Report: Ray Lewis could return to face Peyton Manning

**Ravenalytics** · 11-26-2012, 10:42 AM

Peaking at the right time, I hope.

**Dirt1** · 11-26-2012, 10:47 AM

Ray being able to play again this year would be a huge boost to the defense. Also, I hope it would mean that the Ravens could then give Ellerbee a week off during Week 17. I love the way Ellerbee has been playing, but the guy is playing with two broken thumbs, and has an ankle injury. He has been playing through it, but it wouldn't hurt to be able to get him healthy for the playoffs.

**2gigch1** · 11-26-2012, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Ravenalytics

Peaking at the right time, I hope.

I think this is it. It's important to have a great record, but as the Giants showed us last year (and many others before them) getting hot at the end of the year is critical.

Lackluster defense and sputtering offense? If they learn and pull it together by the end of the season without crippling themselves with a losing record I am more than happy.

If you want to catalog issues with the Ravens:

Defense - getting better and key players are returning. Wouldn't be surprised if they rise back up to a more dominant level.
Special Teams - best it's been in years, from kick/punt returns to field goal kicking. Couldn't ask for better.
Offense - the big twinkie. I think a lot of people forget this team decided to fundamentally change their entire offense this year, and that kind of change usually results in a losing season. Steelers, Patriots, whatever team Peyton is on any given year - these are people / teams who know to play in an aggressive offense. The Ravens are learning on the fly.

Endlessly repeating a theme I harp on in everyday life, I will repeat: It is hard to see at any given time what will become obvious later. I am sure Americans in early 1943 would not be convinced that WWII was already effectively won, they just needed to see it through, yet in retrospect it was obvious.

I pose this question: If the Ravens are to make it to the Superbowl this year and win, what would it look like? I think it would look much like this.

Twelve weeks into the 2000 season, in the midst of a touchdown draught, who would have guessed those Ravens would go on to the Superbowl and win?

**nickh0801** · 11-28-2012, 11:02 AM

Baltimore Ravens ‏@Ravens
Ray Lewis is here at the facility rehabbing. Not practicing today. Day by day on whether he will.

**NCRAVEN** · 11-28-2012, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by nickh0801

Baltimore Ravens ‏@Ravens
Ray Lewis is here at the facility rehabbing. Not practicing today. Day by day on whether he will.

Correct me if I am wrong, but i thought he wasn't eligible to practice till tomorrow.

**Tucker: M&T Sec 527** · 11-28-2012, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by yousuf7590

I think that having Ray back for the Broncos game would be beneficial just because he can match Manning in making checks on the Defense as Manning checks in and out of plays on the offense.

Agreed. Ray has no doubt been memorizing film on Denver and the other late season opponents he could conceivably play against. He will be used judiciously and situationally should he return.