Tennessee Titans at St. Louis Rams Preview

By Darrell Laurant | Saturday, September 24, 2005 | ( 0 )

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It would be a stretch to call this a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIV, since both teams have obviously changed personnel (and, in the case of the Rams, head coaches) since the St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans 23-17 in the Georgia Dome in 2000. They haven't met since.

Then again, some things haven't changed. Steve McNair is still the Tennessee quarterback, throwing for 195 yards last Sunday. Rams' RB Marshall Faulk may have receded into a backup role behind second-year RB Steven Jackson, but is still a threat to catch passes out of the backfield.

Expect to see QB Marc Bulger airing it out to wide receivers Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Kevin Curtis. Tennessee will try to establish a running game early with the duo of Chris Brown and Travis Henry.

Based on early-season performances, this is the sort of game that gives prognosticators acid reflux. Which Tennessee Titans team will show up at the Edward Jones Dome - the Titans who rolled over and played dead in Pittsburgh, losing 34-7 and making Ben Roethlisberger look like Johnny Unitas and seldom-used Willie Parker like O.J. Simpson? Or the ones who rolled over surprised Baltimore, 25-10, in Week 2?

Meanwhile, thousands of pool-sheet players around the country were probably shaking their heads when the St. Louis Rams lost their opener to San Francisco, 28-25. St. Louis was able to rebound against Arizona, as Mike Martz's defense put Kurt Warner on his back five times.

Tennessee's Kyle Vanden Bosch had three sacks of his own in the victory over Baltimore. This week, however, he'll be going against perennial All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace.

The Rams love to play at home, and this will be their first chance in 2005.

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