Friday Night Links

For a second consecutive day, safety Ed Reed, linebacker Terrell Suggs, tight end L.J. Smith and safety K.J. Gerard missed practice.  Receiver Demetrius Williams also missed practice today.  Reed will likely start but Suggs likely won’t.

Meanwhile the Ravens, who only have 21 sacks on the season, will look to pressure Aaron Rodgers, who has been sacked 44 times.  However, coach John Harbaugh notes, their offensive line has been playing better.  “Early on, they struggled, but they seem to have gotten that straightened out,” Harbaugh said. “They’re protecting very well the last three weeks, and it’s a good offensive line.”

As it stands through the Thursday Night game, the Ravens (6-5) are seventh in the playoff seeding in the AFC but tied with the team ahead of (Jacksonville) and behind them (Pittsburgh).  The Jets are 6-6.  There are three teams — Tennessee, Miami and Houston — tied at 5-6.

Yesterday Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said of Antwan Barnes: “If we didn’t play guys because they missed tackles, we’d be down to a 15-man roster.”

Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun thinks the cold Green Bay weather and some snow (40 percent chance in the forecast) could help slow down the blistering hot Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.  In his past two games, Rodgers is completing over 71 percent of his passes and is averaging 346 yards per game.  Plus, he threw five touchdowns and no interceptions in those two games.

Ravens receiver Mark Clayton had a seven-catch, 129-yard performance last week against Pittsburgh.  As ESPN’s James Walker points out, Clayton all too often follows up big games with a disappearing act.

In his “Thought of the Day” column yesterday, Walker asks (and then answers) who you would prefer: Baltimore’s Ray Rice vs Cincinnati’s Cedric Benson.  Here’s why he would pick Rice: “Rice is more versatile and has the potential to lead your team in rushing and receptions. There are not a lot of running backs with that type of ability.”

Walker asks whether ex-Ravens running back Jamal Lewis is a Hall of Famer and the consensus response is no-to-maybe.

John Eisenberg of the BaltimoreRavens.com website ponders who will replace Ray Lewis as the team’s “public face” when the day comes that Lewis hangs ‘em up.

Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Antwan Barnes, Cedric Benson, Demetrius Williams, Ed Reed, Greg Mattison, Jamal Lewis, John Harbaugh, K.J. Gerard, L.J. Smith, Mark Clayton, Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs