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Former Baltimore defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano is expected to bring a Ravens-style defense to Indianapolis. He could be taking some Ravens players along with him, as well.

Ravens free-agent defensive end Cory Redding is engaged with talks with the Colts, and is scheduled to visit Indianapolis tonight, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. This could just be the beginning for Pagano, who might also target linebackers Jarret Johnson and Jameel McClain.

Losing Redding would not be a critical blow to the Ravens, even though the nine-year veteran had his best season in years. Redding finished with 43 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

The Ravens have been prepared to replace Redding with two emerging young prospects in Pernell McPhee and Art Jones.

There's a full-blown AFC North reunion going on with the Indianapolis Colts' coaching staff this year.

The Colts plan to hire Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler as their defensive coordinator, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. In his nine years with Pittsburgh, Butler has been instrumental in the development of three Pro Bowl linebackers: James Farrior, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.

This comes a day after the Colts added former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians to run their offense. So, new Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, the former Ravens defensive coordinator, is bringing along two Steelers coaches to run his offense and defense.

But the AFC North ties run deeper than that. Pagano, Arians and Butler were together on Butch Davis' Browns coaching staff for two seasons (2001-02). I'm still trying to figure out how the Bengals play a part in this so every AFC North team is represented in this weekend's Colts coaching moves.

Former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians' "retirement" lasted eight days. And Arians has landed in an unlikely destination.

Arians has agreed to become the Indianapolis Colts' new offensive coordinator, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Why is that so unlikely?

Well, this move means last year's Steelers offensive coordinator will join last year's Ravens defensive coordinator. Chuck Pagano was named the Colts' head coach two days ago. Guess there is more respect than hate in the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, at least on the coaching end.

Arians' five-year run as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator was disappointing considering the talent he had at the skill positions. But he will be a good fit for the Colts' in terms of scheme.

He was responsible for the Steelers going from a run-first to a pass-heavy offense. Whether the Colts are sticking with Peyton Manning or drafting Andrew Luck, Indianapolis will rely heavily on the passing game. The hiring of Arians certainly points in that direction.

At this point, it's assumed that the Colts and Manning are headed for a split. But, as one of our blog readers (SteelBlitz27) pointed out, this is a reunion for Arians and Manning. Arians was Manning's first quarterbacks coach, serving that role from 1998 to 2000.

Arians' return to coaching was a quick one. On Jan. 20, the Steelers sent out an official statement saying Arians had informed coach Mike Tomlin that he was retiring. A few days later, Arians revealed that he was pushed out after team president Art Rooney II informed him that his contract was not being renewed.

The Steelers and Colts don't play each other in the regular season in 2012.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

A shocked Ben Roethlisberger wants answers from team president Art Rooney II following the "retirement" of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

"When I get back, I'm going to go up to Mr. Rooney's office and ask him what he wants from me, what he wants from this offense, because I think that's a viable question for him," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu. "He's our owner and our boss, so I really would like to know kind of what he wants and where he sees our offense going because I'd like to tell him where I see us going."

The Steelers announced Arians had retired, but he later said his contract wasn't renewed by the team. Arians had been the only offensive coordinator in coach Mike Tomlin's five seasons as Steelers head coach.

Roethlisberger, who is close with Arians, invited him to Hawaii as his guest for the Pro Bowl, but Arians decided not to go after he was no longer with the team.

Roethlisberger was described as being "miffed" by the timing of the Steelers' move with Arians.

"We feel like we are really close to being an elite offense," Roethlisberger told the Tribune-Review. "For your leader to be gone is kind of a shocker for us, but you've got to be ready for it, and whatever the Rooneys and coach Tomlin decide is our next step. I think the [Steelers'] mind was made up, and B.A. was kind of ready to move on as well."

Hensley's slant: Roethlisberger has to be worried about the direction of the offense. Team sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Rooney wants the offense to go back to its blue-collar identity of the past. The trouble is, the Steelers are built to throw the ball with one of the best young and fast receiving groups in the league. You can criticize Arians' play calling. But it's hard to argue that the Steelers should go back to a run-first offense.

