Inside The Afc Central

Sporting News, The, Oct 30, 2000

GAME OF THE WEEK

Pittsburgh at Baltimore. This is where we find out if the Steelers are as good as their four-game winning streak might suggest. The Ravens figure to be in desperation mode after back-to-back losses to the Redskins and Titans. A third straight defeat would nudge the Ravens closer to wild-card competition than division-title contention.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Browns RDE Keith McKenzie vs. Bengals LT John Jackson. In Week 2, McKenzie toyed with Bengals LT Rod Jones, forcing then-Cincinnati coach Bruce Coslet to replace Jones with veteran John Jackson. Will Jackson, having supplanted Jones in the starting lineup last week vs. Denver, have any better luck against McKenzie?

ON THE SPOT

In addition to succeeding Jon Witman as the Steelers' starting full-back, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala will continue in his role as the team's third-down back. How will Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who suffered a sprained left foot last weekend, respond to the increased workload?

KEEP AN EYE ON

Bengals RLB Takeo Spikes deserves strong consideration for his first Pro Bowl berth. He is averaging 9.1 tackles a game, a pace that would give him 146 for the season, not far off the team record of 151 set by NT Tim Krumrie in 1988.

ROOKIE REPORT

At 29, Titans DE Keith Embray isn't your typical rookie. He already has played in the NFL and the CFL, and he nearly made the Tennessee roster a year ago before being cut in training camp. Currently he is backing up Jevon Kearse at left defensive end.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Browns fans will look back on QB Tim Couch's thumb injury as a blessing in disguise. It will force this non-contending team to experiment with its backup QB situation. Is Doug Pederson really the answer? And does Spergon Wynn have an NFL future?

FANTASY SOURCE

For the first time in several weeks, the Ravens play a game in which their offense actually could score a few touchdowns. Look for rookie RB Jamal Lewis to have a solid day when the Steelers come calling, crack 100 yards rushing for the first time since September 24 and get a score.

For more fantasy football go to fantasy.sportingnews.com

Baltimore

5-3: 2nd

Sluggish offense may cost some jobs in coming weeks

The Ravens are apparently ready to shake things up if their offense sputters in the second half of the season. Coach Brian Billick pulled QB Tony Banks in the team's 14-6 loss to the Titans last Sunday after Banks completed 17 of 32 passes for 229 yards and three interceptions. One interception killed a scoring drive in the third quarter and a fumbled center exchange on third down resulted in a field goal instead of a possible touchdown in the first. Billick would not say whom his starting QB would be Sunday against the Steelers. Trent Dilfer completed seven of 13 passes for 58 yards and also had one interception that stopped a potential scoring drive. The Ravens have not scored a TD in the last 16 quarters.... Starting FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo could be out three weeks because of a torn tendon in his right big toe. Ayanbadejo was playing well and was second on the team in receptions (23) before he got hurt. The team won't miss him much, though, because he has been replaced by Sam Gash, who made the AFC Pro Bowl team the past two years. Gash is also a passing threat coming out of the backfield and a much better lead blocker than Ayanbadejo.... The team may return former starting DT Larry Webster to the roster following his suspension for a fourth violation of the league's substance abuse policy. The Ravens had been adamant about not bringing Webster back. But with Sam Adams bothered by so many injuries, they may be forced to reconsider.

SCOUTING REPORT. FS Rod Woodson continues to get mileage out of his body after 14 years in the league. Woodson isn't as fast as when he was an All-Pro cornerback in Pittsburgh, but he was wise enough to make the move to safety in Baltimore and is smart enough to still be effective. Woodson spends much more time than the average player studying formations and tendencies. He gambles a lot but is often correct. Even more surprising, though, is he has been very strong coming up in run support this season.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Banks' problems seem to come from self-induced pressure. Before the season, he knew he would come under sharp criticism if the offense failed after adding free agents such as TEs Shannon Sharpe and Ben Coates and two first-round draft picks in RB Jamal Lewis and WR Travis Taylor. Banks has been aiming the ball instead of throwing it in recent weeks and has even had problems connecting on long passes, a one-time specialty. --Mike Preston

GRADING OUT vs. Tennessee

OFFENSE C

There were a lot of yards, but no touchdowns. The good news: They're getting better.

DEFENSE B

Playing as well as any defense in the league, but the offense allows no margin of error.

SPECIAL TEAMS C-

The coverage units, both kickoff and punt, allowed big plays. It just wasn't their week.

COACHING B

Actually, the Ravens outplayed the Titans at every position except for quarterback.

RAVENS

PASSING   Att.   Comp.   Pct.   Yds.   Long

Banks      271     148   54.6   1533    53t
Dilfer      13       7   53.8     58     13

PASSING   TD   Int.   Rate   Sacks

Banks      8      8   68.7      19
Dilfer     0      1   33.5       2

RUSHING     Att.   Yds.   Avg.   TD

Ja. Lewis    107    437    4.1    1
Holmes        83    380    4.6    0
Banks         16     58    3.6    0

RECEIVING    No.   Yds.   Avg.   TD

Sharpe        32    409   12.8    2
Ismail        26    330   12.7    1
Taylor        25    253   10.1    3

SCORING   XPM   XPA   FGM   FGA   Pts.

Stover      9     9    21    23     72

PUNTING        No.   Yds.   Avg.   Blk.

Richardson      43   1738   40.4      0

KO RETURNS     No.   Yds.   Avg.     TD

Harris          19    462   24.3      0

PUNT RETURNS   No.   Yds.   Avg.     TD

J. Lewis        17    205   12.1      0