OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -The Baltimore Ravens' goals for the regular season extend far beyond merely reaching the playoffs, a feat that can be realized Sunday with a victory at home against the Cleveland Browns.

The Ravens (10-3) hope to build momentum heading into the postseason. They're excited about the possibility of receiving a first-round bye, and coach Brian Billick covets the chance of having his team host the AFC title game.

``I would love nothing more than to have a championship game here in the city of Baltimore,'' Billick said Monday. ``I would enjoy that, the fans would enjoy that, and so would the organization. And that's as real and as huge for the players.''

The Ravens trail San Diego by one game in the race for best record in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If the teams finish tied, Baltimore would win the tiebreaker by virtue of its 16-13 victory over the Chargers on Oct. 1.

Even if the Ravens don't beat out San Diego, they can receive a first-round bye if they earn the No. 2 seed in the conference. Indianapolis (10-3) currently holds that slot, but the Colts are coming off a 44-17 loss to Jacksonville and face a tough challenge against Cincinnati at home next Monday night.

If the Ravens beat Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo to close out the regular season, then at worst they will win the AFC North for the second time in franchise history - and have a four-game winning streak heading into the playoffs.

``You've got to have a certain momentum going into the playoffs. I'm supremely confident that this team knows what it has to do over the next three weeks,'' Billick said. ``If we can come through that, everything that we want will be there for us in terms of positioning for the playoffs.''

If the Chargers hold onto home-field advantage, then Baltimore would be gladly settle for a first-round bye. The Ravens have played two of their best games this season when given additional time to prepare.

Following its bye week, Baltimore trounced a tough New Orleans team on the road on Oct. 29. Then, after losing to Cincinnati on Nov. 30, the Ravens returned from an extended break to manhandle Kansas City 20-10 on Sunday.

``This team has shown twice what they can do when getting a little time off,'' Billick noted. ``That bye is huge. I don't have to mention it much; they're very acutely aware of it.''

Their wins in New Orleans and Kansas City are proof that the Ravens can thrive on the road. In 2000, Baltimore won two straight road games to advance to the Super Bowl. But nothing would make Billick and the Ravens happier than having their playoff schedule start with a bye and end with a couple of home games.

Which means it would be a huge mistake to coast to the finish.

``I'm super confident this team knows what it has to do over the next three weeks,'' Billick said. ``I'll hold them accountable to it, they'll hold me accountable, and what's best is I've seen them hold each other accountable to it in terms of preparation and focus.''

The Ravens certainly took care of business against the Chiefs, who hadn't lost a home game in December since 1996. Baltimore led only 6-0 after the second quarter, but at that point had taken the home fans out of the game.

``When you've got them booing come off the field,'' Billick said, ``you've got a sense it may not be as tough in the second half, dealing with the crowd.''

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