Underdog

For the second consecutive week, the Ravens are playoff underdogs, this time getting 6 1/2 points from Las Vegas oddsmakers for Saturday's divisional-round game in Indianapolis. It's a role the Ravens are accustomed to, and they knew it wouldn't change as they prepare to face the No. 1-seeded Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. "It's one of those things we have talked about all season," cornerback Chris Carr said. "Yeah, we have lost a lot of close games, but we know how much talent we have in this room and we feel like we can beat anybody."

For the second consecutive week, the Ravens are playoff underdogs, this time getting 6 1/2 points from Las Vegas oddsmakers for Saturday's divisional-round game in Indianapolis. It's a role the Ravens are accustomed to, and they knew it wouldn't change as they prepare to face the No. 1-seeded Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. "It's one of those things we have talked about all season," cornerback Chris Carr said. "Yeah, we have lost a lot of close games, but we know how much talent we have in this room and we feel like we can beat anybody."

The Ravens are 3 1/2 -point underdogs heading into Sunday's playoff game at New England. But that suits the Ravens just fine. In their 14-year existence, the Ravens play best in their first game of the playoffs when they aren't expected to win. When they've entered the playoffs as AFC North champions (2003 and 2006), the Ravens were upset in their first games. When they've been wild cards (2000, 2001 and 2008), the Ravens have never lost in the opening round. But Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason refuses to play up the underdog role.

T he Ravens are 3 1/2 -point underdogs heading into Sunday's playoff game at New England. But that suits the Ravens just fine. In their 14-year existence, the Ravens play best in their first game of the playoffs when they aren't expected to win. When they've entered the playoffs as AFC North champions (2003 and 2006), the Ravens were upset in their first games. When they've been wild cards (2000, 2001 and 2008), the Ravens have never lost in the opening round. But Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason refuses to play up the underdog role.

History - and most NFL observers - say the Ravens won't beat the New England Patriots in the first round of the playoffs Sunday. The Patriots have a Super Bowl pedigree, a quarterback who has never lost a home playoff game (Tom Brady is 8-0 in Foxborough) and the consensus best coach of the decade (Bill Belichick). The Ravens, meanwhile, have never beaten New England and have a 1-6 record against this year's playoff field. After the Ravens clinched the sixth and final AFC playoff seed, the players struck a confident (and bitingly sarcastic)

BERKELEY, Calif. - - The video board inside Maryland's Gossett Football Team House flashed "Cal Week" and "21" all week as the Terps prepared to play California tonight in a season opener that is a rematch of one of last season's most compelling Maryland games. The "21" was a reference to the Terrapins being three-touchdown underdogs to the No. 12 Golden Bears. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen was asked during the week whether the unwieldy point spread angered his players. "I hope so," replied Friedgen, who has been using the lack of respect for Maryland to motivate his young team.

CHASKA, Minn. - - When the final book on Tiger Woods is written, these two names will need to be highlighted: Ed Fiori and Y.E. Yang. Not Sergio Garcia. Not Phil Mickelson. Not Ernie Els. At least not yet. Fiori came from behind to beat Woods on the final day at the 1996 Quad City Classic, and Yang did the unthinkable Sunday, overtaking Woods in the final round of a major, the PGA Championship. Wearing all white, the ghost-like figure shot a 2-under 70 to become the first player from Asia to win a men's major and the first to beat Woods after he had a 54-hole lead in a major.

TAMPA, Fla. - The Arizona Cardinals have a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player at quarterback and two of the most talented wide receivers in the game. They also bring something else into the Super Bowl: a chip on their shoulder. Arizona began the postseason with 35-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth once referred to the Cardinals as "maybe the worst playoff team of all time." Now, Arizona is a seven-point underdog against the Pittsburgh Steelers. "It's been tough, because every time you turn on the TV or read something, it isn't very good," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

At the very moment the Ravens are continuing one of the two greatest runs in their history, the team and the city it represents are on the verge of losing - if they have not already lost - something near and dear to their hearts. Their underdog status. Never mind the point spread for Sunday's AFC championship game (the Vegas line last night, for entertainment purposes only, made the host Pittsburgh Steelers a five-point favorite), the site of the game, the fact that the Steelers have already beaten the Ravens twice, and the seeding.