Sunday's game against Baltimore begins and ends with 11-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis.
Ray Lewis is using the NFL's fascination with young prospects instead of proven veterans as some of the motivation to continue his stellar defensive career. "People would rather play a younger Ray Lewis than an older Ray Lewis, but an older Ray Lewis is much wiser. Now, I'm beating you to the punch and knowing exactly where you're going to be before you even get there."BALTIMORE, Md. -- To hear the Browns tell it, this week's opponent should be re-named the Baltimore Ray-vens.
As in Ray Lewis, the 11-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Lewis, now in his 15th season, has been wreaking havoc on the Browns for 11 seasons, and shows no signs of slowing down at the age of 35. In fact, in some ways, he's gotten even better.
"I'm hungrier in my 15th year than I was in my first year," he said on a conference call this week.
His motivation? Folks who suggest that perhaps he's lost a step.
"It's what keeps me going over and over again," said Lewis. "People make that a big thing time and time again. I'm not worried about [intimidating] fewer people. I worry about whoever lines up in front of me with a football. They get knocked out, period."
Lewis, who led the Ravens with 10 tackles last week against the Bengals and helped keep the opponent out of the end zone for the second straight week, is on a mission to prove that the elder statesmen of the league deserve more respect than the young hotshots.
"The owners pay all these young guys all this money that have never done anything for you," said Lewis. "But you see all these old vets still putting up legendary Hall of Fame numbers and you disrespect them, saying they're at the end of their career.
"When people try to compare these young kids to us, there's no comparison. When you try to tell a 19- or 20-year-old kid to come running at me full speed, his body isn't even close to being mature. People would rather play a younger Ray Lewis than an older Ray Lewis, but an older Ray Lewis is much wiser. Now, I'm beating you to the punch and knowing exactly where you're going to be before you even get there."
On Sunday, Seneca Wallace will try to avoid this fate suffered by Derek Anderson in a 2008 game in Baltimore -- having no protection against an onrushing Ray Lewis.TONY GROSSI’S FOUR THINGS ON BROWNS VS. RAVENS
1. That’s scary: The Ravens defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown in eight quarters this season. It didn’t allow a touchdown in two games against the Browns last season. The Browns haven’t scored a point in the second half of a game this season. Now watch the Browns come out and light up the scoreboard for 30 points. Oh, I know, I know.
2. Special teams battle royale: Seems like every game is a monumental matchup for the Browns’ highly targeted special teams. Brad Seely and Jerry Rosburg are two of the NFL’s finest special teams coordinators. Prior to joining the Ravens as head coach, John Harbaugh also enjoyed that reputation with the Eagles. It’s evident the Browns need every ounce of field position it can muster from its “teams” to help the offense. Rosburg’s troops claimed during the week they were not afraid to kick the ball to Josh Cribbs. Gentlemen, toe your kicking tees.
3. Flustering Flacco: The Ravens are intent on developing Joe Flacco into an elite quarterback on the way to the Super Bowl. Through two games, he’s the lowest-ranked QB in the league and has six of the team’s seven offensive turnovers. Cincinnati flummoxed Flacco by blanketing his receivers with great coverage and applying pressure without having to blitz much. I would expect the Browns to try to limit their rush group to four or five and keep six or seven in coverage.
4. Where’s Brian? The Browns haven’t defeated the Ravens since Brian Billick was their coach. I always considered Billick kind of the Browns’ 12th man in these games because there was always the chance his emotions would take over and he’d do something to contribute to the Browns’ cause. Under the more level-headed Harbaugh, the Ravens have dominated four meetings by the scores of 16-0, 34-3, 37-27, and 28-10.
— Tony Grossi
The Browns know full well that Lewis is the inspirational leader and driving force behind a defense that has surrendered only three TDs in its last six games. What's more:
• They haven't allowed a TD in 10 consecutive quarters, dating back to the divisional playoff game last season at Indianapolis;
• They currently boast the second-ranked defense;
• They've forced opponents to settle for field goals on all six of their opportunities in the red zone -- tied for first with Atlanta; and
• They've picked off the Browns 18 times in 11 games and have had at least one interception in each of those contests.
"The one consistent thing there is Ray Lewis," said Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. "He's the ringleader. He's a Hall of Fame player and it doesn't seem like he slows down with age."
Browns coach Eric Mangini was with the Ravens when they drafted Lewis in 1996 and has admired him ever since.
"They've got one guy, Ray Lewis, that's a pretty special guy," said Mangini. "That's not taking anything away from the rest of the group. But Ray does a really outstanding job of getting that group up. He makes people want to push themselves because he is constantly pushing himself to be as good as he can be.
"When you have arguably your best player with that type of work ethic, it affects everybody. I think all the great ones have that quality. I remember Jerry Rice, Paul Warfield and Jim Brown talking about it."
The challenge for Mangini will be to get some of his younger players, such as running back James Davis, not to be in awe of him.
"Some of our young guys have probably been Ray Lewis on PlayStation -- now they're playing against him," said Mangini. "You've got to be able to get past that."
Running back Peyton Hillis, who might also get extra playing time if Jerome Harrison (thigh) is limited, has gotten the message.
"He's a great player, a high intensity player, but he's human like the rest of us," said Hillis. "We just have to treat him like he's any other linebacker. When we're clicking, we can move the ball on anybody."
Fullback Lawrence Vickers, who see his share of Lewis, had the utmost respect for him.
"He has a passion for the game that's indescribable," Vickers. "He's going to be known as one of the best linebackers of all-time when he's done. It brings attention towards me, so I look at it as a blessing. But I'm not going to get caught up in the hype."
In 20 games against the Browns, Lewis has made 245 tackles, 149 solo, four interceptions, one touchdown, one forced fumble, two recoveries, seven sacks for 64 yards and 11 passes defensed. His seven sacks are his most against any opponent. His four picks are his second-most against anyone.
"He's tremendous. He's a measuring stick," said defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. "I don't know if there's ever been a middle linebacker that great. Unfortunately, I've seen him up close too many times when he's just been just a violent wrecking ball. But what a warrior."
Lewis will face a Browns offense that hasn't been able to score in the second half, likely without its starting quarterback in Jake Delhomme and No. 2 receiver in Brian Robiskie. Harrison is questionable.
"Ray Lewis has been the sole reason that their defense has been so powerful and one of the top-ranked defenses," said Josh Cribbs. "He's an idol to the players who play against. But we still can't allow him to disrupt our offense."