• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Panthers seek to extend winning streak vs. Ravens

Oct 10, 2006 - 11:48 PM Carolina (3-2) at Baltimore (4-1) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - Carolina Panthers coach John Fox has a bad memory and a good one against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Panthers, who have won three straight games, visit the Ravens on Sunday in a marquee interconference contest.

Fox was the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants when they lost to the Ravens, 34-7, in Super Bowl XXXV in January 2001. However, his first game as coach of the Panthers was a 10-7 victory over Baltimore on September 8, 2002.

In that game, defensive end Julius Peppers, who was taken second overall in the draft by Fox, made a huge play with under two minutes remaining. Peppers drilled quarterback Chris Redman, resulting in an interception for linebacker Dan Morgan and sealing the win.

Defense again should dominate Sunday. The Panthers kept the Cleveland Browns out of the end zone and forced three turnovers in last week's 20-12 victory.

Rookie Richard Marshall scored on a 30-yard interception return. A second-round pick out of Fresno State, Marshall has moved in at nickel back for Ricky Manning Jr., who signed with Chicago in the offseason.

Carolina's defense is strong both up front and in back. The secondary has Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas at the corners and Mike Minter at safety and the line has Mike Rucker, Kris Jenkins and Pepper, who is tied with Philadelphia's Trent Cole for the league lead with six sacks.

The Ravens have allowed just 46 points in five games. Two-time Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis and fellow linebacker Bart Scott lead the team in tackles, and Scott also leads the AFC with five sacks.

Baltimore has talented cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle to match up against Carolina receivers Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson. Safety Ed Reed, the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, should also rotate to both receivers.

The Panthers lost their first two games while Smith was sidelined with a sore hamstring but are 3-0 since his return. Smith has 23 catches for 261 yards and one touchdown in three games and Johnson has 27 receptions for 373 yards and two scores in five games.

In the win over Cleveland, DeShaun Foster rushed for 106 yards on 24 carries. He likely will have to shoulder a heavy workload Sunday, with rookie back DeAngelo Williams hampered by an ankle injury.

The Ravens were off to the first 4-0 start in their history before losing at Denver, 13-3, on Monday. In a steady rain, Steve McNair was intercepted three times and Jamal Lewis was limited to 43 yards on 15 carries.

The Panthers never have played at Baltimore, winning the two previous meetings at home in 1996 and 2002.