BENGALS: Mike Zimmer is returning for his fifth season as the Bengals defensive coordinator, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported, after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired Rutgers' Greg Schiano as their head coach. Zimmer also had been in the running for the Miami Dolphins job before Joe Philbin was hired. While Zimmer is coming back, defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle is expected to be named the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. Hensley's slant: If the Bengals had their way, this is how it would have played out. Cincinnati didn't want to lose Coyle, but it was more important to keep Zimmer. The Bengals defense will remain a top-10 one under his direction.

BROWNS: Brad Childress is close to becoming the Browns' offensive coordinator, sources told The Plain Dealer. For more, click on the AFC North blog posted last night. Hensley's slant: My take on the probable hiring will be posted shortly.

RAVENS: In his introductory news conference as the new Colts head coach, former Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said he went from an all-time low -- the loss in the AFC championship game was his most devastating one ever -- to an all-time high. “As fate would have it, I’ve got to be honest with you, I thought for sure that I was going to be coming to Indy to play for a world championship," Pagano said, via The Indianapolis Star. "That’s what I thought I was going to be coming here for, and certainly not standing before you today as the next head football coach of the Indianapolis Colts." Hensley's slant: Don't be surprised if Pagano takes some Ravens with him. Pagano's first target should be outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, who will be a free agent, because he'll need a leader who can explain the defensive system to the other players. It would be like when Rex Ryan brought Bart Scott along to the New York Jets. Defensive line coach Clarence Brooks could also follow Pagano to Indianapolis.

The Ravens' players thought they might lose a coordinator this offseason. But everyone thought it would be Cam Cameron and not Chuck Pagano.

Losing Pagano -- who was named the Colts' new head coach Wednesday -- is a big shock and a big blow to the Ravens' defense. He did more than take Baltimore from being the 10th-ranked defense to the third-ranked one. Pagano brought back the swagger to a Ravens defense that had lost its way.

Changing defensive coordinators is nothing new to the Ravens. They've maintained success in going from Marvin Lewis to Mike Nolan to Rex Ryan. But it's different with losing Pagano. There's an uneasiness now because of what preceded him.

Before Pagano took over the defense, Baltimore rarely blitzed and recorded a team record-low 27 sacks in 2010 under coordinator Greg Mattison. In their first season under Pagano, the Ravens went into attack mode and finished first in the AFC with 48 sacks.

The front-runner to replace Pagano is linebackers coach Dean Pees, who was the Patriots' defensive coordinator from 2006 to 2009. The Ravens also could look at defensive line coach Clarence Brooks.

Whoever it is, the new coordinator can't allow the aggressiveness on defense to leave with Pagano, who wasn't afraid to blitz linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks. Under Pagano, the Ravens' defense played like the one of old. Pressuring the quarterback led to turnovers, which led to easy scores. The Ravens led the NFL with 21 forced fumbles this season, which was three more than any other team.

The Ravens took on the personality of Pagano, who took pride in being a gambler when it came to defense.

"My motto's always been: They can fire you but they can't eat you," Pagano said during the season. "If we go down, we're going down saying we put it all out there. Not that we want to be stupid. We have to take calculated risks. But we will let the fur fly."

The Ravens' challenge isn't finding another defensive coordinator. They have to find another risk-taker.

When Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano got to interview for the Indianapolis Colts' head coaching job, I thought it was a good first step that would help him prepare for the future when he had a better shot at becoming one.

Pagano had never interviewed for a head coaching job. He was only one year removed from being a secondary coach.

But surprise — Pagano was named the new head coach of the Colts today, as first reported by Pro Football Talk.

"It's difficult to leave the Ravens, but I couldn't pass up on this great opportunity," Pagano said in a statement released by the Ravens. "I'm just thrilled and so excited."

Pagano is exactly what a Colts team needs in what should be an offseason of change in Indianapolis. He has a take-charge approach that was beloved and respected by the Ravens players. His enthusiasm is infectious.

When a Ravens defensive back broke up a big pass in practice, he's on the sideline starting the chant of that player's name. And, during last year's training camp, when the defense stopped Joe Flacco a few yards short of the end zone in a two-minute drill to end practice, Pagano was the first one running on the field with his fist raised high.

He exudes confidence and wants his players to be aggressive. As a coach, he's been known to throw hats and headsets in fits of anger. As a college player in the early '80s, he was known for delivering big hits — "a headhunter," as Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson once put it — as a 155-pound safety at Wyoming.

When he talks, it's a mixture of brashness and a sense of humor. His approach is Rex Ryan light.

