Ravens

MIAMI - The real playoffs start Saturday for the Ravens, when they travel to Tennessee to play the Titans in the AFC divisional round. The Ravens' 27-9 victory over the Miami Dolphins in a wild-card playoff game was just a warm-up. The real contenders start playing next weekend with the Titans-Ravens rematch and the San Diego Chargers traveling to Pittsburgh. They all have real defenses and real quarterbacks who can make plays. They all have run-oriented offenses and play smash-mouth football.

Mixed emotions filled the first day of free agency for the Ravens, who welcomed back a local star (cornerback Domonique Foxworth) but lost two starters (linebacker Bart Scott and center Jason Brown). Scott signed a six-year, $48 million deal ($22 million guaranteed) with the New York Jets, which ended a bidding war between the Ravens and former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. Brown agreed in principle with the St. Louis Rams on a five-year, $37.5 million contract that includes $20 million in guaranteed money.

Giants cut Burress; Vick's plan rejected nfl The New York Giants on Friday released Plaxico Burress, who had the game-winning touchdown catch in their Super Bowl victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in February 2008. The release came a little more than four months after the wide receiver accidentally shot himself in the thigh in a New York City nightclub. Burress' status has been uncertain since he shot himself in the thigh Nov. 29 with an unlicensed gun. Burress, 31, who played four seasons with the Giants, faces a felony weapons charge that could put him in prison for at least 3 1/2 years if convicted.

The Ravens' reward for advancing to the AFC divisional playoffs? No day off. Because the sixth-seeded Ravens are scheduled to play the top-seeded Tennessee Titans on Saturday at LP Field at 4:30 p.m., the players' and coaches' schedule has been shifted. So instead of having today off, players and coaches will practice shortly after 11 a.m. Practice will be held tomorrow and Thursday, and the team will travel to Nashville on Friday. "With the short week, we've just got to move everything up," coach John Harbaugh said yesterday during his weekly media conference at the team's training facility in Owings Mills.

Chris Carr was 15 minutes late yesterday to his first conference call with Baltimore reporters. But the free-agent cornerback- returner had good reason - he was still working out. Known for his determination since landing in the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Carr has his sights on winning the Ravens' nickel back job. "I think I can make a big impact," said Carr, who signed a two-year, $5 million contract. "I just haven't gotten the opportunity that I wanted in my career." In his first four NFL seasons, Carr has been primarily known as a return specialist.

Pushing hard for a contract extension, Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason intimated he would want to be released if he didn't receive one. Mason, 35, has been the team's only dependable receiver, leading the Ravens in catches for three of his four seasons with them. He is entering the final year of his five-year, $20 million contract. His agent has approached the Ravens about a new contract, Mason said. "I don't know if I'm going to be back," Mason told the NFL Network last week. He added: "So if we can get that deal done, then that will be great.

Dallas Morning News beat writer Calvin Watkins confirmed this week that Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens had told him Ray Lewis called Owens last summer and wanted the receiver to speak with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones about the Ravens linebacker. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/ravensinsider)

PITTSBURGH - The Ravens' improbable Super Bowl run ended with an uncharacteristic performance by Joe Flacco. Finally looking like a rookie quarterback in the playoffs, Flacco made critical mistakes that cost the Ravens in a 23-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in yesterday's AFC championship game. The sixth-seeded Ravens (13-6) rebounded from a 5-11 season because of the big arm and poise of Flacco. But they couldn't return to the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla., because of him. With a windchill of 15 degrees at Heinz Field, the NFL's top-ranked defense turned Joe Cool into Joe Cold.

Here's what's different from when the Ravens smashed Miami by two touchdowns in October: Jason Ferguson is healthy at nose tackle, anchoring the middle of the defensive line that was pushed around. Here's what's different: Quarterback Chad Pennington is the bandleader of an offense that knows what it needs to do now. Here's what's different: The Dolphins aren't a team digging out from the rubble of its 1-15 season in 2007. It's a team that has won nine of its past 10 games. It's a team that conquered the AFC East.

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Give your name and phone number so we can verify the e-mail address. HEY, JAMISON: : It's hard to imagine the Ravens' success this year without additions like Jim Leonhard, Willie Anderson, Fabian Washington and Frank Walker. Who deserves the most credit for these signings? Will the Ravens have much cap room next year for free-agent signings? Will Cappa, Lisbon, Md. HEY, WILL: : The Ravens' pro personnel staff doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Oh, did the Ravens need this one. For their playoff chances. For their self-esteem. To get the media off their backs. To get their nervous fans back onto the bandwagon. Here's all you need to know about Sunday's 30-7 knockout of the previously undefeated Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium: The Ravens finally played like the Ravens again. They played with a swagger that was missing in their previous three games, three losses by a combined 11 points that left this team questioning itself, no matter what certain players tell you. And they played with a chip on their shoulder the size of a giant redwood, which has always been the Ravens' way. You want to talk about attitude?

