Wham-Bam Effort Gives Ravens a Win

The Baltimore Ravens actually have a running game. It’s merely that until they ran into the Washington Redskins, they never really felt the urge to use it.

The Redskins’ reign at their new stadium ended Sunday in a driving rain under a barrage of carries by Bam Morris, who ran 36 times for 176 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore’s 20-17 victory.

Morris, who set career highs in attempts and rushing yards, gained 103 yards in 19 attempts in the first half. Given that production, the Ravens (4-4) kept the NFL’s No. 1 passing offense under wraps.

“If you have a running game, you have to use it,” Morris said. “The whole emphasis this week was we have to be physical and run the ball.”

And run they did. Vinny Testaverde threw a touchdown pass for the 12th consecutive game, but spent most of the soggy afternoon simply handing the ball to Morris against the NFL’s second-worst defense against the run. Testaverde attempted only 21 passes, completing 10 for 142 yards.

“It was muddy. It was rainy. We just figured, ‘Hey, let’s run it down their throats,’ ” Morris said.

The Ravens fumbled five times but recovered four and never trailed in the first meeting between Maryland’s two NFL teams. The Redskins (4-4) were 3-0 since moving from RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. to Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.

Until this game, it had pretty much been a tough season for Morris, a four-year veteran who started the season serving a four-week suspension for violating the NFL policy on substance abuse. He also served time in jail two weeks ago for violating his probation on last year’s arrest for drug possession.