Ogden sprains knee, but Ravens roll

? Take away the seemingly minor knee injury to seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Jonathan Ogden, and the Baltimore Ravens had a perfect preseason finale against the New York Giants on Thursday night.

Kyle Boller threw a touchdown pass, Chris McAlister scored on an interception return, and Jim Fassel got to enjoy it all on the Ravens’ sideline with a decisive 27-17 win over the Giants.

“It’s just what you want in the last preseason game,” Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. “We came out relatively healthy. We had a lot of efficiency on offense. We gave up a big play and we turned around and responded. It was a complete game and you have to feel good about it.”

The first-quarter injury to Ogden had Billick sweating for a while, but the coach believes it just was a minor sprain to his left knee.

The Ravens (3-1) were uncertain about Ogden’s status for the season opener Sept. 12 at Cleveland.

The game was Fassel’s first here since being fired by the Giants after a 4-12 campaign last season, and it must have seemed like old times.

The Giants, who lost their last eight games in 2003, played poorly and the fans were booing the team and new coach Tom Coughlin by halftime.

Fassel’s quarterbacks also played well with Boller and Kordell Stewart combining to hit 14-of-15 passes in the first half for 186 yards.

“It’s a great way to go into the Cleveland game,” said Boller, who was 6-of-7 for 84 yards, including a go-ahead 3-yard TD pass to Kevin Johnson. “We tried to work on being efficient and I think tonight we did some good things.”

New York trailed 24-3 at the half and its only touchdowns, a 27-yard run by Chris Douglas and a 42-yard pass from Jesse Palmer to Jamaar Taylor, came against the Ravens’ backups.

Seahawks 23, Vikings 21

Seattle — Trent Dilfer completed 17 of 20 passes for 211 yards and two first-half touchdowns, and Seneca Wallace led a late drive for the winning field goal as the Seahawks beat Minnesota.

Buccaneers 17, Texans 9

Houston — Michael Pittman, who received extensive playing time because the Bucs rested starter Charlie Garner, ran for 71 yards on 12 carries, and Tampa Bay held Houston to three field goals.

Lions 20, Bills 17

Detroit — Drew Bledsoe led Buffalo’s first-string offense to its only touchdown of the preseason. Lions safety Brock Marion (bruised right knee), cornerback Fernando Bryant (neck stinger) and cornerback Rod Babers (shoulder) all left the game because of injuries.

Jaguars 31, Patriots 0

Foxboro, Mass. — Quinn Gray threw three touchdown passes in the final eight minutes, and Jacksonville ended New England’s poor exhibition season. If there was any consolation for the Super Bowl champs, they played without most of their first-stringers, including quarterback Tom Brady.

Cardinals 33, Broncos 21

Denver — Neil Rackers kicked four field goals,, and Josh McCown and Sean King combined to go 14-for-19, leading Arizona over Denver. Rackers kicked field goals of 45, 47, 57 and 47 yards as Arizona’s offense struggled against Denver’s backups.

Panthers 16, Steelers 13

Pittsburgh — Rod Rutherford’s 57-yard completion to Eugene Baker in the fourth quarter set up John Kasay’s third field goal.