34.5 F
Clarksville
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeSportsTitans Host Ravens at LP Field in Home Opener

Titans Host Ravens at LP Field in Home Opener

Tennessee Titans (0-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Sunday, September 18th, 2011 • Noon CDT • LP Field • Nashville, TN • TV: CBS

Tennessee TitansNashville, TN – The Tennessee Titans (0-1) open their regular-season home schedule this week, as they welcome the rival Baltimore Ravens (1-0) to LP Field (capacity 69,143). Kickoff is scheduled for noon CDT on Sunday, September 18th.

The contest marks the beginning of the Titans’ 13th season at LP Field. In their previous 12 home openers, they built a 7-5 record.

The Titans and Ravens have enjoyed a heated rivalry since the Ravens’ began play in Baltimore in 1996. Since that time, the Ravens have built a 10-9 series lead, including a 2-1 advantage in three playoff meetings. Most recently, the Ravens knocked the Titans out of the playoffs in 2008, after a season in which the Titans had the NFL’s best record at 13-3.

This week’s game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Bill Macatee will handle play-by-play duties, while Steve Tasker will provide analysis.

The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, analyst Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.

The game can be heard locally on 1400 AM, WJZM.

Last Week at Jacksonville

Tennessee TitansThe Titans began their season and the Mike Munchak head-coaching era last week in Jacksonville. After falling behind 13-0 in the third quarter, they rallied to get within two points of the Jaguars. But a late interception in Jaguars territory thwarted the Titans’ final drive, and they lost by a final score of 16-14.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck made his first appearance as a member of the Titans. The 13-year veteran was signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Seattle Seahawks at the start of training camp. Against the Jaguars, he completed 21 of 34 passes for 263 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 93.1.

Wide receiver Kenny Britt was on the opposite end of five of Hasselbeck’s passes. Britt finished the game with his fifth career 100-yard performance, totaling 136 yards and two scores, including an 80-yard touchdown reception.

The Ravens

Ravens HelmetThe Ravens hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers to launch their regular season and earned a convincing 35-7 victory. They forced seven Steelers turnovers, including two interceptions by safety Ed Reed, and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs contributed three sacks. Offensively, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was 17-of-29 for 224 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Ray Rice tallied 107 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

The Ravens have made the playoffs in each of their three seasons under the direction of head coach John Harbaugh. After going 12-4 in the 2010 regular season, they entered the playoffs as a Wild Card team and advanced to the Divisional Round before losing to the Steelers.

LP Pencil Box Drive

At the game this Sunday, fans are encouraged to participate in the LP PENCIL Box School Supply Drive. LP PENCIL Box, a collaborative non-profit venture between PENCIL Foundation and LP Building Products, offers Nashville Metro teachers the opportunity to acquire school supplies for the city’s most in-need children. Seven collection locations will be positioned outside of LP Field to collect items from erasers and pencil boxes to hand sanitizers, colored pencils, pens and rulers.

Titans-Ravens Series at a Glance

Overall series (regular & postseason): Ravens lead 10-9
Regular Season Series: Series tied 8-8
Postseason Series: Ravens lead 2-1
Total Points: Titans 308, Ravens 351
Current streak: One win by Ravens (2008 Divisional Playoff)
Titans at home vs. Ravens: 4-6 (including 0-2 in playoffs)
Titans on road vs. Ravens: 5-4 (including 1-0 in playoffs)
Longest Winning Streak by Titans: 3 (1998-99)
Longest Losing Streak by Titans: 5 (2000-02)
Titans vs. Ravens at LP Field: 2-5
Last Time at LP Field: Ravens 13 at Titans 10 (1/10/09)
Titans vs. Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium: 4-3
Last Time at M&T Bank Stadium: Titans 13 at Ravens 10 (10/5/08)
First Time: Ravens 13 at Oilers 29 (9/15/96)
Mike Munchak’s Record vs. Ravens: 0-0
John Harbaugh’s Record vs. Titans: 1-1 (including 1-0 in playoffs)
Mike Munchak’s Record vs. John Harbaugh: 0-0

What To Look For This Week

The Titans and Ravens meet for the first time since the Ravens beat the Titans at LP Field in the 2008 playoffs.

The Titans begin their 13th regular season at LP Field.

WR Kenny Britt looks to record his sixth career 100-yard receiving game and his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.

WR Kenny Britt can record his fourth consecutive game with at least one touchdown reception (dating back to Dec. 26 at Kansas
City), which would tie for fourth in franchise history.

QB Matt Hasselbeck (29,842 career passing yards) needs 158 passing yards to become the 33rd player in NFL history to reach the 30,000-yard mark.

QB Matt Hasselbeck can record the 22nd 300-yard passing game of his career.

RB Chris Johnson can record the 25th 100-yard rushing game of his career.

