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Ravens-Raiders Preview

Dec 30, 2009 - 9:50 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Mistakes were prevalent as the Baltimore Ravens let one opportunity to clinch a wild-card spot slip away, but there's a second chance awaiting them Sunday when they visit an opponent whose playoff hopes were dashed long ago.

The Oakland Raiders, however, have acquitted themselves rather well against the AFC North's other postseason contenders.

It's win and in for the Ravens when they visit the Raiders, who will be looking to again play the role of spoiler in a battle of the AFC's two most penalized teams.

Baltimore (8-7) came into Pittsburgh last Sunday off two victories in which it outscored Detroit and Chicago 79-10, and a season sweep of the Steelers would have put the Ravens in the playoffs.

But they committed 11 penalties that cost them 113 yards and two touchdowns, and Derrick Mason dropped a sure TD in the fourth quarter, all leading to a 23-20 loss.

"Forget about this one. It's over and done with," Mason said. "We just have to prepare for the next one. That's all that matters. We win, we're in. That's our philosophy. I've forgotten about this one; it's done and over with."

While a win against the Raiders (5-10) puts the Ravens in, a loss would eliminate them.

Mason surpassed 1,000 yards for the third straight season, but Baltimore cracked the 1,000-yard barrier in a less glamorous category - penalty yardage. Penalties have cost the Ravens an NFL-high 1,057 yards, and with 11 more yards lost against Oakland they'll break the franchise record.

"It was irritating. All of us felt that," coach John Harbaugh said. "We played too well in so many ways for the outcome to be what it was. Why was the outcome what it was? Well, it was our doing. It was penalties and missed opportunities. But those are things we can fix."

The Raiders are no strangers to penalties hurting their cause. Oakland has been flagged 36 times for 306 yards over the past three weeks to raise its total to an AFC-high 112.

Charlie Frye threw three interceptions, two players were ejected and 13 penalties cost the Raiders a season-high 126 yards last Sunday in Cleveland. Oakland lost 23-9 despite outgaining the Browns by more than 100 yards.

"I've never seen flags thrown like that," said Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who was called for two personal fouls on one play. "It was so ticky-tack. Obviously we have to understand how the game is being played and how the game is being called and play accordingly. We didn't do a good job of that after we understood that they were going to throw it if you looked the wrong way."

The Raiders have given two of the Ravens' AFC North rivals fits this season. Bruce Gradkowski engineered a comeback in the final 2 minutes to beat division-champion Cincinnati 20-17 on Nov. 22, then threw three fourth-quarter TDs - each putting Oakland ahead - in a 27-24 win at Pittsburgh on Dec. 6.

Gradkowski, however, partially tore the MCL in his right knee a week later, and Frye has compiled a 49.2 passer rating in two starts since. Gradkowski is listed as doubtful for Sunday and former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell appears relegated to the bench.

Frye, who threw for 333 yards last week, has experience facing Baltimore. He posted an 80.5 rating with two TDs and two interceptions in a pair of starts against the Ravens with Cleveland in 2006.

Baltimore's banged-up secondary is without cornerbacks Fabian Washington and Ladarius Webb - both lost for the season - and All-Pro safety Ed Reed hasn't played since Nov. 29 with a slight tear in his groin.

Reed is listed as a game-time decision but isn't expected to play.

Joe Flacco has thrown seven touchdown passes - four to tight end Todd Heap - and one interception over the past three weeks, but the Ravens will likely spend much of their time looking to exploit Oakland's 29th-ranked rush defense.

Though the Raiders have held their opponents to 3.4 yards per carry over their past three games, they'll have their hands full with Ray Rice. The second-year back topped 100 yards rushing for the second time in three weeks with 141 against the Steelers, and he also has a team-high 74 receptions - two more than Mason.

Rice is second behind Tennessee's Chris Johnson with 1,952 yards from scrimmage.

"Ray gets better all the time," Harbaugh said. "He's taken a lot of reps throughout the course of the season, so to me, Ray's just getting stronger as the season goes on."

In Harbaugh's two seasons at the helm, Baltimore hasn't lost to a sub-.500 team. That included a 29-10 home victory over Oakland on Oct. 26, 2008, in which Rice had 155 all-purpose yards.

The Ravens have visited Oakland twice, winning only in the AFC championship game after the 2000 season en route to the franchise's only Super Bowl title.

For now, they're just trying to get in.

"We've got an opportunity to get in the tournament," Harbaugh said. "To me, that's motivation enough. I'm sure our guys will be ready."