Todd Heap. And he really hasn't been a part of the offense. Only caught one ball last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. >> Second and short. Wright throws again. Taylor makes the catch. First down up to the 32. The tackle by Samari Rolle. Let's go to Suzy. >> Well, to answer Joe's question, I asked Todd Heap before the game, "Where have you been?" And he said, "Really, it's all about Jamal." As long as Jamal is killing the opponent, they're not gonna throw a lot of passes. And, again, it's about rhythm. If you're not throwing a lot of passes, it's tough to get into that rhythm. And he says, "Yes, it has been frustrating because we do have the talent to be a good passing team." You see him starting to get off a little bit tonight. >> And he's going to his second Pro Bowl, Suzy, in three years is Todd Heap. Jamal Lewis. Boy, there was a hold at the corner, and they caught it, too. This one will come back. And it was Terry Jones Jr., the tight end, with a big handful of what looked like Rocky Boiman's jersey. >> You're not allowed to grab them by the jersey and pull them. They finally get Jamal Lewis on the outside, where they get him on a corner. >> Holding, number 82 of the offense. That's a 10-yard penalty. It's still first down. >> Terry Jones Jr. -- they're starting to move the ball, and when you struggle on offense, like they did in the first quarter and halfway through the second, when you start to struggle, you can't afford to make these kind of stupid mistakes. On the right of your screen, you'll see number 82. Now, that's holding. [ Laughs ] When you throw him to the ground that's holding. What? >> There are the penalty numbers for the game. They have not been a huge factor. Four-man rush. Wright almost picked off. Dyson made a break on the ball. Got a hand on it. >> Back to your point about running the football, Paul. When you're able to throw like Anthony Wright did at the end of the second quarter and here coming out in the beginning of the third, Jamal Lewis will get an opportunity to have some bigger runs. Everybody knows that this offense is built on Jamal Lewis. But Anthony Wright -- you see, 10-for-16. Doing a nice job of managing this football game. >> If you're wondering, Kyle Boller is healthy. Has been for a couple of weeks. Brian Billick said it would not be fair to either Boller or Anthony Wright or this ballclub to make a change in quarterback right now. Lewis. Got a block on the corner this time and takes it to the 34. >> You give Jamal Lewis a little bit of running room, and he's going to pick up 6 yards or 7 yards on a play. Take a look at Jamal Lewis, 31. When he gets to the outside -- watch him turn now and get himself square up, and his shoulders are square. He gets in the hole, and now it's difficult to bring him down. And it took two. >> Boy, there's a real battle going on between Orlando Brown, the right tackle of the Ravens, and Kevin Carter. You're talking about two men going at it. >> Wright, plenty of time from the shotgun. This is tipped and incomplete. Crowd wants a flag, but Samari Rolle did a great job on defense. >> You know, we haven't really had time to talk about Samari Rolle tonight, but this guy is an outstanding corner. I mean, Samari Rolle can play that position. >> Six interceptions, and normally when you play a lot of man-to-man coverage, like the Tennessee Titans do, you don't see the corners with a lot interceptions. Defensive guys get interceptions when you play a lot of zones because you're locked up on guys. Tells you how good his hands are. >> Mason back waiting on the punt from Zastudil. Another good kick. Mason a very late fair-catch signal at the 20. 46-yard punt, no return. >> You know something, Michael? The last time these two teams met, in 2000, in the divisional game, the Titans scored the first touchdown, went up 7-0, and they did not score another touchdown in that ballgame. >> That was the last time in the playoffs, right? >> Right. [ Crowd cheers ] >> McNair, short set. Calico up to the 33. They think this kid has a tremendous future. Been bothered by a knee injury this year. >> He's faster than anybody. >> And those are the kind of throws you make to try and get Gary Baxter to come up and bite a little bit and then run Calico by him. You see Baxter bail on him. Calico a big guy. He's nursing a little bit of a knee problem, as well. [ Crowd cheers ] >> Eddie George. Across the 35, to about the 36. The Titans dominating this game statistically. Their average start, their own 30-yard line. It was even more impressive earlier in the game. And time of possession -- a 5-minute edge over the Ravens. >> Means nothing. >> No, it doesn't. >> Well, they were 12-4, and they were the second-best team in football with time of possession. As long as their offense is on the field, Jamal Lewis is sitting and watching. >> Mason lines up in the slot this time. >> He's been quiet in this game. McNair throwing underneath to Erron Kinney, the tight end, to the 41-yard line. Pinned there. >> As long as they have possession, Anthony Wright's on the bench. >> I think that's your biggest concern. Yeah, you're right. >> Yeah! You know, I remember you talked so much about Jamal Lewis, and they've shut him down. But you got to like what Anthony Wright has done. And I like now what Steve McNair is doing. Throw the short passes. Those are the guys that are open. >> Don't let it get tipped up again because the Ravens are very opportunistic when the ball is tipping around. >> Third and a yard. [ Crowd cheers ] Eddie George. Fights for the yardage. He is taken down right at the sticks. >> You know who missed him? Ray Lewis in the backfield. He's mad at himself. He's looking over at the bench. He's on one knee. He's not hurt. He's just mad. Eddie George does one thing he shouldn't do, and that's try to break this thing to the outside. Watch Ray Lewis, 52. Boom, he's got a piece of him. He doesn't get all of him, and he's not happy with it. Eddie George feels him on the inside, gets rid of him. And Ray Lewis -- look at this. "I don't miss tackles. I do not miss tackles." Don't ever come back here again. >> You know what was impressive, too, is Eddie George used his left arm to shield off Ray Lewis. >> And that's the one with the dislocated shoulder. [ Crowd chanting, "Defense" ] >> Eddie's been putting up some pretty good numbers in this game. >> Joe, he really has. 51 yards -- it doesn't sound like a whole lot, but you're playing against a brilliant defense, and they knew they had to run him at least some to open up the passing game. [ Crowd cheers ] First and 10. George