Cunningham Is a Good Backup Plan

If Randall Cunningham doesn’t play another down, he has already done plenty for the Baltimore Ravens in what he’s calling his final NFL season.

Subbing for the injured Elvis Grbac, Cunningham led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives as the Ravens rallied to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 18-17, Sunday.

Signed as an insurance policy in May, the 38-year-old Cunningham paid big returns in his first start with Baltimore, going 23 of 31 for 222 yards--including seven for seven for 76 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“Regardless of how confident you are or how poised you are, there’s something to having been there before,” Raven Coach Brian Billick said. “The great ones, that’s what you rely on.”

Cunningham might be on the bench next week, because Grbac is expected to return from bruised ribs. But on this day, Cunningham rescued the Super Bowl championsfrom dipping below .500 for the first time since 1999.

“There was a lot of anxiety, because it’s been a while since I’ve been in this role,” Cunningham said. “But for the first time in my career I feel a different level of maturity, where I can lead people.”

Baltimore trailed, 17-6, before rookie Jason Brookins ran in from the two-yard line and Cunningham threw a disputed two-yard touchdown pass to Qadry Ismail to help Baltimore (4-3) to win for the first time in three games.

If it was the final performance of Cunningham’s career, then so be it.

“I don’t know if I’ll play next week or anymore,” he said. “I’m retiring after this season.”

Brookins, playing for the injured Terry Allen, ran for 82 yards in 19 carries, and the Raven defense stiffened in the closing minutes with the Jaguars driving for the go-ahead score.

The game was similar to last year’s shootout in Baltimore, when the Ravens overcame a brilliant performance by Jacksonville’s Jimmy Smith in a 39-36 comeback win.

Smith caught 15 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns in that game. This time, he had seven catches for 119 yards--his sixth 100-yard game against Baltimore--and a touchdown.

Just like last year, however, the effort couldn’t produce a victory for Jacksonville (2-4).

“We did some good things today, but not enough,” said Jaguar quarterback Mark Brunell, who was 25 for 34 for 304 yards and two touchdowns.