As a teenager working at the Scott Street Farmer’s Market in Tennessee, young Penny Hardaway had many dreams. He dreamed of dominating the competition that he would meet playing basketball in college, of the endless fame and fortune that would come when his TV commercial acting career took off, but most of all, Penny dreamed of winning a championship that he could bring back to the state of Tennessee. This weekend Eddie George, Steve McNair and the rest of the Tennessee Titans will try to move one step closer to carrying out Penny’s dream.
Of the four teams remaining in the playoffs, the Titans’ task might be the most difficult. They need to overcome injuries on both sides of the ball if they hope to keep up with NFL MVP Rich Gannon and the Oakland Raiders, who only appear to be getting sharper with each passing week. Both the Titans-Raiders and Eagles-Buccaneers games this Sunday feature the two top-seeded teams from each conference. Still, none of these elite teams have yet emerged as the clear cut favorite to win the Superbowl.
This Philadelphia-Tampa Bay game on Sunday promises to be more than just a defensively-minded contest. The Eagles have knocked the Bucs out of the playoffs each of the last two years. Moreover, they have done so in a dominating fashion, not allowing a touchdown in either game. But after last week’s dismantling of the 49ers, NFL pundits have been forced to take a second look at what might be an underrated Bucs’ offense.
Last Sunday, Brad Johnson was able to spread the ball to Keyshawn Johnson, Ken Dilger, Mike Alstott, Joe Jurevicius, Rickey Dudley, Michael Pittman and others: a supporting cast that, though not spectacular, is deep and capable of wining a ball control-style game against the Eagles. Both teams have exceptional defensive lines, so look for both offenses to establish a short passing game in lieu of a between-the-tackles running attack. The Bucs have the No. 1 rated rush defense in the entire league.
On the other side, N.D. Kalu, Corey Simon, Hugh Douglas and Carlos Emmons should be able to contain Pittman and Alstott. Though they are favored, the Eagles will definitely have to play their best game if they hope to get by Tampa. This means that Todd Pinkston, James Thrash and Chad Lewis will have to test the Bucs’ secondary early and often. They will be helped by Donovan McNabb’s ability to escape the pocket and look for receivers downfield.
Though both teams have evolved this year, some things about them haven’t changed: most notably, Tampa’s susceptibility to the weather. The Bucs still haven’t won a game when the temperature is less than 40 degrees, and it is expected to be in the low 20s in Philly on Sunday. You do the math, and Philly should come out on top in this one.
The Titans and the Raiders will face off in the warmer climate of Northern California, but their response to each other in the media this week has been anything but sunny. The always precocious Lance Schulters accused Radiers’ receiver Tim Brown of being a crybaby because he whines to the officials about pass interference. Brown might not voice the same complaints Sunday. In fact, he might find himself wide open all day if the Titans defense can’t get healthy in time for the game. Andre Dyson, Jevon Kearse, and linebacker Rocky Boiman are all questionable, and that’s just the Titans defense.
Steve McNair and Eddie George will have to overcome significant injuries as well just to lineup and face an increasingly daunting Raider defense that has All-Pro caliber players at defensive line, linebacker, cornerback and safety. As with all Titans games though, the play of the defense will determine how successful their team can be. The Raiders No. 1 ranked offense uses the pass to set up the run. Tennessee hopes rest on its ability to rush Gannon, create turnovers, and not get beat deep by Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter. If they can do all of these things, McNair and the offense will get a chance to prove the claim that their offense can move the ball against anybody.
In the end, though, the Titans may just be out-manned and out-gunned against that Silver and Black.