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Ravens 27, Titans 26

Ravens connect with past

McNair-to-Mason TD, blocked kick stir memories, cap team's best-ever comeback

By Jamison Hensley | Sun Reporter

November 13, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Ravens took another major step on their road back to the playoffs yesterday by making a detour down memory lane.

From another blocked field goal in Music City to Steve McNair re-connecting with Derrick Mason for a game-winning touchdown on their old turf, the Ravens' stirring 27-26 come-from-behind victory over the Tennessee Titans dripped with nostalgia.

A game that began with a standing ovation for McNair ended with the veteran quarterback throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Mason, his former Titans teammate. McNair's third touchdown pass of the game put the Ravens ahead 27-26 with 3:35 remaining, which was enough time for the Titans to move into field-goal range.

But defensive end Trevor Pryce blocked the 43-yard attempt by Rob Bironas with 43 seconds left in the game, preserving the biggest comeback victory (19 points down) in the Ravens' 11-year history.

Six seasons ago on this same field, the Ravens won a divisional playoff game when Keith Washington blocked Al Del Greco's kick and Anthony Mitchell returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.

Before yesterday's field-goal attempt, McNair said he told himself: "Here we go again."

"I was hoping that I was going to be on the good side of it now," said McNair, who had two of his young sons, both dressed in his Ravens No. 9 jersey, leaning up against him. "It was so strange and scary. It was all deja vu all over again."

In his first game against his old team, McNair set season highs in completions (29), passing yards (373) and touchdown passes (three).

It was an emotional homecoming, from fans holding signs that read "No. 9, you're still fine" to the 20-second montage on the LP Field scoreboard just before kickoff.

"Once we stepped out on the field, you could tell he was ready to go," said Mason, a longtime teammate in Tennessee. "You could tell this game meant just that little bit more. He wanted to go out there and play well. That's expected when you're with an organization for 11 years and they let you go. You want to come back and prove you can still play."

The Ravens' third straight victory improved their record to 7-2, their best mark ever after nine games. It also extended their lead in the AFC North to three games over Cincinnati (4-5) and tied Denver for the second-best record in the AFC.

"We want to be a championship team," receiver Mark Clayton said, "and these are steps that you definitely have to take if you want to win championships."

The Titans (2-7) looked more like the championship team early, taking advantage of the banged-up Ravens defense to take a 26-7 lead in the second quarter.

Already without linebacker Ray Lewis (back), the Ravens quickly lost his replacement, Mike Smith, who hurt his shoulder in the first series. The Ravens' middle linebacker became Dennis Haley, who was just promoted from the practice squad yesterday.

"We were making up defenses on the fly," Pryce said. "I had no idea what was going on half the time."

The Ravens regrouped during halftime, simplifying their scheme to a few basic calls to solve the Titans' offense.

In the first half, the Ravens gave up 26 points and 267 yards. In the second half, they shut out Tennessee and allowed 100 yards.

"We didn't match their emotion at the beginning of the game," linebacker Bart Scott said. "They hit us in the mouth and we took a standing eight count. But we came back and got the job done."

Some of the biggest wounds were self-inflicted.

The Ravens' tempers flared up throughout the game, as they received four penalties for poor conduct. Tony Pashos, Jonathan Ogden, Chris McAlister and even coach Brian Billick all received flags.

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Ravens connect with past

McNair-to-Mason TD, blocked kick stir memories, cap team's best-ever comeback

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Ravens connect with past

McNair-to-Mason TD, blocked kick stir memories, cap team's best-ever comeback

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