Rob Burnett

Michael McCrary and Rob Burnett remain unconvinced. For a good part of this season, media and fans have showered the current Ravens team with questions about whether it is reminiscent of the 2000 squad that won the Super Bowl . Ravens coach Brian Billick and the players have shied away from making any such comparisons, and McCrary and Burnett - two critical cogs of the 2000 defense - did the same. "I don't think it's fair to anybody but especially them," Burnett, a former defensive end, said of the current team.

The Ravens didn't care that they had only 150 passing yards against the next-to-worst defense in the league or that their quarterback of the future looked a little like their quarterback of the past two games with three interceptions. And they weren't concerned that their new head coach had some questionable play-calling and that they beat an expansion team by a mere seven points.Desperate teams take ugly wins, and the Ravens managed one yesterday in a 17-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns before 68,803 at PSINet Stadium.

In his 15th NFL season, Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Lomas Brown has seen about every move from every fierce pass rusher in the league.So what could Ravens end Michael McCrary have in store for Brown tomorrow at PSINet Stadium when the Ravens face Cleveland?"

DE Rob Burnett vs. OT Orlando BrownRavens left defensive end Rob Burnett knows Cleveland offensive tackle Orlando Brown well.Burnett has said that he and Brown grew up together as pro football players while they were members of the Cleveland Browns. Burnett is also quite familiar with Brown on the field, since the pair spent countless afternoons facing each other in practice.For the second time, they will square off as opponents today at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Brown has returned to his roots and his spot at right tackle.

T Leon Searcy vs. DE Rob BurnettTony Boselli gets the big money and most of the attention at left tackle, but Jacksonville right tackle Leon Searcy fills an equally critical role on the Jaguars' much-respected offensive line.Ravens left defensive end Rob Burnett is not short on respect for Searcy, against whom Burnett has competed since 1993. The way their individual battle plays out today could help determine if the Ravens can beat the Jaguars for the first time in team history.The Burnett-Searcy rivalry goes back to the days of the old Cleveland Browns, who drafted Burnett in the fifth round out of Syracuse in 1990.

PITTSBURGH -- The pass-rushing highlights belonged to the other guys, for a change. Not right end Michael McCrary. Not outside linebacker Peter Boulware.An unusual thing happened on the way to the Ravens' 31-24 victory at Three Rivers Stadium. While McCrary and Boulware, the team's top pass rushers, were shut out, an unlikely trio -- tackles Tony Siragusa and Larry Webster and left end Rob Burnett -- emerged to make life miserable in the pocket for Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak.Siragusa and Burnett led the way with two sacks apiece.

One year after having the NFL's 10th-best run defense, the Ravens' defensive line returns intact and wiser. And just like last season, if the line plays well, so will the entire defense."

Running backsDespite the Bears having the No. 22 rushing defense in the league, Priest Holmes was not a factor as the Ravens fell behind early. Fullback Roosevelt Potts had a solid day blocking, but he didn't play a vital role because of the early deficit. -- C-QuarterbackFor some reason, Jim Harbaugh had trouble getting the exchange from center Jeff Mitchell. Also, Chicago's big lead forced Harbaugh to try to make big plays, and that is not his forte. -- D+ReceiversFloyd Turner had a decent day and Michael Jackson was involved in the offense even though he dropped two passes.

Change of heart: One day after criticizing the team for a poor morning workout, coach Ted Marchibroda praised the Ravens for a good day's work and ended yesterday afternoon's practice 30 minutes early.Starks watch: Rookie cornerback Duane Starks' holdout dragged into its 11th day. The only good sign is that the Ravens and agent Drew Rosenhaus resumed negotiations yesterday.More injuries: Tight end Eric Green missed his first day of practice with a sore knee. Fullback Roosevelt Potts sat out for the third day with a sore knee, but is expected back today.

So, the moment is at hand. The Colts at Baltimore. The great grudge match, hon. Our past against our present. The horseshoe against, well, a logo under pending litigation.When the Ravens play the Colts on Sunday at Camden Yards, will it be a wrenching experience for the largest ex-Colt and continued unofficial soul of Baltimore pro football?"Are you kidding?" Art Donovan said yesterday. "What do I care?"Come on, Artie. You're going to root for your old uniform, right? Out of habit?"I'm going to cheer for the Ravens," he said.

The last time the Ravens faced the Cleveland Browns in the third game of the season at M&T Bank Stadium was in 1999, after the Ravens started the season 0-2 with losses at St. Louis and to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But nothing cures a losing streak like the expansion Browns coming to town. It also happened to be the first win of the Brian Billick era, a 17-10 victory Sept. 26. WHAT HAPPENED: : The Ravens' defense picked on - and picked off - rookie quarterback Tim Couch, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft, and came up with two big plays that led to touchdowns.

