After dealing with the wide-open style of Kansas City Chiefs last Monday, New England will have to contend with defensive-minded Baltimore on Sunday.

01:00 AM EST on Friday, November 26, 2004

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO -- On Wednesdays, Bill Belichick delivers his weekly "We're Doomed" report. This segment highlights the mountain of problems the Patriots next opponent presents. Never is heard a discouraging word.

This week, that meant overlooking the offensive deficiencies of the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore -- which has one of the league's most overpowering defenses -- resides near the bottom of the league offensively in yards per game, yards per play, passing yards, sacks per pass and third-down efficiency. They have 15 offensive touchdowns in 10 games, tied for second-worst in the AFC with Cleveland, Cincinnati and Buffalo and one ahead of the woeful Dolphins.

But the Ravens are 7-3 -- testimony to their defense and the fact that Ravens head coach Brian Billick has persuaded young quarterback Kyle Boller to forget the numbers and take care of the ball.

Presented with some of the statistical info on Wednesday, Billick said, "I think Coach Belichick says it the same way: The statistics don't mean squat. All that tells you is what happened before. Coming in and playing an outstanding reigning world champion with the veteran presence they have is difficult regardless of what the statistics say. So, yes, it is a challenge across the board."

When pressed a bit more on the numbers, Billick didn't budge.

Statistics "are a barometer for those that like to play with the numbers," he said. "We are 7-3 and that is a pretty important statistic. Third downs are certainly important. Third-down conversions have never been one of the major determinants to success compared to turnovers, explosive plays, consistency in the running game and things of that nature. Everything is important, don't get me wrong. I think we are a perfect example of a team that is not particularly effective on third down and here we are 7-3. You can draw whatever conclusions you want about the statistical viability and what those numbers hold."

However one slices it, Baltimore is going to be a difficult opponent Sunday. But without lead running back Jamal Lewis, and a cautious offense, they are the polar opposite of the team New England faced earlier this week, the Kansas City Chiefs.

"They are really the antithesis of the Chiefs," said linebacker Mike Vrabel, who added that he fully expects the kind of line-it-up-and-slug-it-out game Patriots defensive players prefer.

While Baltimore doesn't have the kind of offensive diversity that would allow it to play in a shootout or a rock fight as the Patriots do, with a defense like theirs they don't often get in shootouts.

That means that Boller's marching orders are generally to take care of the ball and not cause the Ravens to die from self-inflicted wounds. He's complied to a large degree, with just six interceptions in 263 pass attempts.

"I think he has done a great job all year long," Billick said of the second-year player from Cal. "There were a number of games where we were able to get an advantage early, and with our defensive profile and the ability to run the ball you kind of take the air out of it. There are a couple of games where he doesn't throw but two or three passes in a half. He gets beaten up for not having the numbers, obviously, which is a little difficult. But he has managed the game well all year long. When he has been forced to step up and throw the ball 30 or 35 times, he has responded to that as well.

"For a young player, he does manage the game well," Billick added. "The interceptions that he has thrown, four of them, those just happened -- a deep ball at the end of the half [and] a Hail Mary. He has three of them pop up straight in the air. He has had two throws that he pretty much wishes he could have back, but I think on the entire year, not just the last four games, he has been very good with his management of the offense."

It would be hypocritical for anyone who appreciates Tom Brady's abilities as a quarterback -- especially when he was green in 2001 -- to deride Boller's work. Or his attitude.

"A good day for me would be 25 for 30 for 225 (to 250 yards) and a couple of touchdowns," said Boller. "No interceptions. That is the main thing. You don't turn the ball over, you win football games."

Baltimore has won five of its last six games. The wins haven't come against top-tier teams (Dallas, the Jets without Chad Pennington, Cleveland, Buffalo and Washington). The loss the Ravens suffered may tell more about them. It came at 9-1 Philadelphia, 15-10.

"This young man is 12-6 now and has been through his first year," pointed out Billick. "That was the challenge going into the first half of this year, to round out his first year experience [since] he only played eight or nine games last year, to see if we could survive the first half of the season. Now those lessons begin to pay off as we go into the second half of the season and hopefully into the playoffs. What accelerated the growth was when you take away Pro Bowlers like Jonathan Ogden, Todd Heap and Jamal Lewis. Take away his starting center. Take away his leading receiver from last year, Travis Taylor, in the first half of the season and say, 'Go get 'em, son'. That has something to do with the numbers that you all like to look so much at, but doesn't tell the full story."