Less than 24 hours after getting knocked around in Miami, Brian Billick refused to pull any punches on his team's future yesterday.

The Ravens coach said the team might have to consider placing injured quarterback Chris Redman on injured reserve as soon as next week and have to face the bleak reality of not making a third straight trip to the playoffs.

"At 4-6, we're a long shot at best," Billick said.

After watching the error-filled tape of Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Dolphins, Billick acknowledged the fall of a team that sat atop the AFC North 3 1/2 weeks ago.

Although the Ravens are 1 1/2 games back of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, Billick says he believes they would have to win their remaining six games - four of which are against teams at .500 or better - to have a chance at the postseason.

"I find it hard to believe 9-7 will get into the playoffs," Billick said. "It doesn't do us any good to focus on that. We have so much to gain with the next six games. I don't want to say it's not about the wins - because it's always about the wins and losses - but it's more about the learning curve."

The Ravens are hoping to learn more about Redman's status by next week.

After running the Ravens' scout team last week, Redman again felt pain shooting down his right leg. He had a cortisone injection - his second since a disc in his lower back hit a nerve 3 1/2 weeks ago - to alleviate the pain. He did not attend team meetings yesterday.

If Redman still has the same soreness and recurring pains next week, the Ravens will discuss the option of placing him on injured reserve, which would end his season. That would nullify any quarterback controversy and give the offensive reins for the rest of the season to Jeff Blake, who is 1-3 with a quarterback rating of 70.5 as the team's starter.

"If Chris is not quicker to progress, we may have to address that," Billick said. "At some point, he either starts to turn the corner or we say this has lingered long enough. Going with two quarterbacks [Blake and Anthony Wright] is dangerous, and you leave yourself very vulnerable. When the doctors tell me that this becomes long term enough that it threatens his chance to finish out the season, then we'll take the appropriate steps."

Redman, who was 3-3 as the Ravens' starter, is more optimistic about his situation. The first-year starter still holds hope to return this season after receiving good news from yesterday's examination.

"She [Dr. Leigh Ann Curl] thought it was going in the right direction," Redman said, "and that it didn't need surgery."

Losers of three of their past four games, the Ravens have watched their season go in the wrong direction. The Ravens lacked their usual emotional intensity against Cincinnati two weeks ago and lacked any mental focus at Miami on Sunday.

This slide could be blamed on a young team wearing down. With 14 of 22 starters having less than two full seasons with the first team, the Ravens are showing physical and mental strain because those players are used to having their college season ending now.

"That is legitimate, but I don't want to make that an excuse," Billick said.

Withering away in the second half of the season has never been a concern before because the Ravens had a more veteran team.

The Ravens had the best record in the NFL in November and December from 1999 to 2001, winning 18 of 23 games in Billick's first three seasons. But his younger team is 1-2 so far in November.

The Ravens have tried to avoid their players hitting the wall by schooling them about going to the training room, eating right and limiting their nightlife. If instruction doesn't motivate the players, Billick has another incentive: If you can't do the job, they'll find someone else who can.

"Make me not worry about your position. Make me go spend that draft choice or some of that $20 million in cap money someplace else," Billick said. "That's going to be their challenge over the next six weeks."

One of 15 rookies on the roster, receiver Ron Johnson said it's no secret what it takes to persevere.

"Of course, you're tired," said Johnson, who has made such costly mistakes as penalties and dropped passes. "It's a long season. You have to get used to it. If you get tired, you just have to push through it."

Next for Ravens

Matchup: Ravens (4-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (6-4)

Site: Ravens Stadium

When: Sunday, 1 p.m.

TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WQSR (102.7 FM)

Line: Titans by 1 1/2

SunSpot: For more coverage, visit sunspot.net/ravens