The Associated Press

FOXBORO, Mass. - Break out the parkas and hand-warmers: The NFL playoffs are returning to Foxboro.

Two years after the snow-covered "Tuck Rule" game helped propel New England to the Super Bowl title, the Patriots will host another prime time postseason game.

No snow is in the forecast this time, but the Tennessee Titans will be welcomed with bone-chilling cold that could make this meeting much different from the 38-30 Patriots victory in Week 5.

"Ty Law's talking about going out there without any sleeves," Patriots rookie Eugene Wilson said of his partner in the defensive backfield. "I think I'll wear sleeves."

Temperatures are expected near zero, with a wind chill at minus-10 that has both teams talking about how the weather will affect the game. Most will ignore Law's bravado and wear extra layers; stationary bicycles and heated benches will also help them try to stay warm on the sidelines.

The first 10,000 fans at the game will receive free hand-warmers. Extra medical staff will be on hand to deal with frostbite and hypothermia, and the team is telling fans to dress warmly and avoid alcohol and caffeine; decaf coffee will be poured for free in the parking lots before the game.

Coach Jeff Fisher had the Titans (13-4) practice at night this week to get them accustomed to the late (8:15 p.m. EST) start, and the Patriots' Friday walkthrough was also scheduled at night. No matter how cold it gets, though, both teams insist it won't provide either team with an advantage.

"I tried to call Mother Nature last night just to make sure they weren't going to have a special sun or anything above each player, so they're going to be cold like we're going to be," Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse said. "I got a voice mail and she was like, 'Everyone's going to feel the same out there.'

"Everyone's going to be dealing with it," he said.

But both teams are wondering if the cold will make it difficult for receivers to catch a rock-hard ball, neutralizing the passing games of star quarterbacks Steve McNair and Tom Brady. And, if it turns into a running contest, how will Titans back Eddie George respond without practicing for the week after separating his shoulder in the 20-17 first-round victory over Baltimore?

The Patriots, who won their last 12 games to finish with the league's best record (14-2), think they might have the edge because they've been practicing in the cold, a possible added home-field advantage to go with the 8-0 mark they compiled in Foxboro this season. New England also has a 14-2 record in games played below 35 degrees since 1993.

Fisher - a former Chicago Bear who's no stranger to the cold - laughed off the weather questions.

"What we're going to do is, we're going to leave the Florida guys home. We'll bring them up on Saturday, put them up in the press box, give them some pizza and let the rest of the guys play," he joked. "What you have to do is dress so you can execute, so you can move around and execute, and you can operate. ... I don't expect any problems with it. We've gone on the road before to some cold environments, and done just fine."

The Patriots had been hoping for another edge from their field, too. It was so torn up at the end of the regular season that it was bare between the numbers; the team hoped the loose surface would neutralize a speedier opponent.

But the league required them to put in a new layer of sod over it, at a cost of $50,000-$100,000. Although underground heating pipes are supposed to keep the field from freezing, the new grass was reportedly rock hard when temperatures dipped near zero on Friday.

"The heaters are 18 inches underground. The air temperature is whatever it is," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "I don't know much about grass but I could tell you the grass is a lot closer to the cold air than it is to the heating coils. That I can tell you for sure."

The coldest game in NFL history was the Dec. 31, 1967, Ice Bowl at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Packers beat Dallas 21-17 in temperatures of 13-below-zero - the wind-chill was minus-48 - when Bart Starr scored the winning touchdown with 13 seconds left to send his team to the second Super Bowl.

Belichick said the coldest game he can remember was Jan. 5, 1986, when he was an assistant coach for the New York Giants, playing the Bears in the playoffs in Chicago. It was 14 degrees with a 13 mph wind that blew the ball away from punter Sean Landeta before he could kick it and gave the Bears an early touchdown in a 21-0 victory.

Fisher was a player on that Chicago team, though he was injured and working the sidelines as an unofficial assistant to defensive guru Buddy Ryan. Belichick said he's never had the occasion to talk to his Tennessee counterpart about their previous encounter.

"I'm not really interested in bringing it up again. We all know what happened," Belichick said. "I don't think it was the pinnacle of my career."

Titans at Patriots

Records: Tenn. 13-4, N.E. 14-2.

When: 8:15 p.m. today (12, 7).

Marquee value: New England, with its NFL-best record and a 12-game winning streak that started with a victory against Tennessee, is a serious contender to earn its second title in three years. The Titans are trying to reach the AFC Championship Game for the third time in five seasons.

What the Titans need to do to win: Points will be at a premium against New England, which allowed an average of 3.7 points in its last six home games, so running back Eddie George, who averages 91 yards in eight playoff games, will need a similar effort. His club boasts a 29-2 record when he carries 27 or more times.

What the Patriots need to do to win: QB Tom Brady has not thrown an interception at home in 241 attempts. He and the Patriots must play another clean, efficient game and rely on the defense to hold down Steve McNair.

Titans' season ends if: QB Steve McNair does not protect the ball in what looms as a low-scoring affair. A pivotal moment in their regular-season meeting occurred when Ty Law picked off a pass and raced 65 yards for one of his club's six defensive TDs. The Patriots' revamped secondary produced 29 interceptions.

Patriots' season ends if: They are unable to generate any running game whatsoever and become one-dimensional. No NFL team stood up to the run better than Tennessee (80.9 yards), which held Baltimore's Jamal Lewis - who rushed for the second-highest season total ever - to just 35 yards in their wild-card game.

Rising stock: Third-year WR Justin McCareins established career highs with seven TDs, 47 receptions. He clicked with McNair for 49 yards and a score last week.

Falling stock: RB Antowain Smith is not the same bullish runner he was when he carried a huge load (1,157) during the Patriots' Super season in 2001. He still paced the club in rushing yards (642) but is capable of more.

Last time they met: New England beat visiting Tennessee 38-30 on Oct. 5.

Matchup to watch: Different members of Tennessee's offensive line will be asked to handle DT Richard Seymour, who is liable to line up anywhere in head coach Bill Belichick's ever-changing defensive schemes. Whoever draws the assignment will have his hands full with Seymour, a Pro Bowler each of the last two seasons.

Key injuries: Titans: QB Steve McNair (ankle, calf), RB Eddie George (shoulder, ankle), CB Samari Rolle (concussion), LB Ken Amato (ankle, hamstring), WR Eddie Berlin (concussion), LB Rocky Calmus (leg), RB Robert Holcombe (hamstring) and WR Jake Schifino (leg) are questionable. Patriots: No injuries reported.

Stat's the difference: New England permitted only one touchdown in its last six home games. It notched shutouts in three of its last four games at Gillette Stadium, a.k.a. "The Razor."

Who will win: New England. The Pats are fresh after a bye week, and McNair and George are battered.

As if that isn't significant enough, defense wins at this or any time of year, and no one can solve the Patriots' D right now.

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