Subscribe Now

Text size:

Meeting of the minds

Colts' Manning vs. Ravens' Lewis 'kind of like a chess match'

By Jamison Hensley | jamison.hensley@baltsun.com

October 12, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS - The Ravens slugged it out with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans the past two weeks, proving their toughness to the rest of the NFL.

When the Ravens (2-2) line up against the Indianapolis Colts (2-2) today, it will be a challenge unlike any other. Battling quarterback Peyton Manning is a test of brains, not brawn.

"It's kind of like a chess match," Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said.

But the pieces happen to be 300-pound linemen, million-dollar receivers and Pro Bowl linebackers.

And the ones moving everyone around are Manning and Lewis, two longtime students of the game who have become masters at outwitting opponents.

Manning calls his play at the line after dissecting the defense while Lewis prides himself on predicting the play by picking up on tendencies and formations.

"You just kind of get two brains going," Lewis said of his showdowns with Manning. "Sometimes I walk up to the line and I'll say something that has nothing to do with football to him. Overall, it just turns out to be a great game."

Standing at the line, Manning will scan the defense before checking his wristband. He then shouts at his teammates to his left and right, gyrating his arms and hands.

Answering Manning's pre-snap theatrics, Lewis will tell linebacker Terrell Suggs to move from one side to the other and direct defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to shift one gap over.

Move after countermove, Lewis and Manning will go head-to-head for the entire game.

"There's many a time when I've heard Ray calling out our plays, and he's been pretty accurate at times," Manning said. "It's always impressive to watch him play when you play against him. I don't know if I necessarily enjoy it, but it's a challenge and he presents a lot of problems for us."

Lewis has averaged 12.3 tackles against the Colts in his career. In the 2007 playoff game against them, he recorded 23 tackles and knocked down three passes.

Manning has had an equal amount of success, becoming one of the few quarterbacks who regularly get the better of the Ravens.

In six regular-season games against the Ravens, he has thrown for 13 touchdowns and averaged 283.8passing yards. His quarterback rating against them is 102.4.

"I think you can have success against them," Lewis said. "I think you just have to really be great in your disguises and be great in not giving him the same look."

Manning has won his past five meetings with the Ravens but has yet to win the unqualified respect of everyone on the NFL's top-ranked defense.

"You can't call him the best quarterback ever," Suggs said. "The best quarterback can line up and can make a play out of whatever the defense gives him. But see, he can't do that. He's got to play little games at the line and audible here and audible there and fake-call here. Just line up and play football."

When the Ravens played the Steelers and Titans, the defense rolled up its sleeves for a physical game.

Today at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Ravens must adjust to facing one of the most finesse-based offenses in the NFL.

"I would rather you grind your 11 up against our 11 and go play football," Suggs said. "But not too many teams in the NFL can do that with us. I think Peyton knows that, so he's got to do his little games at the line, [hollering] dummy calls. It's like, 'OK, Peyton, when you're ready to play football, we'll play.'"

E-mail

Single page

Reprint

Get home delivery of The Sun and save over 50% off the newsstand price

Meeting of the minds

Colts' Manning vs. Ravens' Lewis 'kind of like a chess match'

Ravens questions? Just ask.

Going deep

Online resources

Going deep

Online resources

Going deep

Going deep Archived Sun football coverage
	> John Unitas > John Mackey > Lenny Moore > Jim Parker > Raymond Berry > Gino Marchetti > More archived coverage > Going deep: Other sports

Going deep Sun sports special reports and in-depth coverage
	> 1983 O's > Football: The tie that binds > Orioles > Baltimore Colts > Going deep: Other sports

Meeting of the minds

Colts' Manning vs. Ravens' Lewis 'kind of like a chess match'

Related links

Ravens questions? Just ask. Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer fans' questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Please provide your name and phone number so we can verify the e-mail.

Ravens questions? Just ask.

Poll: Ravens vs. Eagles

Related topic galleries: Ray Lewis, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Injuries, Peyton Manning, Chris McAlister, Baltimore Colts

Popular stories: Sports

Poll: Ravens vs. Eagles

Going deep

Online resources

Going deep

Online resources

Going deep

Ravens questions? Just ask.
Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer fans' questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Please provide your name and phone number so we can verify the e-mail.