Ravens report card - Week 10: Defense/special teams

The typical Ravens comeback game. When all the chips are in, the Ravens come out and beat up on a team that is still deep in the rebuilding process. Let's see how the Ravens did against the now 2-7 Titans.

Defensive Line: B

Timmy Jernigan again comes through with a flash of brilliance. Posting 4 tackles and a single sack (the only from the defensive linemen on Sunday). Lawrence Guy grabbed a fumble that saved the Ravens from going down 7-0 early in the game. The rest of the group performed solidly, allowing an average of only 3 yards per carry. While there are a few 6 yard runs (mostly in the first quarter when the Ravens were still waking up), there are more than enough 1 yard runs that the Titans were pressured into abandoning the run as the score started to stack up.

Linebackers: B+

Anytime you get 4 sacks from a group, it kinda automatically makes it an A type of day. Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil combined for 4 of the Ravens 5 sacks on Sunday. The thing that knocks them down slightly is the grade of competition they faced and just how poorly they played in the first quarter. If not for the Titans inability to hold on to the ball, the Ravens easily could have been on the bad side of 21-0 in the first quarter alone. While only a single quarter, against better competition that can capitalize on the Ravens' mistakes, it tanks a game completely.

Defensive Backs: C+

Ah redemption comes in the form of a Titans team with no well known receivers. The secondary started off the game looking like the secondary from the past few weeks, allowing Mettenberger to looking like Peyton Manning for a few drives. However, that bend but don't break mentality was back in full form as the secondary was able to pick it up to finish the game with an interception. While this is a grade only for the game against the Titans, a better quarterback and better receivers would have made the Ravens pay repeatedly.

Special Teams: B

Justin Tucker hit all 3 of his extra points and didn't line up for a field goal all game, leaving very few opportunities for the Ravens All-Pro to be spectacular. Sam Koch is making a serious case for his salary as 4 of his 7 punts landed in the 20 with no touchbacks. Only 2 of his punts had a return on them, with both having penalties from Tennessee on them that were more than the return. The knock against this unit is that again, they continue to grab penalties that either negate a good return or further hurt the Ravens field position battle.