BALTIMORE (AP) -The story is told with dancing eyes and a wistful smile. It is a tale of untested warriors overcoming foreboding challenges to seize the ultimate prize, and the sheer joy that comes with such an accomplishment.

Listen, ye rookies and young men of the Baltimore Ravens, about the time the franchise won a Super Bowl title.

Tight end Todd Heap was a senior at Arizona when the Ravens beat the New York Giants 34-7 to win the 2001 Super Bowl. Since his arrival in Baltimore, Heap has been told countless times by veterans such as Jamal Lewis, Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden about the thrill of winning pro football's most important game.

``You can feed off them because they've been there, they felt it,'' Heap said. ``You can see the look in their eyes when they start talking about it. They're all striving to get back there because it doesn't happen very often.''

The Ravens (13-3) hope the experience they gained six years ago will enable them to enjoy a return engagement in the NFL title game. There have been several comparisons made between this team and the one that won it all in 2001, but there is no question this squad has a far better understanding of what postseason football is all about.

``That is probably more valuable than anything else you could have,'' said Trevor Pryce, who played in two Super Bowls with Denver. ``You have guys that know the tempo of the game picks up; guys that know that at halftime the score is 0-0 and there is no next week. We have guys who have been through that kind of war.''

Even coach Brian Billick will be able to draw on his experience. When Baltimore opened the 2000 playoffs against Denver, Billick had no idea what it was like to be a head coach in a postseason game.

``In the first playoff run, there was the anxiousness I had facing the Denver Broncos and Mike Shanahan, who had two Super Bowls, and I had none,'' Billick said. ``I knew I was going to get outcoached, but was figuring on my coaches and players to cover me - and they did.''

The Ravens beat Denver, then won at Tennessee and Oakland before capping the franchise's initial playoff run with a thumping of the Giants. Baltimore has since made two more trips to the postseason, neither of which was particularly successful.

But those who participated are better for the experience.

``Having been down this road before, obviously, we are more familiar with what we're doing,'' Billick said. ``There's a lot of confidence because of that.''

Veteran leadership is important. So is raw skill, and the Ravens have plenty of it.

``We've got a nice mix,'' Ogden said. ``We've got a few guys who have won a Super Bowl with this team and we've got guys like Trevor Pryce, who won in Denver. We've got guys who have been to the playoffs, but we've got a lot of young guys, too, who are talented.''

Like Pryce, quarterback Steve McNair got his playoff experience before coming to Baltimore. McNair took the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl one year before the Ravens got there, and, like his current teammates, he's been itching to get back.

McNair wanted to play for Baltimore because he liked the team's poise and leadership, qualities he expects will produce a successful playoff run.

``That's what is going to matter in the end,'' McNair said. ``When you're in the playoffs, you need that luxury of having guys who have been in that situation before.''

After losing two consecutive games in October, the Ravens won five in a row before falling at Cincinnati. Baltimore then closed the regular season with four consecutive victories.

If the Ravens lose next week, or the week after that, there will be no opportunity to rebound. That, more than anything, is what the playoffs are about.

``In the regular season you can make up games,'' McNair said. ``During the playoffs, you lose and you go home. The intensity rises.''

Not this week, though. The Ravens have a welcome bye before opening next weekend at home.

``The bottom line is they've got to come to Baltimore, no matter who it is,'' Ray Lewis said. ``We can sit home and watch that game, see who comes in. We don't care who it is.''

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