NFL
Pats don't expect rerun in rematch
Players say crucial early win over Titans was by a different team.
By Associated Press
Published January 6, 2004
[Last modified January 6, 2004, 01:33:37]
FOXBORO, Mass. - If the Patriots bother to watch videotape of their regular-season game against Tennessee, they'll see two teams they would rather forget.
"We're a totally different team now than when we played them the first time," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Monday after the team returned from its bye week to prepare for its playoff game against the Titans.
The winner Saturday night will play in the AFC title game.
Tennessee, 12-4 in the regular season, made the playoffs as a wild card and beat the Ravens 20-17 on Saturday. The Patriots won their last 12 to finish the regular season with the best record in the NFL and earn a first-round bye.
But the last time these teams met, they seemed to be heading in different directions.
On Oct. 5, the region was feverish for the Red Sox and few were paying attention to the Patriots. The baseball team was in the process of coming back from the brink of playoff elimination against the Athletics and manager Grady Little was hailed for his deft handling of the pitching staff.
The Patriots were 2-2 and struggling heading into the Tennessee game, having just lost to the unimpressive Redskins. The Titans were 3-1 and looking strong.
For New England, the injuries were mounting: Ted Johnson, Ted Washington, Mike Vrabel, Willie McGinest, Kevin Faulk, Adrian Klemm and Daniel Graham were inactive. Running back Antowain Smith and All-Pro cornerback Ty Law were hurt during the game.
Still, the Patriots scored 31 in the second half to beat Tennessee 38-30. Then they won the rest of their games. They allowed 38 points in their other seven home games.
"It doesn't surprise me," Tennessee defensive end Kevin Carter said. "They don't have a bunch of superstars or big-name players. However, the Patriots as a group do the little things to get the job done and win every week."
Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't inclined to put too much stock in the first meeting with Tennessee, and the stats back him up: Three of last weekend's four playoff games were rematches, and two of the regular-season losers won when it counted.
The Broncos beat the Colts 31-17 in the second-to-last game of the regular season but were manhandled 41-10 Sunday. Dallas beat Carolina on Nov. 23 but lost handily Saturday; Green Bay beat Seattle in the regular season, but needed overtime Sunday to do it again.
"Look at Denver and Indianapolis. They are as good as an example as you want to see right there," Belichick said. "I don't think it means anything. It is a new week. It is a new season at this point."
So, while tape of the Titans game is "a good starting point" for his exhaustive preparation, Belichick will look more at where the teams have gone since then.
"I am sure that this game against the Titans will play a lot differently than the last one did, even though the teams are the same and there are a lot of things that are the same," Belichick said.
Belichick doesn't have to look back too far to see trouble. The Titans beat New England 24-7 in Nashville in Week 15 of the 2002 season, a loss that added to Belichick's conviction that he needed to make major changes.
The Patriots were among the most active teams in the offseason free-agent market, signing impact players Washington and Rodney Harrison as well as role-playing fullback Larry Centers. Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin was supposed to be the biggest signing of all, but he played five quarters before a broken hip ended his season.
Asked if the Tennessee loss was the last straw, Belichick said, "Well, what I think we saw down there last year, we saw in a lot of other games too.
"That wasn't the only one."
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