McNair Shows What He Can Do

It didn’t take Steve McNair long to show what he can mean to the Baltimore Ravens.

Playing with the confidence and poise that figure to relieve pressure from a perennially stout but overworked defense, the 2003 NFL co-MVP led a long touchdown drive after the opening kickoff and spent the rest of the day enjoying Ray Lewis & Co. at their best in a 27-0 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“This team knows what I can do. It’s the people that [are] outside looking in that don’t know,” said McNair, obtained from Tennessee in a trade after the Titans decided he no longer fit their plans. “I’m still able to play this game to a high level.”

Chris McAlister returned one of the Ravens’ three interceptions 61 yards for a touchdown, and 340-pound rookie Haloti Ngata lumbered 60 yards with a tipped pass to set up a field goal to help build a 17-0 halftime lead.

Baltimore won on the road for the first time since beating the New York Jets, 20-17, in overtime on Nov. 14, 2004, ending an 11-game skid that was the longest in the NFL. The Buccaneers were shut out at home for the first time since 1996 after going 77 games without being blanked.

“We had a mind-set just to come play our type of football, and we did,” Lewis said. “Our offense, you have to tip your hats to them.... They made life easy for us.”

McNair completed 17 of 27 passes for 181 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions against the league’s No. 1 defense from last season.

The Ravens sacked Chris Simms twice, limited Carnell “Cadillac” Williams to 22 yards rushing in eight carries and held Simms’ favorite target, receiver Joey Galloway, without a catch. The Bucs managed only 142 yards total offense.

“We fell behind,” Williams said, “and things just fell apart.”