By Teresa M. Walker
The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Jeff Fisher and his Tennessee Titans wanted nothing more than a rematch after being embarrassed by Oakland in September. Now they have their chance with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Tennessee will travel to Oakland for the AFC championship Sunday night in a game that takes the Titans back to the lowest point of their 1-4 start - a 52-25 loss in Oakland on Sept. 29.

"At that point, everybody agreed we'd love to go back and see them again," coach Jeff Fisher said. "That was not indicative of the way we really are."

The Titans fell behind 21-0 in the opening minutes following an interception and punt returns of 83 and 79 yards.

"Things just snowballed on us. But we would relish the opportunity to go back out there," Fisher said.

The Titans ensured their berth in the AFC championship Saturday night with a 34-31 overtime victory over Pittsburgh, then had to wait to see if they would host the New York Jets or travel to Oakland. The Raiders ended the suspense with a 30-10 victory Sunday.

Tennessee hasn't had much luck against the Raiders, and none in the postseason.

Oakland leads the series 24-16, and the Titans/Oilers franchise went nearly three decades without a victory in Oakland before Tennessee won 13-10 on Dec. 22, 2001, a loss that helped cost Oakland a shot at home-field advantage in the playoffs.

These franchises have played three playoff games, and the Raiders have won them all, including a 40-7 victory in the 1967 AFL Championship.

Fisher doesn't see a challenge returning to Oakland. Co-chairman of the NFL's competition committee, he was not pleased with how the Raiders handcuffed his defense by running players on and off the field in September. The week after the loss, the NFL sent teams a memo detailing the substitution rule.

"They're not permitted to do that anymore," Fisher said of the Raiders' substitution habits.

Going on the road for the AFC championship is becoming a franchise tradition. This is the fourth trip for the Titans/Oilers and the fourth away from home.

Eddie George said being in the title game is all that matters.

"We'll accept the challenge," George said. "We'll be excited about going out there. They're a very, very good team - offensively and defensively - and we know that. At this point, you're going to face the best, so there's no way around it."

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