|
BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The
Baltimore Ravens
will be without running back
Jamal Lewis
on Sunday when they host the
Buffalo Bills
.
The focal point of the Ravens' offense, Lewis is beginning a two-game suspension for pleading guilty in a federal drug conspiracy case.
In addition to his punishment from the NFL, Lewis was sentenced to four months in federal prison and two in a halfway house, a term that he will serve in the offseason following his plea agreement with prosecutors.
Last season, Lewis rushed for the second-highest total in NFL history with 2,066 yards, 39 shy of Eric Dickerson's record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. He has rushed for 494 yards and five touchdowns in five games this season.
Without Lewis, untested
Chester Taylor
is expected to see the bulk of the playing time in the Baltimore backfield. A 2002 sixth-round pick out of Toledo, Taylor never has had more than 10 carries in a game.
Taylor did carry nine times for a career-high 76 yards in a 30-13 victory over Pittsburgh on September 19. He has rushed for 164 yards this season and 562 in his career.
The running game always is key for the Ravens, who have watched quarterback
Kyle Boller
struggle. Boller has thrown for just 650 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions in five games.
Of course, the Ravens also could rely on their aggressive defense to harrass the immobile
Drew Bledsoe
, who has been sacked 20 times in five games this season.
Bledsoe went down just once and completed 15-of-28 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown as the Bills broke into the win column last week with a 20-13 victory over the winless
Miami Dolphins
.
Making his first career start in place of
Travis Henry
(sprained toe),
Willis McGahee
carried 26 times for 111 yards. McGahee and Ravens linebacker
Ray Lewis
both attended the University of Miami.
Matchup to watch: Bills right end
Aaron Schobel
, who had 2 1/2 sacks last week, against left tackle
Jonathan Ogden
.
Series: Buffalo leads, 1-0, with the only other meeting coming in 1999.
Next week: Buffalo hosts Arizona on October 31 Baltimore visits Philadelphia on October 31
|
