By LEO ROTH
Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle

BALTIMORE - Cornerback Deion Sanders had a premonition during the Baltimore Ravens' team breakfast.

"I told the guys, 'When I get into the end zone, stand back, let me dance first, then you can congratulate me,'" the man called Prime Time said. "True story."

Here's something else that's true.

The Buffalo Bills are 1-5 and looking as lost as ever after a turnover-filled 20-6 loss to Baltimore on Sunday where 69,809 fans at M&T Bank Stadium sat in the rain to watch the Purple reign over quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Co.

So much for the Bills building momentum after last weekend's victory over Miami.

With four interceptions, four sacks and a recovered fumble against Bledsoe, the Raven-ous Baltimore defense led by Sanders and Ray Lewis could've danced all night.

Sanders had two major interceptions, one he returned 48 yards for a touchdown in the first half and one in the end zone in the second half when the Bills - late starters as usual - moved the ball on five promising drives and outgained Baltimore 202-17 with 11 first downs to Baltimore's one but couldn't find the end zone.

Buffalo's 0-4 day in the red zone included three failed goal-to-go opportunities, producing a lot of red faces in the locker room and plenty of questions about how much more the defense, which played well enough again to win, can take.

"It was a very winnable game," linebacker Takeo Spikes said. "I felt like we had something that we started in the second half of the Miami game. I felt like, looking at our opponents, 'OK, maybe we can get some things to go our way.' But this is one that you wish you could have back."

Bledsoe certainly would like it back. Unfortunately, he rekindled his critics' attacks.

Buffalo fell to 0-3 on the road this year and 2-13 since midway through 2002, Bledsoe's first season with the club.

In that block of games, Buffalo is minus-34 in takeaways with Bledsoe throwing 22 interceptions and being sacked 53 times.

"It's a team game. They'll stand by us," Bledsoe said when asked about any pressure he may be feeling after he and his offensive mates threw away another strong defensive showing. "For our part, we have to score more points. We had the ball in the red zone about 100 times today and couldn't put it in the end zone. That's the story of the game."

In a game pitting two of the NFL's poorest offenses and two of its best defenses, it was felt that whomever had the fewest turnovers and got to double digits first would win.

Well, the Ravens' offense, missing suspended All-Pro running back Jamal Lewis, turned the ball over just once and jumped to a 17-3 halftime lead.

Quarterback Kyle Boller directed a 54-yard drive to a field goal then an 83-yard drive to a touchdown that was set up by a 47-yard strike to Travis Taylor. The Ravens offense, which gained a mere 2.9 yards per play, then turned the keys over to its sixth-ranked defense.

The Bills, who took a 3-0 lead on a 24-yard field goal set up by an Aaron Schobel sack/forced fumble, were on the march when they appeared to get a bit too fancy. A fake reverse by Bledsoe nearly resulted in a sack. Two plays later, wide receiver Eric Moulds lined up in the backfield and took a fake pitch from Bledsoe, who then swung a high pass back across field to running back Willis McGahee. The ball was tipped by safety Chad Williams into the hands of Sanders, who took it to the house.

At 37 years, 76 days, Sanders became the second oldest player in NFL history with an interception return for a TD.

"Anytime I give up a pass, (the critics) will talk," said Sanders, who came out of retirement after this season started. "Michael Jordan warned me. He said, 'If you can handle the criticism, you're going to make it.' I'm a 37-year-old kid out there."

Sanders' high-stepping just made it that much more of a miserable day for the Bills.

On their opening drive, Buffalo had to settle for a field goal because of a false start by Mike Williams.

To open the third quarter, Bledsoe threw badly behind a wide-open Moulds on second-and-goal at the Ravens' 5, forcing them to settle for another three points. Buffalo's final five possessions then ended with turnovers: a sack/fumble, three interceptions, and a turnover on downs.

Along with Sanders' end zone pick on a badly thrown ball into double coverage, strong safety Chad Williams intercepted Bledsoe at the goal line on a third-down pass intended for Lee Evans that was tipped by Lewis. Williams returned it 93 yards to set up Matt Stover's clinching 19-yard field goal.

Bledsoe was livid with the officials on the Williams interception.

"An unbelievable poor call," said Bledsoe, who finished with a horrific 32.3 rating. "Ray Lewis just grabbed Lee Evans around the waist, basically tackled him. I saw him grab him and I just figured I'd throw the ball to Lee, we'll get the call, and it'll be first and goal. Instead, they don't throw the flag, the ball gets tipped and it goes back the other direction."

For the Bills, they go back to the drawing board.

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