This is a game that matches dominant defenses. It's the football equivalent of a pitcher's duel in baseball, Pedro Martinez versus Roger Clemens, where one run could be enough to win. It's like a hockey game with two great goalies, Dominic Hasek against Patrick Roy. In this game, because of the dominance of the defenses, the offenses are going to have a large task in front of them. Two East Coast teams.
Points figure to be harder to come by than a game ticket selling at face value.
The Ravens set a league record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season, and have given up a total of just 16 more in their three playoff victories over the Broncos, Titans and Raiders. They are talking in Baltimore that this is one of the great defenses of all-time, right up there with the '85 Bears, Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain, and the Dallas Doomsday Defense. That would be the stamp to seal the whole deal, to be considered the best defense of all time. And the Giants think their defense is pretty good. While his defensive teammates talk trash, Dilfer has nothing but respectful things to say about the New York defenders.