Titans coach Jeff Fisher has a plan for determining which No. 92 is better - his premier defensive tackle, Albert Haynesworth, or the Browns' Shaun Rogers.

"What I'm going to do is put Albert at left guard this week, so we'll see how that matchup is and we'll be able to settle this once and for all," Fisher joked. "They're both clearly two of the best at the position in the NFL. They do a lot of the same things, they're very disruptive, they're strong, they're frequently making tackles for losses and they press the quarterback well."

Haynesworth, the seventh-year lineman out of Tennessee, is having a career season with 8.5 sacks - tied for first in the NFL among tackles - 19 pressures, six tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Not only is he destined for his second straight Pro Bowl, he's gunning for NFL Defensive Player of the Year - and possibly NFL MVP honors.

"For a defensive lineman to be talked about as league MVP, that says a lot," said Browns left tackle Joe Thomas. "I don't know if that's ever happened. He's a lot like our 92 - big, strong, fast, physical, dominant. I haven't seen anybody who's been able to block him. On first and second down, they like to keep him inside, playing the run, but on third down, they like to put him over the tackle and just have him try to run you over."

If Haynesworth becomes the NFL MVP, he'd be the first defensive lineman to do so since Minnesota's Alan Page in 1971.

"He plays that caliber ball of an MVP player and I support him all the way," said fellow Tennessee alum Jamal Lewis, who was in his last year at Tennessee when Haynesworth arrived. "Ever since I saw him step foot on campus at Tennessee, I knew he was an animal."

Lewis, who needs 102 yards Sunday to become the 24th player in NFL history to reach 10,000, will try to avoid getting pinned under the 320-pounder.

"That's how he wears the running backs down," Lewis said. "He tackles them and probably falls on them and pushes up off of them when he gets up."

Browns receiver Dont? Stallworth, also a former Volunteer, will never forget the first time he realized Haynesworth was special.

"We were sophomores during summer workouts and he was over doing foot drills with the running backs," Stallworth said. "He held his own and you could see he was no ordinary defensive lineman. He's got some really quick feet for as big as he is, very similar to Shaun."

But Rogers, who has 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, 12 pressures and two blocked field goals, avoided comparisons this week.

"I don't play Albert Haynesworth, I play the Titans' offense," Rogers said. "I can't control anything Haynesworth does."

Both are playing at a Pro Bowl clip, but only Haynesworth is a lock to make it because of the Titans' 11-1 record. He's first in fan balloting - which counts for one-third -while Rogers, a two-time Pro Bowler, is fourth..

Coaches and players, who also each count for a one-third of the vote, make their selections Thursday and Friday. Results are announced Dec. 16.

"I'm sure [Haynesworth] would appreciate [making the Pro Bowl] and I do appreciate that compliment," Rogers said. "But his job is to affect our offense and mine is to affect his. I'm more worried about Smash and Dash [running backs LenDale White and Chris Johnson]."

In addition to the Browns' inferior record, Rogers doesn't have Haynesworth's supporting cast. Haynesworth has three teammates with at least four sacks; Rogers has two teammates with three each.

"Big Baby [Rogers] is having a heck of a year, but it's overshadowed right now because we're not winning," said Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said the two linemen are "very comparable. Haynesworth's sack production this year is greater than Shaun's, but they both command double-teams. You have to assign two guys to them if you want to slow them down."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

BOX:

Browns at Tennessee

Sunday, 1 p.m., LP Field, Nashville, Tenn., WOIO Ch. 19