SAN DIEGO — As his teammates huddled around him Sunday night, Baltimore Ravens All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis exhorted them with his usual fervor before kickoff.
Lewis was finally back in a helmet and shoulder pads, rejoining the Ravens on the field during a 34-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers at Snapdragon Stadium as he made his return Sunday night after being sidelined for four games with a right turf toe injury.
Although there were some obvious signs of rust in Lewis’ game as Chargers running back Ryan Mathews rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, he still recorded 10 tackles. And he didn’t aggravate his injury.
"I felt good," Lewis said. "I never injured myself one time and I take my hat off to this organization because we made some real hard decisions the last couple of weeks if I should or should not play. I came out totally healthy and I’m excited because in the long run when you sit back and watch our team we get to go back home to do some special things coming up this next couple of weeks. For me personally I think I came out really healthy and I’m very excited."
Lewis estimated his health at 95 to 100 percent.
"I’m not even worried about it," Lewis said.
It was the longest absence for the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year in several years, and the Ravens went undefeated while he was out.
During that time, inside linebackers Jameel McClain, Dannell Ellerbe and Brendon Ayanbadejo all increased their contributions.
"Whenever he does return, we’re going to be back to a really great defense," Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "I don’t think you all should take this credit away from the job that Jameel McClain and Dannell Ellerbe have done these past few weeks.
"They have been phenomenal for us. We get him back in there, we get the greatest player to play this football game. The way this machine works, it starts with No. 52."
SMITH STRUGGLES: It was a rough night for rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith.
The first-round draft pick allowed a 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Malcom Floyd and was repeatedly targeted by San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers.
"They did a lot of things to me being a younger player," Smith said. "That’s going to happen. I think they did that well. I’m definitely my own worst critic."
Although Floyd caught five passes for 96 yards as Rivers attempted six passes in his direction, Smith didn’t seem fazed by being burnt by the veteran wide receiver.
"I’ve been beat before," Smith said. "It happens. It’s football. I know what happened. It was double moves I got beat on."
Smith was starting in place of cornerback Lardarius Webb, who was limited to nickel duties as he was affected by a left toe injury.
Rivers immediately went after Smith on the Chargers’ opening drive, connecting with Floyd and Vincent Jackson for 12 yards and 15 yards.
"Do you know my record at Colorado?" said Smith, who was an All-American selection in college. "At the same time, you have to deal with it. They did a lot of things to me being a younger player. That’s going to happen. I think they did that well."
Lewis said Smith will learn from this experience.
"I was talking to Jimmy, it’s not on Jimmy," Lewis said. "He just has to start and understand. You have to understand when you have veteran quarterbacks, how they manipulate certain things. That’s a learning curve. You don’t want to get down on him.
"If I hadn’t been through this a million times, then I’d say, ‘Aw, man, this is BS.’ But the bottom line, it’s a learning curve and every man has to take this learning curve and say, ‘How can I get better?’ That’s the next step for us."
PLAYOFF BOUND: Hours before kickoff, the Ravens’ ticket to the NFL postseason was stamped.
The Ravens clinched at least a wild-card playoff berth by virtue of the New York Jets’ blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
The Ravens made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, an unprecedented accomplishment in franchise history.
The Ravens are the lone NFL team to make the playoffs every year since the 2008 season.
In those playoff appearances, they’ve won 4 of 7 games with at least one playoff victory annually under coach John Harbaugh. Harbaugh replaced former Ravens coach Brian Billick prior to the 2008 season, his first as a head coach at any level.
The Pittsburgh Steelers also clinched a playoff berth because of the previously winless Indianapolis Colts defeating the Tennessee Titans.
WEBB ACTIVE: Despite a painful left toe injury that prevented him from practicing all week, Webb was active.
As expected, he didn’t start and was replaced in the lineup by Smith.
Webb lined up in nickel packages and didn’t appear to have his mobility affected much.
Team officials had predicted late in the week that Webb had an outside chance of playing depending on how his toe responded to treatment. Webb took a pain killer before the game.
