NOTEBOOK: McAlister, Reed Questionable

Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister missed his third straight practice Friday while nursing a knee injury, and according to head coach Brian Billick, the cornerback will be a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup against the high-powered Indianapolis Colts.

And even though McAlister maintains that he wants to suit up for Peyton Manning and Co., that doesn't mean he will play.

For the second consecutive week, the Ravens face a prolific aerial attack on prime time television after playing the top-ranked New England Patriots (304.0 passing yards per contest) on Monday Night Football. The Colts' passing offense is second, averaging 250.7 yards per game through the air.

"You can't ask for anything more," said the nine-year veteran. "Go out and prove yourself against the best week in and week out, and we definitely have an opportunity to do it again this week."

McAlister has missed four contests because of the knee, but gutted out a start against the Patriots. He sat out two practices last week before deciding to play hours before kickoff.

"I didn't know [that I could play] until Monday afternoon," he said. "We'll see what happens. Most likely, I'll be out there Sunday morning at 8 o'clock running and see how it feels."

Safety Ed Reed is another concern. Reed, who is tied for second in the NFL with six interceptions, did not participate in Thursday's practice with a hip injury, but was back on the field Friday.

If McAlister and Reed can play, Monday will also mark the second consecutive game the Ravens have had a full starting secondary. Both of the Pro Bowlers were listed as questionable, meaning there is a 50-percent chance they will play.

The Ravens know that having all four starters is crucial in slowing down Manning.

Despite Marvin Harrison, who boasts eight consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, potentially sitting out Sunday with a knee injury that has kept him out of seven games this season, the Colts still boast Pro Bowler Reggie Wayne and one of the league's top tight ends in Dallas Clark.

"Reggie's playing unbelievably well right now," cornerback Samari Rolle explained. "Peyton is playing well as he always does. He sets the standard pretty high for quarterbacks. We've just got to try to play as hard as we can and match the intensity of Monday night."

As for Clark, whose 527 receiving yards are second on the Colts to Wayne's 1,169: "You hesitate to call him a tight end," said Billick. "The way they use him, he's a slash player, one of those hybrid half-receiver, half-tight ends. So, he's special for what they use him for."

Heap Listed as Doubtful

A hamstring injury that just won't seem to disappear has tight end Todd Heap listed as doubtful on the Ravens' final injury report.

Heap has missed six games this season because of an injury originally suffered in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals.

"I've never dealt with a hamstring [injury] before," Heap said. "I want to be careful with it and not rush it back. It's definitely something that's tough to deal with."

Ravens Just Looking for A Win

When the Colts came to M&T Bank Stadium in January and knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs in an AFC Divisional Playoff contest, it was one stop on the way to Indianapolis' Super Bowl victory.

Many players have not forgotten the feeling of how their 13-3 record came to such an abrupt halt, and are seeking to atone for the loss this weekend.

"That was a tough loss last year," said quarterback Kyle Boller. "Second round of the playoffs, the main goal is to get to the Super Bowl, and they blocked us from doing that. It's a huge game."

But, the main goal in Baltimore is not about revenge. The Ravens simply want to break a franchise-record six-game losing streak and execute the way the team believes it can.

"As a team, what we want to do is go out there and try to win a football game, first and foremost, for the guys in the locker room," wideout Derrick Mason stated. "When we're winning for each other, we're winning for the fans. We have to get ourselves out of this rut that we're in right now. And what better way than to do it on Sunday night against a very good Indianapolis team?"

Notable

Even though the Ravens are not where they'd like to be at 4-8, Billick still believes that his team is playing at a high level. "We haven't executed as well, but they've played hard," he said. "I'd defy anybody, anybody, to show me one snap of film where we don't play hard during the course of the season."…The Ravens will wear their all-black jerseys for the second straight week…Baltimore has won three of its last four Sunday night prime time games. In their history, the Ravens are 4-2 at home on Sunday night prime time, and 7-7 all time.