Suggs Contests ESPN Report
“Don’t believe everything you read,” linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs advised Baltimore Sun’s Edward Lee after he missed his first career game Sunday.
Suggs was referring to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who claimed some doctors predict Suggs will “miss as little as three weeks, while others predict as many as six.”
In that same report, Schefter said Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is also expected to miss a month with a strained ligament in his knee.
If that is the case, two of the best defensive players in football will be out for next Sunday night’s Ravens-Steelers showdown — a game which both AFC North teams desperately need to win.
Which team will miss their injured player more? The Ravens are 0-1 without Suggs, while all three of the Steelers’ losses have come in games when Polamalu was inactive or limited by injury.
Embarrassing Day for the AFC North
At this point, the Ravens are relying on the good graces of fellow AFC North teams. All three squads fell to their opponents in Week 11.
Few expected the Ravens to come away with a victory against the unbeaten Colts, but it was shocking to see the Steelers’ 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. And even more mind-boggling was the Bengals’ 20-17 loss to Oakland. Plus, the Lions outlasted the Browns, 38-37.
With six games to go, the Ravens (5-5) trail the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4), Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4), Denver Broncos (6-4) and Houston Texans (5-4). The Ravens would have to win at least five of their last six games to get to 10 wins, which could be enough to make the playoffs this season.
“We knew Pittsburgh at Baltimore was going to be a big game next week, but we never dreamed the amount of desperation that would be in the air,” Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks said. “On both sides of the field, a season might just be on the line. Hyperbole? Not really.”
Tony Dungy and Peter King Explain Flacco’s Pick
“Sitting next to Tony Dungy on Sundays at NBC is an education,” Sports Illustrated’s Peter King said.
Apparently, the defensive play the Colts used to beat the Patriots in Week 10 was used again when Joe Flacco threw his late fourth-quarter interception to Colts linebacker Gary Brackett.
“The same play’s been the difference-maker two weeks in a row now,” said Brackett.
Here’s King’s breakdown:
“Against New England on fourth-and-two, Gary Brackett and Clint Session rushed and hurried Tom Brady’s throw to Kevin Faulk. Sunday in Baltimore, the Ravens had the same feeling as New England last week. This time, Brackett and Session faked blitzing, then settled back into coverage.”
Ray Rice is a playmaker and has bailed out quarterback Joe Flacco several times, but somebody else needs to step up because defenses are starting to put the spotlight on Rice.
“We knew Ray Rice was the guy they liked to go to in the red zone,” Brackett told King. “And so I had my eye on him as he released out of the backfield, but I didn’t play tight with him. The quarterback lost me. I don’t think he ever saw me. And when he threw, I just jumped in front of Ray.”
Quick Hits:
Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun believes the Ravens deserved to lose because “they were too stupid and too selfish.”
Peter King on Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis: “Never, ever have I seen Ray Lewis get faked out on a normal-looking burst over the center as I did when he fanned on a Joseph Addai second-quarter touchdown run. As Dan Dierdorf said on CBS, he’s got to be nursing a bum ankle. That was embarrassing if he’s not hurt.”