again. Eddie George across midfield into Baltimore territory. Let's go to Suzy. >> Mike, he is truly one of the NFL's workhorse backs -- in fact, the only back in NFL history to carry the ball at least 300 times in each of the last 8 seasons. Next longest -- Walter Payton at 6 seasons. And what makes it so impressive is Eddie's style -- that no-nonsense north/south, and he's big guy. So, he takes all those blows. >> Four-time Pro Bowler. We asked him earlier in the week, "Where are you at this stage of your career?" He says, "I'm in my prime," and he is showing it to Baltimore right now. McNair with time. Wants it all. McCareins! Touchdown! >> Oh, did he do a nice job of playing the ball. Gary Baxter just basically ran himself right out of the route and coverage. Well, you talk about adjusting to the football. McCareins with his eighth touchdown, 7 in the regular. Look at him come underneath. He just does a terrific job. Watch. He gets on top. Now he looks back for the ball. Baxter loses it up in the lights or somewhere, and McCareins just slides right underneath him. >> You got Baxter. He's running full speed, Joe, and when he finally turns to locate the ball, he's still running full speed. He can't stop. >> We saw him run the hitch against him with Calico. They come back with McCareins for the big one. >> McCareins has set career highs this year with 47 catches for 813 yards. Eddie George and the Titans trying to break a 5-game losing streak to the Baltimore Ravens. They just helped their cause with a 79-yard drive that took 6 plays and 3:16 off the clock. McNair to McCareins for the touchdown. And it's 14-10, Tennessee. Chester Taylor and Lamont Brightful are deep for the kick. Taylor from the 11. Taken down shy of the 30. Tennessee came in with the best record among the wild-card teams, 12-4 -- actually better than the Ravens, 10-6. But because Baltimore was the division winner, Tennessee is on the road. And Jamal Lewis, who's been held in check by the Tennessee run defense, hoping to get something started from his own 29. Anthony Wright with time, and he airs it out for Marcus Robinson. Caught it, but I think he was out of bounds. >> Way out of bounds. >> Anthony Wright talked last Friday, talked about throwing deep balls. He said, "You throw it 40 and 5." That means you throw it 40 yards down the field and 5 yards in from the sidelines. That time he threw it 40 yards downfield, and it winds up landing almost out of bounds. He's got to throw this ball inside more and give Marcus Robinson a chance to go up against Andre Dyson. >> And Robinson, who was virtually invisible until Anthony Wright came into the lineup, has had a huge second half of the season. He's been the big-play guy. Wright out in the flat to Lewis. Nice, quick move to get some running room, and then he is belted down. I mean, he was drilled by Robaire Smith, the defensive tackle chasing the play. >> You know, when you come back, and you're chasing the play -- Robaire Smith, number 98, is the lineman. Jamal Lewis gets the ball on the outside. Good move inside, but then Robaire Smith. Watch -- left side. Left side, left side. Now. Bang! >> Oh. >> He's already set up for you. >> And that's a hallmark of both these defenses -- their defensive linemen hustling downfield. >> Third and 4 -- big play for the Ravens. They would love to keep the drive alive. And Wright, intended for Heap. Incomplete. They wanted a flag on Lamont Thompson. They won't get it. >> When you're on the sideline like that, just keep your mouth shut. You already stopped the guy. There's no flag. You covered him. Everybody else get away and shut up. This was supposed to be a quick pass out to the right, and he throws this. And they're talking about pass interference. Well, there isn't. Lamont Thompson is there. Okay, now the play is over. Nothing happened. Then all the big mouths on the sideline that aren't playing jump in. >> Mason has to backpedal for this one. Back to the 11. Trying to get to the outside. Turns the corner at the 25. There's a flag down after a return of 16. Another beautiful punt by Zastudil. That was 54 yards. And Mason's slow to get up. >> I'll tell you. Demps is slow to get up, who is the starting free safety. >> Now, the officials, led by Jeff Triplette. >> During the return, illegal block to the back, number 80 of the return team. That's a 10-yard penalty. It'll be a first down. >> That foul called on Darrell Hill. >> I'll tell you. This is a game that is really played on the line of scrimmage again. We see enough of them. When you see a score like this, 14-10, you know that the defensive lines and the offensive lines are really going at each other. >> Eddie George, playing with a dislocated left shoulder, is the tailback. Runs into a wall at the 20. Jamal Lewis gained over 2,000 yards. Eddie George this year 1,031. But it's been Eddie George's advantage in this playoff game so far. George with 61 yards rushing, almost 4 yards a carry. Jamal Lewis has been held to 23 yards. >> This Tennessee team, they've lost five straight times to the Ravens. In those losses, Eddie George was only averaging 55 yards a game. >> George, this time off the right side for a couple. >> But the thing about Eddie George having only a 55-yard average in previous games is Steve McNair did not have the offensive weapons and receivers that he has outside. It was all about Frank Wycheck and Eddie George in the previous meetings. Now he has the outside receivers to help. >> Third and 6. Chris Brown the tailback for Steve McNair. Brown will get the call. Fighting for yardage. Reaches the 29. That will be a first down. Boy, what a nice call. That's the second time they've crossed them up. >> I'll tell you what is amazing about Chris Brown. Joe, he runs straight up, but when he sees a tackler, watch him dip and unload. He's gonna come up into the hole. Now watch -- zoom! He dips. He unloads on Ray Lewis and picks up the first down right here, Joe. Watch. Boom, that little dip and that picked him up the next 3 yards. >> A little bit similar to Eddie George with the way that he runs. >> Brown has had 47 yards running the ball today. >> McNair, short set. Won't get much out of this, as Hartwell makes the tackle after a gain of about 3. >> The one thing about the Tennessee Titans, when they have the ball, Joe, and they need to move the clock, they can move the clock by throwing it. >> Yeah, that's a very important thing, because if you throw the football, the big thing is, the receivers hold onto it. It's fine. If not, you come up second and 10. And you're right, Paul. When you look at the time of possession