Saturday, January 10th 2009, 10:54 AM
NASHVILLE - The last time Kerry Collins faced Baltimore in the playoffs, he was the quarterback for the Giants who were playing the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.
It was not a memorable performance. The Ravens clobbered the Giants. As a matter of fact, Collins probably would like to wipe the memory out completely.
"My memories are we played against a good team and a good defense. Nothing more than I thought it was unfair that they let them play with 15 guys," Collins joked when asked about it earlier this season. "They were good. We were ready to play. I put a lot of that game on me. I threw four interceptions and just did not play very well."
Eight years later, Collins has a chance to dash the Ravens' postseason dreams when he leads host Tennessee (13-3), the AFC's top seed, against sixth-seeded Baltimore (12-5) in a divisional playoff game Saturday afternoon.
Oddly enough, the Titans were 13-3 and the top seed in the AFC in 2000, but lost to Baltimore in the playoffs. The Ravens went on to beat Collins and the Giants in the Super Bowl.
Collins certainly doesn't want a repeat of that not-so-super performance against the Ravens.
"Obviously, I've got a lot more experience," he said. "I think I appreciate it more knowing that I am in my 14th year. I know opportunities don't come along like this all the time and this may be my last best opportunity. So, I'm trying to take advantage of it the best I can."
He thinks the Ravens' defenses from this year and 2000 are similar.
"It's hard to say that any defense is better than the one I played in the Super Bowl in 2000. They were phenomenal," he said. "This defense is certainly very good in their own right, but that defense I think will be the best I've ever played."
The Titans and Ravens have two of the best defenses in the NFL. Tennessee had the second-ranked scoring defense, allowing 14.6 points per game, while Baltimore had the third-ranked unit, giving up 15.3. Baltimore was second in total yards allowed (277.1) while Tennessee was tied for fifth.
Collins will have to find a way to thwart Ravens safety Ed Reed, who had two interceptions against the Dolphins last week, including one that he returned 64 yards for a touchdown.
"The guy is doing what he's done his whole career - find the ball. He's extremely smart," Collins said. "He studies, you can tell. He knows your tendencies and plays to them. I think that's what puts him in a lot of positions to make plays. He's a guy who you've just always got to know where he is."
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