Fire and ice

By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 30, 2000

ON FIRE

Rams WR Ricky Proehl

He waited 10 years to climb on this stage and he's made the most of it. Last week he saw more playing time after Tory Holt suffered bruised ribs and responded with six catches for 100 yards, including the game-winning 30-yard touchdown reception in the Rams' 11-6 win over the Bucs in the NFC Championship game.

Titans QB Steve McNair

He has been playing with a sore toe, but it hasn't stopped him from running all over opponents. Against Jacksonville, he rushed nine times for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including a 51-yard run. McNair also passed for 112 yards and a score.

ON ICE

Titans S Anthony Dorset

He will play in place of injured starter Marcus Robertson. Dorsett has been used primarily as a nickelback and has just 11 tackles this season. Dorsett and his Hall of Fame father, Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett, will become the first father-son combo to start in a Super Bowl.

Rams WR Isaac Bruce

He talked a lot before last week's NFC Championship game but did not exactly back it up. Bruce was limited to just three receptions for 22 yards, his longest a 9-yard gain. But the Titans won't be playing as much two-deep zone as the Bucs, so Bruce is likely to produce more runs after the catch.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Titans DE Jevon Kearse vs. Rams RT Fred Miller

The last time these teams met, Miller freaked out over at the prospect of trying to block the Titans' NFL Rookie of the Year. Miller yielded a sack and forced fumble, had five false starts and a holding penalty.

Rams MLB London Fletcher vs. Titans RB Eddie George

Fletcher stands only 5-10, but he will have to come up big today for St. Louis to stop George. The Titans star has 354 yards rushing in three post-season games and one touchdown. Fletcher had seven stops in the first meeting between these teams. For the Titans to win, George might have to have a Super Bowl MVP performance.

QUICK HITS

The Rams are only the third team in NFL history to win their division and go to the Super Bowl one season after finishing last in the division. Cincinnati did it twice, in '81 and '88.

This is the second meeting of the season between the Rams and Titans. On Oct. 31 in Nashville, Tennessee jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead then held on for a 24-21 win. The Titans marched down the field on their first drive of the game for a touchdown and then took advantage of two Kurt Warner fumbles for two more scores.

The Titans are only the sixth team in NFL history to advance to the Super Bowl after making the playoffs as a wild-card entry. Only two wild card teams have actually won the Super Bowl, Oakland in XV and Denver in XXXIII.

Look for some team to have a fast start today. In the regular season, the Titans outscored opponents 113-44 in the first quarter of play this season. That's the second highest total in the league this season to -- you guessed it -- the Rams 123 points.

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