NFL Notebook | Giants, Bucs look to end drought

TAMPA, Fla. — One team hasn't won a playoff game in seven years, the other has gone through hard times since winning the Super Bowl five seasons ago.

The New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are counting on this trip to the postseason to be different. No more one-and-done.

"I was brought here to help this team get back to the position where we can compete in a playoff game," said quarterback Jeff Garcia, one of the big changes the Bucs (9-7) made to transform themselves from a last-place team into NFC South champions.

The Giants (10-6) will be looking for the same from Eli Manning in today's NFC wild-card game.

The top pick in the 2004 draft has New York in the playoffs for the third straight season, but he's still trying to deliver the team's first postseason win since January 2001.

"I am just looking at the game ahead of me. I'm just going to try to play smart, put our team in a situation to win the game — whatever that is," Manning said. "Just make plays here and there, don't force any turnovers, and don't force anything to happen unless you have to."

Titans at Chargers

SAN DIEGO — There's smash-mouth, and then there's Shawne Merriman's mouth.

Today's playoff game between the Tennessee Titans and San Diego Chargers wouldn't be such an eagerly anticipated grudge match without the two.

In the Chargers' 23-17 OT win Dec. 9 in Nashville, Merriman, San Diego's three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker, collided in the second quarter with Tennessee's Vince Young after he handed off, sending the QB to the sideline for a spell. Merriman hobbled off the field with a sprained left knee later in the period, the result of what he claimed was a retaliatory "hit" ordered by Titans coach Jeff Fisher.

Merriman later took a swipe at the Titans, referring to "cheap shots out there."

So imagine the reaction when the Titans (10-6) squeaked into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed, earning a trip to face AFC West champion San Diego (11-5).

"If people missed the first one that we played, tune in," Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck said after learning of the rematch.

Even though it's a beat-up bunch of Titans who will travel to Qualcomm Stadium, the Chargers are trying to hold their tongues going into this one.

"We know what we're up against," said San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson. "It's not going to come easy."

Tennessee right guard Benji Olson (back) is out and center Kevin Mawae is doubtful.

Notes

• Tom Brady, the New England Patriots' record-setting quarterback, drew all but one vote to win Associated Press 2007 NFL MVP. Patriots coach Bill Belichick was AP's NFL Coach of the Year.

Brady drew 49 of the 50 votes from a panel of media members who regularly cover the NFL. Green Bay QB Brett Favre got the other vote.

Belichick received 29 votes; Packers coach Mike McCarthy finished second with 15 votes.

• San Francisco defensive lineman Bryant Young, 36, is retiring after 14 years. He played in four Pro Bowls.

• Reggie McKenzie, Green Bay's pro personnel director and a former Seahawks guard and executive, is among the candidates for Atlanta Falcons general manager.

The Associated Press and McClatchy newspapers contributed to this report.