Baltimore hasgone from favoriteto AFC also-ran

By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, November 21, 2007 11:20 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- The head coach listened to the question regarding his team's struggles, acknowledging that his team's record is below expectations and that a late-season turnaround is necessary.

He spoke about badly needing a victory this Sunday and touched on how injuries and inopportune turnovers have plagued his squad.

If you're trying to figure out how Norv Turner's assessment sounded, you can halt right there. The refrain was from Baltimore coach Brian Billick, the team the Chargers host Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.

In many ways, the Ravens (4-6) have endured a season that is quite similar to that of the Chargers (5-5). Preseason expectations had Baltimore pegged as one of the better teams in the AFC.

That hasn't come close to fruition, just like prognostications that claimed the Chargers to be runaway Super Bowl contenders.

"Clearly, both clubs had higher expectations," Billick said during a conference call on Wednesday. "But in this league, you see that. From one year to the next ---- you're talking about New Orleans, Chicago, ourselves, San Diego ---- the list goes on of teams that were in that upper echelon and had no reason to believe they weren't going to be there again. Then, as this league does, things happen to you and you find yourself in a different situation."

The Ravens have lost four consecutive games and are playing without oft-injured quarterback Steve McNair. They still have a sturdy defense, led by middle linebacker Ray Lewis and free safety Ed Reed, but are nowhere near the caliber of a team that went 13-3 last season.

Of course, the Chargers posted a league-best 14-2 mark under Marty Schottenheimer in 2006, but haven't come close to matching that success under Turner.

Players from both sides could never have imagined that these two teams would have a combined record of 9-11 heading into Sunday's tilt.

"Definitely not," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. "But the implications of the game are still as big as if the records were different, if not bigger for us. That doesn't lessen the value of a win in this game, and we're going to fight and claw to get that done."

The Chargers are blessed to be in the AFC West, so they have a share of first-place with Denver. Baltimore, though, is on very thin ice, trailing Pittsburgh (7-3) and Cleveland (6-4) in the AFC North.

Yet, even though the Ravens' last victory came Oct. 14 against St. Louis, Billick is doing all he can to keep his ship from sinking.

"It always is a difficult time," said Billick, "but you have to count on the character of your team to hold out whatever that motivation is, because until we're not in the playoffs, we're in the playoffs. It's one of those things that until you're eliminated, you hold that carrot out."

Both the Chargers and Ravens hope this Sunday marks the game that proves to jump-start a strong finish.

"Both teams need a win badly," Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "They have lost four straight. We need a win badly. That's going to be the mindset of both teams ---- just getting a win. I'll tell you one thing ---- both teams feel like they can beat each other. We feel like we can beat them and I guarantee they feel they can beat us."

Said Baltimore's Lewis: "I think it's desperation time for both teams."

While the Ravens are attempting to save their season, the Chargers still feel they can have a great season.

"There's still a third of the season left," Rivers said. "I'm not asking for any sympathy or anybody to feel sorry for us, but there's a third of the season left and this could still turn out to be as great a year as we set it out to be. We just have to have the right mindset."

Chargers notes

C Nick Hardwick (foot) was a limited practice participant, and it is possible that he could play Sunday against the Ravens. Hardwick was injured against Oakland on Oct. 14. "He moved around pretty good," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. ... DT Jamal Williams was held out in what the Chargers termed a "team decision," but Williams' rest was primarily done to save wear and tear on both knees. ... OLB Shawne Merriman was complimentary of Kansas City RB Priest Holmes, who retired Wednesday. Merriman delivered the hit on Holmes midway through the 2005 campaign, derailing Holmes' career. Holmes suffered a serious neck injury as a result of the hit and sat out last season before attempting a comeback this season. "Priest will be missed," Merriman said. "Even before I got to the NFL, he was one of my favorite running backs to watch. (The comeback) just shows you his heart. He had a pretty devastating injury and to come back and still play the game and try to provide something for his team just shows you what type of player and person he was." ... Chicago signed LB Nick Roach off the Chargers' practice

squad Wednesday. The Chargers signed LB Antwan Applewhite (San Diego State) to fill the practice-squad vacancy.

-- Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.