OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens didn't have the luxury of coasting into the postseason, a circumstance they hope will work to their advantage Sunday against the New England Patriots.
On a day in which several playoff-bound teams rested their starters during meaningless games, the Ravens were locked in a win-or-else mode Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. And, because Baltimore (9-7) was not assured a victory until the closing minutes, coach John Harbaugh never did get a chance to pull his regulars.
That might be a good thing.
A year ago, the Ravens won their final regular-season game to gain entry as a wild-card team. They then hammered Miami on the road and upset top-seeded Tennessee before losing to Pittsburgh in the AFC title game.
Can the same formula work to Baltimore's benefit a second time?
"I think that will kind of all shake out," Harbaugh said yesterday. "There's something to be said for coasting in, because obviously you've earned the right to do that. There's an advantage to that, and there's an advantage to fighting your way in. If you look at the history of who's won the championship, it's come from both places, right?"
Historically, the Ravens have fared better when forced to extend themselves to the very end of the regular season. They won their only Super Bowl after finishing the 2000 season as a wild-card team. They also won a game as a wild-card team in 2001. But, after winning the AFC North in 2003 and 2006, Baltimore failed to win even once in the postseason.
So, in a way, the Ravens are exactly where they want to be.
"We're in the same position as last year, where we had to win the last couple of games," running back Willis McGahee said. "Once we get in there, we know we can do damage. And now we're in there."
McGahee scored three touchdowns, and the Ravens began their own version of the playoffs with a 21-13 win over the surprisingly spirited Raiders.
"It was a tough situation," Harbaugh said. "Making the playoffs is tough. Going across country in a game where obviously so much is at stake for one team and not for the other, it's a little different stakes. I thought our guys handled the pressure really well and got the job done."
Baltimore reached the postseason because of its ability to beat teams with losing records. The Ravens went 6-0 against clubs that finished below .500, and they also defeated Denver, which closed at 8-8.
There will be no more of those patsies on the schedule, and Baltimore went 1-6 against teams that made it to the postseason. New England, in contrast, was 2-3 in those games (including a 27-21 win over Baltimore on Oct. 4).
Advantage, Patriots?
"That gives them an edge going into this game, I guess," Harbaugh said. "But every week stands on its own. That's the beauty of it."
Although this game is a rematch of Week 4, Harbaugh guessed the earlier meeting will probably have no bearing on this one.
"It was a long time ago," he said. "We've changed, they've changed. There are different players out there for both teams."
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