Pereira says that officials blundered

NFL supervisor of officials Mike Pereira said both the 40-second clock and the game clock should have been restarted after an officials' conference over a penalty call with 58 seconds left in regulation. The Seahawks had the ball and led, 41-38.

Because the clock wasn't started, the Ravens had 39 seconds left instead of four or five when they got the ball back on downs at the Baltimore 33.

They ended up tying the game on Matt Stover's field goal following a key 44-yard pass interference penalty. Baltimore won, 44-41, in overtime.

"The clock was not started at the proper time, which was an administrative error by the officiating crew," Pereira said in a statement.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and his players blamed themselves for the situation, not referee Tom White and his crew.

"Maybe the officials didn't do their part, but we didn't do our part, either," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said.

Hasselbeck said the NFL office should be given credit for being honest. "I think that was obviously something that hurt us," he said. "But as players, we realize there were opportunities to get things done and the officials never should have been a factor."

Ravens coach Brian Billick conceded that his team benefited from the mistake. "There was, I believe, an administrative error in there, in that the clock should have been wound more quickly," Billick said.

McNair may play

Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher isn't ruling out Steve McNair, the NFL's top-rated passer, against the New York Jets just because of a strained right calf. "We know what his history is," Fisher said of McNair playing despite injuries. "He wants very badly to play in this ballgame. The last time we played in the Meadowlands, he did not practice and probably won't practice this week. If he's able to play, in all likelihood it will be a pregame type of decision." McNair strained his calf in the second quarter of Sunday's 38-31 victory over Atlanta, and he had a walking boot on his right leg when he limped off the field after the game. Doctors examined his calf Sunday night, and Fisher said they found limited damage . . . St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz said Marc Bulger is his quarterback, even though Bulger committed five turnovers in Sunday's overtime victory against the Cardinals, and even though Bulger has thrown four touchdown passes and 10 interceptions the last four weeks. Martz said Bulger won him over when he rallied from a shaky performance last week in a 2-point victory at Chicago. The previous two weeks, Martz said he considered going to Bulger's backup, two-time MVP Kurt Warner . . . After producing one touchdown in the last two games, Jaguars rookie quarterback Byron Leftwich could be heading to the bench. Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said he is considering starting David Garrard when the Jaguars play Tampa Bay next Sunday. Del Rio will make the decision later this week. "We're not playing at a high level right now," Del Rio said. "I think Byron's got a bright future. But I think David Garrard is a promising young quarterback and we'll decide whether to give him a look. We've got to score more than three or 10 points." The 2-9 Jaguars lost, 13-10, to the Jets Sunday, and 10-3 to the Titans the week before.

Spurrier apologizes

Conceding the playoffs as "very, very unrealistic," Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier apologized for the team's 4-7 performance. He also said Patrick Ramsey will remain the starting quarterback if healthy, but left tackle Chris Samuels will miss Sunday's game against New Orleans with a knee injury. Defensive tackle Jermaine Haley won't play again this season because of a thumb injury. "I apologize to the Redskins fans out there that our team has not achieved what I thought we were capable of this year," Spurrier said. "If anybody deserves most of the blame, it should be me." . . . Jets defensive end John Abraham is doubtful for the game against Tennessee after reinjuring his right groin. Abraham was hurt in the first half Sunday against Jacksonville, his first game back since straining the groin against Philadelphia Oct. 26 . . . Buffalo Bills rookie receiver Sam Aiken has torn cartilage in his right knee and his status is uncertain for the rest of the season. Aiken was hurt while diving for a pass in practice Friday and missed Buffalo's 17-14 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday . . . Bills management is sure to be pleased with cornerback Antoine Winfield's confidence in his team's playoff chances. "Nothing's left," Winfield said. "We've got five games left. Go out there, do what you do. Go home at the end of the season. Right now we're 4-7, five games left and tough opponents. Running the table, I don't think it does any good right now."