Ravens hold on for 9-7 defeat of 49ers
08.10.2007 00:00
Sport and Travel
- Source: USA Today
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Now Mike Nolan knows how it feels to be stymied and stifled by that Baltimore Ravens Defense he used to run.
Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and their crew suffocated San Francisco on all but a few plays, and Matt Stover made up for Baltimore's near-equal offensive ineptitude with three field goals in the Ravens' 9-7 victory over Nolan's 49ers on Sunday. BOX SCORE: Ravens 9, 49ers 7 Nolan was the Ravens' defensive coordinator for three years before leaving Brian Billick's staff along with top assistant Mike Singletary in 2005, rebuilding the 49ers using many of Billick's principles. PHOTOS: Week 5 in pictures But neither coaching staff could get more than a flicker of offense out of its rosters at Candlestick Park. The Ravens (3-2) didn't get in the end zone despite outgaining San Francisco 315-163, yet they hung on with the franchise's lowest point total in a victory since the former Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996. Except for an inexplicable two-play sequence when San Francisco completed two long passes for 65 yards and its only score, the Baltimore defense applied the soundest beating yet to the 49ers (2-3), who lost their third straight while failing to gain 200 yards for the fourth time in five games. Steve McNair was 29-of-43 for 214 yards, and Willis McGahee rushed for 88 yards behind a patchwork offensive line. Despite the 49ers' struggles with Trent Dilfer replacing Alex Smith, San Francisco made a 40-yard drive in the closing minutes to set up Joe Nedney's 52-yard field goal attempt with 2:37 to play. But the veteran kicker pushed it wide right, and Baltimore ran out the clock.
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