Ron Borges

Since Steve McNair took over as the starter in Tennessee in 1997, the Ravens have gone through 13 quarterbacks, 10 since coach Brian Billick arrived in 1999. Now McNair is under center for the Ravens, and his presence should go a long way toward improving an anemic offense that has been the polar opposite of Baltimore's stingy defense.

McNair was cast out of Tennessee in the offseason after an ugly salary cap dispute. He finally landed with the Ravens, as had been predicted for months, giving Baltimore a franchise quality leader who led Tennessee to a Super Bowl appearance.

McNair has suffered with an assortment of serious injuries the past few seasons after sacrificing his body repeatedly for the Titans, and he's willing to do the same in Baltimore if he has to. But if a line that is beginning to show a little age can protect him and running back Jamal Lewis can get back to resembling the guy who rushed for 2,000 yards not too many years ago, there's no real reason McNair can't return to Pro Bowl form.

McNair threw for 3,161 yards on a dreadful team last season, so his arm can still deliver. He's also a born leader. This summer, McNair won over his new teammates, who had grown weary of the failures of young Kyle Boller, and gained confidence that an offensive line that may be beginning to slip can keep him in one piece.

Lewis, too, must prove he still wants to run hard and is capable of it. In 2003, he averaged 5.3 yards a carry. Last season it was 3.4 a carry, a dropoff that has to be reversed for the Ravens' offense to flourish again. The Ravens committed to Lewis over his backup, Chester Taylor, in the offseason. One had to go, and the Ravens opted to retain the 245-pound Lewis, but they also signed former 1,000-yard rusher Mike Anderson as insurance. Lewis remains the man, but he'll be closely watched to see if the wear-and-tear of headbanging for five seasons has worn him out.

Defensively, the Ravens were fifth in total defense and 10th in points allowed, but they were not the same intimidating defense they had been the past few years. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis missed 10 games, and former defensive MVP Ed Reed missed six. Both are back to full health and looking intimidating once again. Some feel Lewis has lost a step, although he thinks not and intends to prove it.

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Lewis kept complaining his real problem beyond his injuries was that he needed a big defensive lineman in front of him to absorb blocks and let him run free like he had when Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams were Ravens. Lewis got a big man in 340-pound No. 1 draft choice Haloti Ngata. Ngata has been installed at defensive tackle, and he'll take up a lot of space so the excuses are gone for Lewis, who must show he hasn't lost his ferocious attitude or the speed that once allowed him to make plays all over the field. If he hasn't, the Ravens should be improved, because McNair will make enough big throws to take some pressure off the defense and Ngata will keep enough bodies off Lewis for reduce that pressure even more.

Hot seat
Brian Billick. The Ravens have gone from 10 wins to nine to six the past three years. They missed the playoffs the past two seasons and three of the past four. Their offense was one of the lowest scoring in the league (25th) in 2005. Time and patience with Billick have run out in Baltimore. He has to win this year or pack. Owner Steve Bisciotti announced publicly he was reviewing his coach's approach during the offseason and only brought him back after he agreed to a public scolding and a promise to change his often arrogant approach, both within the organization and in public. Now Billick has to do something that may be harder than swallowing his pride: He has to win games.

Overheard
Young wide receiver Mark Clayton is being looked upon as one guy who will greatly benefit from McNair's arrival. He had 44 catches as a rookie last season serving as the No. 2 receiver next to McNair's ex-teammate, Derrick Mason (86 catches for 1073 yards but only three touchdowns). Clayton is very explosive, and his play improved as the season wore on. The Ravens believe it will improve significantly because of McNair.

Outlook
This is a tough division with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. It would take an unusually productive season from McNair and Jamal Lewis to get into the playoffs and an equally rock-ribbed one from Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed, the back-to-back Defensive Players of the Year, who were both hurt last season. That seems to be asking a lot, but the Ravens will be significantly improved if McNair stays healthy.

Prediction
Third.

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