FOR USE AS DESIRED

NFL-96                1/4/02

 

RAVENS’ PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS ON LINE

VS. VIKINGS MONDAY NIGHT

 

They might already be in.  Or they might need a win to get in.

 

The Baltimore Ravens don’t know what the situation will be so they are preparing to defeat the Minnesota Vikings this week in the final installment of ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football.

 

“Our main objective of getting back to the playoffs is in our hands,” says Ravens head coach BRIAN Billick.  “You can’t ask for more than that.”

 

Baltimore, the defending Super Bowl champion, has yet to clinch a playoff berth.  They can do so this Monday night with a win or tie against Minnesota, OR with a Seattle loss or tie to Kansas City, OR with a New York Jets’ loss to Oakland.  The latter two scenarios can occur on Sunday, so it’s possible the Ravens already will have clinched a playoff berth before stepping onto the field Monday night.

 

Baltimore tight end SHANNON SHARPE, a three-time Super Bowl champion who is used to pressure, wants to be in a must-win situation on Monday night.

 

“I hope we have to win Monday night to get into the playoffs,” says Sharpe.  “I want Seattle and the Jets to win on Sunday. I don’t want to get in because somebody else is unfortunate.  I want a sense of urgency and the national spotlight on us, and I want to see how we respond.  It would be just like the playoffs.  Do or die.  Force us to make it happen.  That’s what we need.”

 

But even if Baltimore has already clinched a playoff berth, crucial AFC playoff seedings may still depend upon the outcome of the Ravens-Vikings’ game.  The Ravens themselves may stand to benefit.

 

For example, Baltimore can still host a Wild Card game and enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed – the same position they were in a year ago when they went on to win Super Bowl XXXV.  The Ravens would need a win over Minnesota AND a Miami loss to Buffalo on Sunday.  BUT how much Miami loses by changes the scenario because of the net-conference-points tie-breaker.  Baltimore will be the fourth seed with:

 

 

But winning the game at hand will be no easy task for the Ravens despite the frenzy that Baltimore fans will surely be in as the city hosts its first MNF game since November 6, 1978 when the then-Baltimore Colts beat the Washington Redskins 21-17 at Memorial Stadium.

 

Minnesota’s offense – which was once headed by Billick as the team’s offensive coordinator from 1994-98 -- still has many explosive players to test the great Ravens defense.  One is wide receiver RANDY MOSS, who has excelled on Monday Night Football.  In seven career Monday-night games, Moss has 39 catches for 863 yards (a 22.1-yard average) for 123.3 yards per game and 10 touchdowns.

 

Moss also will be vying to make history.  He needs just 76 receiving yards to become the first player in NFL history with four consecutive 1,300-yard seasons.  Moss is tied at three 1,300-yard seasons with MICHAEL IRVIN and JERRY RICE, who accomplished the feat twice.

 

But Baltimore would be more than happy to allow Moss his history-making stats if it ensured the Ravens a second consecutive playoff berth.  One thing is for sure -- after this game, it will all be decided.