Corey Ivy

Filling in for an ill Samari Rolle, cornerback Corey Ivy will start in back-to-back games for the first time since Oct. 17, 2005. As excited as he is about Sundays, Ivy also looks forward to Tuesdays, the players' regularly scheduled day off. What's your favorite off-day activity? Well, now I spend it with my newborn daughter [Blaise, who was born Sept. 14], walking around the house with her and loving on her. How has fatherhood changed you? I'm a homebody now. I just want to relax at home with my wife [Emilia]

- Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is causing more heartache for Baltimore fans these days than Bob Irsay. Allowing the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player to throw two touchdown passes in the final two minutes of the first half, the Ravens were once again undone by Manning in a 20-3 loss to the top-seeded Colts in an AFC divisional playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The sixth-seeded Ravens (10-8) could never seize the momentum from him, failing to score a touchdown against Indianapolis for a third straight game and turning the ball over four times (two interceptions and lost fumbles by Ray Rice and Ed Reed)

Sunday Tampa Bay at Philadelphia BUCCANEERS: Probable: G Cosey Coleman (ankle); CB Corey Ivy (Achilles); QB Brad Johnson (forehead laceration). EAGLES: Doubtful: DE Derrick Burgess (foot). Probable: LB Shawn Barber (knee); S Blaine Bishop (groin); QB Donovan McNabb (ankle); WR Todd Pinkston (finger/toe); RB Brian Westbrook (wrist) Tennessee at Oakland TITANS: Questionable: LB Rocky Boiman (knee); CB Andre Dyson (shoulder); RB Eddie George (concussion); DE Jevon Kearse (foot); QB Steve McNair (thumb)

- Domonique Foxworth 'srange of emotions after the Ravens' 23-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field mirrored his assignment of shadowing Santonio Holmes wherever the wide receiver went. There were some things to be proud of - such as the interception of Ben Roethlisberger he returned for a touchdown that was negated by an illegal-block-in-the-back penalty on Terrell Suggs . And Foxworth helped the Ravens' secondary surrender just 259 passing yards and one touchdown to Roethlisberger, who torched the Green Bay Packers for 503 yards and three touchdowns Dec. 20. But Foxworth was also victimized by Roethlisberger, who connected with Holmes on a pass in the left flat that the receiver turned into a 24-yard gain on the Steelers' game-winning drive.

The Ravens are a bit conflicted whenever the topic of drafting a cornerback is broached. On one hand, the team's front office and coaching staff is content with its current corps: starters Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle, nickel back Corey Ivy and reserves Evan Oglesby, Ronnie Prude, Derrick Martin and David Pittman. On the other hand, this year's crop of cornerbacks is considered deep, with as many as seven players labeled as potential first-round picks Saturday. That's why Eric DeCosta found himself arguing both sides after the team's draft luncheon Tuesday.

THREE THINGS THAT NEED TO GO RIGHT ... 1 Jump out to an early lead. The Ravens could use the crowd to their advantage. If they can gain a quick advantage, the crowd at Reliant Stadium will turn on a Texans team that got routed in the opener. 2 Establish a running game. Just as the Ravens did against Cincinnati, they have to continue their physical identity. Running the ball not only will limit Joe Flacco's chances of making a mistake, but it will also put him in shorter third-down situations.

Tight end Quinn Sypniewski caught his first career touchdown pass in the Ravens' 27-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns last Sunday. But the weekend was not a total loss for the former Colorado Buffalo. How did you feel about Colorado upsetting then-No. 3 Oklahoma on Saturday? That was great. Colorado has had some struggles the last few years. So to get a win like that is definitely a boost for that program. It was definitely nice to be able to come back on Sunday and talk a little smack to some of our Oklahoma brethren [Chris Chester, Mark Clayton, Kelly Gregg and Corey Ivy]

The Ravens signed Corey Ivy, who played with them from 2006 to 2008, on Tuesday to replace injured cornerback Lardarius Webb on the roster. The 32-year-old Ivy, who started a majority of the Ravens games in 2007 opposite Chris McAlister, had 63 tackles, three sacks and an interception that season. His playing time decreased in 2008, and he had just 11 total tackles. He was not re-signed after the season. "He fits us right now," coach John Harbaugh said during his weekly radio program Tuesday evening.

