It seemed, at least for a few games, that Billy Cundiff had brought some stability to the Ravens' kicking game after he was signed to replace Steve Hauschka at midseason. He made nine of his first 11 field-goal attempts, including the game-winner at home in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 29.

But he didn't finish the season particularly strong, converting just three of six tries in the Ravens' final three games, including a 37-yard miss and a 51-yard miss in the regular-season finale against the Oakland Raiders.

In Cundiff's defense, bad snaps by Matt Katula might have contributed to both his misses against Oakland. That's the way Katula sees it, at least, vowing that he had to do something to "earn back Billy's trust" after the Raiders game.

But Cundiff is convinced he can make a field goal beyond 50 yards, and that if given the opportunity to make a kick like that in the playoffs, he'll nail it.

"It wasn't like I didn't have that in me," Cundiff said. "It wasn't like I went out there thinking, 'OK, Coach is making me kick a 51-yarder and this is out of my range.' Things just got thrown off a bit. I didn't kick the ball as well as I should have, but then you look at it and it's a terrible operation, a terrible kick, and it should have easily been a make. Things just didn't click this game."

The one wild card is the weather in New England, which could be cold and snowy Sunday. Cundiff has kicked at Gillette Stadium before - sort of - but not since 2003 when he was with the Dallas Cowboys and the playing surface was natural grass. The Patriots now use synthetic turf, similar to what the Ravens have at M&T; Bank Stadium.

"We played a Sunday night game there in 2003, but I actually didn't get on the field because we got shut out 13-0," Cundiff said. "So technically I haven't kicked there. But I had a workout there in 2007. It's the same as it is here [in Baltimore]. It's going to be cold and there is going to be a little bit of wind. The wind comes into play when you're kicking longer field goals. But it's really just about committing to a good line, kicking it down that line and trusting it. [Because] if you don't, that's when the wind starts to affect you. If you're committed to the shot, it will go right where you want it."

Cundiff hasn't kicked in the playoffs since 2006, when he was 0-for-1 in the New Orleans Saints' 39-14 loss to the Chicago Bears in the NFC championship. But he conceded that two years of knowing he was kicking for his job in every workout might help him handle the playoff pressure this week. It's unclear whether he'll be in the Ravens' plans next season, but a good performance in the postseason could bolster his case.

"For me, you could say the playoffs are a situation where I've got nothing to lose," Cundiff said. "That's how I view it. I've been out of football, I've been counted out by a lot of people. I've had a lot of workouts. I've had a lot of situations where people have written me off. So the only thing I can do is go out there, do my best and let it all hang out. As cliche as it sounds, that's my only option. There is really nothing to worry about. A year ago, I'm sitting at home. Where do I want to be? I just want to be on any team. Now I'm on a team that's in the playoffs. This is the best situation I could have ever asked for."

Rookie success

Michael Oher played in just one bowl game in four years at Mississippi. He has already matched that postseason success in his first year in the NFL.

The rookie offensive tackle gets his first taste of the playoffs when the Ravens visit the Patriots. Oher already understands the intensity surrounding Sunday's contest.

"It's definitely up a notch," he said. "The sense of urgency is going to be up a little bit, and there's definitely going to be a different feeling with the game."

Oher, 23, has started every game this season - including five at left tackle in place of the injured Jared Gaither. But Oher said his mindset for Sunday is slightly different.

"People always say you approach every game the same. You don't," he said. "You get fired up [more] for some games than you do others. This will be one of those games where you're fired up like you're playing your rival."

With Gaither expected to man the left side, Oher will return to right tackle and could tangle with Patriots defensive end Ty Warren, who had some not-so-nice things to say about Oher after the teams' first meeting.

"As a young player, he's a little mouthy," Warren said Oct. 5, the day after the game. "I didn't respect that much. ... It wasn't genuine. Some people say stuff they mean, and other times people say stuff for a crowd. It wasn't all directed toward me. It was real ... fraudulent. I just don't respect stuff like that. But I can see him being a good player in this league."

Reminded of those comments, Oher didn't offer much of a reaction - or apologize.

"It's football, so it's a physical game," he said. "I don't care about what people say about me. I just play football and go out there and try to compete and win games."

Not a backup by choice

Although his 14 touchdowns (12 rushing, two receiving) are tied for fourth-most in the NFL this season and his 2,422 rushing yards with the Ravens rank second in franchise history, Willis McGahee understands his role as the backup to Ray Rice.

But that doesn't mean McGahee has entirely embraced the notion that he can't be a starter elsewhere.

"I don't think anybody's comfortable with being a backup," he said Thursday. "I was always one of those guys that wanted more touches or whatnot, but right now, that's not the issue. The issue is to keep on working to the playoffs."

Redemption for Yanda

Marshal Yanda banged up his knee in the Ravens' game against the Raiders but said it wasn't a serious injury and wouldn't limit what he could do this week.

"I just got her banged up a bit and it's pretty sore," Yanda said. "But nothing's wrong. A couple of days off helped. I just iced it down, and it's not a big deal."

Yanda lost a starting battle in training camp to guard Chris Chester because he was still recovering from a knee injury the previous year, but later in the season, he beat Chester out when the Ravens decided to focus more on their power running game instead of throwing the ball. The first time the Ravens faced the Patriots, however, Yanda received significant playing time when Gaither went down with a neck injury. His performance that day wasn't one Yanda recalls fondly.

"I didn't play good enough," Yanda said. "I had a couple plays where I could have done a lot better. I had a third-and-1 where I whiffed on a guy and Ray got stuffed and we went for it on fourth-and-1 and got beat again. That was tough. I had a couple plays I really wanted back. I definitely want to play better out there and help the team out and not hurt the team."

A special end to practice

Thursday's practice came to a close with former owner Art Modell and current director of player development O.J. Brigance breaking the huddle. Modell is 84 years old, and Brigance, a former Ravens and Baltimore Stallions linebacker, is fighting Lou Gehrig's disease.

Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said the team was honored by Modell's and Brigance's presence.

"With O.J., just to have him around is everything," Mattison said. "And I mentioned to him when he was coming out, that this is going to be the kind of defensive game O.J.'s going to be proud of. Just the way he played the game, it's just so great to have him out there. And Art, he's what the Ravens stand for. He is the Ravens, and when you have those kinds of people come out, that's special."

Getting healthy

The Ravens' health outlook for Sunday's game got a bit brighter as four of the five Ravens who were limited Wednesday were upgraded to full participation Thursday.

Free safety Ed Reed (strained groin), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (ankle), linebacker Tavares Gooden (groin) and Yanda (knee) practiced fully. Only backup cornerback Marcus Paschal (back), who was limited Wednesday, did not practice.

Quarterback Joe Flacco (hip), tight end Todd Heap (neck), linebacker Jarret Johnson (back), wide receiver Derrick Mason (knee), defensive end Trevor Pryce (head), safety Tom Zbikowski (neck) and Katula (right elbow tendinitis) practiced fully for the second consecutive day.

Eight Patriots starters in quarterback Tom Brady (right shoulder, right finger and right ribs), wide receiver Julian Edelman (forearm), defensive end Jarvis Green (knee), offensive tackle Nick Kaczur (shoulder), cornerback Shawn Springs (knee), Warren (ankle), tight end Benjamin Watson (knee) and nose tackle Vince Wilfork (foot) fully practiced for the second straight day.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jamison Hensley and Edward Lee contributed to this article.