 |
| |
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
EVENTS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|
No style points Opposing quarterback both win often, but it's rarely pretty
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Statistics are virtually meaningless in judging the proficiency of Steve McNair and Trent Dilfer. Plenty of quarterbacks had better numbers this season, yet no team has won more games than Tennessee (13-3) and Baltimore (13-4). McNair and Dilfer may not play in the Pro Bowl this year, but one of them has an excellent chance of playing in the Super Bowl. If running backs Eddie George and Jamal Lewis are rendered ineffective by the top two defensive units in the NFL, then Sunday's game between the Titans and Ravens could be decided by two quarterbacks with a knack for success. In 68 starts with Tennessee, McNair is 44-24. Dilfer has won nine of his last 11 December starts, is 8-1 as Baltimore's starter and 2-1 lifetime in the postseason. Those figures -- not quarterback ratings -- are what matter most in the playoffs. McNair's 83.2 rating was seventh-best in the AFC. Dilfer, who began the season on the bench, finished 11th with a 76.6 rating. Neither McNair or Dilfer had a single 300-yard game and occasionally failed to reach even triple-figures in yards passing. And here they are, one win removed from playing for the AFC championship. "I don't think that anyone looks at Steve McNair and how many yards he's passed for, how many touchdowns he's thrown for, how many yards he's rushed for," Titans wide receiver Yancey Thigpen said. "It's how many games he's won." With McNair at the helm, Tennessee reeled off 13 wins for a second straight season. McNair's ability to make something good happen was never more evident than in late September, when the injured quarterback came off the bench in the fourth quarter to rally the Titans to a 23-20 win against Pittsburgh. Dilfer, banished from Tampa Bay before signing with Baltimore as a free agent in March, began the season as the backup to Tony Banks. He made his debut in the fourth quarter of an October loss to the Titans, nearly brought the Ravens back, and has since flourished as the starter. His 9-for-14 performance in last week's 21-3 win against Denver was both unimpressive and highly effective. But with Baltimore's record-setting defense, Dilfer knows he doesn't have to be spectacular for the Ravens to win. "Last week Trent threw the ball when he had to and made plays," Baltimore tight end Shannon Sharpe said. "If we do that, we like our chances, particularly with our defense." That doesn't mean Dilfer can't put it up when he has to. In Baltimore's 24-23 victory against the Titans on Nov. 12, Dilfer went 23-for-36 for 281 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 25 seconds remaining. "They're definitely going to take their shots deep," Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher said. "I think that's the difference in Trent. With this offense he's able to do that, and he's got speedy receivers who can run under the ball." While Dilfer's strengths are patience and guile, McNair has made a name for himself with his strong arm and ability to run. This year, he's passed out of the pocket more, with positive results. "Up until this year, I would have told you that Steve McNair is a very good quarterback, but I don't think that he's a guy that could beat you in the pocket," Ravens second-year head coach Brian Billick said. "He has elevated his game to where he can beat you in and outside the pocket." McNair expects to try both Sunday against the Ravens' aggressive defense. "I'll probably do a lot more running than I have done in the past because of the great defense that they have," he said. "They're not giving up much. If no one's open, that's when I'll try to make something happen with my legs." With McNair in the game, anything's possible. He brought the Titans back from a 16-0 hole in the last Super Bowl, and his 20-yard run in the loss to Baltimore set up a field goal try after Dilfer's last-minute TD pass. "Since I've been here, in our four games the difference has been the play of Steve McNair inside and outside the pocket," Billick said. "That's a two-headed monster we're playing, and it usually overwhelms most people."
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