Once asked if he ever considered working again for the Raiders, Pagano said, "a two-year sentence in Oakland is enough."

The unveiling of my All-AFC North team continues with the coaching staff. Defense will come out Thursday, and offense will wrap it up Friday.

As always, voice your opinions in the comments section below.

Head coach: Marvin Lewis, Bengals. This selection is only surprising when you consider most didn't think Lewis would be coaching the team after last season. He turned the Bengals from a four-win team into a playoff one. Lewis did this by relying on a rookie quarterback and changing six starters -- all in a lockout season. He was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year in 2009, but this season was a more impressive coaching job.

Offensive coordinator: Jay Gruden, Bengals. You could say Gruden won this by default because he is the only offensive coordinator in the division who is guaranteed to return next season. But that would minimize the work he did with an offense that revolved around two rookies, quarterback Andy Dalton (who was a second-round pick) and A.J. Green. Under Gruden, Dalton became the only rookie in NFL history to throw for 20 or more touchdowns passes while winning eight or more games as a starting quarterback.

Defensive coordinator: Chuck Pagano, Ravens. When Pagano took over the Ravens' defense last offseason, he said it would "wreak havoc." He is certainly a man of his word. In their first season under Pagano, the Ravens' defense finished third in both yards and points allowed. Pagano's biggest impact came in generating more pressure. Baltimore finished third in the NFL in sacks (48) this season after recording a team-record-low 27 in 2010. Dick LeBeau, whose defense finished No. 1 despite several key injuries, was a very close second here.

Front-office executive: Mike Brown, Bengals. Yes, you read it correctly. This was a year in which he made all the right moves after being known for making all of the wrong ones. It started with his hardline stance with disgruntled quarterback Carson Palmer, which eventually led to getting first- and second-round picks out of the Raiders in a trade. He also listened to his coaches in drafting Dalton in the second round when he preferred Ryan Mallett. Brown topped it off with his "buy one, get one free" ticket promotion that led to a sellout in the regular-season finale and his decision to cut prices for 14,000 season tickets next season.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Bruce Arians said he decided to retire only after the Steelers declined to give him a contract offer, the former offensive coordinator told The York Daily Record.

While he maintains he had considered retiring before, "when I wasn't offered a contract, it was an easy decision for me."

Steelers president Art Rooney II called Arians about the team's decision. So, what was the Steelers' reason? "I can't answer that question," Arians said. "Only the people there can. That's the business. I know the job we did as a staff. I don't have any regrets."

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn't take the news well, according to Arians. He publicly campaigned to keep Arians after the 2009 season when it looked like the coordinator's job was in jeopardy.

"He's not happy, but that's part of the business," Arians said. "He is happy for me."

Arians hasn't ruled out a return to coaching. He said he's been contacted by "five or six" new coaching job possibilities since being let go by the Steelers, although only one was intriguing. He declined to get into specifics.

Hensley's slant: The Steelers have a couple of potential problems brewing here. How are they going to handle Roethlisberger if he is unhappy about this decision? And is coach Mike Tomlin upset as well? By Arians' account, it appears that Rooney -- and not Tomlin -- made this call. This puts even more pressure on Pittsburgh to make the right hire, one that will satisfy both Tomlin and Roethlisberger.

BENGALS: The team is getting new practice and playing fields, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Bengals officials said the fields had to get upgraded before the move of training camp from Georgetown College to Paul Brown Stadium this summer. Hensley's slant: The Bengals made a good move by agreeing to pay $850,000 to replace two of the three practice fields when they didn't have to do so. Under the lease with the county, taxpayers could have been forced to pay for that. Government officials say this is a "great sign" that the team is willing to work with the county.

BROWNS: Tim Hauck was named the team's defensive backs coach after being a former player under Browns president Mike Holmgren and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron when they were all with Green Bay, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He replaces Jerome Henderson, who reunited with Rob Ryan in Dallas. Hensley's slant: Hauck inherits a group with two young starters in Joe Haden and T.J. Ward. But he also has to improve the secondary in one key area. The Browns were tied for the third-fewest interceptions in the NFL with nine.

