Tennessee Fumbles Away Their Season to Baltimore 13-10

Pregame Preview

The Tennessee Titans meet the Baltimore Ravens at home for a chance to go to the AFC conference championship today, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009.

This should be a low-scoring defensive battle, but when anybody says something like that, 60-70 points usually get scored in the game.

I look for the Titans to win by three or four points at home today, as I expect mistakes from the rookie, Joe Flacco, in his second playoff game ever.

The Game

Baltimore goes on offense first, and starts with a good run for five yards. They need to do this many times if they expect to win. The second run gets stuffed. Third and eight to go.

The Titans blitz and hold Baltimore to a three and out in the first series. If Tennessee is going to win, they need to do that the entire game.

At that point, I do not think Flacco can put up enough points to beat Kerry Collins and a well-rested Tennessee defense.

Tennessee starts with a nice play for a first down. Chris Johnson is stuffed a couple of times, and it's third down for the Titans. Delay of game, by the Titans, and it's third and 15.

Incomplete pass by Collins and Tennessee will kick it away.

Second series didn't have much offense. The Ravens take over on the 20 yard line, due to a touchback.

So far, exactly as I expected in this game. Defense, defense, and more defense.

I think Tennessee is looking to jump all over passes by Flacco today. Flacco is almost sacked but gets away for a couple yards. A running play gets nothing. Third and eight, quickly.

A motion penalty and it's third and 13 to go. Another run gets nothing from a very conservative offense by the Ravens, or at least so far. They punt back to the Titans, who now have excellent field position at the 35 yard line, this time.

I predict a score for the Titans this drive.

Here's a nice 28 yard play to open the drive. Collins passes to Crumpler, complete. Chris Johnson runs down to the 33 yard line of the Ravens. Third and six. Incomplete. and it's decision time for Tennessee.

Oops, illegal, contact gives them a first down, on a late flag. They are now in field goal range, and will score. One prediction right for me. Collins makes a nice throw, and it's first and goal at the eight.

Chris Johnson, on the next play, rushes eight yards for the touchdown. Bam, 7-0, Titans leading.

The Ravens start the next drive with three runs for a first down. Flacco completes his first pass thrown, and the Ravens are helped by a blow to the head, penalty. A holding call loses yardage, and then an incomplete pass to the sideline.

Another in completion and it's third and 18. Time out by the Ravens, as time is winding down in the first half. Encroachment, defense, five yard penalty. Third and 13.

Flacco goes deep down the right sideline. The pass was definitely not a rookie throw, as it was a touchdown, with a perfect spiral strike.

It's 7-7. That was a great throw.

Chris Johnson picks up a couple of huge gains in the next series for the Titans, so they are all the way down to the Ravens 33 yard line as the first quarter ends.

So far, no answers from the Ravens on stopping Chris Johnson. It looks like he will rush for 200 yards, if this keeps up.

Collins completes a pass, and it's second and three at the 25 yard line. A screen pass falls incomplete. Third and three to go. Another screen pass is stopped cold. They go for it on fourth down.

A fumble, and Tennessee gets it back, but the Ravens take over on downs.

Flacco completes a pass on first and five. McClain runs it for 4 yards and is not getting up. The fullback, LeRon McClain, is the team's leading rusher. This could be a setback for Baltimore now, and if they advance to the conference championship.

McCain walked off under his own power. Flacco almost loses the ball, and it's third and seven. Almost an interception, and Baltimore must punt.

Tennessee is backed up deep, to their own two yard line. The Ravens cannot let Chris Johnson get to the outside on this next drive, if they want to slow up this offense a bit.

Johnson is caught after a one yard gain. Johnson barely gets back across the goal line. third and 10 1/2. First down on a nice pass by Collins. Ray Lewis leveled the receiver, but Hall holds on to the ball.

A roughness call on Tennessee as a lineman tries to protect Chris Johnson from being bent like a pretzel.

Chris Johnson again for a nice run. Second and three. White comes in to give Johnson a breather. Third and three to go. Collins, complete again, for a first down.

