Less than a year after signing him to a contract extension through 2010, the Baltimore Ravens on Monday fired coach Brian Billick. The dismissal of Billick was confirmed to ESPN's Chris Mortensen by owner Steve Bisciotti and to ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli by an assistant coach and a front office official. Billick, 53, compiled an 85-67 record in nine seasons. The Ravens, who won the AFC North championship in 2006, struggled to a 5-11 mark this season, a year that included a nine-game losing streak. In his second season with the franchise, Billick led the Ravens to the Super Bowl XXXV title in 2000, but never got the club back to the title game.

As a UCLA alum, Ravens' Offensive Coordinator Rick Neuheisel could already get away with using "we" when talking about the Bruins. Soon, Neuheisel's connection to UCLA could take on an entirely different look. Neuheisel returned to Seattle on Sunday with the Ravens and watched his offense stumble through a 27-6 loss to the Seahawks, the Ravens' ninth straight defeat.

The Baltimore Ravens lost yet another starter on Sunday when running back Willis McGahee broke two ribs on a hit in the first quarter of the Ravens' 27-6 loss to Seattle.

The Baltimore Ravens, mired in a record eight-game losing streak, will limp into Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks without several key players. Coach Brian Billick said middle linebacker Ray Lewis was unlikely to play because of a dislocated finger on his left hand. Tight end Todd Heap also is expected to miss the game, and cornerback Samari Rolle was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, ending his season. Lewis injured his finger during the second half of the Ravens' 22-16 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins, an injury that split the knuckle and required stitches. Nick Greisen, who has played for the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars, will start in Lewis' place. "It's not looking good," Billick said Friday after Lewis missed his third consecutive day of practice.

Rookie quarterback Troy Smith will make his first start Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Seattle Seahawks. With Kyle Boller missing his second consecutive day of practice because of lingering effects from a concussion, including headaches and sensitivity to light, Ravens' Coach Brian Billick confirmed Thursday Smith will take his place. "With Kyle, it would be problematic for him on Sunday, so, hopefully, he will be available to back up," Billick said. "Missing two days of practice would make it tough. We're certainly not going to put him at risk."

Rick Neuheisel had a second interview for UCLA's open coaching position, this time with chancellor Gene Block, several Los Angeles media outlets reported Wednesday. The former Bruins' QB, now the offensive coordinator for the Ravens, confirmed Wednesday that his alma mater has contacted him about replacing the fired Karl Dorrell. Neuheisel's current boss Ravens' coach Brian Billick is unabashedly lobbying for him to get the job.

Determined to end the longest current losing streak in the NFL, Coach Brian Billick intends to start Kyle Boller at quarterback against the Seattle Seahawks instead of promoting rookie backup Troy Smith. "Kyle, clearly, in my opinion, gives us the best chance to win the game," Billick said Monday. The last-place Ravens (4-10) have lost a franchise-record eight in a row and have no shot at reaching the playoffs, but Billick is not ready to turn his full attention toward next season. So instead of seeing how Smith fares as a starter, Billick will go with Boller, who sustained a mild concussion in Sunday's 22-16 overtime defeat against the previously winless Miami Dolphins. "We're going to continue to take the tack that we're going to go out and win every week," Billick said.

As if being the Miami Dolphins' first victim of the season wasn't painful enough, the Baltimore Ravens also lost defensive catalyst Ray Lewis and quarterback Kyle Boller to injuries. Lewis dislocated his left finger in the third quarter, and Cal's Boller sustained a mild concussion in the fourth of the Ravens' 22-16, overtime loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. Neither player returned. Rookie Troy Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State, replaced Boller midway through the fourth quarter, then drove the team 59 yards to the half-yard line with 8 seconds left. Coach Brian Billick decided against trying for the winning touchdown on fourth down and forced overtime on Matt Stover's 18-yard field goal. "It's very tough to go for all or nothing," Billick said. The Ravens were already without cornerback Samari Rolle, who missed his second consecutive game with a shoulder injury.

The Giants are going to have to try to make the playoffs without Jeremy Shockey. The Pro Bowl tight end broke his left leg in the third quarter of the Giants' 22-10 loss to the Redskins on Sunday night and will likely be sidelined the rest of the season.

The Dolphins acted as though they'd never won a game before. When Greg Camarillo turned a short completion into a 64-yard touchdown in overtime, the bench quickly cleared, with players sprinting en masse to the end zone to mob their teammate. The stunning play made the Dolphins a winner for the first time in more than a year, ensuring they'll avoid the first 0-16 season in NFL history. They beat the Ravens 22-16.