RAVENS: Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano is scheduled to be interviewed for the Colts' head-coaching job Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. In their first season under Pagano, the Ravens' defense finished third in both yards and points allowed. Pagano's biggest impact came in generating more pressure. Baltimore finished third in the NFL in sacks (48) this season after recording a team-record-low 27 in 2010. Hensley's slant: The Colts already have six coaches on their radar, so it looks like Indianapolis is casting a wide search. But Pagano definitely has a shot at becoming a head coach in the future based on the Ravens' history. The first three defensive coordinators in team history (Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan and Rex Ryan) all became NFL head coaches.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 5
Preseason Power Ranking: 8

Biggest surprise: First-year defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano vowed to "wreak havoc" when he took the job. But few could have imagined this drastic turnaround. Pagano went back to the aggressive blitzes that defined the Baltimore defense for a decade. The Ravens attacked quarterbacks and ripped the ball away from offenses. Pagano took over a defense that set a team record for fewest sacks in a season (27) and turned it into one that finished first in the AFC in sacks (48). Terrell Suggs led the pressure up front and is a candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Lardarius Webb was the team's most improved player on defense as well as its best cornerback.

Biggest disappointment: The Ravens should be the top seed in the AFC and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs after going undefeated for the first time at home and in the AFC North. But Baltimore fell shy of that goal because of a lack of focus. The Ravens struggled to beat the teams they were supposed to beat on the road. Baltimore went 2-4 away from home against teams that had a losing record at the time. The most embarrassing losses were at Jacksonville and Seattle. Sloppy play continually got the Ravens in trouble. In four road losses, Baltimore has taken the ball away twice while turning it over eight times (minus-six ratio).

Biggest need: Drafting Torrey Smith in the second round was a move in the right direction for Joe Flacco and the Baltimore passing attack. But the Ravens fell short of expectations, finishing 19th in passing and 20th in completions over 40 yards. The problem is a lack of playmakers who can stretch the field. Trading a fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for Lee Evans looks like a mistake at this point. There is potential, however, with tight end Ed Dickson. Still, when LaQuan Williams is being used as a third receiver this year, that's a sign that the Ravens need more quality wide receivers.

Team MVP: Ray Rice's value can be measured by how the Ravens win games. In 12 victories this season, Rice has averaged 21 carries for 100.7 yards rushing. In four losses, he has averaged nine carries for 38.8 yards. Rice's strength is his vision and versatility. With the ability to beat defenses as a runner and a receiver, he produced an NFL-best 2,068 total yards and set a team record with 15 touchdowns. The Ravens wouldn't be the AFC's second seed if not for Rice's big plays.

Tough decision: Ray Lewis has slowed toward the end of the regular season, and it could either be age finally catching up to him (he's 36 years old) or the lingering effects of a toe injury. Whatever the reason, the Ravens have to seriously think about Lewis' role next season. He prides himself on being an every-down player, but it could be time to limit him on third downs to save the wear and tear on his body. This will be a sensitive issue moving forward.

In our closest SportsNation poll ever during my time here, the Ravens' Chuck Pagano edged out the Steelers' Dick LeBeau and the Bengals' Jay Gruden as the people's choice for best coordinator in the division this season.

More than 8,900 votes were recorded, and Pagano received 31 percent of them. In his first season as Baltimore's defensive coordinator, Pagano has lived up to the highest expectations for that position, which was previously held by Marvin Lewis and Rex Ryan.

Baltimore ranks third in fewest yards allowed (292.3) and fewest points given up (16.5). But Pagano's influence in his first year as coordinator has been increasing the pressure. The Ravens lead the NFL with 38 sacks, which is 11 more than they had all of last season. More hits on the quarterback has led to more turnovers. Baltimore is tied for the most takeaways in the AFC with 22.

Here are the results:

Chuck Pagano, Ravens defensive coordinator: 31 percent

Dick LeBeau, Steelers defensive coordinator: 27 percent

Jay Gruden, Bengals offensive coordinator: 27 percent

Dick Jauron, Browns defensive coordinator: 15 percent

The AFC North has featured some outstanding performances from quarterbacks, rookies and defensive playmakers this season. The division has also had some strong efforts from coordinators, too.

The coordinators in the AFC North have turned around units, maintained excellence through injuries to star players and groomed rookies.