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer fans' questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Provide your name and phone number so we can verify the e-mail. HEY, JAMISON: : In wins against Cleveland and Cincinnati, in addition to a strong running game, we saw a healthy dose of intermediate pass routes, coupled with some quick outs, slants and even a few deep balls. It seemed that [Joe] Flacco was comfortable, and began to progress with this freedom in the passing game.

Nearly two weeks into free agency, safety remains the only hole in the Ravens' starting lineup. Based on the Ravens' inactivity, it is not considered a pressing need. The Ravens have let a marginal class thin out to the point where only one of the top 10 free-agent safeties - Tank Williams - is still available. "There are some safeties out there that we still like," said general manager Ozzie Newsome, who recently added that the Ravens are going to wait for the free-agent market to "settle."

The Ravens signed Corey Ivy, who played with them from 2006 to 2008, on Tuesday to replace injured cornerback Lardarius Webb on the roster. The 32-year-old Ivy, who started a majority of the Ravens games in 2007 opposite Chris McAlister, had 63 tackles, three sacks and an interception that season. His playing time decreased in 2008, and he had just 11 total tackles. He was not re-signed after the season. "He fits us right now," coach John Harbaugh said during his weekly radio program Tuesday evening.

The Ravens can clinch a playoff berth Sunday in Pittsburgh, but they'll need help from some AFC teams and perhaps a veteran cornerback to do so. Rookie third-round pick Lardarius Webb will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He injured his right knee blocking on the punt-return team in the third quarter of Sunday's 31-7 rout of the Chicago Bears. Webb becomes the second starting cornerback to sustain a season-ending knee injury, joining Fabian Washington (hurt Nov. 22)

The Ravens can clinch a playoff berth Sunday in Pittsburgh, but they'll need help from some AFC teams and perhaps a veteran cornerback to do so. Rookie third-round pick Lardarius Webb will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He injured his right knee blocking on the punt-return team in the third quarter of Sunday's 31-7 rout of the Chicago Bears. Webb becomes the second starting cornerback to sustain a season-ending knee injury, joining Fabian Washington (hurt Nov. 22)

If the reigning Super Bowl champions Pittsburgh Steelers have an Achilles' heel, it might be their poor kickoff coverage. The Steelers have allowed an NFL-high four kickoff-return touchdowns in five games this season, including in the past two contests. Pittsburgh's sudden vulnerability sounds enticing to a Ravens squad that ranks eighth in the NFL in average start on kickoffs (28.2-yard line). "We look to break a kick every week," said rookie Lardarius Webb , who returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 1. "It doesn't matter if they haven't had a kick broke on them ever or if they've had two or three.

To continue on their path toward the playoffs, the Ravens must overcome the biggest roadblock in the team's history -- the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning. No other quarterback has dominated the Ravens' prideful defense this decade like the three-time NFL Most Valuable Player. With his rapid-fire arm, he has outplayed them. With his ability to pick apart defenses, he has outsmarted them. Today at M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens (5-4) are looking to knock off the undefeated Colts (9-0)

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer fans' questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Provide your name and phone number so we can verify the e-mail. HEY, JAMISON: : In wins against Cleveland and Cincinnati, in addition to a strong running game, we saw a healthy dose of intermediate pass routes, coupled with some quick outs, slants and even a few deep balls. It seemed that [Joe] Flacco was comfortable, and began to progress with this freedom in the passing game.

The Ravens can clinch a playoff berth Sunday in Pittsburgh, but they'll need help from some AFC teams and perhaps a veteran cornerback to do so. Rookie third-round pick Lardarius Webb will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He injured his right knee blocking on the punt-return team in the third quarter of Sunday's 31-7 rout of the Chicago Bears. Webb becomes the second starting cornerback to sustain a season-ending knee injury, joining Fabian Washington (hurt Nov. 22)

A week after the Ravens believed a roughing-the-passer penalty cost them a game, there was no excuse given in watching Peyton Manning rough up their secondary. The once-struggling Indianapolis Colts quarterback ripped up the once-top-ranked pass defense, throwing for three touchdowns in a 31-3 rout of the Ravens in front of an announced sellout crowd of 66,153. After allowing wide receivers to catch two touchdown passes in the first four games, the Ravens (2-3) surrendered three to Colts receivers in the first half alone.