CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – After knocking off the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs, the Tennessee Titans now turn their attention to the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens.
A win for either team in the divisional round and it’s on to the AFC championship game.
Last week against New England, regular-season rushing champion Derrick Henry ran for 182 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries.
If Baltimore can stop the outside zone running scheme of Tennessee, look for Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill to have to shoulder more of the load offensively this weekend.
In just his first full year under center, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has put the NFL world on notice.
Jackson has thrived in Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s system to the tune of 4,328 total yards and a league-best 42 touchdowns this season.
Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees will have to do what many have failed to do this season and that’s come up with a way of limiting Jackson through the air and on the ground.
Pees spent eight years working in Baltimore coaching linebackers and serving as defensive coordinator before joining the Titans last season.
This won’t be Pees and Roman’s first time facing one another in the postseason, as the two previously met while Roman served on San Francisco’s coaching staff in Super Bowl XLVII.
The Ravens are hopeful that their starting running back Mark Ingram will be able to give it a go against the Titans. Ingram missed the regular-season finale due to a calf injury suffered against the Browns in Week 16.
With Titans linebacker Jayon Brown already ruled out after hurting his shoulder in the win over New England, look for rookie David Long to step up and log more snaps defensively.
Kickoff between the Titans and Ravens is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Saturday, January 11 at M&T Bank Stadium.