OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP)—The Baltimore Ravens dipped into the past Wednesday
to address an ongoing problem with their kicking game, signing Shayne Graham as
a possible replacement for injured Billy Cundiff.

Cundiff has a sore left calf and has struggled this month. He missed a
36-yard field goal Sunday night in a 34-14 loss to San Diego and is 2 for 5 in
December.

That prompted the Ravens to add Graham, who worked out with Baltimore last
week. Graham has played for six teams, most recently the Miami Dolphins earlier
this season.

Graham, 34, was cut in training camp by the Ravens last summer.

“The positive thing about bringing Shayne is that we know him and he knows
us,” special teams coach Jerry Rosburg said. “He’s obviously an NFL-caliber
kicker. We knew that when he was here and he’s proven that since he’s been
gone.”

Cundiff made the Pro Bowl in 2010 but has missed nine field goals this year
and is 1 for 6 beyond 50 yards. Baltimore is chasing the AFC North title, so
it’s quite possible Graham will be pressed into action Saturday against
Cleveland.

“He’s a real plus for us because we know we’re bringing in a guy that is
not only a quality NFL kicker, but has been in the NFL environment and
understands playoff caliber football at the end of the season,” Rosburg said.
“We expect him to come in here and add that veteran experience.”

Cundiff remains on the 53-man roster. Baltimore placed linebacker Chavis
Williams (foot) on injured reserve to make room for Graham, an 11-year veteran.

“It’s nice to actually come into this locker room,” Graham said. “A lot
of these guys were in camp when I was here a couple of years ago. A lot of the
guys are familiar with me.There’s a lot of good guys here, so it’s a real smooth
transition for me. Having the operation here, the snapper and holder, those guys
are phenomenal. So, I couldn’t ask to be in a better position or be around a
better bunch of guys.”

Cundiff did not practice Wednesday and Graham kicked well, but there are
still no guarantees Graham will get the call against the Browns.

“We added him to our roster just to make sure we had a kicker,” Rosburg
said.

“If they call on me, I’ll be ready,” Graham said. “I really don’t know
what the expectations are. I hope (Cundiff) gets healthy as soon as he can. All
I can control is what I’m asked to do. If I’m asked to go out and play, then I
go out and play and play my best to help these guys win. If it’s for one week,
it’s for one week. If it’s for two, it’s two.”

The Ravens don’t need uncertainty at kicker with the postseason rapidly
approaching, but they couldn’t afford to take a wait-and-see approach with
Cundiff.

“We’re just trying to win a football game this week,” Rosburg said.
“That’s what really important to us.”

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh arrived for work in a good mood Tuesday morning following the San Francisco 49ers’ pivotal victory Monday night over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

And with good reason: The Ravens moved back into first place with the Steelers’ loss.

“He was coming in: ‘Did you see that game? Who won?’” quarterback Joe Flacco said of Harbaugh. “OK, we all know who won the game. We know you’re way more excited now than you were two days ago. You could definitely tell he was excited, and we should be. We’re obviously in a better position because of what happened.”

The 49ers’ win over the Ravens’ AFC North rival puts the Ravens (10-4) back in first place in the AFC North and seeded second in the playoff standings.

The Ravens’ embarrassing 34-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night knocked them out of first place in the division for a day, and they fell from the top-seeded team in the AFC to fifth. Now, they’re ranked second in the playoff seeding behind the New England Patriots.

The Ravens own the tiebreaker edge over the Steelers (10-4) after sweeping their annual series earlier this season. They are now in position to earn a first-round bye and a home playoff game provided they win their final two regular-season games against the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Man, it was a fun to watch,” Harbaugh said. “It was pretty cool. The fact that if we win both games now, we will win the division, that means a lot. That’s really meaningful. It’s a tough league, and we have to win every week.”

However, the Ravens would have preferred to not require assistance.

“It’s a gift, but we wish we didn’t have to get it that way,” outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said.

The Ravens are 7-0 at home heading into Saturday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium against the Browns.

And they’re undefeated in their previous games against Cleveland and Cincinnati this season.

“We’ve just got to take care of business,” Suggs said. “We’re playing two teams that know us very well, two division foes, so it’s going to be interesting. We’ve got to get back to doing what we do best, and that’s playing Ravens football.”