Week 5: Tennessee at Baltimore

Get ready for a brawl here, with two Top-5 defenses leading the way.

This was once one of the NFL’s best divisional rivalries. The teams are no longer in the same division and so don’t play each other as much, but Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher has a long memory. He wants to whip the Ravens again to get Tennessee off to its first 5-0 start in club history.

Baltimore almost got into this game undefeated as well, falling 23-20 to Pittsburgh in overtime on “Monday Night Football.” Baltimore lost a 10-point lead in that one, hurting itself when QB Joe Flacco lost a fumble that was returned for a TD. Otherwise, rookie coach John Harbaugh would have gone undefeated in his first month as an NFL head coach.

Baltimore’s defense may be the NFL’s best — it is ranked No. 1 in the NFL in total defense and tied for second in scoring defense. The offense lacks a major weapon but is running fairly efficiently at times. Flacco, a rookie, has a little more mobility than he was advertised to have coming out of college.

The Titans are playing very well, particularly on both lines. That’s where they are winning football games. DT Albert Haynesworth is playing superb football on a defense ranked No. 5 in yards allowed but No. 1 in scoring defense (11.5 per game). The offensive line has allowed QB Kerry Collins — one of the more immobile QBs in the league — to be sacked only once. (Expect that stat to change this week, though).

The Titans are splitting carries between LenDale White and Chris Johnson, with White being more of the short-yardage back now and Johnson becoming the go-to back overall. If either of them go over 100 yards, though, it will be a huge surprise — Baltimore hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in its past 22 games.

This is the sort of bruising game that may end up 3-2. Or maybe 10-9, with each team scoring a defensive touchdown. If you like punting, this will be your chance to witness its beauty. If you have fantasy football players on offense for either team, we’re sorry.

Baltimore by 1