AFC Notes & Game Capsules: Ravens

TIPS FROM THE EDGE:  Baltimore Ravens All-Pro linebacker TERRELL SUGGS, who leads the AFC with three sacks this season, on life as an elite edge rusher in the NFL:

Key factors in pressuring the passer from the edge: 

"Eye-hand coordination, good instincts and balance are the big things. You have big, strong, fast offensive tackles in the league now and you have to find what works best against them. Sometimes it’s finesse. I also look at where my defensive tackle is, what the coverage is now that I am older. Knowledge is a big asset for me right now."

Countering double teams and chip blocks: 

"You can’t really anticipate them.  You have to go by feel and try to use the linemen’s weaknesses against them. If they are using a running back, you sometimes try to knock him back to hit the tackle."

(Click on the 'Jump' to read all abut the Ravens game capsule with the St. Louis Rams)

BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-1) AT ST. LOUIS RAMS (0-2)

SERIES

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NOTES

RAVENS:  Club aims for 4th straight win vs. NFC…In past 4 vs. NFC, QB JOE FLACCO has passed for 977 yards with 8 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 105.8 passer rating. Ravens are 18-2 (.900) when Flacco has 100+ passer rating…In past 8 vs. NFC, RB RAY RICE averages 92.8 rush yards per game (743 total) & has 5 rush TDs. Rice had 31-yard TD catch last week…WR ANQUAN BOLDIN has 1,064 career receiving yards vs. Rams, incl. 6 100-yard receiving games (123, 119, 105, 129, 103, 116). In last game vs. St.L. (w/ Bills on 9/28/09), WR LEE EVANS had 88 receiving yards with TD. Evans (5,979) needs 21 rec. yards for 6,000 career…TE DENNIS PITTA is averaging 17.3 yards per catch in past 2 (4 catches, 69 yards)…Defense is tied for 2nd in NFL with 4 INTs (JETS, 5; LIONS, 4)…LB RAY LEWIS has 2 INTs & 1.5 sacks in 4 games vs. St.L…LB TERRELL SUGGS posted 1st INT of season & 6th of career last week…S ED REED aims for 3rd straight game with INT vs. Rams…RAMS: QB SAM BRADFORD aims for 6th win in past 9 home starts. Threw for career-high 331 yards last week & surpassed 4,000-yard (4,031) mark for career…RB STEVEN JACKSON has 2,478 scrimmage yards (123.9 per game; 1,844 rush, 634 rec.) in past 20 games vs. AFC. Since 2006, averages 117.3 scrimmage yards per game (8,446 yards, 72 games), most in NFL (min. 50 games). In 1st home game with StL, RB CADILLAC WILLIAMS had 91 rush yards, 140 scrimmage yards & tied for team lead with 5 receptions (49 yards)…WR DANARIO ALEXANDER had 3 catches for career-high 122 yards (40.7 avg.) & TD last week. Had career-long 68-yard reception. WR MIKE SIMS-WALKER had 6 catches for 92 yards in Week 2, his 9th career game with 90+ yards. WR BRANDON GIBSON aims for 10th home game in row with 3+ receptions…DE JAMES HALL had sack in only meeting vs. Bal. Has 4 sacks in past 4 vs. AFC. Has sack in 3 of past 4 in Sept. DE CHRIS LONG has 4 sacks in past 3 vs. AFC. Aims for 4th in row vs. AFC with sack. Rookie DE ROBERT QUINN recorded 1st career sack in NFL debut last week.