Tuesday, October 31, 2000
Said the Ravens: Can we score?
After five straight games without TD, answer may be: Never more
By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A new quarterback didn't help so maybe tearing a page off the calendar will revive the dreadful offense of the Baltimore Ravens, who failed to score a touchdown during five games in October.
The last time the Ravens reached the end zone, the baseball playoffs were still more than a week away and Baltimore had soared to the top of the AFC Central behind quarterback Tony Banks, who was flinging passes to rookie wide receiver Travis Taylor.
Banks is now on the bench, and Taylor, who fractured his clavicle in Sunday's 9-6 loss to Pittsburgh, could be lost for the season. Patrick Johnson will start in his place Sunday in Cincinnati.
Taylor had three touchdown catches for the Ravens, including an 8-yarder in a 37-0 rout of the Bengals on Sept. 24. Baltimore scored four TDs that game — and hasn't reached the end zone since.
The drought is about to reach record proportions. The Ravens are one quarter short of matching the 1991 Indianapolis Colts' string of 21 quarters without a touchdown, the longest streak in the NFL since the 1970 merger.
That Colts team finished 1-15. By contrast, the Ravens (5-4) won the first two games during their horrendous offensive stretch and own the top-ranked defense in the NFL. The playoffs are still within reach, but not if Baltimore can't snap a touchdown slump that has covered more than 306 minutes and 58 possessions.
“The bottom line is winning and losing, and the numbers are just fine,” coach Brian Billick said Monday. “But if we're going where we want to go, we're going to have to find some explosiveness in our passing game. We have got to enhance our passing game, and that is something we will focus on.”
Trent Dilfer took over for the slumping Tony Banks at quarterback on Sunday, but little changed. Like Banks, Dilfer made a critical mistake with Baltimore within striking distance of a touchdown, fumbling a third-down snap to kill an opening drive that reached the Pittsburgh 9.
Dilfer went 11-for-24 for 152 yards and an interception.
“I'll take some ugly throws, I'll take some uncomfortableness,” Dilfer said, “but I didn't want any of those mistakes.”
Dilfer's two turnovers was only part of the problem. Missed blocks, dropped passes and untimely penalties were also a factor.
“There are things you can pinpoint, so it's a matter of putting out one brushfire after another,” Billick said. ”...I have confidence that the talent we have here can get the job done.”
Billick took some of the blame, admitting that he incorporated a conservative game plan to avoid turnovers. The strategy worked for seven weeks, but Baltimore has seven turnovers in its last two games.
“Maybe we do have to open it up a little bit. We were winning with it, but clearly the last two weeks it wasn't enough,” Billick said.
Five games without a touchdown clearly is too much.
“When it happened the first time, we said anything can happen and we won the ball game. It happened again, and you're like, OK,” tight end Shannon Sharpe said. “But third time, fourth time, fifth time. When is it going to stop?”
Billick plans to spend the days ahead working long and hard to find a solution.
“Stress and frustration are a part of the business,” Billick said. “The challenge that is in front of us, based on what we've been through, I love it. I love the fact that I will look at the film and try to find a way to help these guys out of it. And when we do, it will be that much more satisfying.”
Bengals Stories
Reds have until Wednesday to woo Piniella
Reds to pay $1.8M for Taubensee
Locals fill NBA ranks
Titans 27, Redskins 21
Cooper might change quarterbacks
Mumme gives self failing grade for 2-6 Kentucky
Lakota East's goalie wants title
Holy Cross wins soccer sectional
Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball
Undefeated Colerain wears city crown
Highlands tops N.Ky. poll
Enquirer football polls
Newport football coach resigns
Boys soccer tournament schedule
Girls soccer tournament schedule
Volleyball tournament schedule
• Return to Bengals front page...
Said the Ravens: Can we score?
