HEADLINE NEWS - Team Note Book

Tuesday - 12/26/2000

Last Week: . The win was their seventh in a row and improved their mark to a franchise-record 12-4. The defense set the NFL 16-game single-season scoring record by allowing just 165 points (and 13 of those points came off interception returns by Tennessee). The 1986 Chicago Bears held the old mark of 187 points allowed. Baltimore also set the NFL�s 16-game rushing yards allowed mark with just 970 yards allowed on the ground.

The victory over New York was punctuated by long returns for touchdowns, as Jermaine Lewis tied his own NFL record with two punt returns for scores ( 54 and 89 yards),plus a team-record 98-yard interception for a touchdown by CB Chris McAlister. Baltimore�s defense tied a team record by forcing six turnovers.

Jets� QB Vinny Testaverde was one pass shy of an NFL record by throwing the ball 69 times and completing 36 passes for 481 yards. The ex-Raven threw two first-quarter touchdown passes to stake the Jets to a 14-0 lead and three second-quarter interceptions (a fourth interception by Kim Herring in the fourth quarter was reversed by instant replay). The Ravens scored 20 unanswered second-quarter points by capitalizing on four New York turnovers. After Keith Washington recovered a fumbled exchange from center on the first play of the second quarter, QB Trent Dilfer hit WR Qadry Ismail for a seven-yard TD in the back of the endzone. Duane Starks intercepted Testaverde on the next possession to set up a Matt Stover 42-yard field goal, cutting the Jets� lead to 14-10. After the Jets intercepted Dilfer on the Jets� one, DE Michael McCrary tackled Curtis Martin in the endzone for safety, then McAlister raced 98 yards for a score on the last play of the first half, and Jamal Lewis plowed in for a two-point conversion and a 20-14 halftime lead.

New York�s Brett Conway kicked a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, then Jermaine Lewis exploded for a 54-yard punt return for a TD to give the Ravens a 27-17 lead. A second Conway field goal cut the lead to 27-20 early in the fourth quarter, but Lewis broke loose for an 89-yard score after fielding a Tom Tupa punt with 5:02 left in the game to complete the scoring.