Here are the candidates for the best coordinator in the AFC North this year:

• Jay Gruden, offensive coordinator, Bengals: Cincinnati got rid of two of the most productive offensive players in team history, quarterback Carson Palmer and receiver Chad Ochocinco, and replaced them with rookies, Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. While it's easy to see the talent of the first-year players now, that transition is a challenge for anyone especially a new coordinator. The Bengals rank 12th in scoring (23.5 points) and 18th in yards per game (334.6).
• Dick Jauron, defensive coordinator, Browns: Jauron changed Cleveland's style while taking over a young defense. He went from Rob Ryan's helter skelter schemes to a more simplified one that relied on discipline. The result: the Browns went from No. 22 in defense last year to No. 6 this year. In Cleveland's four wins, the defense has given up an average of 12 points.
• Chuck Pagano, defensive coordinator, Ravens: Baltimore ranks third in both fewest yards allowed (292.3) and fewest points given up (16.5). But Pagano's influence in his first year as coordinator has been increasing the pressure. The Ravens lead the NFL with 38 sacks, 11 more than they had all of last year. More hits on the quarterback has led to more turnovers. Baltimore is tied for the most takeaways in the AFC with 22.
• Dick LeBeau, defensive coordiantor, Steelers: LeBeau often gets overlooked because it's assumed that Pittsburgh will always be among the elite defenses in the NFL. The Steelers haven't created as many turnovers as in years past, but they're still second in fewest yards (277.5) and fourth in fewest points (17.1). LeBeau's impact has been his ability to keep the Steelers playing strong defense despite six starters in the front seven missing at least one game.

So, who has done the best job at coordinator this year? Go ahead and register your vote or let me know what you think in the comments section below. I'll follow up by the end of the week.

If you have a question about the AFC North, send it to my mailbag. It's Saturday morning, so let's open up some mail ...

Devin from Ontario, Canada, writes: Why haven't the Steelers been able to take the ball away this year?

Jamison Hensley from AFC North headquarters responds: There are two reasons. The first one is obvious: the Steelers need to catch the ball. There have been several interceptions that have been dropped. That would add to the total. The other factor is the pass rush. Of the top eight teams in takeaways, five (Green Bay, San Francisco, Baltimore, Detroit and Houston) rank in the top half of the league in sacks. When you get pressure on the quarterback, you force rushed throws that lead to interceptions and you can strip the ball from the quarterback. LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison have had good stretches in rushing the passer, but the Steelers need to do a more consistent job as a defense.

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Gene from San Diego writes: How would you grade Baltimore's defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano at this point in the season? They are still producing, but been a bit lapse the past few games. I like his mentality and that he infuses the young players.

Hensley responds: Pagano gets an A, and it's tough to argue otherwise. He vowed to be aggressive when he took over for Greg Mattison and he's backed that up this season. The Ravens are among the best in sacks, takeaways and points allowed. This has been a high-impact defense.

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Hensley responds: The New York Jets. This might surprise you because the Jets wasted a prime opportunity when they lost at Denver. But New York should win its next three games: home against Buffalo, at Washington and home against Kansas City. Under that scenario, the Jets would get to 10 wins if they win two games in the final three weeks of the regular season: at Philadelphia, home against the Giants and at Miami. This is a team that knows what it takes to get to the postseason after advancing to the AFC championship game the past two years.

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Hensley responds: McCoy's stock has increased by completing over 70 percent of his passes the past two weeks. But he needs to start increasing points on the scoreboard. The Browns have scored over 17 points just once this season; Cleveland has yet to score a touchdown in the first and third quarters. As I've said repeatedly, you can put all the blame on McCoy because of the supporting cast around him. But the quarterback has to take responsibility for an offense struggling this much, no matter what the circumstances.

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Hensley responds: I cover the AFC North, so the blogs and columns will focus more on those teams. So I don't consider myself a "Baltimore homer." I'm just doing my job as the AFC North blogger. I also didn't have anything to do with making the 49ers go cross-country on four days rest. You can direct your anger at the NFL schedule makers for that one. I think Jim Harbaugh already has.

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Hensley responds: Thanks for being a part of the chat (shameless plug: it happens every Wednesday at 2 p.m.). I still feel that the Bengals will finish with nine wins. Your reasoning is sound. I agree that Cincinnati should beat the Browns, Cardinals and Rams. I think the rematches with the Steelers and Ravens will result in losses again (although it will be close again). And even though the Texans lost Schaub, they still have Arian Foster, Andre Johnson and the NFL's top-ranked defense. At this point, I predict the Bengals will lose that one. Of course, I will say that forecasting games is a week to week proposition. So, these picks are far from locked in.