that they've had, and yet they haven't had a lot of running. Eddie George has only had two games of 100 yards or more this year. You know it's getting done by the wide receivers. >> Second and 6. Brown. Hit in the backfield by Ray Lewis, the second time he has made a tackle for a loss. >> Well, how about five minutes ago he missed one on Eddie George? Well, this one he didn't miss. It's Chris Brown coming to the outside. This guy, he's gonna miss you once. But, again, I said, don't come back here again. Here he comes. He's going right for Brown. He hits him right at the knees, and down. Look at his eyes. And the one thing he told us a few days ago was, "I always tackle with my eyes open because I want to see the pain in their face when I hit him." >> 11 tackles for the All-Pro linebacker. Third and 7. Draw play, Brown. And Lewis will help hold him up just shy of the sticks. The first hit made by Tom Knight. He saved the first down, and Lewis cleaned up. >> I like the calls that Mike Heimerdinger, the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, is making. He's running when the Ravens expect him to throw, and he's play-actioning when they expect him to run. I think he really has this Raven defense, and Mike Nolan, the Raven defensive coordinator, guessing just a little bit. >> He has called an exceptional game so far and has a 14-10 lead in this one as time wears away in the third quarter. Hentrich will punt to Brightful. Sky-high, and Brightful will make the fair catch, but all the way back at his 16-yard line. >> ...earlier this year. >> One of the players said, "Do you mean in Houston?" And he says, "It better be. That's where they're playing the game." Lewis on the toss, a little trickery. Trying to get him outside. Samari Rolle wasn't buying any of it. >> That really isn't Jamal Lewis' strong suit. Jamal Lewis has to bounce up inside and then work himself to the next level. Jut to get him to try to turn the corner against the Tennessee defense doesn't work. They get Keith Bulluck, number 53, inside, but you still have to deal with Samari Rolle. And I think this is the one area that he has really, really excelled. He's always been a good pass coverer, but now as a run tackler, he's doing a good job. >> Lewis totally held in check by this number-one rushing defense in the NFL. More pressure on Anthony Wright. He's back to throw for Taylor. Incomplete, overthrown by a step. >> Jonathan Ogden was the first player taken when this franchise moved to Baltimore. It was between Jonathan Ogden and Lawrence Phillips, and I think they made the right choice. >> Ravens facing third long. Wright stumbles coming out. Under pressure. Throws it away. And that time, Kearse was the guy applying the pressure. Let's go to Suzy. >> Mike, I talked to him before the game. He's an unrestricted free agent. He's looking for a new contract, and he said playing against Jonathan Ogden is the best way to prove yourself. But he knows he's the best in the business. And he said, just like you guys were talking about, the key is that Ogden stays so calm. He said he wants to try to put some stress on him tonight, but Ogden has certainly had the best of him. He said he doesn't see Kearse as being quite as explosive as he used to be. >> I think Ogden is stress-proof at 6'9", 340. Mason retreats for the punt. Across the 40. Still on his feet at the 45. Gary Jones Jr. takes him out. It's a return of 12 after a punt of 52. >> No flags. >> Tennessee continues their theme from the first half, and that's having better field position than the Baltimore Ravens. But remember -- this half looks exactly like the first half. Tennessee went down, scored a touchdown. Then the Raven defense came back, got them back into the game. The score at the end of the half was Ravens 10, Tennessee 7. I'm sure the Tennessee Titans don't want to see that repeated. >> The only thing different has been the mistake Steve McNair made with those two interceptions, one of which cost them the 7 points. >> Stay out of throwing the ball in the middle of the field, 'cause once you throw it in there, there are too many hands in there. >> They start from the 45. Eddie George. Hit in the backfield. Gets back to the line of scrimmage. We can't tell you the level of admiration that you've got to have for a guy like Eddie George, playing in pain like he is, against a great run defense to start with. He's just giving it everything he's got. >> Well, you remember when we talked to Eddie yesterday, and we talked about all the games that he's played consecutively. And I said, "Okay, how many of them were you hurt, and you didn't think you could have played?" And he started to laugh, 'cause there were a lot of games that he really shouldn't have played in, and he did. >> It wasn't games. It was years. >> [ Laughs ] >> Second and 10. George. Nice hole off the left side, and Eddie George picks up a couple of more with a stiff-arm. First down. >> This guy's hurt, folks. They put a brace on his left shoulder 'cause he got hurt. And watch him come through the hole. Now the blocking is absolutely superb. But once he gets through the hole, now watch his face. His head's up. Boom. He takes Reed. He tries to push him out of the way, which he does, then picks up the first down. >> He said the only way he can stop people from asking him, "Is Ray Lewis in your head?" to come out and have a big game. 19 carries, 74 yards through three quarters. Jeff Fisher's club, 29 straight games on the road they have won when they held the lead going into the fourth quarter. It's the longest streak in the NFL since 1984. The next-longest right now is 11. >> They need 7 here if they want to win it. >> McNair to throw, first down from the 44. Under pressure and throws it away. After three quarters of play, here in the playoff game, the rushing yards overwhelmingly in favor of the Titans. Eddie George and Chris Brown have outdueled Jamal Lewis. Time of possession -- the advantage almost 12 minutes. >> And on that play, Steve McNair hurt his left ankle a little bit. You see him limping to the line of scrimmage. >> Eddie George. For a couple. >> Flag down. There's gonna be holding by the offensive line. >> And it's tough to limp when your left leg hurts and your right leg hurts, as well. >> You take turns. >> Well, if they both hurt, he should be walking straight. >> [ Laughs ] >> He is slowly. >> Holding, number 77 of the offense. It's a 10-yard penalty. It's second down. >> Justin Hartwig, the starting center. >> When you look back at the past Titan teams that Steve McNair was on, the last three years, he averaged about 415 yards a year running the football. He only has 138 in this entire season. So, he hasn't run very much, and it hurts their running game. >> And there is veteran Neil O'Donnell, who played a week ago after missing the whole season. He was cut just before the start of the campaign. Played like he'd never been out. Brown. Stuffed at midfield. Kelly Gregg in on another tackle. >> You know, you look at him. You say, "Okay, you got second down and 20. And you're gonna run the ball up into the middle again?" >> You see Steve McNair, number 9, in white. He gets caught in that wash in the middle, and that ankle of his just sort of gives way on him. And now he's really moving around gingerly. If you're the Ravens, I think you have to go after him. You can't leave him back there just to move around and try and pick up 17 yards. >> Third and a mile. McNair trying to get away. Throws on the run. Incomplete. Riddick Parker putting on the pressure, and McNair barely able to get out of there. >> That time they didn't need to bring pressure. They just rushed four guys. Here come the big four. Now there's Parker. Relentless in his pursuit. Makes him get rid of the football. He's trying. What he's doing is just getting his feet out of the way so it doesn't get stepped on. He's hurt. >> Yes, he is. >> He's probably at about 70% right now on that ankle. >> Hentrich to kick. Lamont Brightful waits at the 10. High and short. Brightful will let it go, and the Tennessee Titans will be able to down it inside the 5. The Ravens now have to start at their own 2. >> I'd throw it up. I'd throw it up. >> And he's back to throw from the end zone. Heap. And the crowd wants a flag, and they get it. [ Crowd cheers ] As Heap was kept from the ball by Peter Sirmon. It's not face-guarding, but you can't run into the receiver and prevent him from catching it. >> Well, I'll tell you. Wait a minute. They're talking this thing over again. But it's Peter Sirmon. >> They're gonna call offensive pass interference. They're thinking about making this offensive pass interference. >> No, here they go. >> The pass was touched by the defender before the contact occurred. Therefore, there is no pass interference. It is second down -- incomplete pass. >> Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay. Peter Sirmon is number 59. He's on Todd Heap. This ball is thrown right down the middle. Sirmon's got him man-to-man. First of all, he's holding him there, but here comes the ball, and Sirmon hits the ball. Well, actually, there is -- >> No, he doesn't. Sirmon's pushing him with his left hand before he hits the ball. That ball was not tipped. That ball was not tipped at all. >> It got through to Heap. >> It got all the way through. Heap got his hand on it. No, that's a bad -- whatever the explanation is, it's gonna be insufficient for Brian. >> And what a huge play it would have been for the Ravens. As it is, they're still backed up at their own 2, and Lewis, trying to get them a little breathing room, pounds it out near the 10. >> I think they can still take a shot in the middle of the football field with Todd Heap. I think Todd Heap against the linebackers of the Tennessee Titans, whether it's Kassell, Sirmon, or Bulluck, is your best matchup in throwing the football. >> That 8-yard run was the longest of the game for Jamal Lewis -- only 29 yards rushing on 11 carries. >> And I think they ought to run the ball here, also. It's third down and 2. And there's no reason not to run it. >> Wright on a little half roll throws to the sideline. Taylor makes the catch, and it's enough for a first down. >> Whoa, whoa. >> I believe that Travis Taylor is the key for the Baltimore Ravens to be successful. You know what you get out of Marcus Robinson. He's come on. Travis Taylor is the guy that's got to make plays like this to keep drives alive. The left knee hits the ground. One knee equals a foot. This should be a catch. >> Equals two feet. >> Well, a foot and a half. And he gets the right foot down, anyway, before he hits the ground and maintains control of the ball, which is key when you're going out of bounds. But he's got to come up with plays like that to keep this offense on the field. They may only have three possessions in this quarter. They're gonna have to make something out of this one. >> Ravens get out of the shadow of their own goal line. Marcus Robinson taken down by Samari Rolle. He gets to the 26. His first catch, and this has been Anthony Wright's go-to guy, the former college teammate at South Carolina. >> All right, take a look at the blocking up front. Here it is. They have a blitz on, but Samari Rolle is playing off of Marcus Robinson. And when you play off, and as big as he is, he's got it. He's already gotten you beat. If you're gonna blitz, you got to get up on this guy. >> Consecutive first downs for the Ravens. Anthony Wright again. That one's intercepted! >> Samari Rolle. He picked this one off, and it's Titans' ball at the 30. >> I'll tell you what. Samari Rolle -- this is just very good defense. He gets Marcus Robinson, and he's in front of him. And he times this thing perfectly. Look to the left of your screen. You're gonna see Samari Rolle, 21, comes around the front of Marcus Robinson and makes the interception. Here it comes. Boom, he reads it. He's quick getting up inside. That ball was late getting there. >> I think it was just great defense -- great anticipation and a break on the ball. And you're right, Paul. If you're gonna be a hair late, you're gonna wind up having to make a tackle somewhere down the line. >> During the regular season, Samari Rolle led this club in interceptions with a half-dozen. Eddie George. And now the Ravens defense has to dig in. They are already down by 4. They can ill-afford to give up another touchdown. >> If Tennessee scores a touchdown, this is over. >> Might be. >> Because that defense of Tennessee -- you talk about these guys sticking in the entire ballgame. They have been sensational, and there's been such great line play on both sides of this ball. >> Second down, 8 yards to go. [ Whistle blows ] And movement on the right side of the Titans line. Fred Miller looked like he was the first to jump. >> False start, 71 of the offense. That's a 5-yard penalty -- second down. >> And it is the veteran, Fred Miller. >> Yeah, but once you do that, don't just stand around, 'cause someone's gonna knock you down. >> Yeah, but he rolled nice. He looked like a little top rolling around. >> [ Laughing ] Yeah! Yeah, he rolled nice. >> If you're gonna go to the ground, put a little lock in it, make it look a little bit normal. Just don't fall down like you're a load hitting the ground. He looked athletic rolling there. >> Second and 13. [ Crowd cheers ] Eddie George. Guess who? >> Boy, they're in each other's face, too. Eddie George -- you got to understand something here. Eddie George said, "We are the best of friends. Away from football, we are the best of friends." But Eddie George knows he's gonna be there every time he runs the football. Ray Lewis is gonna be there looking at him. Here comes Ray Lewis, back to the outside. Bang! He takes Eddie George down in a heartbeat. Eddie's back in his face, saying, "Keep coming." >> Boy, and Eddie's got a right to look today. [ Crowd cheers ] Now third and 12. Brown on the draw. Reached about the 27-yard line, so it would set up perhaps a field goal of 44. >> Well, Paul, you talked about before if they score a touchdown here, it could be over. If they score a field goal, it's still a 7-point game. And even though Baltimore's offense has really not been able to generate much, it only takes one big play. He had Todd Heap coming out of the end zone on top of Peter Sirmon down the middle of the field. So, there are plays in the passing game. The Ravens just haven't made them. >> The oldest kicker in the league will go for the longest field goal of the year, 45 yards. And he got it. >> Whoa, whoa. >> The inspirational leaders of these respective clubs at work. Eddie George on the sideline. He's rushed for 77 yards today. Ray Lewis for Baltimore has done his job -- 15 tackles. Taylor on the return for Baltimore. Out near the 30-yard line. >> Somebody needs an air force right now -- the Baltimore Ravens. They need to get the ball up in the air, and they need to make some plays. Anthony Wright can't throw the ball close. He had one go out of bounds to Marcus Robinson. He underthrew Todd Heap before. He's got to start hitting some throws down the field. >> Wright straight back to throw. Under pressure, and down he goes. Albert Haynesworth, who was inactive a week ago because he got into a fight on the practice field and mouthed off to Jeff Fisher. >> I'll tell you what. This guy here is big and strong. Albert Haynesworth, number 92. Just straight up the middle. Look at this. Look at the push, and he pushes the lineman all the way back to the quarterback and makes the play. That's a big man. >> And also Anthony Wright looks like he might have hurt his ankle a little bit. >> And once Haynesworth had him, he was not going any further. Wright straight back, good protection this time, sideline. Taylor makes the catch. He'll be about a yard shy of a first down. Let's go to Suzy. >> Anthony Wright may not have the résumé, but he plays with a quiet confidence, and he has his teammates' respect. After all, it was him who fueled the turning point in the Ravens' season. It was November. They were playing Seattle. They were down by 17 with just 7:00 to go. He threw four second-half touchdowns to Marcus Robinson. Instead of losing three straight, they won five out of their last six. Now we'll see if he can do it with the season on the line. >> Suzy, you're right, and what a great mark they got on that last pass play. It looked like it was at least a yard shy. And they got a first down out of it. And Jamal Lewis is stuffed in the backfield. This Tennessee defense has been brilliant against the run. Keith Bulluck led that charge. He's going to the Pro Bowl. >> What Fisher said about Keith Bulluck yesterday. He said, "Hey, Keith Bulluck? He's gonna have to put on his big-boy pads for this game." And Keith Bulluck just hits Jamal Lewis in the backfield. Do you know that the Ravens have 11 drives, and they've only crossed the 50 once? >> and Jamal Lewis has been held 100 yards under his season's average. Wright. [ Whistle blows ] They'll whistle this one dead. >> That's now for the 5-yard penalty. >> False start, 87, of the offense. It's a 5-yard penalty, and it's still second down. >> That's the wide receiver Marcus Robinson. >> It seems like the Baltimore Ravens offensively just aren't comfortable unless it's first and 20, second and 17, second and 15, and Anthony Wright can go back deep and throw it. If you're Matt Cavanaugh, the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, you can basically take and throw everything you have out on first and 10 because it's never gonna be first and 10. >> And keep an eye on the clock. We're approaching 7:00. How many more times will the Ravens get the ball? Wright throws to Heap, and the Pro Bowl tight end to the 43. It'll bring up third and about 5. >> I can tell you this. If they have to punt the ball away, Tennessee winds up with the ball again. Baltimore may not see it. >> You're right. >> So, depending upon what Brian Billick wants to do, this could be two-down territory for his offense with the clock running down to about 6:40 right now. >> Mnh-mnh. Not with this defense. >> They have converted only two out of ten third downs in this game. Wright throws a bullet. Heap with another catch. First down at the Tennessee 47-yard line. >> Wow. I'll tell you what Todd Heap does and why he's a Pro Bowler. The positioning that he gets -- there's only one person that can catch the ball when Todd Heap goes down and makes a turn. The safety, Lamont Thompson, has no chance. Look at where he is. His whole body is in front of the ball. Thompson has no chance to get to it. >> And Anthony Wright put the ball in the perfect spot. You have to throw the ball away from where the defender starts to take the position. Did a good job. >> Heap, who caught only one pass in the season finale in Pittsburgh, has had a much better game today. Jamal Lewis running hard, picks up about 3. Keith Bulluck makes another tackle. And the clock continues to wind as we approach 5:30. The longer the Ravens take on this drive, and the clock not stopping, this might be their final possession. >> Would you say they're in 4-down territory, Paul? >> Now? Yes. Absolutely. There's no question. Once they cross that 50, they are. >> Blitz against Anthony Wright. And that's Terry Jones Jr., and where they mark it, that's going to be another first down. >> What you're seeing Anthony Wright do is get into a rhythm, but he's getting into a rhythm with his tight ends. This is where the Ravens feel like they have the matchup. They have their matchup with their tight ends against the linebackers. There's a nice job by Terry Jones Jr. >> Samari Rolle is the injured Titan. We have a time-out. Under 5:00 left. Here's the way the AFC stacks up. We got Tennessee and Baltimore right now, the 4 and 5 seeds. And tomorrow the Denver Broncos in a