Basics
Kickoff: Saturday, 8:15 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium
TV: WJZ Channel 13 (Baltimore), WUSA Channel 9 (Washington, DC), CBS crew (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn)
Radio: WBAL (1090AM/101.5FM) and 98Rock (97.9FM) Ravens crew (Gerry Sandusky, Jarret Johnson, Kirk McEwen); Westwood One Sports (Brandon Gaudin, Ross Tucker, Laura Okmin); WDCN La Nueva 87.7 radio broadcast on the Ravens app: (David Andrade, Gustavo Salazar, Ximena Lugo)
Jersey color: Purple
Stakes
The winner will move one victory from the Super Bowl, while the loser's season will end. The Ravens enter the playoffs as a No. 1 seed after the best regular season (14-2) in franchise history. Baltimore can reach the AFC championship game for the first time since 2012, when the Ravens went on to win Super Bowl XLVII. Tennessee is trying to become the first No. 6 seed to reach the Super Bowl since the 2010 Green Bay Packers. Defeating the Ravens would advance Tennessee to the conference championship game for the first time since 2002.
History
The all-time regular season series is tied, 10-10. The Ravens and Titans have met in the playoffs three times, with the Ravens holding a 2-1 edge. Their last playoff meeting occurred in the 2008 season, when No. 6-seeded Baltimore prevailed, 13-10, in a divisional game in against top-seeded Tennessee. Now the roles are reversed. The two teams did not face each other this season. Their last meeting was Oct. 14, 2018, when the Ravens shut out the Titans, 21-0, in Tennessee. Baltimore recorded a franchise record 11 sacks in that game. Titans running back Derrick Henry was held to just 21 yards on seven carries.
Storylines to Watch
Will the Ravens be sharp after their bye?
Not only did the Ravens have last weekend off, they rested many starters in Week 17, including Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram II, Mark Andrews, Marshal Yanda, Orlando Brown Jr., Earl Thomas III, Brandon Williams and Jimmy Smith. While the Ravens will be well-rested, they are facing a hot team in Tennessee that has won eight of its last 11 games. Can the Ravens sustain the momentum they have built over the past three months?
Will Baltimore's defense derail the Henry freight train?
Henry led the NFL in rushing (1,540 yards) and has been in beast mode recently, rushing for at least 100 yards in six of his last seven starts and 393 yards over the past two. He had 32 carries in Week 17 and 34 carries last weekend against New England. Henry dominated the Patriots game and kept Tom Brady off the field for long stretches. Expect the Titans to try that same formula against the Ravens, riding Henry until the Ravens prove they can stop him.
Do the Titans have an answer for Baltimore's offense?
Tennessee ranked 21st in total defense this season and the Ravens were the NFL's highest-scoring team, averaging 33.2 points per game. It's up to former Ravens Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees, now in that same role with the Titans, to devise a game plan that can slow down Baltimore. That's not an easy job for anyone, especially when facing Jackson for the first time.
Key Matchups
Ravens defense vs. RB Derrick Henry
The Ravens will need a gang-tackling mentality against Henry, but they have a powerful and deep defensive line led by Brandon Williams, Michael Pierce, Chris Wormley, Domata Peko Jr. and Jihad Ward. This will also be a test for rookie outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson, who must be consistent setting the edge to keep Henry from bouncing outside.
Lamar Jackson vs.ILB Rashaan Evans
Jackson's subpar playoff performance as a rookie has gnawed at him for a year, and he is determined to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl. The Titans will be trying to stop the game's most explosive player. If Jackson dominates, it will be difficult for Tennessee to win. The Titans drafted Evans, an Alabama product, 10 picks before Baltimore took Jackson last year. Evans is one of their fastest defenders and could be used to spy Jackson.
Ravens secondary vs.QB Ryan Tannehill
Baltimore has the NFL's deepest cornerback rotation featuring Pro Bowlers Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, along with Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr. They have another Pro Bowler in the secondary in safety Earl Thomas, while safety Chuck Clark has been a defensive leader in his first year as a starter. Tannehill is playing well, and wide receiver A. J. Brown (52 catches, 1,051 yards, eight touchdowns) had an excellent rookie season. But the Titans only had 71 yards passing last week against New England, and this will be the best secondary Tannehill has faced all season. Tannehill has excelled against the blitz and using play-action, so it will be interesting to see if Baltimore changes its blitz-happy strategy.
