NASHVILLE – Ryan Tannehill headed into last year's postseason with no playoff experience.
But the Titans quarterback quickly made up for lost time, guiding the team to two playoff wins – over the Patriots and Ravens – en route an appearance in the AFC Championship Game.
Now, Tannehill and the Titans hope they can have similar success this time around, starting on Sunday in a Wild Card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at Nissan Stadium.
Everyone knows what is at stake, Tannehill said on Wednesday, as the team began preparations for the game.
"You kind of know what you are getting into," Tannehill said. "Everything ratchets up a little bit in the playoff – it's do-or-die, and it's win or go home. You'd like to think you lay it on the line each and every week, but there is no 'save it for next week.' It's do-or-die at this point and everyone is ready to lay it on the line to do whatever it takes to win."
After wining the AFC South on Sunday in Houston, the Titans have now turned their attention to the Ravens, who have won five straight games, starting with a December 8 win over the Cowboys.
The Titans beat the Ravens 30-24 in overtime back on November 22, and they knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs year ago with a 28-12 win in Baltimore in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Since the 2000 season, the Titans and Ravens have met four times in the playoffs, with each team winning two games.
The Ravens beat the Titans 24-10 during the 2000 season's playoffs, and the Titans won at Baltimore 20-17 in overtime during a Wild Card game during the 2003 season. Baltimore won 13-10 in overtime in Nashville in the Divisional playoffs during the 2008 season.
"It's been a very physical, very tough rivalry over the years," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said on a conference call with Tennessee reporters on Wednesday, "and I don't think too much has changed over the years."
Veteran guard Rodger Saffold said the Titans know what to expect on Sunday against the Ravens.
"I expect a physical slugfest," Saffold said. "I expect hard hitting, and it's just going to be who can advantage and make plays, and to be consistent the dirtier the game gets and by dirty I mean just how physical, earning every yard. But that's what you like to have – those attitude games. That's what it kind of feels like, the rivalry between us and the Ravens.
"… When it comes to the playoffs, we know that we still need to earn everything. We can't go based off of last year, and just think teams are going to roll over and die for us. People know that we are a great running team, and they are going to give us their best shot every time."