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Hensley responds: I'm a blogger and an analyst. My views shouldn't be shaped by where I live. It's funny how Ravens fans feel I "disrespect" the Ravens and other fans feel I'm a "Ravens homer." As far as your first question, the Ravens have better wins than the Steelers (including a sweep of Pittsburgh) but they have more embarrassing losses than the Steelers. There wouldn't be an argument if Baltimore had beaten Seattle and Jacksonville. The Ravens would the undisputed best team in the AFC. Those losses hurt the resume. Pittsburgh has been the more consistent team overall.

BALTIMORE -- Just like last year, the Ravens have rolled out to a 4-1 start. But let's make it clear: This Baltimore team isn't like the one last year.

The 2011 Ravens are aggressive. They're fearless. And, as linebacker Ray Lewis puts it, they're ticked off.

Baltimore's 29-14 victory over the Houston Texans is further evidence that the Ravens have found that second-half knockout blow. The Ravens just don't beat teams this year. They finish them.

Joe Flacco was in attack mode, constantly looking to hit the deep throw. Ray Rice broke tackles and made the Texans look tired. And the defense dug in for the fourth quarter, shutting out Houston for the final 22 1/2 minutes.

"To have to come out and really win the fourth quarter in that kind of fashion is a huge statement," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said.

The Ravens have done this all season, outscoring teams 26-6 in the fourth quarter. It's a major turnaround from last year, when that was the soft spot for Harbaugh's team.

A year ago, Baltimore surrendered nine leads in the fourth quarter, including three that were double-digit ones. The Ravens allowed 119 points in the final quarter last season, the second-most in team history.

The reason why the Ravens struggled to finish off teams in 2010 was their conservative style. The offense went into a shut-down mode, and the defense went into a prevent one.

No one can describe the Ravens as going into cruise control. After Baltimore fell behind 14-13 midway through the third quarter, Flacco found rookie Torrey Smith for passes of 19 and 51 yards on back-to-back plays. That led to a Billy Cundiff 25-yard field goal, putting the Ravens back up 16-14.

The Ravens could've played it safe after turning the ball over twice already (Flacco had a fumble and interception), but they didn't. The next time the offense got onto the field, Flacco's first pass was a perfectly thrown 56-yard pass that went beyond the reach of cornerback Johnathan Joseph and into the hands of Anquan Boldin. That turned into another field goal as the Ravens extended the margin to 19-14 early in the fourth quarter.

None of the Ravens would say it, but Baltimore didn't take those shots last year. It wasn't easy to call them in this game, either. Flacco took some staggering hits and the deep throws only exposed him more. He had to look at the stadium's video screen to see if he completed the long pass to Boldin because the Texans had dropped him to the ground.

Still, there's no reward without a little risk, right?

"We're not trying to hang on to win games," Flacco said. "We're going after it. We're saying: 'This is how we're going to win football games.' We're going to continue to attack teams and try to put points on the board to make it not a close game. I think at times, we can rely on our defense a little bit and try to let them close out games. I think the main thing to do in this league is put teams away when you can. That has to be done offensively. So, that's where our mindset is."

The change in the way the Ravens finish games comes from the fact that the Ravens are willing to change.

On the final play of the third quarter, Rice was stopped for a 5-yard loss on first-and-goal from the 10-yard line. Rice went to running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery and asked to switch the outside runs to more inside ones. They both talked to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who altered the running strategy in the fourth quarter.

After managing 39 yards through the first three quarters, Rice produced 62 yards in the last one on eight carries (7.8 yards per attempt). His 27-yard run in the fourth quarter set up the clinching touchdown.

"There were times when we could have blinked," said Rice, who finished with 101 yards rushing and 60 yards receiving. "We are poised, and the difference is you have guys growing up."

In the press conference to introduce Chuck Pagano as defensive coordinator, he was asked what he needed to do to make this a Super Bowl defense. His response was improve during "crunch time."

The Texans moved the ball up and down the field on the Ravens in the first half, converting five of 10 third-down chances. In the second half, when it became "crunch time," Baltimore stopped Houston on five of six third downs.

The Ravens made some subtle changes on their blitzes and coverages when it became apparent that Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was going with quick-hitting passes.

