• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

McNair, Vick duel on Sunday

Nov 14, 2006 - 8:10 PM Atlanta (5-4) at Baltimore (7-2) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Steve McNair is unflappable. Michael Vick is clearly flustered.

The quarterbacks duel on Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens host the Atlanta Falcons in an interconference contest.

Acquired from the Tennessee Titans last June, McNair has led the Ravens to their best start in franchise history. With seven weeks left, Baltimore has a comfortable three-game lead over Cincinnati in the AFC North.

McNair's calm demeanor has rubbed off on the Ravens. Last week, the three-time Pro Bowler rallied the team from a 19-point deficit to a 27-26 victory over his former team. McNair celebrated his return to Tennessee by throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns - the last one an 11-yard pass to Derrick Mason with 3:35 left.

"Steve never blinks no matter what the circumstances," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "He keeps his composure, never panics. The players pick up on the fact that he's always in control."

While McNair has steered the Ravens to the top of their division, Vick and the Falcons may be on the brink of another collapse. Last year, Atlanta went 6-2 in the first half of the season, but finished 8-8.

This season, the Falcons were 5-2 before losing back-to-back games to two sub-.500 teams - Detroit and Cleveland. In the two losses, Vick committed six turnovers. Last week, he was intercepted twice and lost a fumble in a 17-13 loss to Cleveland.

"It's been frustrating," said Vick, who completed just 16-of-40 passes in the loss to the Browns. "We got to get back on the right track."

But on Sunday, Vick will face a defense that has forced 26 turnovers, including 18 interceptions.

The Ravens missed middle linebacker Ray Lewis in last week's win at Tennessee. Without Lewis, who was sidelined with a back injury, the Ravens yielded 162 yards on the ground. Lewis is expected to return this weekend.

Atlanta is the NFL's top rushing team with Warrick Dunn and Vick, the league's fastest quarterback who has rushed for 650 yards.

Atlanta's defense took another hit in last week's loss to Cleveland. End Patrick Kerney suffered a torn pectoral and will miss the rest of the season. He led the team with five sacks.

The Falcons already are missing three-time Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham, who has played just two games this season due to groin and abdominal injuries. He is expected to be sidelined for at least a few more weeks.

Atlanta is also without starting cornerback Jason Webster, who will miss at least another three weeks with a torn groin.

Vick threw for just 136 yards in the previous meeting between the teams - a 20-17 win for Atlanta in November 2002.