Win Would Make Baltimore’s Season

The stretch run is under way in the NFL, the time of year where some teams play for the playoffs and others play for their jobs.

When they meet today, the Denver Broncos (9-3) will be the team thinking about the Super Bowl and the Baltimore Ravens (4-8) will be trying to salvage something from a season gone wrong.

The Ravens were a trendy Super Bowl pick to start the season. Injuries and poor play at quarterback helped put an end to that. Coach Brian Billick’s job security is uncertain and even he has conceded he can’t wait for the season to end.

Before that, though, the Ravens have their honor to defend.

“I think every man in this locker room wants to play football,” defensive lineman Terrell Suggs said. “If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be here.”

The Broncos, meanwhile, lost to Kansas City last week and had their lead in the AFC West trimmed to one game. Denver is still a big favorite in the division, though, in part because the next three teams on its schedule -- Baltimore, Buffalo and Oakland -- all have 4-8 records.

The Broncos are 14-point favorites, the biggest favorite in the NFL this week, although there is some rather telling history in this series to point out. The Ravens have dominated the Broncos in the past, winning four straight under all kinds of circumstances -- in the playoffs, as underdogs, at home and on the road.

“It’s a different season, a different team,” Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister said. “But still, the confidence we have to go play Denver doesn’t waver one bit.”