Collins completes another one, and he is 9 for 11 so far, completing over 80 percent of his passes. Johnson comes back in, and he gains four more yards. Second and six. The ninth play of a 57 yard drive, coming up.

Another completion for Collins for a first down. Collins is getting great protection. Suggs catches Collins from behind on the next play, but Suggs is hurt. Injury timeout. Suggs is on the sideline sitting down.

Collins completes yet another pass. Then a penalty on the offense. Third and eight. Collins puts it up on a blitz, off his back foot, and it's intercepted at the 10. Baltimore takes over.

McClain has had his ankle retaped, and is back in. He gains two yards. McClain again, but The Freak, Jevon Kearse, drags him down for a two yard loss. A third down catch is out of bounds, leaving the Ravens to punt again, in frustration.

Tennessee takes over again at their own 40 yard line.Tennessee has racked up 210 yards of offense in the first half, and there is two minutes to go. Collins completes another pass, and it's a first down.

Collins is 12 for 16 now for 152 yards. Collins hits again, first down. Defensive pass interference on a completion again, first down. Collins throws into the end zone, incomplete.

Justin Gage has 95 yards on six catches for Tennessee. Tennessee is down to the 21 yard line with 36 seconds left in the half. That's one more pass completion for Collins.

Third and four to go. White runs to the 15 yard line and fumbles to the Ravens. That's a big break for Baltimore. That's two drives thwarted by the Ravens defense.

Tennessee has plenty of yardage in the first half, and comes out with only 7 points.

Halftime score 7-7.

Tennessee gets the ball to start the second half. Baltimore could easily be down 21-7, but mistakes by the Titans have kept them in the game.

The Ravens stop Tennessee to start the third quarter and get the ball back at their own 10 yard line. A holding penalty is the 14th in this game.

One first down by Baltimore, then they must punt again.

The Titans defense is unrelenting, as they get the ball back for Collins, again. Baltimore is averaging 145 yards a game in the ground this season, while in this game they have gained only 28 yards on the ground, thus far.

White catches a short pass, and turns it into a nice gain. Suggs is out for Baltimore, while Chris Johnson sits on the sideline for Tennessee. Two Pro Bowlers are out of the game, and the rain begins to pour.

Collins completes a pass, just short of a first down. Field goal attempt, with the wind at the kicker's back. The pass play is challenged, before the attempt.

The ruling on the field is overturned, and the kicker is backed up five yards. It's a 51 yard attempt now. No good, wide left. Plenty of distance, but left all the way.

Baltimore takes over on their own 41. McClain starts off with a one yard loss. Flacco goes deep. incomplete. Flacco has only thrown nine times in this game. Third and 11, time out, Baltimore.

Flacco completes the pass, but with seven back defending, they stop the receiver.

Tennessee starts from their own 20 yard line. Collins goes deep on first down, incomplete. The offense of Tennessee is slowed down with Johnson out. Collins throws, and it's knocked down, incomplete.

The Titans punt once more.  All defense in this one. Baltimore is being ultra conservative hoping for one big play or drive to make a difference in this game.

Tennessee looks very different without Chris Johnson, who is hooded, standing on the sideline, in the rain. Now, Baltimore is jumping all over the passing routes of the Titans.

Flacco completes a screen pass for decent yardage. Second and three. Time out, Baltimore, as the play clock was running out, That's the second time out this half, by Baltimore.

McGahee gets the first down. McGahee for another seven yards. McGahee is stopped for no yards. Third and four. A great play by the Tennessee defender, who bats down the pass.

The Ravens punt back to the Titans. White catches a short pass for five yards. Gage makes a catch near the sideline for a first down. White bulls his way for only a yard.

Second and nine for Tennessee at their own 27. Collins throws incomplete. Samari Rolle is down for Baltimore. Holding on the Titans and it's 2nd and 19. Rolle seems to be hurt.

16 penalties in this game now. White gains just a few and it's third and 14. Rolle has a groin injury. The blitz comes and Collins has to unload it incomplete.

Titans punt the ball back to Baltimore. They return it to the Tennessee 40-yard line. This is looking bleaker for Tennessee due to the lack of offense, suddenly.