rematch against the Indianapolis Colts at Indy. New England will play the lowest-seeded winner. Kansas City, the other team with the bye, will play the highest-seeded winner. Right now this game hangs very much in the balance. >> We saw that first meeting between Denver and Indianapolis just a few weeks ago, when the Denver Broncos controlled the ball, much like the Tennessee Titans are doing here, for 45 minutes, and kept Peyton Manning on the sideline. >> I couldn't believe this, the end of that game, that Indy had the ball for 15:02. >> I know. >> 45-15. >> It's gonna be pretty close here with the Titans, the way they've controlled this game. >> Another first down for the Ravens on what could be their last shot at tying this game. Good protection for Wright. Goes for the end zone. Double coverage. Incomplete. Taylor was there, but he was beautifully covered. Samari Rolle and Dyson were both there. >> Travis Taylor looks like he launches himself up to knock the ball away. He can't quite get to it. And Lance Schulters and Andre Dyson are the two guys that have a shot at this thing, and he just reaches up and tips it away. Look at this play. Look at him get elevated. Just enough of a distraction so that Schulters can't quite get his eyes and the bead on it. Watch the hand come in front. Whether he gets it or not, he just upsets Schulters' vision. >> Tremendous coverage. >> He touched it. >> Second and 10. Wright launches it again. This time for Todd Heap! Touchdown! [ Crowd cheers ] You've got to hand it to Anthony Wright. 35 yards -- he doesn't back off. He's got good receivers, and he throws it up where they can get it. >> What a great call by Matt Cavanaugh, the offensive coordinator. They got the matchup they wanted -- Tank Williams on Todd Heap. They'd take that matchup against a corner, but when you get a young strong safety, who's 225 pounds that's gonna have to run down the field, shoeless Todd Heap making the touchdown reception. >> Stover to tie the game. [ Crowd cheers ] They're on their feet in Baltimore. The Ravens, behind Anthony Wright, have come back to tie this ballgame. Guys, he has done it time after time when this team needed him. >> You know the thing about this is where has Todd Heap been for a while? And then here he is tonight. Look at this ball. This ball was thrown absolutely -- you couldn't throw it any better. Todd Heap is the only one really that's gonna get it. Watch him go back through Tank Williams and take the ball away. Now, Williams had his hand up inside. That was excellent coverage. >> Actually, you got to thank Tank Williams because if he doesn't hit that ball, it may go right through. That call told me that Matt Cavanaugh was gonna go for it on fourth down. >> Yeah. >> Because you take one shot to Travis Taylor. Then you come right back with another shot. You're up to third and 10 after that if you don't hit it. >> Anthony Wright was brilliant on the drive -- 5 out of 6 for 80 yards. 4:43 off the clock. His numbers on the day. They have tied the ballgame. >> Sometimes you look at a young quarterback, and you say, "Is the game too big for him?" You say that in the regular season and on into the playoffs. When you look at Anthony Wright's demeanor on the sidelines, he is cherishing and relishing this moment to play with this kind of intensity. >> McCareins is deep. >> Short. >> McCareins on the run at the 14. To the 26. Let's go to Suzy. >> Mike, the day after the regular season ended, Brian Billick presented the team with a schedule that takes them all the way, day by day, to the Super Bowl -- practice, travel, media commitments. Brian told us that he did this back in 2000, as well, because he wanted the team to know this is for real. The ultimate goal is the Super Bowl. It's right there in front of you. There's a plan. There's a structure. No surprises. >> Suzy, he is as good a psychologist as there is in professional football. And now the crowd cheering defense, on their feet with the towels. >> And this is where the Tennessee Titan offense really has to focus on the movement of the ball. >> Eddie George. 5 yards. >> Eddie George will take 5. >> Oh, yeah. >> Mike Heimerdinger, the offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans -- "Hey, you give me 5." >> Look at Ray Lewis again. Boom, he goes left. He sees Eddie George. Goes back. They're trying to block him. And he's there. These two guys -- we talked about two warriors we talked about going at it today. Eddie George has not backed down one time in this ballgame, and Ray Lewis has challenged every time. >> And he has a very significant 82 yards on the ground. [ Whistle blows ] >> There it is. Fred Miller, the right tackle, flinched. The crowd now -- >> Wait a minute. This may be against the defense for pulling him offside. >> How can you hear anything? >> All you have to do is watch. Did the defense pull him offside? >> Delay of game, defense, number 98. [ Crowd boos ] That's a 5-yard penalty, and it's still second down. >> Anthony Weaver. Eddie George and Ray Lewis with that warrior mentality. They have both done the job today. 82 yards for Eddie. Ray has been in on 16 tackles. And that makes it second and 1 after the penalty. We said whoever won this battle may win the game. And it's still up in the air. [ Crowd cheers ] McNair. Blitz coming. Unloads. Mason. Intercepted! [ Crowd cheers ] Chris McAlister. The third pick for that Ravens defense. >> Well, I don't understand the call. I really don't understand the call. You shut down their offense all day long. If nothing else, you punt them back deep, you put your defense, which has played tremendously, on the field out there, and play the game in a percentage manner. That call I just didn't think made a whole lot of sense. >> Well, you got second and a half a yard, and you want to take a shot. I don't want to take a shot at McAlister. >> Pick up the first down, run some more time off the clock. If you want to take your shot, take it in the next series of downs. >> His first 3-pick game since the last time they played the Ravens in November of 2002. >> Another thing -- Tennessee better start sending some linebackers because what they're doing is they're trying to get to Anthony Wright with just four down linemen, and they're not getting close. >> Jamal Lewis. To the 30. Let's go to Suzy. >> Well, we talked to Chris McAlister about what earned him his first trip to the Pro Bowl this year, and he said, "It's all about maturity." He grew up a lot after suffering the aftermath of a DUI in training camp. Missed a meeting in September. He shamed his family, he said, and then facing