THE SKINNY:
Baltimore (8-7) clinches a second straight trip to the playoffs with a win over host Oakland (5-10) in their 2009 regular-season finale. If the Ravens lose to the Raiders, they will not advance to the playoffs. A victory gives the Raiders their highest win total since 2002, when Oakland went 12-4 en route to the Super Bowl. The Ravens' seven losses this season have been by a combined 39 points.
The Raiders are trying to avoid a league-record seventh straight season with 11 or more losses.
LAST WEEK:
The visiting Ravens lost 23-20 to the Steelers; the Raiders lost 23-9 to the host Browns.
KEY MATCHUPS:
INJURY REPORT:
Raiders — OUT: QB Bruce Gradkowski (knee). DOUBTFUL: RB Justin Fargas (knee), T Langston Walker (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: S Tyvon Branch (hip), DE Greg Ellis (knee), WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot), CB Chris Johnson (hamstring). PROBABLE: DT Gerard Warren (shoulder).
The weekly NFL Injury Report is updated every Friday during the season.
INJURY UPDATE:
The weekly NFL Injury Report is updated every Friday during the season.
STATS OF THE WEEK:
LAST MEETING:
RECENT HISTORY:
DID YOU KNOW?:
OPENING LINE:
Ravens defense vs. Raiders offense — Baltimore is second in the NFL in points allowed (16.5 per game), third in total yards allowed (298.9 per game), sixth in rushing yards allowed (96.1 per game) and sixth against the pass (202.8 yards per game). Oakland is 31st in points scored (12.3 per game), total yards (262.2 per game) and passing yards (152.2 per game).
RB Ray Rice vs. Raiders defense — Rice is second in the NFL with 1,952 yards from scrimmage. He has 1,269 rushing yards, along with 74 catches for 683 yards and a combined eight touchdowns. The Raiders are 29th against the rush, allowing 149.9 yards per game.
QB Charlie Frye vs. Ravens pass defense — Frye is coming off a 333-yard passing performance with 3 interceptions. He has four interceptions and no TD passes in Raiders starts the past two weeks.
QB Joe Flacco vs. Raiders pass defense — Flacco has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 3,511 yards and 21 TDs with 12 interceptions.
Ravens — QUESTIONABLE: T Oniel Cousins (knee), LB Tavares Gooden (groin), WR Derrick Mason (knee), S Ed Reed (groin), LB Terrell Suggs (thigh), CB Cary Williams (thigh). PROBABLE: T Jared Gaither (foot), LB Jarret Johnson (back, knee), DT Trevor Pryce (illness).
Ravens — Left tackle Jared Gaiter is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past three games because of a foot injury. Safety Ed Reed, who missed the past four games because of a groin or hip injury, reportedly is expected to be available for 12 or more plays.
The Ravens and Raiders are among the NFL leaders in penalties. Oakland is second with 112 penalties and fourth with 890 penalty yards. Baltimore is third with 110 penalties and first with 1,057 penalty yards. Green Bay ranks first in the NFL with 114 penalties and second with 1,038 penalty yards.
Zach Miller’s 59 catches are most for Raiders tight ends since Todd Christensen had 95 in 1986
Ravens MLB Ray Lewis is the only player in NFL history with at least 35 career sacks and 28 career INTs. He has 3 sacks and 0 INTs this season.
Tom Cable is 9-18 in his first 27 games as Raiders coach.
Joe Flacco throws for a touchdown and rushes for another to help the Baltimore Ravens defeat visting Oakland 29-10 at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 26, 2008. The Raiders have only 234 total yards and allow four sacks.
The Ravens have won two straight and five of six games against the Raiders. Baltimore lost 20-12 to the host Raiders in 2003, the Ravens’ only previous regular-season game in Oakland. The Ravens lead the series 5-1, including 1-0 playoffs.
The Ravens are 3-0 against the AFC West this season and 14-10 all-time.
In his two seasons as Ravens’ coach, John Harbaugh has never lost to a team with a sub-.500 record.
The visiting Ravens beat the Raiders 16-3 in the 2000 AFC Championship game on Jan. 14, 2001.
Ravens by 10
Raiders.com | Ravens.com
Pro Football Weekly.com
Pro Sports Daily.com