RB Chris Johnson needs two rushing touchdowns to tie Steve McNair (36 career rushing touchdowns) for third place on the
team’s all-time list.

T Michael Roos is scheduled to make his 98th consecutive start.

G Jake Scott is scheduled to make his 106th consecutive start.

Titans-Ravens Series History

The Titans and the Ravens have developed a fierce rivalry over the course of 19 all-time meetings, including three playoff games, since the series originated in 1996.

The Ravens hold a 10-9 lead in a series that has been highly competitive. Of the 19 games the teams have played against each other, 11 have been decided by four points or less, with the Titans holding a 6-5 advantage in those meetings.

The two teams played together in the AFC Central Division for six seasons after the Ravens relocated to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996. Realignment in the league in 2002 took the Titans to the AFC South and the Ravens to the AFC North, ending their twice-yearly meetings. In the six games since realignment, the series is split at 3-3.

Most recently, the Titans and Ravens squared off at LP Field in the Divisional Round of the 2008 playoffs. Matt Stover’s 43-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the game provided the Ravens a 13-10 victory.

Earlier during the 2008 regular season, the Titans and Ravens met at M&T Bank Stadium. In that game, the Titans, led by quarterback Kerry Collins, took their first lead of the game on an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Alge Crumpler with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. They held on for a 13-10 victory.

The Titans controlled the majority of the outcomes for the first five years of the series, winning six out of their first nine games. Then, in 2000, the Ravens stole the momentum. Despite owning the NFL’s best record at 13-3, the Titans lost to the Ravens at LP Field in the regular season—the Titans’ first-ever loss at their new stadium and then again in a Divisional

Playoff game the same year. The playoff win launched the Ravens to their eventual Super Bowl XXXV Championship.

The Ravens went on to win a total of five consecutive games over the Titans until the 2003 playoffs, when the Titans won at Baltimore in a Wild Card playoff game on a 46-yard Gary Anderson field goal in the final minute of play.

Titans-Ravens Last Meeting

Divisional Playoff: Baltimore Ravens 13 at Tennessee Titans 10

Saturday, January 10th, 2009
LP Field, Nashville, TN

In the Divisional Round of the 2008 NFL Playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Titans 13-10 at LP Field.

Despite leading the Ravens in total yards (391 to 211) and first downs (21 to 9), three Titans turnovers proved too costly to overcome.

Matt Stover provided the game-winning score on a 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining. His kick concluded a drive that appeared like it might stall on a third-and-two from the Baltimore 32. Although it appeared the play clock had expired, quarterback Joe Flacco took the snap from center Jason Brown and then found tight end Todd Heap for a 23-yard completion. Six plays later, Stover’s attempt sailed through the uprights.

The Titans got the ball back, but they ran out of downs after a five-yard run and three consecutive incompletions.

The Titans jumped out to a lead at the conclusion of their second offensive series. On a drive that included a 28-yard reception by Chris Johnson and a 20-yard reception by Justin Gage, the Titans also used an illegal contact penalty on the Ravens to extend the series after a failed third down. Johnson gave the Titans the lead with an eight-yard touchdown run.

The Ravens responded by driving 80 yards on eight plays, and they tied the game on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Flacco to Derrick Mason.

The score remained 7-7 through the end of the first half, but only after the Ravens recorded two turnovers at the end of long Titans drives. The Titans began one second-quarter drive at their own one-yard line. After driving to the Baltimore 32, Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle picked off a Kerry Collins pass at the nine-yard line. On the following drive, the Titans faced a third-and-four at the Baltimore 22 with 36 seconds on the clock.

LenDale White picked up five yards on a run, but the ball was stripped by linebacker Jarrett Johnson. Safety Jim Leonhard recovered it to thwart Tennessee’s scoring hopes.

Midway through the second quarter, Johnson suffered an ankle injury and was taken out of the game. Prior to his injury, he totaled 100 total yards of offense (72 rushing, 28 receiving).

The Ravens took the lead less than a minute into the fourth quarter. Leonhard recorded a 29-yard punt return to the Tennessee 41. The Ravens offense then drove 38 yards on six plays, with Stover connecting on a 21-yard field goal.

The Titans drove deep into Ravens territory, but another turnover cost them a scoring opportunity. Again, it was Leonhard who played a pivotal role. Tight end Alge Crumpler caught a pass and ran to the Baltimore 6, but Leonhard knocked the ball away. Fabian Washington recovered at the one-yard line.

However, the Titans defense forced a three-and-out. On the ensuing series, they marched from the Baltimore 42 to the 10-yard line. Rob Bironas kicked a 27-yard field goal to knot the score at 10-10. That led to the Ravens’ final, go-ahead march to the game-winning field goal by Stover.

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles