Denver, Colorado Sports News

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4/DenverBroncos.com) ― The Baltimore Ravens cross the Denver Broncos' path for the sixth time since 2000 on Monday. The Tennessee Titans faced the Broncos two Decembers ago in Nashville.

Yet never before Monday have the Broncos crossed paths with Steve McNair.

McNair was on the sidelines two years ago, injured and consigned to watching Billy Volek start in his place during the Broncos' 37-16 Christmas night win over the Titans. Meanwhile, when the Broncos played the Ravens this decade, they played against a series of quarterbacks -- four different starters in the five previous games.

The result of McNair's arrival? A 4-0 start, two comeback wins and the establishment of Baltimore's offense as one that has been efficient when it's needed to be -- late in wins over Cleveland and San Diego, and early in romps over Tampa Bay and Oakland.

Baltimore's team is different now than it was when it visited last year; Ray Lewis is back in the lineup, former Broncos Trevor Pryce and Mike Anderson are a part of their roster; wide receiver Mark Clayton -- who had a 100-yard game last December -- has more experience.

But McNair is arguably the most significant change of all.

"I think he's the biggest difference," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. "You've got a guy running your team that's a proven winner, it makes a difference. It rubs off on everybody."

Added defensive tackle Gerard Warren: "What's the difference between the Baltimore Ravens winning the games this year that they were losing at this time last year? I think it's Steve McNair."

And Broncos assistant head coach Mike Heimerdinger knows best what McNair can do, from five seasons working as the Titans' offensive coordinator when McNair quarterbacked there.

"I've always said that he's one of the top three quarterbacks in this league and has never gotten enough credit," Heimerdinger said. "Probably the only weird thing is seeing him in a purple uniform instead of as a Tennessee Titan."

FRESH START

Kyle Boller is the only Ravens quarterback to start twice against the Broncos, and he possesses the most starts for a quarterback in Ravens history -- 34. Before Baltimore drafted him in 2003, no Ravens quarterback had started more than 18 games since Vinny Testaverde started the first 29 games in Baltimore annals, from September 1996 through November 1997.

Boller's first start against the Broncos resulted in a defense-fueled 26-6 win three years ago in a game that saw John Mobley's career end and third-teamer Danny Kanell struggle in his first Denver start while hindered by the flu. The Broncos got the better of Boller last December, when Bailey and Nick Ferguson each intercepted the young quarterback, scuttling two potential scoring drives in Denver's 12-10 win.

"Except for a couple of boneheaded interceptions -- and they were boneheaded -- (Boller) had a great game," Billick recalled. "And following up with that had some good games after that. But we made it very clear in the off-season that we had faith in Kyle Boller But if somebody of a particular level of productivity or magnitude were to present themselves we would consider it."

Seven months later, the opportunity to procure McNair was irresistible.

"They started playing better with Boller last year, but when you bring a guy like McNair in, you bring a belief within your team that you're always in a football game, and he's proven that," safety John Lynch said.

The 12-year veteran became a Raven, and Boller would eventually be consigned to the second string, watching from the bench as McNair led the Ravens to four straight wins to open this season -- two coming in come-from-behind fashion at Cleveland and against San Diego in the past fortnight.

"I liked the other kid (Boller)," Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. "But this guy's special.

"Only one of these guys comes around in a while, and he's got experience. He's a warrior. I've met the guy. He's a warrior. He's just an old-fashioned warrior. He fights. He'll make plays in the clutch; he knows what's going on out there and he'll do whatever it takes."

Including running, as the NFL saw seven days ago.

STILL A GROUND THREAT

The two-minute warning had sounded, the Ravens were at the San Diego 35-yard-line, and McNair took off. Maybe his speed wasn't what it was in his dynamic early years, when he could sprint like the best of running backs, but the 12 yards pushed the Ravens closer to the touchdown that would keep them unbeaten.

"He probably won that game last week with a big scramble," Coyer added. "Just a tough run."

McNair runs more judiciously now. Between 1997 and 2002 -- his first six years as a full-time NFL starter -- he averaged 5.4 carries per game. Since 2003, he's averaged 2.6 per game -- and has 2.5 per week this year.

That's the sole major contrast Heimerdinger sees in his former pupil.

"Probably the only difference is (that) you don't see him take off with his feet as much," Heimerdinger said. "He kind of learned what kind of beating you take. He's gotten smart about that ... but he still took off last week and ran."

And now, he runs right into the Broncos for the first time in the regular season.

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