Defending champion Ravens in a familiar playoff position

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Since the road to the Super Bowl probably won't pass through Baltimore, the Ravens will have to travel a more demanding path to repeat as champions.

The Ravens earned a wild-card berth by beating the Minnesota Vikings 19-3 Monday night. Baltimore will open the playoffs on the road Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, 7-1 at Pro Player Stadium this season.

The only way fifth-seeded Baltimore will play at home in the postseason is if it wins twice and the sixth-seeded New York Jets also advance to the AFC championship game.

The Ravens entered last season's playoffs as a wild-card team but had the benefit of opening at home against Denver before traveling to Tennessee and Oakland, where they pulled off upsets.

Having to win three straight road games is far more difficult.

"It's the cumulative effect," coach Brian Billick said Tuesday. "Winning on the road is tough. ... With no week off before the Super Bowl, that's where the effect will probably be felt the most. If that's our fate, we'll face that challenge, gladly."

The Ravens never advanced to the playoffs before last year, and they're better for the experience.

"We know what it takes to win on the road," said linebacker Peter Boulware, who had four sacks against the Vikings. "We're not afraid of it. We know it's tough, but we've been there before and we've won."

Few experts picked Baltimore to run the table in the playoffs last year, and the Ravens (10-6) are again considered a long shot to get to the Super Bowl.

Gators hire Saints' Zook

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida hired New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Ron Zook to replace Steve Spurrier, Saints coach Jim Haslett said Tuesday night.

The Gainesville Sun also reported the hiring, and said the 47-year-old Zook will be introduced as Florida's 20th head coach at a news conference today.

Foley met with Zook for about two hours Tuesday after Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan turned down the job. On Monday, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, a former Florida defensive coordinator, also said "no" to the Gators.

Instead, they'll get another former defensive coordinator. Zook held the position from 1992-93, before Spurrier demoted him to special teams coordinator and linebackers coach in 1994.

Colts fire Mora despite plea

INDIANAPOLIS -- Jim Mora was fired after four seasons as the Indianapolis Colts' coach and two days after he tearfully declared he wanted to stay in the job.

Team president Bill Polian said Mora was fired for refusing to replace defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who had worked for Mora in each of his head coaching stops since 1983.

Mora, 66, finished with a 32-32 regular-season record and an 0-2 playoff mark with the Colts.

On Sunday the questions came about Mora's uncertain future and the tears flowed as he insisted he should remain the team's coach.

--From wire reports