Kearse is down for Tennessee now. This game is brutal on the players tonight. Kearse is getting up and limping off. Second and 10 for Baltimore. Flacco hits another deep pass. The two defenders knock each other down, and Clayton catches it for Baltimore.

Haynesworth is down now for Tennessee. He slowly walks off. First and goal for Baltimore. McClain gets one. Second and goal and Haynesworth is back on the field.

McGahee is trapped and dropped at the seven yard line. Third and goal, as the third quarter ends with the game tied, 7-7, and the Ravens threatening to score.

Flacco completes one, but McGahee is stopped. A field gaol is good. 10-7, Ravens finally get some points and break the tie.

Those early turnovers in the first half may come back to haunt the Titans, unless they can get something going in the last 14 quarter of this game.

Tennessee starts on their own 36 yard line on a nice return. White catches a pass, and makes it to mid field. White gains 10 yards on a rush for another first down.

Tennessee is at the 40 now of Baltimore. Collins lets one fly deep, and it's incomplete. No gain on a run and it's third and 11. First down by Gage, with a huge catch at the  27.

White gets two more yards. Second and eight, as Ray Lewis shoots the gap to make the stop. Collins throws it away on a blitz. Third and eight. Another first down to Gage from Collins on a slant.

White rushes for one yard. Second and nine. Collins has completed a couple of huge third down plays on this drive. Crumpler catches a pass, makes it to the 5-yard line and is clobbered. He fumbles and the Ravens get it on the one yard line.

That's the third big turnover for Tennessee. False start and the Ravens start from the half yard line. Flacco gets two yards. McGahee gets tackled at the one. Third and 10.

Flacco throws it out of bounds and Tennessee will get it back again. False start again, and the Ravens punt  from deep in their own end zone. Tennessee gets it at their own 42 yard line.

Tennessee had dominated the whole game, and yet has only 7 points due to three costly turnovers deep in Raven territory, losing perhaps 2 touchdowns and a field goal.

They should be up 24-10, yet they are losing! Collins completes a pass to the 30 yard line. First down for Tennessee. White to the 18 for another first down.

White for three more yards. Second and seven to go. White catches a screen for a loss of two yards. Third and nine to go.  Gage catches the ball so close to the first. He's a foot short.

The field goal is good and it's finally tied 10-10.  Four and a half minutes left in the game. Tennessee has to hold one more time to get this win after giving up three turnovers.

Flacco needs a long ball control drive or perhaps one more quick strike to get in scoring position. Flacco must not get greedy and throw an ill advised pass on this possession.

Baltimore takes over on their own 24 yard line with 4:17 left in the game.

McGahee gets six yards on the ground. Second and four. Four more yards on the ground and it's third and two. Flacco completes one to the 45 yard line to Todd Heap.

Movement by the Ravens and that costs them five yards. First and 15. Flacco goes deep to Mason, incomplete. Second and 15 takes us to the two minute warning.

Kearse jumps offsides and it's second and ten. McGahee races for a first down to the 35 yard line. McGahee gets a yard. McClain gets no gain. Tennessee calls time out.

1:04 left on the clock, and it's third and nine. Complete pass, but short of the first down. This is a 42 yard attempt for Baltimore. Stover kicks and it's good!!!

Baltimore 13, Titans 10. 53 seconds left for the Titans season to end or continue.

Tennessee gave this football game away, if they lose, with three horrible turnovers.

47 seconds left, and Tennessee is at their 25 yard line. Pass is complete to the 35 of Tennessee. Another pass incomplete and it's third and five. Collins over the middle, almost intercepted, incomplete.

This is it, fourth and five, Incomplete and the Ravens have the victory.

A heartbreaker for the Titans and elation for the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens will move on to play the Steelers or the San Diego Chargers for the AFC championship game.

Turnovers and the loss of Chris Johnson ended the magical season for Kerry Collins and the Tennessee Titans.

Joe Flacco is the first rookie ever to win two playoff games in NFL history.

A great win for Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens.

Thomas [NFL Mikee] Moreland