Make The Pick For Best Pick

Leading up to training camp and the start of the 2007 season, BaltimoreRavens.com is taking a look back at the success of 2006, and we need your help. You already tackled the touchdowns; now how about the best interceptions?

Vote for your favorite on the fan poll located on the BR.com homepage, and then make your voice heard on the official Ravens message boards. We'll announce the winner on Friday, July 6.

1) Haloti rumbles in Tampa.

The setup: After posting the first defensive points of the season on cornerback Chris McAlister's 60-yard touchdown return against the Buccaneers, the Ravens' D nearly crossed the goal line again thanks to a sprinting 345-pound defensive tackle.

The payoff: Linebacker Bart Scott was the catalyst on one of the odder plays from the Ravens' 13-3 campaign. As Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms tried to dish to running back Cadillac Williams out of the backfield, Scott raised his hand to deflect the short pass. When it fell into the outstretched arms of a vigilant Haloti Ngata, the defensive lineman took off. Surprisingly, no Bucs could catch up with him, thanks to some well-placed blocks. Just when everyone thought he would score, however, Ngata ran out of gas, stepping out of bounds on the 9-yard line, certainly calling for Oxygen.

2) Browns smell victory, but McAlister dished defeat.

The setup: On a cloudy evening in Cleveland, the Ravens were on the ropes, falling behind 14-0 heading into the fourth quarter. A Todd Heap touchdown and Matt Stover field goal pulled the margin closer, but the Browns again drove to within striking distance with time winding down. Just above three minutes remained, and the Browns found themselves on the Baltimore 4-yard line to put the game out of reach.

The payoff: Cleveland quarterback Charlie Frye took the snap and saw wideout Braylon Edwards in the back of the end zone for a split second. That's when Scott burst through the line to lay a disrupting hit on Frye, and McAlister grabbed the errant throw out of the air, giving the Ravens the ball. Stover then converted the turnover into a game-winning field goal with 20 seconds on the clock.

3) Rookie duo becomes dynamic.

The setup: Safety Dawan Landry had performed admirably all season, seizing the starting role alongside Ed Reed from Day One. Ronnie Prude had impressed with his performance on special teams and at nickelback. But the two rookies were thought of as solid players, not necessarily playmakers. That changed during Week 8 in New Orleans, when Landry and Prude returned to their home state of Louisiana.

The payoff: Midway through the second quarter, punter Sam Koch, another rookie, pinned the Saints deep in their own territory, leaving it up to quarterback Drew Brees to march his team 90 yards. Prude put a stop to that, picking off Brees as No. 9 attempted to hit the running back out of the backfield. Twelve yards later, Prude had the first touchdown of his promising career.

Landry came up big in the third quarter, after Koch again hemmed in the Saints at their 2. Looking for wideout Joe Horn down the left sideline, Landry got his hands on the ball and raced to the goal line. For a little added excitement, he dove headfirst for the score.

4) Rolle and Reed show a little teamwork.

The setup: The Bengals came into M&T Bank Stadium after winning the AFC North in 2005. The Ravens were looking to make a statement within the division, which they did with an opening 34-yard touchdown drive after recovering a Cincinnati fumble on the kickoff. Three minutes into the game, the Bengals got another chance to put some points on the board.

The payoff: After the Ravens' opening fumble recovery and touchdown, a sack of Cincinnati signal-caller Carson Palmer on their first play from scrimmage caused the stands to explode. When Samari Rolle snared a 25-yard bomb to Chad Johnson, the noise was deafening. But, as Rolle scrambled through tacklers for 24 yards, he ran out of room. Enter Reed, who swooped in to take a lateral and finish off the final 25 yards to the end zone. Many Bengals fans wished they had earplugs.

5) McAlister scores again to cash Bills.

The setup: The Ravens were having trouble moving the ball all game in the season finale against the Buffalo Bills. Stover managed three field goals, but there were no touchdowns to be had. After Buffalo's Lee Evans handled a 44-yard touchdown reception and pulled the Bills within two points, a Ravens' score was sorely needed.

The payoff: McAlister's pick came at a crucial moment. At 3:57 in the third quarter, the three-time Pro Bowler out-jumped receiver Peerless Price to wrangle his sixth interception of the campaign. There was no one between McAlister and paydirt, and he raced 31 yards for the only Ravens touchdown in the game.