The big plays. That?s what the Ravens want to stop.
Although the Ravens (5-2) are winning games, opposing quarterbacks are picking on an unlikely target, the team?s Pro Bowl defensive backs and safeties with impressive numbers.
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Despite throwing three interceptions in last week?s 35-22 loss to Baltimore, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw for 383 yards and three touchdowns. Three weeks ago, Carolina?s Jake Delhomme threw 364 yards and two touchdowns.
“We?re not worried about everything that happened,” Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister said. “We?re happy to walk away with a win, and that?s the bottom line. As a defensive unit, you never want to give up yards. If you can go out there and keep your opponent to a minimum of 250 yards a game in total offense, that?s great. But that?s just the NFL. Those guys get paid just like we do to make plays.”
Through seven games, there have been four 100-yard receivers against the Ravens. Two came last Sunday in New Orleans in the form of rookie Marques Colston (6 catches, 163 yards, 2 TDs) and Joe Horn (5 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD).
The Ravens were leading, 35-7, at one point during the game, but big plays by the Saints helped narrow the gap.
“They can pass for 1,000 yards as long we get the W,” linebacker Ray Lewis said. “Do we have a standard? Heck yeah. We don?t like people to catch balls on us, but we?re up by as many points at that, we?re not going to play the same style defense that we always play. So, there are some things that are misconstrued, but if people want to think of it that way, then think of it that way.”
While the rest of the defense has excelled, at one point or another this season, McAlister, Pro Bowler Samari Rolle and former NFL defensive player of the year Ed Reed, a safety, have been burned badly. In the loss to Carolina, the Ravens were trying to establish a comeback when wideout Steve Smith flew by Rolle on a 72-yard touchdown late in the game.
The cornerbacks will get a stiff challenge Sunday from Cincinnati?s talented receiving corps, which includes Pro Bowler Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry.
“They are big, good receivers and they are talented,” Ravens head coach Brian Billick said. “There is a certain physicality that you?ve got to play with when you have a corps of receivers that are across the board that big.”
Rolle, the Ravens? most scrutinized victim, said the big plays are a concern.
“Definitely, even though the game was out of hand, you never want to give up close to 400 yards passing, and we did towards the end,” Rolle said of the New Orleans contest. “You know, we?ve got to improve on the back end.”