"It was a little frustrating but nobody said things," linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "In my opinion, the quality of a good coordinator is his halftime adjustments. Chuck came in and we narrowed it down. So, Chuck did a good job with our second-half adjustments and it paid off."

How much did it pay off? The Ravens' defense held Houston to 21 total yards on the final three possessions.

Baltimore's drive to put away teams is the result of what happened the last time the Ravens saw the Texans. Last December, the Ravens allowed Houston to score the final 21 points in regulation to send the game into overtime. Baltimore eventually won, but the lesson wasn't lost.

Ray Lewis said the players didn't review the game tape of that game because "it was just a lot of things that we didn't like seeing on film."

Said Lewis: "We took it personal coming out this week."

This wasn't as easy of a victory as many expected. The Texans were without their top two players in wide receiver Andre Johnson and linebacker Mario Williams.

But in some ways, the Ravens enjoyed the sweat. It was the second time they trailed in the second half this season and the first at home.

"This is the kind of game that we needed," Rice said. "We needed to be in a good fight against a good team."

It's these types of games where the Ravens can find their knockout punch.

We're handing out game balls after Week 4 and this is who's getting them:

OFFENSE: Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. He looked awful in the first half against the Bills, but he looked spectacular in leading the second-half comeback. Is there any way to give out half of a game ball? Down 14 points at halftime, the rookie second-round draft pick threw a 17-yard touchdown pass and tied the game with a 3-yard touchdown run. On the game-winning drive, he connected on 3 of 4 passes for 46 yards and converted a third down by scrambling.

DEFENSE: Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. It didn't matter that he only had two proven cornerbacks who were healthy. Pagano blitzed Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez relentlessly, which resulted in a team-record three defensive touchdowns. And Pagano faced pressure himself with former Ravens defensive guru Rex Ryan standing on the other sideline. The Ravens' aggressive defense is back on track this season, thanks to Pagano.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Bengals kicker Mike Nugent. His 43-yard field as time expired finished off the Bengals' dramatic comeback against the previously unbeaten Bills. He also converted field goals from 31 and 21 yards. His 10 field goals this season is tied for second in the NFL.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- How close are the Baltimore Ravens?

Consider this: For three consecutive years, they were eliminated in the postseason by the eventual AFC champions.

That is why the Ravens' mindset is all about getting over the hump in 2011. Since 2008, Baltimore has fallen a step or two short of making a Super Bowl run. A pair of playoff losses to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers and one to the Indianapolis Colts have overshadowed an otherwise stellar three-year period.

This season, the Ravens have another good team with high expectations. Baltimore should be in the playoff mix again, barring significant injuries. But it probably will come down to whether the Ravens can beat other title contenders -- like Pittsburgh -- in big games.

"The Steelers are one of the best teams in the league, and we're right there behind them," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said this week in a conference call with season-ticket holders. "Our goal is to get there. We understand that. It's a high bar having them in our division like the Orioles have had the Yankees and the Red Sox in their division for 30 years. We'd rather have it no other way. It's just the way it is."

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Will Joe Flacco take the next step? If this week was any indication, Flacco is easily the most discussed athlete in Baltimore this summer. Nearly every time I turned on the radio, Flacco was being analyzed or compared with other quarterbacks.

The "Bash Flacco" bandwagon started in the offseason, when Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley and former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones criticized Flacco. It hasn't stopped since.

Flacco has responded by showing a newfound edge. The fourth-year quarterback has also become a more vocal leader.

Although his stats have steadily improved, Flacco's postseason performances have not. That's where he needs to take the next step. Flacco is 4-3 in the playoffs, but played well in only one of those games -- a wild-card victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last January.

2. What to do on the offensive line? There are no easy answers for Baltimore's offensive line. The tackle spots are the biggest problems.

Oniel Cousins has not proved to be the answer at right tackle. Now, the Ravens are experimenting with rookie third-round draft pick Jah Reid to see if he's ready. Reid is expected to get his first NFL start Friday night against the Chiefs.

Former first-round pick Michael Oher was a stellar right tackle as a rookie. But the Ravens moved Oher to left tackle out of necessity in 2010, with mixed results. Baltimore hopes Oher improves in 2011.

