OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens bid to reach the postseason will depend heavily of their second-ranked defense, a unit that has performed effectively despite an assortment of injuries.Baltimore leads the NFL in stopping the run and is seventh against the pass. Thus far, thats been good enough to offset a spotty offense that ranks 22nd in yardage and is averaging only two touchdowns per game.The Ravens (5-5) long ago built a reputation for hitting hard and playing rugged defense, and this team is a throwback to the days when Ray Lewis and Ed Reed made life miserable for the rest of the league.Its your typical Baltimore defense, said Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, who will face the Ravens on Sunday. They do a really good job against the run and get you into third-and-long situations. Thats the way Baltimores been for a long time.The most impressive aspect of the current unit is that rarely has it been at full strength.Linebackers Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley, along with cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Shareece Wright, all have missed at least one game because of injury. Linebacker Elvis Dumervil has suited up only once this year while recovering from foot surgery, but hes hopeful of returning against Cincinnati (3-6-1).Linebacker Zach Orr leads the team with 86 tackles and safety Eric Weddle ranks second with 51. Weddle also has two of the Ravens 11 interceptions.Signed as a free agent during the offseason after a nine-year run with San Diego, Weddle has been an integral part of a defense he expects to ultimately finish as the best in the business.Theres only so many opportunities you have in this league to do something special and be No. 1, he said Wednesday. You always will have that.The Ravens owned the top-ranked defense before sputtering in a 27-17 loss to Dallas on Sunday. Try as he might, Weddle couldnt get that game out of his mind.We did a lot of good things in last weeks game but it wasnt good enough, he said. We didnt do our part to get a win.Dallas scored all its points over the final 36 minutes. That left the Baltimore defense with the feeling that theres plenty of room for improvement.Our defense has played really well, coach John Harbaugh said. And the thing I love about our defense is theyre not satisfied with anything theyve done in the past. Theyre going to keep building on what theyve done well and keep trying to improve. Thats the beautiful thing about it. As well as theyve played, we can play better.Weddle understands the importance of defense for Baltimore. Yet, he doesnt believe the success of the team depends upon it.We want to play great, week-in, week-out, regardless whats happening on offense, he said. I know deep down theyre going to win us some games and were going to need them when it matters most. Until that happens, weve got to go out and play great. Weve got to keep the ball out of the end zone, eliminate the big plays and stuff the run like weve been doing.Game notesDumervil and TE Crockett Gillmore (thigh) practiced Wednesday. ... Smith (back) missed the session but Harbaugh expressed hope the DB would practice on Thursday. ... RB Lorenzo Taliaferro (hamstring) also missed practice.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLBrian Westbrook Jersey . Robinson finished with 17 points, all but two in the second half, and Lawson had 14 after halftime and finished with a game-high 11 assists as the Nuggets handed Dallas its first home loss in eight games this season. J.J. Hickson led Denver with 22, and Kenneth Faried added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Randall Cunningham Youth Jersey . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. http://www.theeaglesshoponline.com/Youth-Harold-Carmichael-Eagles-Jersey/ . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Clayton Thorson Eagles Jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. DeSean Jackson Womens Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career.TORONTO - Looking to fill a hole at left fullback, Toronto FC has signed Swiss defender Jonas Elmer. The MLS side has tried a variety of players at the position, including moving English fullback Richard Eckersley from the right to the left side. Other fullbacks at the club include Ashtone Morgan, Darel Russell and Ryan Richter. Elmer, 25,, most recently played for FC Winterthur in the Swiss second division.dddddddddddd "Im a defender first of all but I really like to go forward," Elmer said. Elmer was a youth player at Switzerlands Grasshopper Club Zurich before moving in 2005 to Chelsea, where he spent two seasons with the youth and reserve teams. ' ' '
