Baltimore (6-10) at Tampa Bay (11-5)

SCOUTING REPORT

Clash of titans This intriguing matchup features two teams with playoff-caliber defenses and outstanding running backs in Jamal Lewis and Cadillac Williams. For the Ravens, the offseason was about getting a quarterback (Steve McNair) in place who could lead this organization back to the Super Bowl. The Ravens finally have a strong enough supporting cast on offense that the defense doesn't have to carry this team in 2006. Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was one of the most impressive young coaches in the league last season. Let's see what he can do this year with a healthy Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. For the Buccaneers, head coach Jon Gruden is one of the best gameday coaches in the NFL when it comes to offensive playcalling. QB Chris Simms enters his first season as the full-time signal caller with a strong supporting cast at the skill positions. Again, the Buccaneers should have one of the top defenses in the NFL, led by Simeon Rice, Anthony McFarland, Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
BAL	13-3	353	201	7-1	6-2	5-1	10-2
TAM	4-12	211	353	3-5	1-7	0-6	2-10
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Baltimore Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Flacco 65.4 2455 12 8 Smith 50.0 4 0 0

Tampa Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Johnso... 50.4 685 4 8 Leftwi... 54.2 594 4 3

Baltimore Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Rice 148 733 5.0 6 McGahe... 66 261 4.0 5

Tampa Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Willia... 117 450 3.8 3 Ward 66 243 3.7 1

Baltimore Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Mason 45 672 14.9 4 Rice 56 515 9.2 1

Tampa Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Winslo... 47 483 10.3 5 Bryant 19 269 14.2 2

Full Player Stats: Baltimore | Tampa Bay

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	BAL	293.0
	TAM	295.0
Yards Passing	BAL	193.0
	TAM	180.6
Yards Rushing	BAL	100.3
	TAM	114.1
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	BAL	284.3
	TAM	277.8
Pass Yds Allowed	BAL	184.9
	TAM	183.1
Rush Yds Allowed	BAL	99.4
	TAM	94.7

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Tampa Bay leads 2-1
Sep 15, 2002	BAL 0, @TAM 25
Dec 29, 2001	BAL 10, TAM 22

Baltimore (6-10) at Tampa Bay (11-5) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Two Super Bowl-winning coaches face off when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Baltimore Ravens in an interconference game on Sunday.

Jon Gruden is in his fifth year as coach of the Buccaneers and guided them to a Super Bowl title in 2002 and the NFC South crown last season.

Brian Billick directed the Ravens to their first Super Bowl title in 2000. Along the way, they beat Gruden, who was then the coach of the Oakland Raiders, in the AFC championship game.

But since that magical season, Baltimore is just 42-38, including a 6-10 mark last year.

A change needed to be made. Billick kept his job, but quarterback Kyle Boller didn't keep his. The Ravens acquired three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Steve McNair from the Tennessee Titans in June.

McNair, 33, led the Titans to the first Super Bowl in franchise history in 2000 and compiled a record of 81-59 as a starter.

"He's a competitor and a leader and we're delighted to have him on our team after competing against him all these years," Billick said.

The addition of McNair may be enough to make the Ravens a Super Bowl contender, although they were 0-8 on the road last season. They have dropped 11 in a row away from home dating to a victory over the New York Jets on November 14, 2004.

The Titans were just 4-12, but McNair could hardly be faulted for that. He threw for 3,161 yards and 16 touchdowns with 11 interceptions and made the Pro Bowl for the third time. But only three teams allowed more points than the Titans.

"I'm just happy to be on a team with a great defense," McNair said. "Everybody says I'm the savior for this team, but this team is the savior for me because I'm in a situation that everybody wishes to be in."

Just three years ago, McNair was named as the NFL's co-MVP after passing for 3,215 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

One of his targets then was Derrick Mason, who now is in his second year with the Ravens.

Mark Clayton, a first-round pick in 2005, and tight end Todd Heap are Baltimore's other top receivers. It could especially be a big season for Heap. Last season, three of Tennessee's tight ends - Ben Troupe, Erron Kinney and Bo Scaife - combined for 147 receptions.

The Buccaneers went from 6-10 in 2004 to 11-5 last season, mainly due to the emergence of Chris Simms, who replaced Brian Griese as the starting quarterback, and "Cadillac" Williams, who rushed for 1,178 yards as a rookie.

But both of these teams thrive on their defense.

Baltimore ranked fifth in defense last season despite losing middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed for extended periods of time. Lewis, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV, missed 10 games last year due to a torn hamstring. Reed, the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, was sidelined for six games because of a high ankle sprain.

The Bucs under longtime coordinator Monte Kiffin ranked first in defense last season and return all 11 starters. Defensive end Simeon Rice had 14 sacks, linebacker Derrick Brooks made the Pro Bowl for the ninth straight year and cornerback Ronde Barber recorded 98 tackles and five sacks.

The Bucs beat Baltimore, 25-0, in the last meeting between Gruden and Billick in September 2002.

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