Post by TheShadow on Dec 14, 2003 9:33:59 GMT -5
www.washingtonpost.com
By Steve Argeris
Special to The Washington Post
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- As easy as it would appear to overlook the fighting,
injury-depleted Oakland Raiders, the Baltimore Ravens seem prepared to
resist the temptation.
"Every game in the NFL is competitive, particularly on the road," Ravens
Coach Brian Billick said. "I don't know if there is a trap. It's not a speed
trap when you know the cop is sitting behind the sign. That is just
stupidity if you are still speeding. Trap game or not, we'll be ready to
play."
Despite the triumph of beating the Cincinnati Bengals, their main AFC North
rival, 31-13 last weekend, the Ravens (8-5) have almost no margin for error
over the rest of the season. Any slip-up, combined with a Bengals victory,
and the Ravens' postseason chances drop significantly.
"That's the bottom line -- it's up to us, where we go from here," Ravens
cornerback Chris McAlister said. "We've got three games left, and all three
games are the most important games we'll play this season."
Eleven months removed from the Super Bowl, the Raiders (3-10) are in
shambles.
Nearly a dozen players, most major contributors, are either on injured
reserve or candidates to be placed on it. Players regularly have challenged
Coach Bill Callahan's authority. Callahan fired back, labeling his team the
dumbest in the league, though he later said the remark was taken out of
context. In any event, the team's high expectations crumbled by the end of
the season's first month.
"I would have to characterize the season as one where we are constantly
disappointed, but constantly challenged," Callahan said during a Wednesday
teleconference. "We have three games left and we would like to finish out
strong. If we can finish strong, it is possible that we can salvage this
season, somewhat.
"We have a lot of young players playing at this point. If we can get them to
contribute, mature, and perform at this high level, we can possibly carry
that over into next year."
Wide receiver Tim Brown said the team's difficulties have given way to
numbing acceptance.
"At this point, it is easier than when we had a shot at the playoffs and
things were unraveling on the field," Brown said. "The frustrating point is
going to battle with half the guys. Not that the substitutes are not
capable, but in this league, you need your starters out there. You have to
have the 22 guys you start with out there with you. We get paid to play 16
games and we are going to go out there and do that. We have played well, but
not good enough to win football games."
Brown was on the 2000 Raiders team that lost to the Ravens in the AFC
championship game, one that Billick expects to still resonate with Raiders
fans. And, for Brown, it is a chance for payback.
"Certainly, I am one of the guys left here that remember what they did to us
here four years ago," Brown said. "If there is an opportunity to put a kink
into their armor, it will be a better offseason for us. At the same time we
need to be cognizant of what we have going on as a team and to not get
caught up too much of what they are doing."
Through it all, the infamous fans of Network Associates Coliseum -- better
known as the Black Hole -- remain.
"Yeah, they are probably drinking a lot more, too," Billick said.
The Ravens are aware that the raucous fans, combined with a team with
nothing left to lose, create a dangerous environment for an upset.
"They have had a lot of people in and out, and yeah, any team that is
sitting 3-10, you are going to see certain mistakes," Billick said. "But I
also see a lot of the athletes that were in the Super Bowl last year. I see
a couple Hall of Famers. We are not going to be lulled into any mistake that
these guys aren't talented and capable, particularly at home."
By Steve Argeris
Special to The Washington Post
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- As easy as it would appear to overlook the fighting,
injury-depleted Oakland Raiders, the Baltimore Ravens seem prepared to
resist the temptation.
"Every game in the NFL is competitive, particularly on the road," Ravens
Coach Brian Billick said. "I don't know if there is a trap. It's not a speed
trap when you know the cop is sitting behind the sign. That is just
stupidity if you are still speeding. Trap game or not, we'll be ready to
play."
Despite the triumph of beating the Cincinnati Bengals, their main AFC North
rival, 31-13 last weekend, the Ravens (8-5) have almost no margin for error
over the rest of the season. Any slip-up, combined with a Bengals victory,
and the Ravens' postseason chances drop significantly.
"That's the bottom line -- it's up to us, where we go from here," Ravens
cornerback Chris McAlister said. "We've got three games left, and all three
games are the most important games we'll play this season."
Eleven months removed from the Super Bowl, the Raiders (3-10) are in
shambles.
Nearly a dozen players, most major contributors, are either on injured
reserve or candidates to be placed on it. Players regularly have challenged
Coach Bill Callahan's authority. Callahan fired back, labeling his team the
dumbest in the league, though he later said the remark was taken out of
context. In any event, the team's high expectations crumbled by the end of
the season's first month.
"I would have to characterize the season as one where we are constantly
disappointed, but constantly challenged," Callahan said during a Wednesday
teleconference. "We have three games left and we would like to finish out
strong. If we can finish strong, it is possible that we can salvage this
season, somewhat.
"We have a lot of young players playing at this point. If we can get them to
contribute, mature, and perform at this high level, we can possibly carry
that over into next year."
Wide receiver Tim Brown said the team's difficulties have given way to
numbing acceptance.
"At this point, it is easier than when we had a shot at the playoffs and
things were unraveling on the field," Brown said. "The frustrating point is
going to battle with half the guys. Not that the substitutes are not
capable, but in this league, you need your starters out there. You have to
have the 22 guys you start with out there with you. We get paid to play 16
games and we are going to go out there and do that. We have played well, but
not good enough to win football games."
Brown was on the 2000 Raiders team that lost to the Ravens in the AFC
championship game, one that Billick expects to still resonate with Raiders
fans. And, for Brown, it is a chance for payback.
"Certainly, I am one of the guys left here that remember what they did to us
here four years ago," Brown said. "If there is an opportunity to put a kink
into their armor, it will be a better offseason for us. At the same time we
need to be cognizant of what we have going on as a team and to not get
caught up too much of what they are doing."
Through it all, the infamous fans of Network Associates Coliseum -- better
known as the Black Hole -- remain.
"Yeah, they are probably drinking a lot more, too," Billick said.
The Ravens are aware that the raucous fans, combined with a team with
nothing left to lose, create a dangerous environment for an upset.
"They have had a lot of people in and out, and yeah, any team that is
sitting 3-10, you are going to see certain mistakes," Billick said. "But I
also see a lot of the athletes that were in the Super Bowl last year. I see
a couple Hall of Famers. We are not going to be lulled into any mistake that
these guys aren't talented and capable, particularly at home."