BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens renew what was one of the NFL's fiercest rivalries Saturday when the teams meet in the AFC wild card round at M&T Bank Stadium.
The teams built their rivalry while they were members of the AFC Central Division. But their annual meetings ended when the divisions were realigned after the 2001 season.
But while the rivalry may have lost some of its luster, there is a history between the teams that the Ravens would like to continue and that the Titans would like to forget.
The Ravens have won the last five meetings from the Titans, including a playoff triumph en route to its Super Bowl title during the 2000 season.
"We all know what happened in the past with this team," Titans running back Eddie George told USA Today. "They've been a thorn in our sides, and sometimes to move on to the future you have to be presented with the past."
Baltimore's dominance began in October 2000, when the Ravens ended the Titans' 13-game home winning streak. But the stakes were higher later that season when the Ravens returned to Tennessee in January and knocked the top-seeded Titans out of the playoffs with a 24-10 victory in the divisional round.
In the playoff meeting, Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis injured the shoulder of Titans quarterback Steve McNair while also returning an interception 50 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Since their playoff meeting, the Ravens have beaten the Titans three more times, including a 13-12 victory here in November 2002.
But despite the struggles against the Ravens, Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck is looking forward to the latest meeting.
"I prefer to play Baltimore, just for the simple fact that everyone (fans and media) has been saying, 'Oh, we don't want to play Baltimore,' and this and that," Bulluck said. "I want to end that mind-set."
Bulluck will be one of the keys for the Titans if they hope to end their struggles against the Ravens, whose offense is built around the power running of Jamal Lewis.
Jamal Lewis became just the fifth back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season and finished with 2,066 yards, the second-best single-season mark in league history.
"They are going to play us nine in the box, try to stack and do different things," Jamal Lewis said. "So maybe we'll open it up, put a few more things in our playbook and try to hit a few things downfield."
Tennessee ranked first in the NFL against the run this season, allowing just 80.9 yards per contest.
While Baltimore ranked first in the league in rushing, they were last in passing, averaging just 141.3 yards per game. Anthony Wright posted a 4-2 record as the starting quarterback following an injury to rookie Kyle Boller and led the Ravens to the North title. But this is Wright's first career playoff game.
The Titans have no such problems at quarterback, where McNair is one of the NFL's leading contenders for Most Valuable Player.
McNair has been battling a strained right calf and sprained left ankle and sat out last Sunday's season finale against Tampa Bay. But one of the NFL's toughest players will be ready for this contest.
McNair led the league with a 100.4 quarterback rating and passed for 3,215 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Although not as dominant as 2000 when they had a record-setting defense, the Ravens still are a force behind Ray Lewis, the league's best linebacker. Baltimore ranked third in the league in total defense and sixth in scoring defense.
This is the Titans' fourth playoff appearance in the last five seasons under coach Jeff Fisher. They reached Super Bowl XXXIV in the 1999 campaign and lost in the AFC championship game last season.
Baltimore is in the playoffs for third time in five seasons under coach Brian Billick.
The Ravens lead the series, 8-6.