Some Ravens fans took exception to Rex Ryan's comments last week about rookie linebacker-defensive end Paul Kruger's wearing No. 99 this season, but few in the Ravens organization were offended. Those types of wisecracks are what made Ryan endearing to his co-workers and the players over at the Castle. His players loved Ryan, the former Ravens defensive coordinator, because he was an extension from the locker room into the front office. What set him apart from some assistant coaches was his ability to get players to play exceptionally hard for him. We love to throw around the words "team chemistry" in sports, so much in fact that the phrase has become undervalued.

Nobody should take seriously Rex Ryan's comments about rookie defensive end Paul Kruger wearing No. 99, the jersey of former Ravens standout Michael McCrary. Ryan and all of his former defensive linemen from the 2000 Super Bowl team were very close. In fact, when the Ravens fired head coach Brian Billick, Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett and Michael McCrary all lobbied owner Steve Bisciotti to make Ryan the next Ravens head coach. I knew Rex Ryan couldn't play the Ravens without some crazy comment.

Michael McCrary and Rob Burnett remain unconvinced. For a good part of this season, media and fans have showered the current Ravens team with questions about whether it is reminiscent of the 2000 squad that won the Super Bowl . Ravens coach Brian Billick and the players have shied away from making any such comparisons, and McCrary and Burnett - two critical cogs of the 2000 defense - did the same. "I don't think it's fair to anybody but especially them," Burnett, a former defensive end, said of the current team.

The Ravens may not be trash-talking, but they were drawn into some toilet humor yesterday. In this week's Sporting News, it was reported that Ravens coach Brian Billick told his team during a Saturday walk-through at Miami's Pro Player Stadium "to [urinate] on the field to mark your territory." But according to Ravens officials, the reporter received that quote from a team spokesman, and Billick used only the words "mark your territory" in addressing his players. The quote has since become the lead story on ESPN's SportsCenter and the talk of sports radio.

MIAMI -- It was his first playoff experience, and when reflecting on the impact he made, Ravens receiver Travis Taylor deferred to his quarterback. "Elvis [Grbac] just made some great throws all day," Taylor said. While Grbac did have one of his most effective games of the season in leading the Ravens to a 20-3 win over the Miami Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium, and the Ravens definitely had their running game going (grinding out a team playoff-high 226 yards), Taylor was the team's most dangerous weapon, having an impact on all three of his touches.

Jermaine Lewis thought his workload in tomorrow's AFC wild-card game might not include filling in at wide receiver, but the return ace will have another full plate of responsibility against the Miami Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium, because Patrick Johnson will most likely be on the sideline for the 12th straight game. Lewis has seen spot duty at wide receiver in place of Johnson, who missed the last 11 games of the regular season with a fractured left clavicle. The fourth-year pro returned to the game plan this week, but coach Brian Billick said Johnson will probably not be able to play after developing plantar fasciitis in one of his feet Thursday.

With reserve linebacker Shannon Taylor out with a separated shoulder, there will be plenty of adjustments among the Ravens' special teams for Sunday's AFC wild-card game at Miami. The offensive line could also be in for some shuffling if left guard Edwin Mulitalo's calf injury doesn't heal. Veteran defensive end Rob Burnett (calf) and Mulitalo were listed as questionable on the Ravens' injury report yesterday. When a knee ailment caused Mulitalo to miss two games in October, Sammy Williams was entrenched at right guard, and Kipp Vickers filled in for Mulitalo.

Thumbs up: Running back Terry Allen. He made Ravens fans forget about Jamal Lewis for a night, rushing for a season-best 133 yards and breaking three runs of 16 yards or more. Thumbs down: Long snapper Dale Hellestrae. In his first game with the Ravens, the 17-year veteran played like a rookie. He had at least three poor snaps, one of which nearly led to a Vikings touchdown. Stat of game: 0. Turnovers by the Ravens. The team is 8-1 when quarterback Elvis Grbac throws fewer than two interceptions.

Thumbs up: Middle linebacker Ray Lewis. The All-Pro made his statement for another NFL Defensive Player of the Year award with his game-changing performance. He had a team-high 11 tackles, picked off two passes inside the 20-yard line and broke up three passes. Thumbs down: To the Ravens' offense failing to put the game away until the final whistle. The Ravens didn't convert on their final eight third downs and gained just 92 yards in the second half. Stat of game: 206:18. Minutes the Ravens have shut out the Bengals at PSINet Stadium.