By Scott Garbarini, Associate NFL Editor -- (Sports Network) - Something more than area bragging rights will be at stake when the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins get together for a Sunday night showdown this weekend at M&T Bank Stadium.

This interconference encounter between Mid-Atlantic residents could go a long way towards deciding the postseason fates of both teams. It's particularly important for the Redskins, whose playoff chances have been dealt a significant blow with three losses over a trying four-game stretch.

A punchless offense has been the primary culprit for Washington's skid. The Redskins have totaled a paltry 43 points over the last four games and haven't scored more than 10 in any of their recent defeats to Pittsburgh, Dallas and the New York Giants. The struggles continued in last Sunday's 23-7 home setback to the one-loss Giants, who limited hobbled Washington star running back Clinton Portis to season-lows of 22 yards and 11 attempts.

A breakout doesn't appear on the horizon, either, considering the Ravens boast the NFL's second-best defense in terms of total yards allowed and have surrendered the third-fewest points (190) in the league. The unit's staunch nature, combined with the week-to-week progress made by rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, has put Baltimore right in the AFC playoff discussion and only one game behind Pittsburgh's lead atop the conference's North division.

Both Flacco and the defense played instrumental roles in the Ravens' latest triumph, a 34-3 shellacking of woeful Cincinnati this past Sunday. The young signal-caller put up a career-high 280 passing yards and two touchdowns, while the Bengals mustered a laughable 155 total yards and six first downs against Baltimore's stonewalling group.

The win was the sixth in seven games for Baltimore and moved the ever- improving club to 8-4 in the debut season of first-year head coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens presently occupy one of the two Wild Card spots in the AFC playoff field, although both Miami and New England are lurking just one game back in the standings.

Washington, meanwhile, is one game behind both Atlanta and rival Dallas in the battle for the NFC's sixth postseason seed with a 7-5 record. Four of those victories, however, have come on the road, where the Redskins haven't lost since dropping a 16-7 decision to the Giants in the season opener.

The Ravens counter with a 4-1 mark at M&T Bank Stadium so far this year, with the lone defeat being a three-point setback to 11-1 Tennessee back in Week 5.

SERIES HISTORY

The Ravens hold a 2-1 lead in their all-time series with the Redskins, including a 17-10 road victory when the teams last met, in 2004. The other matchups all-time were a 20-17 victory for Baltimore in 1997 season and a 10-3 win for the Redskins in 2000. All three matchups were played in Washington.

The Redskins will be visiting Baltimore in a meaningful game for the first time since Nov. 6, 1978, when they were 21-17 losers at Memorial Stadium. Washington is 0-9 in Baltimore since scoring its only win there in 1955, and is 1-10 in Charm City all-time.

Harbaugh and Washington's Jim Zorn will be meeting each other, as well as their counterpart's respective team, for the first time as head coaches.

WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL

It's hard to think of a player who's been more vital to his team's success this year than Portis (1228 rushing yards, 7 TD, 23 receptions), who trails only Minnesota sensation Adrian Peterson for the league lead in rushing yards. The Redskins are 5-1 when the workhorse back has run for over 100 yards in 2008, but just 2-4 in the games where he hasn't reached that number. Portis suffered a jammed neck last weekend to add to the knee and hip injuries he already had been dealing with, but all indications point to the seventh-year pro playing on Sunday. Capable backup Ladell Betts (167 rushing yards, 12 receptions, 1 TD) may still see increased duty, however, for the league's fifth-ranked rushing offense (139.4 ypg).

Washington will be hard-pressed to match its usual rushing numbers against a vaunted Ravens defense that is giving up a scant 78.3 yards per game on the ground (2nd overall) and has not allowed an individual 100-yard runner since December of 2006, an amazing string of 31 straight games. The group has been once again led by fiery inside linebacker Ray Lewis (84 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack), who appears headed for a 10th career Pro Bowl nod, and 345-pound nose tackle Haloti Ngata (41 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack), an elite run-stuffer. Baltimore has also received surprisingly good play in run support from 5- foot-8 strong safety Jim Leonhard (49 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack) since he was inserted into a starting role in place of the injured Dawan Landry in late September.

The Ravens are certainly no slouch against the pass either, having held enemy quarterbacks to a league-low 51.2 percent completion rate and garnering a NFL- best 20 interceptions through 12 games. The main ballhawk is multiple All-Pro free safety Ed Reed (26 tackles, 3 INT, 10 PD), who leads all players with 37 picks since 2002, while cornerbacks Samari Rolle (14 tackles, 3 INT, 7 PD) and Fabian Washington (21 tackles, 1 INT, 7 PD) have also been strong in coverage despite having missed time with injuries. Outside linebackers Terrell Suggs (52 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and Jarret Johnson (46 tackles, 5 sacks) have provided a steady pass rush along the edges, with Johnson having notched three sacks over the past three weeks. Leonhard had a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Bengals, Baltimore's fifth defensive score this season.

