Numbers show that the offense is carrying Ravens

Players say the stat that really matters at this point is the team's 3-1 record

The Ravens are allowing a respectable 20.8 points per game, their run defense has improved significantly, and they've been solid in the red zone, preventing teams from scoring touchdowns 46.7 percent of the time. Still, Harbaugh and first-year defensive coordinator Dean Pees are alarmed by the number of big plays the defense has given up.

"I've said before that I don't care about stats. Well, it's true, but not true," Pees said. "I do care. I don't want to give up yardage. I don't want to be ranked low, but the three stats to me that are the most important are points, third down [and] red area, because those usually all contribute to points, and then the fourth one is win. Do I want to give up yardage? No, but I want to make sure we are OK in those categories, and I see us coming up in those categories, and that to me is a big part of it."

This year's stats aside, Lewis — with his menacing glare — remains the face of the Ravens, and that will likely stay true until the day the linebacker calls it quits on a Hall of Fame career. But Lewis, who has had to compensate for a sluggish offense for many of his 17 seasons here, is the last person who is going to complain about how things are currently working out.

"I think when you look at the balance with what we have, it's kind of what's becoming more exciting than anything," Lewis said. "You look at how we can go into games, and you make a big stop as a defense, and then your offense can come in and instantly put three points [or] instantly put [up] seven points. You see the good teams: the good teams have that balance."

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Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson contributed to this article.

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