MNF New Experience for Super Bowl Teams

By
Teresa M. Walker
January 7, 2006, 5:08 AM ET
3 min read

N A S H V I L L E, Tenn., Aug. 14, 2000 -- The St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans

experienced the brightest lights possible during the Super Bowl

last January.

But playing tonight is different.

When the teams hit the field at Adelphia Coliseum tonight for an exhibition rematch of one of the most exciting SuperBowls ever, it will be the first such appearance in years foreither franchise and the first since both teams switched cities.

“This is a new experience for everybody,” Titans coach JeffFisher said. “It’s a good warmup for the regular season. They’ll get a feel for the emotions and electricity and all those kinds ofthings that take place tonight.”

Rematch Downplayed

The Titans were still the Houston Oilers when Fisher coached hisfirst game as an interim coach in November 1994 only to lose to theNew York Giants. The Rams also lost, to the San Francisco 49ers, in1991 while still in California.

The exhibition also will provide a dry run for both teams sinceTennessee has three Monday night appearances scheduled this year,compared to two for St. Louis.

“And there’s no better team to kick it off against than theRams,” Titans safety Marcus Robertson said.

St. Louis coach Mike Martz downplayed the rematch.

“This is another preseason game. It’s two really good footballteams. That’s the point. Last year has nothing to do with thisright now,” he said.

Not everyone agrees. Neil O’Donnell, the Titans backupquarterback, played on Monday night three times during his lastseason with Pittsburgh in 1995.

“Once the lights come on and the cameras, there’s not a betterplace to be than out there on Monday night,” O’Donnell said.

Players Grew Up Watching MNF

Titans tackle John Thornton grew up in Philadelphia watchingfootball on Monday nights. The defensive tackle will have lots ofrelatives in the stadium with other friends watching on television.

“You always want to play well because everyone watches MondayNight Football at least for a little while to see the game. Wedefinitely want to come out and play better,” he said.

It may be a Monday night, but the football will remain strictlyexhibition.

Fisher plans to play most of his starters for the first halfbefore turning to the backups. That is a switch from his usualroutine because the Titans travel to Philadelphia for anotherexhibition Friday night.

Martz will try to provide a challenge, but he is more concernedabout protecting Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Marshall Faulk. Evenbackup quarterback Trent Green will be pulled if the Rams go toodeep into their bench.

“I don’t want to expose him to a group where there might besome protection snafus and end up taking a shot at him with therisk of losing him,” Martz said.

The Rams’ offense doesn’t seem to have missed a beat sincewinning the Super Bowl 23-16. St. Louis won its opener 31-17 overOakland and scored on the first three series. Fisher expects moreof the same, so the Titans will have a couple of defensive schemesready to try out against the champions.

“I’m sure they’re looking forward to it maybe more than weare,” offensive guard Adam Timmerman said.

“So we’ve got to be ready. When you’re the team that got beat,I’ve been on the other side, and you definitely have to be ready.The guys up front are definitely going to be juiced up so you’vegot to look out.”