AFC Central

Sporting News, The, Sept 20, 1999

Teams are listed alphabetically

Titans make grand debut at new stadium

As far as first games in new stadiums go, the Titans' first regular-season game at Adelphia Coliseum was about all you could ask for.

It featured 71 points, 801 yards of offense and a game-winning field goal by Al Del Greco with eight seconds left. And did we mention Steve McNair leading the hometown Titans to 10 points in the final 7:47 for the 36-35 victory?

Before 65,272 people--the largest regular-season home crowd to watch the Oilers/Titans--the Titans began the process of building a home-field advantage, no small thing for a franchise that had called three different places "home" since 1996: the Astrodome in 1996, the Liberty Bowl in '97 and Vanderbilt Stadium last season.

Here's a safe prediction: The franchise that has finished last in the NFL in home attendance three years running won't finish last this season.

"We know home-field advantages just don't happen, they have to be built," Titans coach Jeff Fisher says. "That's what we want to do. We want this to be a very difficult place to play."

But it also was a crowd not afraid to voice its dissatisfaction. McNair was booed at one point during the fourth quarter, after the Titans' 26-7 lead became a 35-26 deficit. But then he threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Eddie George with 4:30 left and led the final drive that ended with Del Greco's winning kick.

"We got the win, that's the big thing," says defensive tackle Mike Jones. "But to see Steve get booed, that doesn't make sense. But hopefully we can get some things going and people won't feel that way because Steve is a player who can take this franchise a long way. A long way." --Jeff Legwold

Baltimore

0-1: T 4th

Case moves to backup, may be team's future QB

Coach Brian Billick has promoted No. 3 QB Stoney Case over Tony Banks as the backup to starter Scott Mitchell. Banks had three passes that were knocked down in the final preseason game against the Giants and had problems with fumbling the snap in training camp. Case played well in the final two preseason games, is a favorite of Billick's and has a playing history with several assistants on the staff. There is speculation that if Mitchell doesn't play well this season, Billick might start grooming Case as his quarterback of the future. Mitchell got off to a bad start in the opener--he was uncomfortable with his positioning in the pocket, and his liming was off. Look for the Ravens to trade Banks if they can get a third-round pick. If that happens, the team probably will bring back Wally Richardson as the third quarterback. The team cut Richardson after the second preseason game to allow Case more repetitions.... DE Michael McCrary signed a five-year contract extension worth $38 million over the next six seasons, but the stalled negotiations resulted in McCrary missing precious preseason time. He wasn't dose to game-day conditioning and had to be spelled regularly by Keith Washington in the opener against St. Louis.... The club inserted Everett Lindsay at starting left guard not just because James Atkins was injured--it thought Lindsay was better in training camp. The team likes Lindsay's versatility and athleticism and wasn't happy about paying a $1 million roster bonus to Atkins earlier in the year only to watch him play in the preseason opener, then miss the next four weeks with a hamstring injury.

SCOUTING REPORT: Weakside LB Jamie Sharper could be an outstanding player, but he lacks motivation. He is one of the team's enigmas. He plays the run

extremely well but has problems on pass defense. Sharper can look like Lawrence Taylor on one play and a refugee from arena football on the next. If he doesn't have a better season, he probably will be replaced.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: After four years, defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis still hasn't found a way to stop teams from taking advantage of the Ravens' zone-blitzing style by throwing short to intermediate passes over the middle. The Ravens also have to get better pass coverage from LBs Peter Boulware, Sharper and Ray Lewis, who could be considered one of the league's best trios if they improve their pass defense. --Mike Preston

GRADING OUT VS. ST. Louis

OFFENSE D

Team failed to control the ball, and its passing game lacked timing.

DEFENSE C-

Pass defense was atrocious; team's young CBs were taken to school.

SPECIAL TEAMS C-

Coverage units were shaky and Matt Stover missed two 54-yard attempts.

COACHING C-

Rams caused problems with Marshall Faulk's versatility and their blitz packages.

RAVENS

PASSING           Att.   Comp.    Pct.    Yds.    Long
S.Mitchell          40      17    42.5     188     28t

PASSING             TD    Int.    Rate   Sacks
S.Mitchell           1       2    44.6       5

RUSHING           Att.    Yds.    Avg.      TD
Holmes              12      52     4.3       0
Evans                3       8     2.7       0

RECEIVING          No.    Yds.    Avg.      TD
Armour               4      76    19.0       0
Ismail               4      46    11.5       0
Evans                4      27     6.8       0

SCORING            XPM     XPA     FGM     FGA    Pts.
Stower               1       1       1       3       4

PUNTING            No.    Yds.    Avg.    Blk.
Richardson           6     287    47.8       0

KO RETURNS         No.    Yds.    Avg.      TD
Harris               5     113    22.6       0