rning on Sky Sports News HQ to share her Tip of the Day with you.Since joining Sky Sports News HQ in 2003, Alex has become a regular presenter on Good Morning Sports Fans. She is a bor

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 notes Dumervil 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-NFL Cheap Ravens Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Jordan Lasley Jersey . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. http://www.cheapravensjerseyschina.com/greg-senat-jersey/ . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. 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Working early mornings on Sky Sports News HQ allows Alex to return home in time to watch the afternoons racing and ride racehorses - as well as pick out a runner for the day.ddddddddddddune in to Sky Sports News HQ HD, channel 401, and Sky Sports News HQ, channel 408, at 6.45am, 7.45am, 8.45amMonday: ---Bet on this race now! Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys From China ' ' '