Ravens’ Poor Play a Mystery to Them

Trent Dilfer insists that somebody else was wearing his uniform.

Dilfer had an awful day Sunday as the Baltimore Ravens barely sidestepped an embarrassing stumble on their heady rush to the playoffs.

Arizona’s woeful Cardinals blew five chances inside the Baltimore 30 and the Ravens held on for a 13-7 victory, their sixth in a row.

“Here is my story,” Dilfer said. “I was in the locker room before the game and some guy hit me across my face and taped me in my locker, took my uniform and went and played.

“I don’t know what happened. I’m just trying to put some humor on this.”

Baltimore’s offense was a throwback to October, when it failed to score a touchdown in five games.

Dilfer completed 12 of 22 passes for 70 yards, was sacked four times and had a pass intercepted in the end zone.

Arizona’s Michael Pittman fumbled when he was knocked unconscious at the Baltimore eight, and the Cardinals’ Terry Hardy fumbled trying to score after a reception at the Raven five.

The Cardinals also had a failed quarterback sneak on fourth and inches at the 28, a missed 46-yard field goal attempt by Cary Blanchard. Finally, a batted-down pass by Ray Lewis saved the Ravens (11-4).

Baltimore Coach Brian Billick called it a good warmup for the playoffs, even though it came against a team that has now lost six in a row and had been outscored by an average of 24 points in its previous five.

“If you could script it as a coach going into the playoffs, you need a few challenges, and this was a challenge today,” Billick said.

Arizona (3-12) outgained Baltimore, 309 yards to 214.

“We couldn’t get anything going,” Raven receiver Shannon Sharpe said. “Their defense stepped up.”

The Ravens, who play the New York Jets in their regular-season finale Sunday, need one shutout to tie the NFL record of five in a season set by Pittsburgh in 1976.

The Ravens can break the league record for fewest points given up in a 16-game season. The Ravens must hold the Jets to 41 points or fewer to break the mark of 187 set by the 1986 Chicago Bears.