the team was even more painful. His goal? Change his image to the best corner in the league. Mission accomplished. He has shut down the opponent's top receivers all season. >> Done a great job on Mason today. Anthony Wright, short set. Taylor lunges at the sideline. Makes the catch at the 35. They'll still need 3 yards. >> And I can assure you that this is not 4-down territory. >> [ Chuckles ] >> Travis Taylor is the one that they're going against. Samari Rolle has gone over and played Marcus Robinson. So they figure, "All right, you want to put your better corner over there? We'll let Travis Taylor work on Andre Dyson. We feel like we have the advantage." I'm telling you. If the Ravens can move on -- if they happen to move on, this is the guy everybody better look out for because he has the ability to make plays. Just hasn't been given a lot of opportunities with only 39 catches throughout the season. >> Third and 3. >> Todd Heap is in the slot. >> Wright under pressure. Intended for Heap, but short. He was double-covered -- a linebacker and a safety. There is a flag down at the end of the play. >> Boy, if this is another personal foul against the Ravens, it just changes field position so much in the favor of the Tennessee Titans. >> They punt it, anyway. Orlando Brown, maybe. >> He was certainly upset after the play. >> It's Orlando Brown again. >> After the play is over, personal foul, unnecessary roughness, number 78 of the offense. >> Orlando Brown. >> It is a 15-yard penalty. It will still be fourth down. >> What is in his mind? He's going over to defend his player, Orlando Brown. Look. The tight end is thrown on the ground by Jevon Kearse. And he throws him on the ground again! >> That is so silly. >> You got to wonder, what is the value of a football player if he isn't smart enough to be able to play this game? I don't care how physically talented anybody is, they have to understand the rules of the game of football and not hurt their team. Two critical mistakes by Orlando Brown. >> Backs them up all the way to the 20. Zastudil, low, line-drive kick. Mason lets it bounce. And it will roll down to the 37-yard line. We would love to thank our crew. They have done such hard work -- five games in the last three weeks. Our producer, Jay Rothman, our director, Chip Dean, Dick Buffington, Andy Reichwald, Jonathan Labovich, Previn Martin, Brian Yarrow, Eric Mosely, Mark Herklotz, Steve Carter and Bob Brownlee. Steve Raymond, Alex Sturm, Mark Frederickson, Dave Dare, Nancy Voelker, and our executive producer of today's telecast, Jed Drake. The executive producer of ABC Sports is Mike Pearl. I cannot tell you the level of respect in which we hold the people who have worked for us so hard all year long. >> Hear, hear, hear. >> We are very lucky to have them and have them allow us to be a part of their team. >> Three wide receivers for Tennessee. McNair on two bad legs. Throws underneath. They'll get a couple. >> And the checkdowns that we just saw Eddie George make the catch on, that's what really Neil O'Donnell, who started last week's game in place of Steve McNair, against Tampa Bay, wound up hitting a lot. And this is the way you want to work the ball down the field against this Raven defense. >> They're gonna let this thing down and go to the 2:00 warning. >> And why not? If you are only going to have one possession left, make it yours. You got a chance to win. The other team will never get the ball back. Both clubs have 3 time-outs remaining. >> I still think you had time to run one play. >> Well, they had plenty of time to run a play, but they didn't want to. >> We have reached the 2:00 warning. In his career, Steve McNair has 16 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. Can the NFL's co-MVP do it again? >> The most recent was in Week 15 against the Houston Texans, just a few weeks ago, when he hit a touchdown pass on fourth and 10 and gave the Titans a 27-24 win over the Houston Texans. >> Second and 7 from their own 40. McNair throws back to Eddie George, fighting for extra yardage. He's within a yard of the first down. Ray Lewis saved it, at least temporarily. >> You know that Eddie George got racked. I mean, he got hit and still held onto the football, one, and then turned and tried to get the first down. Here he comes in the middle. McNair has no place to go. He pops it to Eddie George. Look at the hit he takes. He's gonna get hit by Ray Lewis, bang, and number 56, Ed Hartwell, and he still picks up an extra yard. >> Third and 1. Blitz coming. Eddie George, first down and more. Demps saved a huge gain. >> Taking a time-out. Tennessee will take a time-out here. They have three, and this is a good one. It just takes too long to get all these guys back in line again. >> Eddie George -- watch the saving tackle that Will Demps, number 47, actually makes. It's just a hit to knock him off balance. He's got a lot of room. Eddie George caught 22 balls through the entire season. Four of them came last week, with Neil O'Donnell as the quarterback, against Tampa Bay. And two critical ones here in checkdown situations. That's the way they can move the ball down the field. I believe they're gonna have to try and hit one of the receivers somewhere down the field with a big play. Maybe it's time for Frank Wycheck to step up and make a play for them. >> And he has rushed for 89 yards in this game. >> Wouldn't it be ironic to see him get 100 yards against this team? >> And if he does, they're probably going to win. 11 yards would put them close to field-goal territory. McNair from the shotgun. Mason. And out of bounds at about the 33-yard line. >> Boy, I'll tell you one thing again. When you send four, and your offensive line gives you that much time, it's just nice and easy to look over the entire field and then find Mason coming across. Look at the blocking up front, folks. This is easy. He just steps up into that lane. Nobody is on Mason. There's nobody around Steve McNair, either, and Mason does the smart thing out of bounds. Get as much as you can. >> One of the reasons this is the fifth-ranked passing offense in the league is that offensive line. Eddie George, room to run left side. Tries to cut it back. He'll lose 2! Ed Hartwell, who is overshadowed by the brilliant Ray Lewis, but shouldn't be for a long time. He's a heck of a player. >> Gary Anderson, 44 years old, 22 years in the league. You see his career long -- 55. He couldn't do that. 45 we saw earlier. The thing was, when we had a chance to talk to Jeff Fisher last night, I said, "Why did you want Gary Anderson?" He said, "For this reason -- for the