"Each week, as we try to grow in our game plan, I'm always torn between that fine line of pushing the envelope a little bit or (backing) off and not work so much on the things that I'd like to do."

The Redskins' offensive woes in November, 43 points in four games, three losses, just might have convinced Zorn to revert to his more humdrum coaching side.

"It's obvious, in these last several games, we can't do it all," Zorn said. "There is that balance there and I probably have tipped the scales. Those are things you find out as you go along. I'm trying to push it. Now, maybe I take a step back."

Zorn's players think their early success, a 4-1 start and a 26-point average during consecutive victories over contenders New Orleans, Arizona, Dallas and Philadelphia, made their recent struggles even more glaring.

"Expectations went through the roof," said quarterback Jason Campbell.

"There are going to be growing pains any time you get a new offense, (but) it's frustrating because we know what we're capable of," center Casey Rabach said.

And with Clinton Portis and the running game ranked fifth and the defense ranked sixth, Zorn knows why the Redskins have turned a 6-2 start into a current 7-5 status that would have them missing the playoffs if the season ended today.

"It's really been on the offensive passing game side," Zorn said. "That's what's keeping us from scoring points."

The only other teams that haven't scored 30 points in a game are Detroit (0-12) and Cincinnati (1-10-1), each of whom lost their starting quarterbacks in Week 4. And after completing 10 passes of at least 20 yards during the four-game hot streak, Washington managed just four during the November downturn.

"We've played like (crap) four weeks in a row," said tight end Chris Cooley.

"It's getting kind of old to be out there and not being able to put up points, especially with all the firepower we have," said receiver Santana Moss. "You make a big play here and there and the game will just change because you put a team in a situation where they're kind of stunned that you made that kind of play."

SERIES HISTORY: 4th meeting. The Ravens lead 2-1. The most memorable matchup came in 2000 when the Redskins played yeoman defense in beating the eventual champion Ravens 10-3. Late middle linebacker Kevin Mitchell sealed the victory with an end zone interception.