Passer Rating

Eight seasons ago, Steve McNair led his team to the Super Bowl against the St. Louis Rams. Today, whether or not he is healthy enough to face the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium, there are questions about whether he can consistently lead the Ravens to the end zone. Rams@Ravens Today, 1 p.m., Ch. 45, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Ravens by 9 1/2 Passing grade? A look at where the Ravens' Steve McNair ranks this season among qualified quarterbacks: Category Stat Rank Overall passer rating 80.2 20 Completion pct. 65.6 11 Yards per game 230.5 14 Yards per attempt 5.87 28 Touchdown passes 2 T-28 Interceptions 2 T-7 20-plus-yard completions 3 34 40-plus-yard completions 0 T-28 4th-quarter passer rating 80.8 22 3rd-down passer rating 84.6 16 Note: Qualified quarterbacks have at least 14 attempts per team's game.

Barring a change of mind by voters, former Ravens quarterback Steve McNair will not be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In The Baltimore Sun's poll of selectors this week, the three-time Pro Bowl player would fail to gain the 80 percent approval needed for election. Seventeen of the 24 voters who responded to The Sun - the committee has 44 members - said they did not consider McNair a Hall of Fame quarterback because he lacked elite career numbers. McNair, who was shot and killed Saturday, is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Broncos (10-6) at Colts (12-4) Time, TV: 1 p.m., chs. 13, 9. Line: Colts by 10. Last meeting: Broncos won, 33-14, last Sunday at Denver. Key stat: Broncos allowed only 15 sacks, franchise record and third fewest in NFL. Players to watch: Peyton Manning had historic regular season, with NFL records for passer rating (121.1) and TD passes (49). Jake Plummer threw 27 TD passes with rating of 84.5. The buzz: Colts went through motions in Denver last week, but now they're back home where they'll try to reprise last season's 41-10 playoff victory over Broncos.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco might remember this game for a long time - and for the wrong reasons. The rookie turned in the worst outing of his career in the 13-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last night at M&T Bank Stadium. Flacco forged lows in completion percentage (39.3 percent), passing yards (115) and passer rating (22.2). His 11 completions were better only than the 10 he made in last week's 24-10 win over the Washington Redskins. He also threw two interceptions and was sacked twice yesterday.

1. Joe Montana The numbers: 40,551 yards (10th all time), 273 touchdown passes (ninth), 92.3 passer rating (sixth), 63.2 percent completion rate (ninth), eight Pro Bowls, four Super Bowl wins. The skinny: Montana can't match Favre for durability or raw passing totals. But his uncanny accuracy, the greatness of his teams and his excellence in big games made him the greatest of all time. 2. Johnny Unitas The numbers: 40,239 yards (11th), 290 TD passes (seventh), 10 Pro Bowls, two NFL titles, one Super Bowl win. The skinny: By modern standards, Unitas threw a lot of interceptions and didn't complete a high percentage.

ROOKIE RECORDS Even though he didn't take a snap vs. Buffalo because of bruised ribs, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger broke two of Dan Marino's rookie passing records for completion percentage (66.4 percent) and passer rating (98.1). NICE CATCH Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh scored a major comeback with 73 catches after playing in only two games without a reception a year ago. QB AUDITION Browns QB Kelly Holcomb, an impending free agent, helped his cause when he completed 20 of 29 passes with three cracked ribs.

Barring a change of mind by voters, former Ravens quarterback Steve McNair will not be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In The Baltimore Sun's poll of selectors this week, the three-time Pro Bowl player would fail to gain the 80 percent approval needed for election. Seventeen of the 24 voters who responded to The Sun - the committee has 44 members - said they did not consider McNair a Hall of Fame quarterback because he lacked elite career numbers. McNair, who was shot and killed Saturday, is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2013.

If it's January, Steve McNair must be gimpy. Fortunately for the Tennessee Titans, his passing game is not. That's the calling card McNair and the Titans bring to M&T Bank Stadium for tomorrow's AFC wild-card game against the Ravens. Tennessee's vertical passing game has wreaked havoc in the NFL this season and created an identity crisis of sorts for coach Jeff Fisher. Just don't call this a passing team when you talk to Fisher, who raised the Titans to perennial Super Bowl contender on the wings of a stout defense and a punishing running game.

The end obscured the means. Although many Ravens fans will grimace at the reminder of yesterday's 15-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC divisional playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium, the outcome overshadowed a solid performance by the Ravens' defense. The NFL's top-ranked unit - in yards, points and first downs allowed as well as interceptions - limited the high-octane Indianapolis offense to five field goals by Adam Vinatieri. But that was of little solace to Ravens players who have prided themselves on doing what it takes to secure wins, not moral victories.

The offensive philosophy for the Washington Redskins remains the same even if who's starting at quarterback hasn't. As the Redskins prepare to meet the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium tonight, coach Joe Gibbs and the players are united in their belief that placing the offense under the direction of 35-year-old quarterback Mark Brunell does not mean the unit is abandoning its goal of long gains downfield. "We have had tons of work with OTA [offseason training activity] days and all those days [in the preseason]

1. Joe Montana The numbers: 40,551 yards (10th all time), 273 touchdown passes (ninth), 92.3 passer rating (sixth), 63.2 percent completion rate (ninth), eight Pro Bowls, four Super Bowl wins. The skinny: Montana can't match Favre for durability or raw passing totals. But his uncanny accuracy, the greatness of his teams and his excellence in big games made him the greatest of all time. 2. Johnny Unitas The numbers: 40,239 yards (11th), 290 TD passes (seventh), 10 Pro Bowls, two NFL titles, one Super Bowl win. The skinny: By modern standards, Unitas threw a lot of interceptions and didn't complete a high percentage.

