NFL Playoffs Divisional Weekend – Ravens at Titans

The last time that Kerry Collins faced the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Playoffs, the results were catastrophic…for the New York Giants. Collins was the quarterback at the helm for the Giants when they tried to topple the greatest defense ever assembled in Baltimore. It didn’t help that at the time Baltimore had Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes on board, and Ray Lewis in his prime.

Truly the only thing Kerry Collins has to be scared of is Tony Saragusa tearing off his headset and running out on to the field to sit on him again.

This is a serious gut-check for the Titans, but it’s even more so for the journeyman in Kerry Collins. The career that never really started to take shape back in 1995 when Collins began with the Carolina Panthers. He eventually went to the Giants and led them to the Superbowl in 2001. After that he signed with the Oakland Raiders, who had just landed Randy Moss…and that didn’t exactly turn out as planned. Two tumultuous years in Oakland led him to Tennessee where he was signed on as a backup to the superstar, Vince Young.

Then VY went off the deep end, both physically and mentally, and Collins had to take over for the Titans. In his 13th year as an NFL Player, Collins began to show the world that he was not dead yet. He finished 2008 with 2,676 yards, 12 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions for his third highest career quarterback rating.

He’s battled the demons of his past and proven his mettle. Now the only one that remains is that of Ed Reed and the viscious Baltimore defense that decimated his Superbowl chances.

NFL Betting Trends

-Baltimore is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games

-Baltimore is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games on the road

-Baltimore is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against Tennessee

-the total has gone UNDER in 6-of-7 when Tennessee plays Baltimore

-Tennessee is 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games

-Tennessee is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against Baltimore

-Tennessee is 6-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games at home

Baltimore’s defense can not only stop the run, the pass and the kick, they can also score. Ball-hawking Ed Reed is a playmaker every time the opposing quarterback snaps the ball, and now Ed Reed stands in the way of Kerry Collins’ playoff run. Can Chris Johnson and LenDale White take that much pressure off of Collins?

I’m scared of Tennessee’s lack of momentum, but at the same time I find it hard to believe that a team that took its foot off the pedal three weeks ago to rest their bruised and battered, has not regained focused after watching Wildcard Weekend pan out.

It’s not that I’m betting against Baltimore this weekend. It’s that I do not trust Joe Flacco on the road, in a decibel bursting stadium like LP Field with a rabid bunch of Tennessee Titans fans chomping at the bit to tear his ear off.

Baltimore Ravens (11-5) vs. Tennessee Titans (13-3)

Saturday, January 10th — LP Field, Tennessee — 4:30pm EST

NFL Betting Line: Tennessee -3 (34)

When you get a matchup like this, you have to go with experience. Kerry Collins may not be a proven winner, but the Titans have enough in their arsenal to put a massive dent in the armor of the Baltimore Ravens. It’ll be a low scoring affair, but Tennessee is standing proud and is not about to let the Ravens come in and ruin their magnificent season.

If the Titans win, Kerry Collins can finally shake the nightmares of Saragusa’s fat ass from his nightmares once and for all.

NFL Free Pick: Tennessee -3 (UNDER)