"It felt great," said Webb, who leads the Ravens with four interceptions. "It lasted until the end of the game, just a slight bit of pain. The coaches were doing a slight bit of precautionary action. So, try to limit it as much as we can. It ended out well. I didn’t make it worse. It’s sore, it’s sore."
CUNDIFF’S STRUGGLES CONTINUE: Pro Bowl kicker Billy Cundiff didn’t practice all week due to a left calf injury, his plant leg.
And he missed his lone field goal try wide right, a miss from 36 yards.
It’s unclear whether the problem can be attributed to the leg injury or lagging confidence.
"To be honest with you, I’m not making any excuses," Cundiff said. "It’s been frustrating dealing with my leg. That’s pretty obvious. Regardless of the situation, I should have made the kick."
He’s now 2 for 5 in December.
All of his misses this season except for one against the Seattle Seahawks caused by a poor snap by long snapper Morgan Cox have been wide right.
The Ravens recently brought in former Pro Bowl kicker Shayne Graham for a tryout, but didn’t sign him to a contract.
Cundiff said there was a slight possibility he could have missed this game.
"There was still an outside chance I wasn’t going to play," Cundiff said. "I’m still not 100 percent, so I’m trying to figure out what’s the best thing to do and make sure I’m capable of playing at a high level for the team. You got to find a way to get healthy."
Cundiff has made 27 of 36field goals this year after connecting on 26 of 29 kicks last season. All of his misses have been on the road.
"It’s been a learning experience this year," Cundiff said. "I feel like I’ve unfortunately learned a lot from these misses. My confidence doesn’t waver. It’s one of those things, I just have to make kicks. It’s just that simple."
BARNES SHINES: Former Ravens outside linebacker Antwan Barnes recorded a career-high four sacks and leads the Chargers with 11 sacks.
Barnes was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles last season and then released before being picked up by San Diego.
"It was nice," Barnes said. "You think about the things that I went through with them and everything happens for a reason and I have no animosity toward the Ravens and it was great to get out there and show what I can do."
Barnes said the Ravens eventually resorted to chip-blocking to help out offensive tackles Michael Oher and Bryant McKinnie.
"More Michael Oher but I didn’t really get a chance to get on his side the entire game," Barnes said. They started chipping a little bit, but then they got away from it so then it was time for me to just get back on it."
UNCHARACTERISTIC: One of the top rushing defenses in the league, the Ravens allowed three touchdown runs.
The Ravens hadn’t done so since the Tennessee Titans’ three touchdown runs against Baltimore on Nov. 12, 2006.
"When it rains, it pours," free safety Ed Reed said. "You’re talking about stopping a high-powered offense. Granted, we’re not going to be perfect every week and we’re not going to stop everybody every week. Now, you start another streak."
CARR RETURNS: Cornerback Chris Carr played in his first game since suffering a bulging disc in his back.
Carr had missed the previous three games with the ailment.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (back), offensive guard Ben Grubbs (right turf toe) and defensive end Cory Redding (ankle) were both active after missing time during the week. Redding limped off the field at one point, but returned.
The Ravens scratched wide receivers LaQuan Williams and Tandon Doss, running back Anthony Allen, cornerback Danny Gorrer, linebacker Chavis Williams, nose guard Brandon McKinney and linebacker Sergio Kindle.
Kindle had been active against the Indianapolis Colts a week ago.
QUICK HITS: The Chargers deactivated wide receiver Bryant Walters, cornerback Shareece Wright, defensive end Jacques Cesaire, former Ravens offensive lineman Tony Moll, outside linebacker Everette Brown and linebacker Nate Triplett. … The Ravens lost the coin toss, but the Chargers deferred until the second half and Baltimore received. The Ravens’ game captains were quarterback Joe Flacco, Lewis and Ayanbadejo. … Rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith caught his seventh touchdown of the year, breaking the Ravens’ rookie scoring record previously shared by him and former running back Jamal Lewis.