Starting guard Marshal Yanda has been dealing with back spasms but could return as early as next week. He's a candidate for right tackle if things don't go well for Reid. Veteran center Matt Birk is out following knee surgery but is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against Pittsburgh.

Baltimore’s offensive line is a hodgepodge group. But the Ravens’ goal is to have clarity by their regular-season opener on Sept. 11.

"We're going to try to work out the best five in some combination," Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said this week. "It may not be ideal, but it's probably our best alternative."

3. Is the defense improved? Baltimore’s defense was ranked No. 10 in the NFL last season. A top-10 ranking is nothing to sneeze at. But the bar for the Ravens' defense is higher.

A leaky secondary and a struggling pass rush were Baltimore's two issues in 2010. Both hurt the Ravens' ability to close out games in the fourth quarter.

Baltimore invested a first-round pick in former Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith. He's big, fast and physical. The Ravens haven't had a corner with all of those attributes since former Pro Bowler Chris McAlister.

Also keep an eye on Cary Williams, another big corner who had a good training camp. Williams began working with the first team this week.

"When they prance out there, it's very comforting," Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said of Smith and Williams. "You've got two 6-1, 6-2 guys out there with long arms and guys that can run. It makes it really difficult. When you play tight coverage, it forces the quarterback to put it in tight windows and makes it really hard for the receivers to get off the line."

Pass rush is the biggest lingering issue. The Ravens recorded just 27 sacks in 16 games last season. They didn't add any significant help getting to the quarterback in the draft or free agency.

Pro Bowl linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs (11 sacks in 2010) will do his part. The situation gets murky after that.

Second-year linebacker Sergio Kindle may be an option. He was Baltimore’s top draft pick in 2010 but suffered a fractured skull and missed his entire rookie season.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Rookie receiver Tandon Doss consistently made plays in practice this week. By all accounts, he did the same throughout camp.

Doss has really good hands. He made tough and routine catches over defenders. Speed was an issue, according to college scouting reports. But Doss was quicker and a little faster than I expected.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

The Ravens had high hopes for Cousins. Baltimore anticipated the fourth-year lineman could solidify the right tackle spot this season. But after a full training camp and one preseason game, Cousins failed to step up to the task.

Cousins allowed two sacks in Baltimore’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. The coaching staff moved Cousins to right guard this week and hopes he can provide depth there.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Keep an eye on the developing chemistry between Flacco and new receiver Lee Evans. Baltimore recently acquired Evans in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. The timing was off in their first full week together. Flacco is still getting used to Evans’ speed and missed him on several throws in practice. Evans told the AFC North blog this week he’s confident they will get on the same page. Evans makes his Ravens debut Friday night against Kansas City.
• My early impression on Reid is that he looks the part at right tackle, but he's still very raw. At times, Reid still seemed like his head was spinning in practice, working with the starters. Strength and size are Reid's biggest assets. But he still needs to play faster and improve his footwork. You also have to consider that Reid didn't get any offseason work or minicamps because of the NFL lockout. Now the Ravens are hoping the third-round pick can earn a job with the starters two weeks into the preseason.
• Cameron says new Ravens fullback Vonta Leach reminds him a lot of former fullback Lorenzo Neal. We agree with the comparison. Leach is well-built and very physical. He will provide a good thump at the line of scrimmage that the Ravens were lacking last season. Leach, who went to the Pro Bowl last season, will also help with pass protection.
• I’ve been impressed with rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He consistently made plays in practice this week and showed promise in Baltimore’s first preseason game. The Ravens are high on the sixth-round pick. Taylor will make the team. But is Baltimore comfortable enough to go into the season with a rookie as the No. 2 quarterback?
• Another player to look out for is Bernard Pollard. He is a big safety who is very physical. Pollard fits well with Baltimore’s defense. Free safety Ed Reed covers a lot of ground in the secondary. That allows Pollard to fly around and hit people, which is what he does best.
• The Ravens should be improved in press coverage this year. Smith and Williams are similar in size and showed good jams at the line of scrimmage this week. Previously, Baltimore gave up a lot of size to receivers. But that won’t be the case when Smith and Williams are on the field.
• Baltimore is suddenly very deep at corner. In addition to Smith and Williams, the Ravens have Lardarius Webb, Chris Carr and Domonique Foxworth, who is coming off ACL surgery. The latter three have starting NFL experience but could begin the year as backups.