In three starts as Tennessee’s quarterback, Kerry Collins has been sacked once and intercepted once, a good reason why the Titans are unbeaten.
Now Collins goes to Baltimore against a team that in the 2001 Super Bowl harassed him into one of his worst games: four sacks, four interceptions and an almost invisible passer rating of 7.1. Collins was with the Giants then and that was the last time he faced the Ravens, who retain the same defensive philosophy: hit the quarterback.
The Titans, favored by 3 pointsplay some defense, too.
They are allowing an NFL low 11.5 points per game and lead the league with a plus-6 turnover margin. Cortland Finnegan leads the league in interceptions with four and Albert Haynesworth has five sacks, remarkable for a defensive tackle.
That could mean a difficult afternoon for Joe Flacco, who was supposed to sit as a rookie but has started every game because of Troy Smith’s illness and Kyle Boller’s injury. Flacco has performed pretty well, including Monday night in Pittsburgh, when he drove the Ravens 76 yards for a game-tying TD before Baltimore lost in overtime.
et rattled,” wide receiver Derrick Mason said. “He showed poise out there and that’s all you can ask your young quarterback to do.”
Tennessee’s old quarterback has shown poise, too, replacing the injured Vince Young in what has become a permanent gig – when Young gets healthy, he’ll sit and learn behind a 35-year-old now in his 14th season.
The veterans on the Titans have their 4-0 start in perspective.
“You can look too far ahead and lose sight of taking care of the task at hand,” linebacker David Thornton says.
Tennessee keeps its clean sheet.
TITANS, 16-12
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Washington (plus 5) at Philadelphia
The Eagles have allowed nine points and no TDs at home; 65 points and eight TDs on the road.
EAGLES, 17-9
Tampa Bay (plus 3) at Denver
Defense over no defense. ….
BUCS, 24-23
Pittsburgh (plus 4) at Jacksonville
The Steelers are on a short week, minus two running backs and a starting guard.
JAGUARS, 24-16
Seattle (plus 7) at New York Giants
Add two receivers (Deion Branch and Bobby Engram) to the Seahawks and subtract the suspended Plaxico Burress from the Giants. Domenik Hixon makes Burress expendable.
GIANTS, 31-20
Minnesota (plus 3) at New Orleans (Monday night)
Both teams are better than their records.
SAINTS, 27-26
Francisco
Don’t go against the Patriots when Bill Belichick has two weeks to prepare. Especially after his team was embarrassed before the bye.
PATRIOTS, 19-15
Cincinnati (off) at Dallas
The “off” is for Carson Palmer’s injured elbow.
Off or on …
COWBOYS, 37-15
Indianapolis (minus 3) at Houston
The Colts had a week off to heal.
COLTS 27-20
San Diego (minus 7) at Miami
The Dolphins had a week off to come up with more gimmicks.
CHARGERS, 27-23
Atlanta (off) at Green Bay
If Aaron Rodgers (the reason for the “off”) can’t go, this becomes the battle of rookie Matts – Ryan and Flynn. Ryan is better but so is Green Bay.
PACKERS, 13-9
Buffalo (plus 1 1/2) at Arizona
The Cardinals play well at home. And the Bills are due to lose.
CARDINALS, 24-20
Chicago (minus 3) at Detroit
“He’s not here. He’s removed. I think everybody liked Matt, but it’s the nature of the business,” Rod Marinelli says of the first game of the post-Millen era.
Makes no difference for now.
BEARS, 19-15
Kansas City (plus 9 1/2) at Carolina
Damon Huard can minimize mistakes.
PANTHERS, 24-17
LAST WEEK: 8-5 (spread); 8-5 (straight up)
SEASON: 35-25 (spread); 39-21 (straight up)