Washington's offensive woes have coincided with a regression by quarterback Jason Campbell (2560 passing yards, 10 TD, 4 INT) during the season's second half. After not throwing an interception over the team's first eight games and connecting on two-thirds of his passes during that span, the former first- round pick was picked off four times and threw for only two scores in four November games. Protection has also been an issue lately, as Campbell has been sacked 16 times during his rough stretch. His slump has also affected wide receiver Santana Moss (57 receptions, 828 yards, 5 TD), the Redskins' best big-play threat who's been kept out of the end zone in four straight outings. With he and fellow wideout Antwaan Randle El (43 receptions, 2 TD) having been held in check recently, tight end Chris Cooley (66 receptions, 1 TD) has emerged as the main weapon in the passing game.

WHEN THE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL

Baltimore has complemented its rugged defense with a persistent ground game that's enabled the team to lead the NFL in time of possession and wear down the opposition with a backfield that contains three quality players. Second- year pro Le'Ron McClain (545 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 7 total TD), a converted fullback, has been carrying the load as of late, with the physical 260-pounder having recorded at least 18 attempts and 86 yards in each of the last two weeks. McClain's power and the all-around ability of exciting rookie Ray Rice (423 rushing yards, 31 receptions) have forced three-time 1,000-yard rusher Willis McGahee (489 rushing yards, 5 TD, 16 receptions) to a spectator's role on the league's third-rated rushing offense (143.8 ypg). The 2007 Pro Bowl participant did not receive a single carry in last week's win.

While the Ravens' rushing attack has been steady, Flacco (2276 passing yards, 12 TD, 9 INT) has enjoyed a meteoric rise after experiencing a few growing pains during the early portion of his debut season. The strong-armed rookie has posted an excellent 11-to-2 ratio of touchdown passes to interceptions over the last seven games, and it's no coincidence that the Ravens have won six of those tilts. Baltimore does rank just 27th overall in passing yards (179.8 ypg), however, and only veteran Derrick Mason (62 receptions, 811 yards, 3 TD) has been a reliable week-to-week performer among the receivers. Mark Clayton (28 receptions, 3 TD) is starting to develop a rapport with Flacco, though, as the fourth-year wideout erupted for a career-high 164 yards on five grabs last week against the Bengals, including a highlight-reel 70- yard touchdown haul-in. Mason added 91 yards and a score on six receptions to aid Flacco's personal-best total.

Washington's disappointing play on offense hasn't tainted a defense that's remained rock-solid despite a lack of support on the other side of the ball. The Redskins are allowing an outstanding 283 yards per game (6th overall) and stand seventh in the league in rushing defense (90.8 ypg), while keeping the Giants' formidable ground game to a respectable 108 yards on 35 totes last week. The team was able to contain New York by repeatedly placing rookie strong safety Chris Horton (63 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack) near the line of scrimmage, and it would be no surprise if that tactic is used again on Sunday. Middle linebacker and defensive captain London Fletcher (100 tackles) played through a foot sprain to register a game-high 14 tackles, three more than Horton, and the injury isn't expected to prevent the veteran warrior from competing again this week. Strongside starter Marcus Washington (37 tackles) will miss a third straight contest with a high ankle sprain, however, with sophomore H.B. Blades (38 tackles) the designated replacement.

The Giants' Eli Manning took advantage of the Redskins' stacking of the box to rack up 305 passing yards last week, giving Flacco a blueprint on how to attack a deep and veteran secondary that could be without seasoned cornerback Shawn Springs (22 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack), who aggravated a lingering calf pull that has kept him in and out of the lineup all year long. If he isn't active on Sunday, either Raiders castoff DeAngelo Hall (54 tackles, 5 INT, 17 PD) or usual nickel back Fred Smoot (47 tackles, 1 INT) will start opposite top cover man Carlos Rogers (49 tackles, 1 INT, 19 PD). A more pressing issue for the Redskins may be finding someone to apply heat to Flacco. The club has produced only 19 sacks this year, the fourth-lowest total in the league, and ends Jason Taylor (19 tackles, 1 sack) and Andre Carter (28 tackles, 3 sacks) haven't played to their usual standards due to injuries.

FANTASY FOCUS

Defense figures to rule in this game, but only the Ravens' stop unit warrants a play this week because the Redskins don't record a lot of sacks or force many turnovers. Portis, probably a big reason why many players are preparing for their league playoffs right now, is a very tough call, but we're leaning to the side of sitting the battered running back against a Baltimore squad that doesn't give an inch against the run. Campbell is no longer an option at the quarterback position, and there's really not a whole lot to like on the Washington side other than Cooley and possibly Moss. Baltimore's running back rotation is tricky, but McClain is the safest bet and usually the preferred choice at the goal line, which makes the oversized back a good flex choice. Flacco is climbing towards starter's status, but there are better alternatives in what could be a difficult matchup. As for the Ravens' receivers, Mason is a solid pick and Clayton a risky one.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Those who desire plenty of scoring may want to tune their sets to "Desperate Housewives" instead of Sunday Night Football this week. With both teams adept at keeping points to a minimum, this game will surely come down to which one can establish some semblance of consistency on the offensive side. If recent form holds, that team will be the Ravens, who are healthier at running back and have been getting exceptionally steady play out of Flacco as of late. The Redskins simply cannot be trusted on offense, and a date with Lewis, Reed and the like in front of a charged-up Baltimore crowd just doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ravens 20, Redskins 7