Ravens End Season With A Win

There were no tears. Only giddy laughter, as Ted Marchibroda took great delight in going out with a victory.

The Baltimore Ravens beat the Detroit Lions 19-10 Sunday in a game that ended a disappointing season for both teams. It also marked the conclusion of Marchibroda's reign in Baltimore, as he conceded afterward he expected to be dismissed by owner Art Modell as the Ravens' head coach.

"I'm not prepared to be here," he said, shortly after thanking his players for their effort in the season finale.

Marchibroda, 67, failed to produce a winning season with the Ravens and went 16-31-1 in his three years. But he was proud that his players never quit trying, right down to the final play of a season that never lived up to lofty expectations.

"I told Mr. Modell when he hired me that I'll get the guys to play for me," Marchibroda said during a 10-minute postgame interview in which he smiled throughout. "As I leave here, I can say they played for me. We had a tough climb for three years."

Priest Holmes scored a touchdown and became the Ravens' first 1,000-yard rusher as Baltimore (6-10) raced to a 16-0 lead and held on against the error-prone Lions (5-11).

The game marked the end of Marchibroda's three-year contract. He wore a broad smile as he shook hands with Detroit coach Bobby Ross and later took consolation in doing the best he could with a team that had to deal with the distraction of moving from Cleveland.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity. I can walk the streets of Baltimore with my head held high," Marchibroda said. "This has been a tough situation some times. I came in to do a job and I didn't finish the job."

Minutes later, Marchibroda giggled uncontrolably after he caught himself asking a team spokesman about when the coach would learn his fate from Modell.

The Ravens led 16-0 in the second quarter, then let the lead dwindle to 16-10 before Matt Stover kicked a 30-yard field goal with 5:03 remaining to clinch the victory.

Holmes gained 132 yards on 20 carries and finished with 1,008 yards for the season. Jim Harbaugh shrugged off an early elbow injury to finish 17-for-26 for 141 yards and a touchdown.

"I wanted to play hard for Ted. It was in my mind to get this win for him," said Harbaugh, who also played for Marchibroda in Indianapolis.

The injury-riddled Lions were penalized 12 times and their only turnover was quickly converted into a Baltimore touchdown. Barry Sanders needed 50 rushing yards to reach 1,500 for the fifth consecutive season but finished with 41 yards on 19 carries.

"I think the emotion that's most prevalent is disappointment. Really, it's almost regret -- like you wasted a whole year of football," Sanders said.

Detroit trailed 16-3 before Frank Reich directed a 52-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Cory Schlesinger with 13:25 remaining. Two plays earlier, Herman Moore caught a 10-yard pass on a fourth-and-3 situation.

But after Detroit forced a punt, the Lions failed to gain a first down and Harbaugh moved Baltimore 51 yards in 11 plays before Stover connected.

"A disappointing end to a disappointing season -- that about sums it up," said Reich, who was 18-for-29 for 195 yards.

Sanders had 10 carries for minus-1 yard and Detroit was penalized 10 times in the first half, including five times for false starts, in falling behind 16-3.

The Ravens went up 2-0 midway in the first quarter when Detroit tackle Ray Roberts was called for holding in the end zone. The free kick went out of bounds, giving Baltimore the ball at midfield, and the Ravens' ensuing punt pinned the Lions at their 4.

Sanders then fumbled on a hit by Lional Dalton and Baltimore's Tony Siragusa fell on the ball at the 2. Three players later, Holmes scored from the 1 to make it 9-0.

Baltimore went up 16-0 with a 13-play, 97-yard drive that consumed nearly seven minutes. Immediately after Detroit's Bryant Westbrook was called for holding on a third-down play, Roosevelt Potts made a one-handed grab on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Harbaugh.

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