Kyle Boller's career as a Baltimore Ravens quarterback has taken several turns over the past five years, from first-round draft pick to oft-criticized starter to valued backup. Now, Boller appears to have a new role: late-game reliever. One day after Boller replaced starter Steve McNair in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals and led the Ravens to a winning field goal, Coach Brian Billick said he has no qualms turning to Boller in late-game situations as McNair continues to recover from a strained groin. There is no question McNair, who was injured in the season opener and missed the second game, is Baltimore's starting quarterback. But considering his age (34), the beating his body has taken over 13 NFL seasons, and the way Boller has performed this month, Billick said he would consider using a similar platoon even after McNair is healthy.

Kurt Warner orchestrated a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, only to be outdone by another backup quarterback who never anticipated playing in such a pressurized situation. Kyle Boller moved the Ravens into position for Matt Stover's 46-yard field goal as time expired, and Baltimore squeezed out a 26-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Ravens (2-1) led 20-3 at halftime and 23-6 entering the fourth quarter, but wilted in the final 15 minutes in a second straight game. Although the New York Jets never pulled even one week earlier, Warner rallied the Cardinals (1-2) to a tie at 23 with 1:50 left.

He is at peace with his decision to put retirement off for another year. But even Jonathan Ogden had to admit that this isn't what he signed up for. "Oh, yeah," the Ravens left offensive tackle said last week as he sat in front of his locker in Owings Mills after trying again to practice with the team. "With the decision I made, if I had known then, I don't know if I'd have done it. But I didn't know. But with the decisions you make in life, you've got to go with it." He didn't know that the injured left big toe suffered late last season would still be forcing him to go into each game this year unsure whether he can play.

Ravens quarterback Steve McNair will start Sunday's game against the Cardinals and offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden will be out for the second consecutive week. McNair missed last week's win over the Jets with a groin pull. "Steve seems to have gotten through the week OK, so hopefully it will show up that way on Sunday," Ravens coach Brian Billick said Friday. "It was just a matter of how he felt. He felt pretty good, so that was the key."

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis has signed an endorsement deal with Under Armour in what might be the biggest coup for the Baltimore-based apparel company. Lewis, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, is the biggest name among Under Armour's corps of NFL representatives, which includes fellow Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, former University of Maryland and current San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and New York Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

With injured players shuffling off the field in waves, Cincinnati pulled off the kind of victory Monday night that could set the tone for a season. Carson Palmer threw his second touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, and a suspect defense pulled off a goal-line stand in the closing seconds that preserved a 27-20 win over the Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens agreed to a one-year extension with backup quarterback Kyle Boller on Thursday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Three days after the Jacksonville Jaguars released quarterback Byron Leftwich, the Ravens have emerged as the leaders to sign him. Leftwich would like to pick a new home as soon as possible. The Ravens are the most logical fit. In 2003, the Ravens intended to draft Leftwich with their first-round pick, only to see Jacksonville pounce on him with the seventh overall selection. Then, at No. 10, Baltimore drafted linebacker Terrell Suggs.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said yesterday that the team has had "a couple of small conversations" with Byron Leftwich's agent. The Ravens are believed to be one of seven teams that have had preliminary talks with Leftwich, a four-year starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars who was cut Saturday after the team decided to go with David Garrard. Like the other teams that have had conversations with Leftwich, the Ravens aren't expected to make a hard push for him, and they have yet to decide whether adding Leftwich would be a distraction for a team that has enjoyed a smooth preseason.

When the preseason mercifully ended for Baltimore and Atlanta on Friday night, Ravens running back Willis McGahee summed it up best. "I'm ready to rock, man," McGahee said. "It's time to get down and dirty." McGahee was one of the few players with name recognition to play in a game decided by second-string kickers. Atlanta won 13-10 when Matt Prater, in just his second day with the Falcons, kicked two fourth-quarter field goals.