Ravens Top Titans, Go to AFC Championship

ByABC News
January 7, 2001, 12:01 PM

Jan. 7 -- The Baltimore Ravens today showed why they led the league with 49 forced turnovers, scoring 14 points on turnovers to break open a tight game and beat the Tennessee Titans 24-10 in the AFC divisional playoff game at Adelphia Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.

Baltimore middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the Defensive Player of the Year and anchor of the Ravens’ second-ranked defense, picked off a pass and ran it back 50 yards for a touchdown with six minutes and 41 seconds left to deliver the final blow to a Tennessee team that unraveled in the fourth quarter.

The Titans, who allowed just two touchdowns in 24 games, gave up three today against a revved Ravens team that allowed a record-low 165 points in the 16-game regular season and gave up just one touchdown today.

The Ravens won the battle between the league’s top two defenses and earned a spot in next week’s AFC Championship game against the Oakland Raiders, who eliminated Miami Saturday in their divisional playoff game.

The Titans saw their hopes for another Super Bowl appearance slip away as the Ravens shut down Eddie George in the second half and 17-year veteran kicker Al Del Greco again failed to make field goals.

Kicking Problems Continue for Del Greco

Ray Lewis’ nine tackles, three assists and one interception led a Ravens defense that held Tennessee’s leading rusher George to 30 yards rushing in the second half and 91 yards on 27 carries overall. The effort marked the 35th time the Ravens have not allowed a 100-yard rusher against them.

While the defense stopped George, the special teams unit made big plays to break open the game.

Keith Washington blocked two Del Greco field goals, as the Tennessee kicker’s problems continued against the Ravens. Anthony Mitchell caught Washington’s second blocked field goal and ran the ball back 90 yards for a score to give the Ravens their first lead, 17-10, with 12:12 left in the game.

Washington also tipped Al Del Greco’s 45-yard field goal attempt earlier in the game, causing it to veer to the left.