From Jarret Johnson delivering a crushing sack on the first defensive play to Ray Rice powering his way across the goal line on the offense's last play, the Ravens didn't just defeat the Denver Broncos. They beat up the previously unbeaten Broncos. With three straight losses weighing on their minds during the bye week, the Ravens vented their frustrations with their most complete game of the season, roughing up Denver in a 30-7 rout before 71,132 at M&T Bank Stadium. The defense set the physical tone and held the Broncos to 200 total yards (the fewest by a Denver team since 2003)

Quarterback B+ Joe Flacco was 20-for-25 for 175 yards. He didn't make a lot of tight, big-play throws, but he was nimble in the pocket, getting the ball off with bodies hurling around him. The touchdown pass to Derrick Mason was high and tight. It was perfect. Running backs B Every time Ray Rice touches the ball, he is a threat to score. He has great acceleration and the ability to burst through tackles. Fullback Le'Ron McClain has become a good lead blocker, and it was nice seeing him get carries down the stretch.

On the day the Ravens rediscovered the joy of victory, everything came together for Jerry Rosburg's schizophrenic special teams. Steve Hauschka didn't miss, Eddie Royal didn't run and Lardarius Webb weaved like a champ. "We were playing like our hair was on fire," Jameel McClain said about the smothering effort of the Ravens' special teamers in Sunday's 30-7 rout of the Denver Broncos. It was as apt a description as any. Indeed, the Ravens swarmed to Royal, one of the NFL's most dangerous kick returners.

It's tempting to look back over the first six games of the season and wax nostalgic for the Ravens' defense of old, but it might make more sense to be grateful that coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron seemed to realize from the outset that the offense had to take center stage. Nobody came right out and said that at the time, and nobody is going to admit that now. The company line held that defensive coordinator Greg Mattison would pick up right where Rex Ryan left off and there would be sufficient depth to overcome the loss of Bart Scott, Jim Leonard and - most likely - Samari Rolle.

Broncos OLB Elvis Dumervil vs. Ravens OT Jared Gaither Gaither has missed the past two games and has been inactive for three weeks because of a neck injury. He gets to come back against Dumervil (92), one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Dumervil is more power than finesse. He likes to use leverage and, like most great pass rushers, is relentless in trying to get to the quarterback. Gaither was struggling earlier in the season when he was healthy. The Ravens will have to give him help against Dumervil, at least until the rust comes off. Edge: Dumervil: Broncos CB Champ Bailey vs. Ravens WR Derrick Mason It will be interesting to see how the Ravens handle Bailey (24)

Ravens cheerleaders are dabbing on makeup and curling their hair in a changing room at M&T Bank Stadium. Poe, the team's overstuffed mascot, is pulling on his costume. And just a locker or two down, Rise and Conquer's personal assistants are trying to coax Baltimore's newest and most fussy football stars into their game-day uniforms. Conquer lays one gray beady eye on his outfit and lets loose a warning squawk. When Sandy Ziolkowski, an animal technician from the Maryland Zoo, nevertheless tries to work the black satin suit over the bird's twitching head and past its fearsome beak, the feathered one starts wildly flapping, banging a locker and knocking over a stack of Gatorade cups.

Earlier this month, the Ravens' three-year streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher ended. Now, the defense is trying to stop a more humbling trend. The Ravens are looking to avoid allowing a 100-yard rusher in three straight games for the first time ever with middle linebacker Ray Lewis in the lineup. When it comes to stopping the run, there is a Lewis Effect with the Ravens. Since 1999, the Ravens have given up 100 yards to 12 running backs in 140 games with Lewis in the middle of the defense (that's 8.5 percent of those games)

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer fans' questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Write Hey, Jamison! in the subject field and provide your name, the city you live in and phone number so we can verify the e-mail. HEY, JAMISON: : Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison is reportedly averse to blitzing. Instead, he emphasizes fundamentals, not risk-taking. So, after six games, it appears that either his message isn't getting through to the players or the fundamentals that he's emphasizing aren't appropriate for the game.

Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle sits in his home in Florida and wears a neck brace. In 12 years in the NFL, he has never seen so many players at one position with a similar injury. During the past two seasons, starting safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry, starting cornerback Fabian Washington and Rolle, who had been expected to play nickel back, have all had major neck injuries. Rolle had surgery a couple of weeks ago and is out for the season. The other three players remain on the roster, but the secondary has struggled in 2009, giving up big plays and missing a lot of tackles.