The Ravens might as well hold their offensive line meetings in the trainer's room.
All five starting linemen - center Jeff Mitchell (knee and ankle), left tackle Jonathan Ogden (ankle), left guard Edwin Mulitalo (ankle), right guard Mike Flynn (finger) and right tackle Harry Swayne (hamstring) - are nursing injuries heading into Sunday's game with Dallas. Only Swayne is likely to be sidelined as of yesterday.
That's why if misery loves company, this is the tightest group on the team.
"We always say there's a sniper up in the stands just biding his time taking his shots at us," Mulitalo said. "It's all fun and games to joke around. I think that's because we all have something nagging."
The sniper must have been hiding out at the Ravens' Owings Mills training complex, too. Mitchell, who injured his knee Sunday, sprained an ankle during practice and his status will be re-evaluated today.
Swayne has the most serious injury, a hamstring strain that has him listed as doubtful for Sunday. He would be replaced by Spencer Folau, who filled in for the final five plays of Sunday's game-winning drive.
During that game, Mulitalo had to sit out a play because of his ankle. Ogden didn't miss any time, but hobbled to the sideline after some series. And Flynn has had to deal with the same finger on his left hand getting dislocated during the past two games.
"These guys have really rallied," Folau said. "They just keep fighting. They are tough guys. It's just showing how tough they really are."
Not one penalty, two
In his Monday news conference, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said that the pass-interference call against Dainon Sidney that set up the Ravens' game-winning touchdown could have been offset by an ineligible-man-downfield penalty. The pass-interference penalty gave the Ravens first-and-goal at the 2-yard line, and they scored three plays later.
In fact, Fisher said that the Ravens had two offensive linemen 4 yards downfield.
"Maybe he can hook up with Gore camp and we can go back and recount and take it to court," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.
Did Billick see any of his linemen downfield?
"I saw one guy downfield interfere with the other and put us on the 2-yard line," he said.
Trainer's room
Defensive end Michael Mc- Crary is questionable for Sunday's game with a sprain on the bottom of his foot. He had a limited practice yesterday.
"He still has some soreness in there and needed another day to heal," trainer Bill Tessendorf said. "I think it will settle down."
Fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo, who re-injured his right toe, is out for Sunday. He said he expects to come back after the Week 14 bye and play the final three games.
"The damage was to the other tendon," Ayanbadejo said. "The first tear has healed."
Dilfer: Player of the Week
Quarterback Trent Dilfer was named the NFL Player of the Week after leading the Ravens on a 70-yard game-winning drive in Sunday's 24-23 victory over Tennessee. It's the second time a Raven has been honored this season, with Tony Banks winning the award in Week 2.
"I know it's the politically correct thing to say, but it really is a team award," Dilfer said. "As a quarterback, you get more credit than you deserve sometimes."
End zone
The Ravens' last four opponents at home - Dallas, Cleveland, San Diego and the New York Jets - have a combined road record of 2-12 since October. ... The Cowboys signed punter Barry Cantrell to replace Micah Knorr, who is out with a fractured left leg. ... The Ravens will hold their fifth annual Family Food Drive to benefit the Maryland Food Bank before Sunday's game against Dallas. Family members of the Ravens players, coaches and staff will be on hand from 2 p.m. to kickoff to collect nonperishable food items and donations.