playoffs. This is the reason I wanted him here." Now, Craig Hentrich has done a terrific job stepping in. He's 4 out of 5 and only 0-for-1 over 50 yards. >> And they had a great kicker to start the year, Joe Nedney. We did the opening game. He injured his knee. Had to go on IR. They picked up Gary Anderson. Between the two, they've had great field-goal kickers. >> Hentrich came into that opener and nailed a couple of long ones. >> Yes, he did. >> Well, if they go long, it will be Hentrich that they'll take a shot at. >> Now, Hentrich is usually the holder, too. >> He'll have to hold for himself and then kick. >> Drop-kick. >> Drop-kick, which Jim Thorpe used to do extremely well. >> You played with him. >> I played two years with Thorpe. >> Second and 12. McNair underneath to Erron Kinney, the tight end, to the 29. Clock runs. 40 seconds to go. >> If they don't pick up the first down here, you're looking at about a 45-yard field-goal attempt, and Gary Anderson's already hit one of those. >> And it was by plenty. >> The Ravens took a time-out. >> What do you do here on third and 6? Run and try to pick something up, or do you take a chance and pass? >> Run and try to pick up enough. >> I've got a co-MVP in Steve McNair. I put the ball in his hands. Give him a chance to make a throw. [ Crowd cheers ] >> Eddie George. Nothing. >> That time... that was Gary Baxter that came up and made the play. >> They were guessing run, 'cause they had the line of scrimmage loaded. And this is Hentrich, the long-distance field-goal kicker coming out. He can either kick it or be the holder, and now here comes Gary Anderson. >> Go back to a Gary Anderson kick in an AFC Championship game by the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons, I believe. He wound up missing that kick. It got pulled a little bit left when he tried to kick it, I think, a little bit hard. >> All these time-outs were taken by the Baltimore Ravens and not the Tennessee Titans. So, if they do kick a field goal and make it, the Ravens are gonna have about 30 seconds, and that's about it. >> They're gonna have 30 seconds to kneel down and get ready for overtime. >> Exactly. >> You don't think he's gonna make this? >> I don't know. >> Well, that's what they're playing for right now. Hoping for overtime. Otherwise, you don't use three time-outs. >> The way things have gone for Jeff Fisher -- remember Al Del Greco in one of the games in this series missed an extra point and allowed the Ravens to come back. [ Crowd cheers ] This whole series is about kickers. >> Gary Anderson from 46 yards. It's good! >> Ha! It never looked like it had a chance. >> The 44-year-old kicker, the legend out of Syracuse, makes a huge 46-yard kick right at the very edge of his range. >> Oh, man, that ball looked like it wasn't gonna clear the line of scrimmage, let alone make it. Here it comes. Boy, they get this thing out fast. And he had plenty of room. >> Normally, he runs off the field when he kicks it. That had about 6 inches to spare, it looked like. See, normally, he starts running off the field when he hits it. >> The worst part about it? Here's the problem now. The Ravens get the ball back. There's 29 seconds left to go. They don't have any time-outs, and you know Tennessee, they're gonna put the ball on the ground. So, it's gonna eat up about 6 or 7 seconds. >> And you got Wade Richey, who can probably kick a 60-yarder. >> Gary Anderson usually leaves the practice -- after a game, he heads home until Wednesday and comes back. They called him up on a fishing trip. They found Neil O'Donnell on a golf course. I figured out I was in the wrong place to be called out of retirement. I went home. >> Don't worry about it, Joe. They weren't gonna call you back. >> Many years ago. >> Yeah, I know. You were done. >> They'll kick it away, and Lamont Brightful back to the 2. They need a big return, and they're not gonna get it. Brightful lost the ball as he went down. They're gonna say he was down -- no fumble. From the 28. >> 21 seconds left. Look at this. Want to see how close this thing was to the crossbar? >> Yes. >> Watch this ball, folks. Joe, you're absolutely right. It was about 6 inches. [ Laughs ] >> You know what? It looked like it almost hit the back end of it. >> No, it didn't, but that was about as close as you're gonna get. Jevon Kearse is very happy. >> Tennessee trying to exorcise the demons. They have lost 5 straight to the Ravens. And if they win, hats off to Eddie George for a magnificent and courageous performance. Wright. Taylor tackled in bounds. They cannot stop the clock. >> That's a first down. They got to move the chains. [ Whistle blows ] >> Wright will kill the clock. Only 5 seconds to go. >> Okay, I have to do it. I want to say happy birthday to my wife. Can I do that? >> Beverly, happy birthday. >> Today is her birthday. >> It's also Bud Adams' birthday, the owner of the Tennessee Titans. He's 81, and I know Beverly is not. >> No. Beverly is very young. >> Brian Billick, when he looks back at this football game, there's two plays in this game, the two personal fouls that Orlando Brown got, that really cost field position, and the last one was on this last drive. >> That's right. >> The one he got before put them in a hole, also. >> 15 yards -- you take that away, they don't get to field-goal territory. >> This is it. This is the last play. >> Wright down the middle, intended for Heap. Incomplete. He was covered by Peter Sirmon. >> Game over. >> And that is it. The Tennessee Titans have gone on the road behind Eddie George and co-MVP Steve McNair and that great run defense. Gary Anderson's dramatic field goal from 46 yards out gives Tennessee a 20-17 win over Baltimore.
one of my all time fav games but for real i still feel like i got kicked in the nuts in that jax game 2 weeks ago
Gotta love that Gary Anderson 1 bar helmet
I've been trying to find that Gary Anderson kick that won the game for about 5 years now. Teenage me hated the Ravens, now I just don't like them....
Oh good, it's the Titans/Ravens where I actually don't hate my life afterwards.
Finally! I have so many fun memories surrounding this game.
This was the first game i went to. It was amazing. Until some jackass threw beer at me. i was 12.
thank you anthony wright. thank you so much.
I was at this game! First Titans game I had been to live. Surrounded by Ravens fans and the ones next to us had their faces painted purple. I remember being extremely nervous before that final field goal attempt. I didn't know if he had the leg for it.
11 year old me was at this game.
One of my best experiences as a Titans fan.