Eddie George

On a day when the Ravens lost their smash-mouth identity, their most physical shove of the game came back to push them out of the playoffs. An unnecessary roughness penalty on offensive tackle Orlando Brown became the game-turning play as the Ravens fell to the Tennessee Titans, 20-17, in an AFC wild-card game before 69,452 at M&T Bank Stadium last night. Brown's two-handed pop on Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse moved the Ravens back 15 yards before their final punt and helped Tennessee start its drive at its own 37-yard line.

Ask Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis about his favorite hit, and his eyes light up and he flashes a grin.There was the time he ran down San Diego slot receiver Eric Metcalf from behind from the far side of the field after Metcalf had caught a 20-yard pass over the middle in full stride. Earlier this season, he outmaneuvered two blockers and tackled Pro Bowl running back Marshall Faulk for no gain on a screen pass.But the best?"The best hits always come under fire and nobody sees them, like when you hit a running back so hard his eyes roll back in his head.

1. Control Oilers running back Eddie George, who is a dangerous offensive weapon despite his slow start for the season.2. Attack the Oilers' cornerbacks with their wide receivers to open up the rushing attack.3. The special teams need to step up, make some big plays and eliminate the penalties.Pub date 10/11/98

The American Football Coaches Association All-America team:OffenseQB ... Tommie Frazier, Neb.RB ... Eddie George, Ohio St....... Troy Davis, Iowa St.WR ... Keyshawn Johnson, USC...... Marcus Harris, WyomingTE ... Marco Battaglia, RutgersOL ... Clay Shiver, Florida St....... Jeff Hartings, Penn St....... Jason Odom, Florida...... Jonathan Ogden, UCLADefense DL ... Tedy Bruschi, Arizona...... Tim Colston, Kansas St....... Marcus Jones, N. Caro....... Jason Horn, Michigan...... Tony Brackens, TexasLB ... Zach Thomas, Texas Tech.

Today Tampa Bay at Philadelphia BUCCANEERS: Probable: DT Chartric Darby (calf); DT Warren Sapp (shoulder); DE Ellis Wyms (ankle). EAGLES: Doubtful: DE Derrick Burgess (foot). Probable: LB Shawn Barber (knee); S Blaine Bishop (groin); QB Donovan McNabb (ankle); WR Todd Pinkston (finger/toe); RB Brian Westbrook (wrist). Tennessee at Oakland TITANS: Questionable: LB Rocky Boiman (knee); CB Andre Dyson (shoulder); RB Eddie George (concussion); DE Jevon Kearse (foot); QB Steve McNair (thumb)

Some tips this week for fantasy football players:Players to keepRB Jerome Bettis, Steelers: Coach Bill Cowher will ride hot back, even against the Oilers' sixth-ranked rush defense.RB Terry Allen, Redskins: NFC's leading rusher faces the Jets' No. 26 defense against the rush.QB Brett Favre, Packers: Green Bay usually struggles in domes, but Pack will want to make Seahawks pay for last week's loss.WR Andre Rison, Jaguars: Lack of running game has Jacksonville going deep and Carolina may let down after upset of 49ers.

The formation: One-back set, trips right.The action: At the snap, wide receiver Willie Davis (84), split left, runs off the cornerback and then seals him off. Left tackle Brad Hopkins and left guard Bruce Matthews both step to the play side, blocking the end and tackle. Center Mark Stepnoski blocks the back-side linebacker, with right guard Jason Layman and hTC right tackle Jon Runyan double-teamming on the play-side tackle and Runyan scraping off to block the middle linebacker. Tight end Jackie Harris (88)