Washington Redskins

Ray Rice had just topped 100 rushing yards in a game for the first time since early October, but the frustration showed on his face. As the Ravens packed their bags before making the short drive back to Baltimore, he couldn't help but feel as if they had left yards and points - and a victory - out on the field. "It's the way you finish games," Rice said. "As a leader on this team, I like to finish teams out. " The Ravens rushed for a season-high 186 yards on 35 carries Sunday, including 121 from Rice, his highest total of 2012, and a career-high 53 yards from rookie backup Bernard Pierce.

Baltimore Sun staff members analyze the Ravens' 31-28 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins. Matt Vensel, reporter/blogger: The Ravens lost their second straight game for the first time since 2009 for myriad reasons, but mainly because they couldn't stop a pair of rookie quarterbacks with the game on the line. Robert Griffin III checked out of the game twice before Kirk Cousins tied the game with a touchdown pass and a run for a two-point conversion. But you can spread the blame around if you're into that.

The player that the Ravens spent all week trying to devise a way to contain was finally stopped. Robert Griffin III wasn't on the field after the Washington Redskins' rookie took one more punishing hit in an afternoon filled with them, the last by Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, injuring Griffin's knee and knocking him out of the game. All the Ravens' defense had to do was get one stop against a rookie backup quarterback and a victory and a playoff berth would have been theirs.

Every morning, Monday through Friday, blogger Matt Vensel will hook you up with reading material -- mostly on the Ravens but with some other Baltimore sports stuff, too -- to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday. That way he'll have an excuse to do the same to start his workday, too. RUNNING IT BACK Linebacker Terrell Suggs returned to practice Thursday , four days after he tore his right biceps. ... Speaking of Suggs, he was forced to surrender several firearms after a domestic case last month.

ASHBURN, Va. - For the first time this week, inside linebacker London Fletcher practiced with the rest of his Washington Redskins teammates, working on a limited basis inside the team's indoor bubble Friday. Fletcher, who has been hobbled by a sprained left ankle, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens at FedEx Field in Landover and sounded unsure about whether he'll be able to extend his streak of 236 consecutive games played -- tied with Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Ronde Barber as the longest active streak -- and 195 straight starts.

ASHBURN, Va. - One of the factors that contributed to the Pittsburgh Steelers' 23-20 win against the Ravens last Sunday was the Ravens' questionable decision to play the entire fourth quarter without giving running back Ray Rice a single carry or targeting him once in the passing game. Because of that omission, several members of the Washington Redskins - the Ravens' opponent this Sunday - said they fully anticipate that they will see a lot of Rice at FedEx Field in Landover. “We get the short end of the stick.

Every week, I hope to bring you a quick Q&A with someone who covers the Ravens' opponent that week. This week, I chatted with Rich Campbell, who covers the Washington Redskins for The Washington Times. MV: How unique is Robert Griffin III? And how has this young man been able to handle himself with such poise with all the pressure, expectation and responsibility that has been heaped on him since Day One? RC: Griffin is as unique as they come because, basically, he's perfect.

Matt Birk has made his home in Baltimore for nearly four years. Only quarterback Joe Flacco has a longer consecutive games streak among Ravens. The center has played against all but two teams in his 60 games with the Ravens - and the team closest to Baltimore isn't one of them. That's right, the closest Birk has come to crashing into something with a Washington Redskins logo is when he passes cars with Redskins bumper stickers and license plates around Baltimore. "I see a lot of Redskins stuff.

In the recent past, when the calendar flipped to December, fans of the Washington Redskins could look forward to the holidays but little else. The same can't be said this season as the team is in the thick of the playoff hunt. At 6-6, Washington is just one game behind the New York Giants in the NFC East and one game behind the Seattle Seahawks for the final berth in the NFC postseason and could take one step closer with a victory over the Ravens this Sunday at FedEx Field in Landover.

There is speculation that Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs will attempt to play in Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins, but I don't see where it will help the Ravens much. Suggs has missed practice this week so far with a torn right biceps and might be able to play with the help of some type of harness. At this point, it is difficult to see how a harness will help. We're talking about a torn biceps here, not a separated shoulder, like former Ravens outside linebacker Peter Boulware was able to play with because of the brace/harness.