Running the football successfully and stopping the opponent's ground game are keys to a winning formula. Fans at M&T Bank Stadium will get to see that first hand on Sunday afternoon, when the unbeaten Tennessee Titans pay a visit to the Baltimore Ravens.

The 4-0 Titans are off to their best start in franchise history because of their ability to run the ball and keep the opposition grounded with their stingy defense. Head coach Jeff Fisher has one of the best running back tandems in the game, as LenDale White is tied for the league lead with five rushing touchdowns and rookie Chris Johnson has taken the NFL by storm. The first-round draft choice is second in the AFC with 337 rushing yards.

Tennessee, which has won seven straight games dating to last season, is also winning behind a veteran signal-caller in Kerry Collins, who has an 81.3 passer rating in relief of injured starter Vince Young so far this season. According to Fisher, Young will either work as the No. 3 quarterback behind backup Chris Simms or play behind Collins when he's fully recovered from his sprained knee.

Young returned to practice this week and worked with both the scout team and first-team offense.

Collins, meanwhile, will try to maintain Tennessee's two-game lead in the competitive AFC South division after leading the team to a 30-17 victory over Minnesota last week. The Tennessee defense chipped in with four turnovers and kept Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson under 100 yards rushing.

The Titans are one of three teams in the NFL with an unblemished record (Giants, Bills) and return to M&T Bank Stadium for the first time since a victory over the Ravens in a 2003 AFC Wild Card playoff game. They will be up against a tough Baltimore defense spearheaded by future Hall of Fame middle linebacker Ray Lewis. The esteemed team leader is in his usual spot at the top of the Ravens in tackles and is in charge of a defense ranked No. 1 in both total yards allowed (186.7 ypg) and passing yards allowed (117.0 ypg). The Ravens also haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 22 straight games.

Baltimore is trying to win its first three games at home for the first time since the 2001 campaign, and is coming off a heartbreaking 23-20 overtime loss against the AFC North-rival Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night at Heinz Field. Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco displayed a lot of poise in the pocket against a hard-charging Pittsburgh pass rush.

Ravens players are starting to buy into new head coach John Harbaugh's scheme and match up well with the visiting Titans. Harbaugh, though, has some concern with starting running back Willis McGahee, who left Monday's game with a chest injury and never returned. Le'Ron McClain replaced him and kept the Ravens in the game with 63 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. McGahee was limited in practice this week, but is expected to suit up and play Sunday.

SERIES HISTORY

The Ravens hold an 8-7 lead in their all-time regular season series with the Titans, breaking a deadlock in the series with a 27-26 win in Nashville in 2006. Tennessee won the previous meeting, taking a 25-10 home decision in 2005. The Titans are 0-2 in their last two regular season trips to Baltimore, including a 13-12 loss in their last such game, in 2003. The team last won a regular season game in Charm City in 2000.

In addition to the regular season series, the teams have split a pair of postseason contests. The Ravens went on the road to earn a 24-10 victory in a 2000 AFC Divisional Playoff, and the Titans returned the favor with a 20-17 road win in a 2003 AFC First-Round Playoff.

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