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Published on Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
Associated Press
The last time an unbeaten team came to Baltimore, the Ravens exposed the Denver Broncos as frauds.
Interrupting the Indianapolis Colts' bid to make NFL history won't be nearly as easy for the inconsistent Ravens, who are more concerned with keeping their playoff hopes alive than enhancing their reputation as spoilers.
''We've just got to win a football game. I don't care if it is the Colts or whoever,'' wide receiver Derrick Mason said.
For the fifth time in franchise history, the Ravens (5-4) will face an undefeated team with at least five wins. The Ravens lost three by a combined 10 points, including a near upset of the New England Patriots in 2007 and a 33-31 thriller against the Minnesota Vikings this season, before routing the Broncos 30-7 on Nov. 1.
The Colts (9-0) present a far more difficult challenge than did the Broncos, who remain winless this month. The Colts have won six in a row over Baltimore and last week rallied from a late 17-point deficit to beat the Patriots 35-34.
The Ravens lost four of five before stumbling past the Browns 16-0 on Monday night. A similar performance won't stand up against the Colts, who have won 18 regular-season games in a row — tied for the second-longest run in NFL history, behind the Patriots' 21-game streak in 2006-08.
''We wouldn't want it any other way,'' Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. ''We're a 5-4 football team that needs to win a handful of football games in order to put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs. And why play anybody else but the Colts right now? They're playing really well, they're coming off a big win against New England, and they'll be excited to come in here.''
Especially Peyton Manning, who in seven regular-season games against the Ravens has thrown for 1,974 yards and 16 touchdowns with only three interceptions. No other quarterback has come close to being that successful against a defense long considered among the fiercest in the league.
''I don't really get into what happened in games past,'' Manning said. ''The key is just trying to execute, trying to protect the ball. You have to be kind of aggressive and patient together. In a lot of ways, those are opposite words, but I think that's important. It's always a great challenge playing against these guys.''
The Colts' last three wins have come by a combined eight points. But Indianapolis, one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL, along with New Orleans, is still on course toward completing a magical 16-0 regular season.
''We're not really concerned about that,'' rookie coach Jim Caldwell said. ''That wasn't one of our goals coming into the year.''
Should the game come down to a last-minute field goal, the Colts will turn to Matt Stover, the leading scorer in Ravens history. Stover kicked for Baltimore through last season, but was not invited to training camp this summer and ended up with Indianapolis last month as a replacement for the injured Adam Vinatieri.
Stover is 6-for-6 on field-goal tries and 4-for-4 on conversions. Once beloved in Baltimore, the 41-year-old Stover is now one of the hated Colts, who will never be forgiven for their exodus to Indy in 1984.
''It will be strange to be on the other sideline, to say the least,'' Stover said. ''I had a great experience there. But I'm here with Indianapolis. I'm a Colt. I'm here to win the game.''
Stover's successor with the Ravens, Steve Hauschka, was cut Tuesday after an inconsistent run. Hauschka's misses included a 44-yard field goal against the then-unbeaten Vikings.
Hauschka was replaced by Billy Cundiff, who embraces the prospect of being compared to Stover.
''I think it's good, because if you have the bar set really high, then you obviously have got to raise your game to make sure you meet that bar,'' Cundiff said. ''If you're not willing to accept that challenge, then you're in the wrong business. You've got to enjoy it.''
Bush, Ellis out
Running back Reggie Bush and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis are not traveling with the New Orleans Saints for today's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A team spokesman said both players had been downgraded on the official injury report from questionable to out with knee injuries.
Both players are expected to be back at practice next week.
Bush missed practice this week with swelling in his left knee, the same knee on which he had surgery last December to repair cartilage.
Bush has 484 yards and six touchdowns in combined rushing and receiving this season.
Ellis sprained his right knee in Week 7 and returned to practice this week on a limited basis.
Gage sidelined
Tennessee Titans receiver Justin Gage is out for the game against the Houston Texans with broken bones in his lower back.
Gage has not practiced since breaking the transverse process bones in his back Nov. 8. Rookie Kenny Britt will make a second consecutive start Monday night.
Coach Jeff Fisher also ruled out linebacker Colin Allred because of a hamstring that kept him out of a third consecutive practice Saturday.
Starting linebacker David Thornton (hip) and defensive tackle Jason Jones (shoulder) were limited Saturday, and Fisher said both will be questionable Monday.
Safety Kevin Kaesviharn missed practice for a personal matter and Fisher is hoping he will play in the game.
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