No horsing around.

Baltimore and Miami used stifling defense to put the Broncos Colts out to pasture in the AFC

They are the emerging stars of these wacky AFC playoffs: Marvin Lewis, Gregg Williams, Jim Bates. You probably aren't that familiar with their names, but that will change. They're the defensive coordinators for the Ravens, the Titans and the Dolphins, and their devilish scheming will control which team ultimately represents the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Just when we thought defense no longer could affect the playoffs so dramatically in this era of offensive domination, these coordinators are defying all the trends and turning this postseason into a style of football reminiscent of former generations of the NFL, when 300-yard passing days weren't the norm, and when defenses were so good they actually earned nicknames. When was the last time an NFL defense was impressive enough to stand out, much less resemble the Steel Curtain?

Gone are the two most formidable offenses in the AFC, the Colts and the Broncos. That leaves Oakland as the lone offensive force, and for the Raiders to advance to the NFL championship game, they will have to overcome two of the three best defenses in the conference. Judging by the performances of Indianapolis and Denver this past playoff weekend, the Raiders should be very, very concerned.

If this were a beauty pageant, the Raiders already would be declared the winner. The other three teams relish rolling in the muck; their idea of glamour is an 8-yard slant pattern, their trick play is a screen pass. They run the ball a lot, throw with some hesitation and kick the snot out of you on defense. It's not pretty, and it shouldn't be a winning formula in today's NFL, but damned if it isn't working anyway.

These defenses are so good, they can't even agree on which is best. Statistically, the Titans led both the conference and the league, with the Ravens second in both and the Dolphins fourth in the AFC and sixth in the NFL. But over the last four weeks, Miami hasn't given up a touchdown after intermission, a standard of domination matched only by the Titans over that span. "They say Tennessee is the best," Ravens defensive end Michael McCrary says with a large dose of disdain. "We think we are the best. Forget statistics. We allowed the fewest points. Which would you think is the best measure?"

So Baltimore defenders will use what they believe is a statistical slight for motivation against the Titans this Sunday. Imagine playing these guys when they are really angry. This will be the third meeting of the season between these teams. They split the first two, each winning on the road. The Ravens are the only team ever to beat Tennessee in Adelphia Coliseum, which eliminates any homefield advantage angles.