BALTIMORE — Looking to keep pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the AFC North, the Ravens welcome Indianapolis to town and will try to defeat the winless Colts for the first time in over a decade this afternoon.
Including the postseason, Indianapolis has bested the Ravens eight straight times, but the Colts never had to do so without quarterback Peyton Manning under center. Needless to say with an 0-12 record, Indianapolis never recovered from the absence of Manning this year and has now turned to journeyman Dan Orlovsky after Curtis Painter was unable to provide a sufficient level of productivity for the Colts offense.
Baltimore looks for its first nine-game home winning streak in franchise history and will try to improve to 10-3 for just the second time in the 16 years of the team (2006 being the other).
Kicker Billy Cundiff (left calf) is active and will handle kicking duties today after the Ravens worked out Shayne Graham and had the veteran on standby this weekend in case Cundiff was unable to go. Should Cundiff’s calf flare up during the game, punter Sam Koch would handle kicking duties and practiced field goals during Thursday’s practice.
In pregame warmups, Cundiff appeared to connect on all four of his attempts, including the longest from 48 yards.
As expected, Ray Lewis is inactive for the fourth straight game, but reports persist that the veteran linebacker will aim to make his return when the Ravens travel to San Diego next Sunday night. Dannell Ellerbe will start in Lewis’ place.
On an interesting note, linebacker Sergio Kindle is active for just the second time this season. His only other game this season came against the New York Jets in Week 4. Defensive tackle Brandon McKinney is inactive for the first time since the first two weeks of the season.
For Indianapolis, talented tight end Dallas Clark is active and will start after missing the Colts’ last three games with a leg injury.
Here are today’s inactives:
Baltimore
LB Ray Lewis
CB Chris Carr
LB Chavis Williams
WR LaQuan Williams
WR Tandon Doss
NT Brandon McKinney
RB Anthony Allen
Indianapolis
QB Peyton Manning
WR Anthony Gonzalez
DB Mike Holmes
LB A.J. Edds
LB Kevin Bentley
OT Quinn Ojinnaka
DE Jerry Hughes
Follow WNST on Twitter throughout the day as Nestor Aparcio, Drew Forrester, and I bring live coverage from M&T Bank Stadium and stay right here for post-game reaction as well as plenty of interviews in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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