Ravens Have No Problems

The Baltimore Ravens still have a shot at a winning season and a chance to compete in the playoffs.

Mike Ditka can only hope for the opportunity to do the same next season with the New Orleans Saints.

Tony Banks threw three touchdown passes and the Ravens tied a team record with four interceptions Sunday in a 31-8 rout of the listless Saints.

The victory gave Baltimore (7-7) a three-game winning streak for only the second time in the team’s four-year history. The Ravens, who never before won more than six games in a season, are at .500 in December and still in the running for a playoff spot.

“We’re trying to focus on a winning season and that’s it. We can only control so much,” linebacker Ray Lewis said. “Us controlling 9-7 is our destiny. Us controlling the playoff picture is not.”

As is usually the case this time of year, the Saints (2-12) have nothing to play for except pride.

“It’s just no fun. . . . It’s no fun for me, it’s no fun for these guys, it’s no fun for the owner and it’s no fun for the fans,” said a resigned and soft-spoken Ditka. “None of this is by design. It happens and sometimes it’s like a snowball--it starts and you just can’t stop it.”

Ditka is under contract through 2002, but he’s 14-32 at New Orleans. Owner Tom Benson has promised changes at the end of this season.

The Saints, who played without injured running back Ricky Williams, finished with 11 yards rushing and eight first downs.

Banks was 24 for 36 for 298 yards and three harmless interceptions before leaving early in the fourth quarter. Banks threw touchdown passes of 47 yards to Qadry Ismail, 34 yards to Priest Holmes and six yards to Justin Armour.