On one play, Philip Rivers' arms and legs seemed to splay in all directions as he set to throw. On another, his feet began to shuffle, seemingly in reaction to defenders who weren't there. The whole display drove Ron Jaworski nuts as the ESPN analyst and former quarterback watched tape of the Ravens' 32-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers last Sunday. Rivers threw three touchdown passes and appeared to dissect the Ravens' once-vaunted defense. But Jaworski's seasoned eye saw mostly hesitation and awkwardness.

Eight seasons ago, Steve McNair led his team to the Super Bowl against the St. Louis Rams. Today, whether or not he is healthy enough to face the Rams at M&T Bank Stadium, there are questions about whether he can consistently lead the Ravens to the end zone. Rams@Ravens Today, 1 p.m., Ch. 45, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Ravens by 9 1/2 Passing grade? A look at where the Ravens' Steve McNair ranks this season among qualified quarterbacks: Category Stat Rank Overall passer rating 80.2 20 Completion pct. 65.6 11 Yards per game 230.5 14 Yards per attempt 5.87 28 Touchdown passes 2 T-28 Interceptions 2 T-7 20-plus-yard completions 3 34 40-plus-yard completions 0 T-28 4th-quarter passer rating 80.8 22 3rd-down passer rating 84.6 16 Note: Qualified quarterbacks have at least 14 attempts per team's game.

The end obscured the means. Although many Ravens fans will grimace at the reminder of yesterday's 15-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC divisional playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium, the outcome overshadowed a solid performance by the Ravens' defense. The NFL's top-ranked unit - in yards, points and first downs allowed as well as interceptions - limited the high-octane Indianapolis offense to five field goals by Adam Vinatieri. But that was of little solace to Ravens players who have prided themselves on doing what it takes to secure wins, not moral victories.

Right on cue, auspicious young quarterbacks are sprouting across the NFL landscape. Sightings have been made in Cincinnati and San Diego, Jacksonville and New York. Eli Manning has taken a giant step forward in his second season. Carson Palmer is dropping jaws in the Jungle as a second-year starter. Drew Brees is forcing the San Diego Chargers to rethink their 2004 draft strategy. The next generation of star quarterbacks already is taking shape. But in a season when young phenoms are growing like grapes on the vine, the Ravens have had to swallow the bitter taste of their inability to find or develop even a competent quarterback since Trent Dilfer left in 2001.

The offensive philosophy for the Washington Redskins remains the same even if who's starting at quarterback hasn't. As the Redskins prepare to meet the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium tonight, coach Joe Gibbs and the players are united in their belief that placing the offense under the direction of 35-year-old quarterback Mark Brunell does not mean the unit is abandoning its goal of long gains downfield. "We have had tons of work with OTA [offseason training activity] days and all those days [in the preseason]

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco might remember this game for a long time - and for the wrong reasons. The rookie turned in the worst outing of his career in the 13-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last night at M&T Bank Stadium. Flacco forged lows in completion percentage (39.3 percent), passing yards (115) and passer rating (22.2). His 11 completions were better only than the 10 he made in last week's 24-10 win over the Washington Redskins. He also threw two interceptions and was sacked twice yesterday.

LANDOVER - The way the Washington Redskins played yesterday against the Minnesota Vikings, one would've thought the Redskins were in the hunt for an NFC playoff spot. With nothing left but pride on the line, Washington put a scare into Minnesota's hopes for a wild-card berth by outlasting the visitors, 21-18, before 76,876 at FedEx Field. The Vikings (8-8), who were denied a playoff berth last season when the Arizona Cardinals beat them on a last-second touchdown pass in the regular-season finale, yesterday qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2000 courtesy of the New Orleans Saints' 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Broncos (10-6) at Colts (12-4) Time, TV: 1 p.m., chs. 13, 9. Line: Colts by 10. Last meeting: Broncos won, 33-14, last Sunday at Denver. Key stat: Broncos allowed only 15 sacks, franchise record and third fewest in NFL. Players to watch: Peyton Manning had historic regular season, with NFL records for passer rating (121.1) and TD passes (49). Jake Plummer threw 27 TD passes with rating of 84.5. The buzz: Colts went through motions in Denver last week, but now they're back home where they'll try to reprise last season's 41-10 playoff victory over Broncos.

LANDOVER - The way the Washington Redskins played yesterday against the Minnesota Vikings, one would've thought the Redskins were in the hunt for an NFC playoff spot. With nothing left but pride on the line, Washington put a scare into Minnesota's hopes for a wild-card berth by outlasting the visitors, 21-18, before 76,876 at FedEx Field. The Vikings (8-8), who were denied a playoff berth last season when the Arizona Cardinals beat them on a last-second touchdown pass in the regular-season finale, yesterday qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2000 courtesy of the New Orleans Saints' 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers.