"Destiny, I believe," Rolle said.

"It's crazy, it's ironic," Neal said. "I didn't win my Super Bowl down there, so I might as well try to get mine up here."

Like Neal, Rolle has adopted the approach of if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

After being a salary-cap casualty years ago in Tennessee and overcoming a bout with epilepsy last year and neck surgery earlier this season, Rolle remembers the feelings of being on the losing sideline against the Ravens and is doubly determined to advance at his old team's expense.

"It hurt more than losing the Super Bowl the year before that, just because we knew whoever won that game would probably win the Super Bowl," Rolle recounted. "But they deserved it. That was the best defense in NFL history, and they outplayed us that day. I'm glad I'm on this side now."

One aspect of the rivalry that has become less spicy is the lack of trash talk other than a few barbs traded between linebacker Bart Scott and Titans running back LenDale White throughout the season.

Scott called the burly runner "plump" prior to the first meeting, and White responded by saying of Scott: "He talks a lot for no reason. It's one thing to talk when you win, but when you talk and lose, it makes no sense," adding that "Scott has popcorn muscles, too."

Yet, this week the Ravens and Titans' locker rooms have been devoid of those kinds of inflammatory comments.

Regardless, the Titans have circled free safety Ed Reed's bold declaration after he intercepted two passes in a 27-9 victory over the Miami Dolphins last week where he exclaimed: "Here we come, Tennessee, the team you don't want to see."

That definitely caught Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse's attention.

"One of their players said, 'We're coming, Tennessee. We're packing our bags. We're coming,'" Kearse said. "I'm like, 'You need to enjoy this win first,' and we'll get to that when it happens."

After winning 10 of their past dozen games, the Ravens are riding a crest of momentum. They aren't intimidated by the Titans, who hold the best record in the NFL.

It has been a tense series with 10 games decided by four points or less.

"The history is definitely there," Ravens kicker Matt Stover said. "We've had some nail-biters, and that's what you like to see out of two proud football teams."

Ultimately, the outcome of this game is likely to be determined by which team has made the greatest strides since their Oct. 5 meeting at M&T Bank Stadium when the Ravens were narrowly edged after dominating the game for nearly four quarters only for the second-ranked defense in the NFL to be improbably outdueled by Collins at the end.

Collins overcame a pair of interceptions to engineer a game-winning drive capped by his touchdown pass to tight end Alge Crumpler after a controversial roughing-the-passer penalty was assessed on Suggs to keep the Titans on the field.

"Yeah, it left a sour taste in our mouths," running back Willis McGahee said. "So, we're looking forward to it."

Since that loss and a subsequent 31-3 defeat against the Colts, the Ravens have been on an impressive roll. So have the Titans, who feature an intimidating defensive line led by Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch as well as a strong running game headlined by swift Pro Bowl rookie Chris Johnson and a hard-running inside runner in White. 

"I think both teams are a lot better at this point," rookie quarterback Joe Flacco said. "It's the playoffs now, so it's going to be a little bit different kind of atmosphere. We're going to go out and play our game. We're going to try to win by as many points as possible, but we're going to be prepared if it comes down to the end like that.

"I think we're playing with a lot of confidence. We have been for a while now. We'll go in there and have the same confidence that we've had the last handful of weeks."

If that continues to be the case with Flacco, who has improved markedly since the first Titans game to emerge as a dangerous passing threat, then the Ravens could find themselves back home Sunday waiting to learn whether they'll be preparing for a third game against the AFC North champion Steelers after losing to them twice this year or heading to the West Coast to play the surging Chargers.

"Look at Joe's personality, he has the personality to come up big in a playoff game," offensive tackle Willie Anderson said. "He has a great demeanor for the playoffs. He's ready for this. We're ready for this. It's time to get excited."