Jarret Johnson

THREE THINGS THAT NEED TO GO RIGHT ... 1 Running game needs to be dominant. The Ravens have to exploit the NFL's worst run defense, which is allowing 188.5 yards a game on the ground. This will allow the Ravens to control the clock and keep the ball away from Peyton Manning. 2 Matt Stover has to return to his old form. The Ravens can't afford another miss by Stover, who is 4-for-7 this season. Considering both teams have been involved in close games the past two weeks, this one could be another nail-biter.

San Diego's high-powered offense took a double hit Friday when the Chargers said running back LaDainian Tomlinson and center Nick Hardwick will miss Sunday's game against the Ravens with ankle injuries. The Chargers' injury report listed eight players this week after a physical, 24-20 win over the Oakland Raiders on Monday night. Also scratched is backup defensive tackle Travis Johnson with a groin injury. The Ravens said all week that they expected Tomlinson to play. But coach John Harbaugh said the Chargers are well stocked at the position.

Inside linebacker Ray Lewis was present at Tuesday's practice, marking the second straight day the 12-time Pro Bowler was there. Lewis, who saw his streak of 57 consecutive starts end on Sunday because of an injury to a toe on his right foot, was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday's injury report. In a statement distributed by the Ravens, Lewis said he is hopeful of returning for the the Thanksgiving night clash with the San Francisco 49ers. His teammates, however, were tight-lipped on the topic of his return.

It is believed that the Ravens have hosted three free agents since the market opened last Tuesday, and now all of them have signed elsewhere. Wide receiver and return specialist Ted Ginn Jr., who visited with Ravens' officials last week in Owings Mills, has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the San Francisco 49ers. Ginn has spent the past two seasons with San Francisco after he was drafted in the first round in 2007 by the Miami Dolphins. The explosive Ginn has six career return touchdowns.

On Friday, the NFL announced that defensive tackle Haloti Ngata had been fined $15,000 for leading with his helmet while hitting New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez in the back in the second quarter of the Ravens' 34-17 victory on Oct. 2. On Monday, Ngata crafted his response, calling the punishment “bull.” “I think it's really bull,” the two-time Pro Bowler said. “I thought I kept my head up the whole time. It's kind of hard when you know that he's about to throw the ball to try to let up when you're trying to get there as fast as you can. I think it's bull, but I'm going to try to appeal it and see what I can do.” The play was critical to the outcome as Ngata's hit forced Sanchez to cough up the ball, and outside linebacker Jarret Johnson returned the fumble 26 yards to give the Ravens a commanding 27-7 advantage.

Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees is making a smart move by calling his defenses from the press box instead of being on the field. I can understand each method -- staying on the field or up in the press box -- but the Ravens have a lot of young players on the field, with the exception of safety Ed Reed and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs. I'm not sure the communication with Pees was as good as it should have been, especially when you lose players like Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb to injuries, or veterans like Jarret Johnson or Cory Redding to free agency.

MINNEAPOLIS - A chance at redemption awaits the Ravens' run defense at an uninviting Metrodome today. After their streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher was trampled last week by the Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson ? "sickening," as linebacker Jarret Johnson describes it ? the next assignment for the Ravens (3-2) is the most dynamic running back in the NFL: Adrian Peterson of the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (5-0). Most would consider this a tough break. The Ravens' prideful front seven sees this as the ultimate opportunity to regain respect.

All roads lead to the sea for Jarret Johnson. The unassuming Ravens linebacker grew up on the water under a legacy of Florida fishermen, realized his worst fear there and now is being drawn back again. From his great-grandfather on down, men in the Johnson family have always worked on the water - first as net fishermen and later as commercial crabbers - around Cedar Key, an island community three miles off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico. Johnson is perhaps the most unsung player on one of the NFL's most heralded defenses.

QB C- Joe Flacco has to step up his game against top-notch competition. He moved well in the pocket and made plays with his legs but few with his arms. He holds the ball too long locating receivers. OL D+ When it came to running the ball, the Ravens were manhandled by the Giants up front. New York got penetration and cut off the running backs before they got to the holes. The pass protection was decent. WR C- Derrick Mason had seven catches for 82 yards but couldn't handle a pass that was intercepted and returned 50 yards for a touchdown.