AFC Central

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Offensive MVP: Mark Brunell, QB, Jaguars. In 1995, the Packers chose Brett Favre as their quarterback of the future and traded Brunell to the expansion Jaguars. No one is suggesting Green Bay made a mistake, but getting only third- and fifth-round draft picks in return certainly was. Brunell is the player most singular responsible for making Jacksonville a serious Super Bowl contender in such a short period of time.

Defensive MVP: Levon Kirkland, LB, Steelers. When your offense struggles as much as Pittsburgh's has this season, your defense has to step up. And no one has stepped up more than leading tackler Kirkland, a run-stuffing specialist who also can cover running backs and tight ends. He can make his Pro Bowl reservations for the third consecutive year.

Top rookie: Takeo Spikes, LB, Bengals. Yes, the Bengals' defense is even worse statistically this season than last. But don't blame it on Spikes, who has started from Day One at right inside linebacker in the Bengals' 3-4 defense and continues to improve. This is one non-Randy Moss pick Cincinnati won't end up having to defend years down the road.

Top coach: Bill Cowher, Steelers. His quarterback has one of the worst passer ratings in the league and yet his team is only a game out of first place in the division. Cowher continues to prove he is the NFL's most resourceful coach.

TSNumber: 14.1, 24.2, 19.3. Those are Jermaine Lewis' punt-return, kickoff-return and receiving averages for the Ravens. Few players have been more productive this season. It's just a shame he plays for a team you'll never see on national TV. -- Dave Sloan

Baltimore

2-6: T 4th

Only a miracle finish can save Marchibroda's job

BURNING ISSUE: It seems almost inevitable that coach Ted Marchibroda will be fired by the end of the season, barring a late-season miracle. At the beginning of the season, owner Art Modell said he wanted to see "considerable progress" over 1997's 6-9-1 record. Modell has seen progress on defense, where the Ravens have one of the best front sevens in the NFL. But the offense, which is considered Marchibroda's forte, could be his undoing in the third and final year of his contract.

Marchibroda has been indecisive at times with his quarterback and running back positions. The Ravens fail to attack opponents' weaknesses consistently, and it seems that Marchibroda's players aren't at a peak emotional level on a weekly basis.

MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE: CB Rod Woodson is one of the team's top tacklers with 40, tied for first on the team in passes defensed with 13 and is one of the league leaders in interceptions with four. The Ravens occasionally give Woodson a day off in practice, so there should be little concern about his health.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: LT Jonathan Ogden and RG Jeff Blackshear have been the only offensive linemen to play well consistently, even though LG Wally Williams has improved recently. The team has replaced C Jeff Mitchell with Williams and inserted Ben Cavil at left guard. The team is sticking with its starters, so don't expect much improvement in the second half.

DRAFT ANALYSIS: CB Duane Starks, the team's top draft pick, has made a significant impact on special teams and as the nickel back. He occasionally has given up big plays, but he has great skills and athletic ability and has knocked down five passes and intercepted two. WR Patrick Johnson, the team's second-round pick, has played sparingly because Marchibroda doesn't like to use rookies and also because he has been hampered by leg injuries. The injuries are behind him, and Johnson just needs to concentrate on every play and not become lackadaisical. DT Martin Chase and OT Sammy Williams both are on injured reserve.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The Ravens need to rebuild their offense in the offseason, and they will have to decide if they want to draft a franchise quarterback or continue to go with Jim Harbaugh or Eric Zeier. The Ravens certainly lack a go-to player at any of the offensive skill positions, and it's apparent they have some needs on the offensive line. -- Mike Preston

GRADING OUT vs. Jacksonville

OFFENSE C

Team had a good mix of passing and running in first half. Turnovers were killers.

DEFENSE C-

Should have pressed the Jaguar's receivers at the line of scrimmage.

SPECIAL TEAMS F

Gave up a touchdown for the third time in the last five games.

STRATEGY B

Team was well-equipped for this game, but four turnovers led to 24 points.

RAVENS

PASSING      Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long   TD   Int.
Zeir         181     107    59.1   1312    73t    4     3
Harbaugh      86      49    57.0    545     56    4     5

PASSING          Rate   Sacks
Zeir             82.0      18
Harbaugh         67.2       4

RUSHING          Att.    Yds.    Avg.    TD
Holmes            84     355     4.2     2
Rhett             33     153     4.6     0
Graham            35     109     3.1     0

RECEIVING        No.     Yds.   Avg.    TD
Holmes            29     181     6.2     0
J. Lewis          27     522    19.3     5
Jackson           20     299    15.0     0

SCORING          XPM     XPA    FGM    Pts.  Pts.
Stover            11     11     10      15    41

PUNTING          No.    Yds.   Avg.   Blk.
K. Richardson     48    2127   44.3     2

KO RETURNS       No.    Yds.   Avg.   TD
Johnson           12    236    19.7    0

PUNT             No.    Yds.   Avg.   TD
RETURNS
J. Leewis         21    296    14.1    2

SACKS: McCrary  8.5, Boulware 5.0,
J. Jones 4.5

INTERCEPTIONS: Woodson 4,
Starks 3, Staten 2