Saints Begin Preparations For Ravens

The Saints return to the practice field today to begin preparations for Sunday's game against Baltimore.  A win for  New Orleans and some key losses would clinch a playoff spot for the Black and Gold. Kickoff at Baltimore Sunday is 12 noon.

Meanwhile, when it comes to assessing the Baltimore Ravens defense, the statistics tell all: Ranked 10th in the NFL, this unit is better than most, just not quite up to its usual standard.

Baltimore owned the third-ranked defense last season has finished in the top six for seven straight seasons. This season, however, has been a struggle.

Ray Lewis remains a constant, as both a leader and a playmaker. But the 35-year-old linebacker's supporting cast lacks the experience and talent that characterized the Baltimore defense during its finest seasons.