The Baltimore Ravens may recognize the quarterback starting opposite them this weekend in San Francisco. After all, he led Baltimore to victory in Super Bowl XXXV, which turned out to be his last game in a Ravens uniform.
Trent Dilfer will start for the 49ers in place of Alex Smith, who is expected to miss at least a few weeks if not possibly the season after suffering a right shoulder separation on the third play of last week's 23-3 loss to Seattle. Dilfer took over in his first game action since Week 12 of the 2005 season, but completed only 13-of-33 passes for 128 yards with two interceptions.
The San Francisco offense will also be without starting left tackle Jonas Jennings (personal reasons) and tight end Vernon Davis.
"I expect guys to step up and do their jobs," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "The problem with things like that, it gives them excuses. And that's not what we're about. There are other teams that have had their injuries as well."
Perhaps Dilfer will be the spark the 49ers' offense needs. Smith had struggled this year, completing 43 of 84 passes for 461 yards and a touchdown. And thus the San Francisco offense has not been good ? the 49ers have just five touchdowns through four games while averaging 14.0 points - tied for 29th in the NFL - and have averaged a league-low 213.2 total yards.
Running back Frank Gore has also struggled this season, failing to gain more than 81 yards in a game this season. He has not scored a touchdown in his past two games.The Ravens have the league's fourth-best run defense, giving up 71.0 yards a game, and have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in seven games. That unit ranks second in the NFL in fewest yards per carry allowed (3.0) and has allowed just one rushing touchdown in 11 games.
Meanwhile, Baltimore RB Willis McGahee has improved his rushing yards each week, cracking 100 for the first time as a Raven last Sunday. San Francisco is ranked only 25th against the run.
Baltimore's offense could be without a few key players. Top tight end Todd Heap will be a game-time decision, while starting receiver Derrick Mason is questionable with a knee injury.
Baltimore's defense has still been stout against the run, but its overall numbers are not what they were. The Ravens had the NFL's best defense last year, holding teams to averages of 264.1 yards and 12.6 points, but those numbers are 301.8 and 22.5,
respectively, this year.
Baltimore allowed more than 300 yards for the third consecutive game last Sunday in a 27-13 loss at Cleveland. The Ravens fell behind 14-0 to the Browns after one quarter and trailed the entire game.
"Anytime you give a team 14 points like we did, it's a tough mountain to climb," Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. "Anytime you have turnovers and give them a short field the way we did, you have to ask yourself if we came to play."
The lowdown: This could be an ugly game. The Ravens are 0-2 on the road this season with eight turnovers, while the 49ers aren't great at home, dropping 10 of their past 18. The difference likely will be at QB, where Baltimore's Steve McNair should outperform Dilfer. In fact, last week McNair completed a career-high 34 passes in 53 attempts for a season-best 307 yards and a touchdown. Look for Baltimore, a 3-point favorite on WagerWeb.com, to win a low-scoring game.
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