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It was a good week for pictures from NFLers on Twitter.

We had tourist shots of Larry Fitzgerald at the Lincoln Memorial and at The White House, a picture of Antonio Garay driving a Hello Kitty car, a shot of a receipt showing off just how much Michael Huff’s dad spent for groceries on his son’s credit card and a freeze frame of Josh Scobee’s locker on TV.

We at the NFL Twindex are in favor of all sharing. We seek insight into football lives, and do our best to weed through a lot of junk to find it.

If you see good humor, good explanations or yes, good pictures from an NFL player or coach or mascot or anyone on Twitter, please make sure we see it by calling our attention to it. Twindex headquarters can be found at @ESPN_AFCSouth and @PaulKuharsky.

To our new edition.

We know the New Orleans Saints can play offense and there’s no doubt that will happen when the regular season comes along. But the Saints didn’t even need their offense in a 24-3 victory against the San Francisco 49ers in their preseason opener at the Superdome.

The defense and special teams gave the Saints a fast start as Drew Brees and most of the first-team offense didn’t even stay in long enough to get a first down.

New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams looked like he was prepared for a playoff game, not an exhibition. He blitzed like crazy and the first-team defense was all over San Francisco starting quarterback Alex Smith. Safety Roman Harper spent as much time in the backfield as any of San Francisco’s running backs. Heck, Williams was even calling run blitzes.

The Saints also got a big boost from undrafted rookie Joe Morgan, who returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown. People thought Darren Sproles would make everyone forget Reggie Bush, but Morgan might be making a case to stay on the roster to handle some returns.

Some other observations on the Saints.

• Brees left the game with about five minutes left in the first quarter and only completed one of four passes for six yards. Smart move by Sean Payton to get Brees out of there quickly. When you have a quarterback like that, you don’t need to take any chance of getting him hurt in a preseason game.
• Brees did throw one perfect deep pass, but Robert Meachem dropped it.
• Backup Chase Daniel took a big hit out of bounds soon after replacing Brees. He got up, holding his side. Made me wonder for a second if the Saints have a phone number for Jake Delhomme? He’s a Louisiana guy and, if he’s going to play again, the Saints would be a tempting option. But Daniel seemed to shake off the hit and completed 13 of 21 passes for 129 yards.
• The Saints didn’t even need the blitz all the time. With a bit of help from defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, Will Smith had a nice sack on Smith.
• Nice debut by rookie running back Mark Ingram. He had a 14-yard touchdown run at the end of the first half that brought back memories of Deuce McAllister.
• Linebacker Jonathan Casillas hasn’t been getting much work with the first-team defense. But he had a strong outing and that could earn him some work with the starters as camp goes on.
• Rookie cornerback Johnny Patrick went down near the end of the third quarter with what appeared to be a leg injury. It was unclear how serious the injury is, but the Saints already are thin at cornerback. Tracy Porter and Fabian Washington already have missed camp practices with injuries.

METAIRIE, La. -- Jonathan Vilma grabbed the question and treated it much the same way he would a running back.

He grabbed it forcefully and drove it straight to the proper destination.

“It’s really very, very simple,’’ the middle linebacker for the New Orleans Saints said. “If we want to get back to being the Super Bowl champions, we have to play defense the way we played it in 2009, not the way we did in 2010. We have to go out there and start making turnovers happen again.’’

It's not as though the 2010 season was a complete disaster for the Saints. They went 11-5 and made the playoffs. But they went out to Seattle for the first round of the postseason and got upset by a team that didn’t even have a winning record. That ended New Orleans’ defense of its first Super Bowl championship, and Vilma puts the reason for that squarely on the defense.

“Look, we still had [quarterback] Drew Brees and all sorts of weapons on the other side of the ball,’’ Vilma said. “Last year’s problem wasn’t our offense. It was our defense. We just didn’t make things happen the way we did in 2009. We played well at times, but we also left a lot of big plays on the field because, for whatever reason, we just didn’t make the same plays we did the year before.’’

Vilma points to one statistic to demonstrate his point. In 2009, the Saints were +11 in turnover ratio. In 2010, they were -6.

They have the personnel to reverse that trend, and Vilma said a little more help from the defense could be all it takes to get back to the Super Bowl.

“You think of McDonald’s and you think of Burger King, you know what you’re going to get across the world,’’ Vilma said. “So we want people to think of Saints defense, you know what you’re going to get. You’re going to get takeaways, hitting, relentlessness, running to the ball. I think we’re starting to build that brand, we are still working toward it, and one thing we won’t do is take a step back.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can the defense really get back to 2009 form? Yes, it’s very possible. Gregg Williams is one of the league’s best and most aggressive defensive coordinators. When I visited camp recently, the defensive players were picking up every loose ball, even well after plays were done. That’s something Williams brought when he arrived in 2009. It didn’t really stop in 2010. But you can tell the Saints are approaching loose balls with much more gusto in this camp.

That’s great, but just taking that mental approach won’t be enough. The Saints have made some personnel moves that should make the overall defense better and that should help produce turnovers. The Saints added defensive tackles Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin and suddenly are much bigger on the defensive line. Rotate Rogers and Franklin with a healthy Sedrick Ellis, and the Saints suddenly could be much stronger than they’ve been in the middle of the line in recent years.

That should help the pass rush, particularly Will Smith, Alex Brown and rookie Cameron Jordan. Smith and Brown didn’t get as much pressure on opposing quarterbacks as the coaches would have liked last season. Pressure is the key to a Williams defense. If the Saints can get pressure, the turnovers will come naturally.

2. Is the defense really to blame for last year? Not quite as much as Vilma claims. He’s right that the defense wasn’t the turnover machine it was in 2009. But the offense wasn’t exactly the perfectly tuned machine it was in the Super Bowl season. The Saints scored 64 touchdowns in 2009 (and five of those came on interception returns by the defense), but that number dropped to 44 last season. Maybe the defense could have helped a bit more with field position, but this offense had some flaws.

It’s tough to criticize Brees, who has carried the Saints since his arrival in 2006. But numbers don’t lie, and they’ll tell you Brees had an off year last season. His passing yardage and touchdowns were similar to 2009, but the huge difference was interceptions.

Brees threw only 11 interceptions in 2009 but had a career-high 22 last season. He never missed any playing time or complained about it, but Brees never seemed to be quite the same after injuring his knee in a Week 3 game with Atlanta. That might have had more to do with his "slump'' than we'll ever know.

But Brees has had a whole offseason to recover, and I expect him to bounce back. His cast of receivers remains largely the same, and replacing center Jonathan Goodwin with Olin Kreutz should not hurt an offensive line that already is very good.

3. How will the Saints use their running backs? Whether you loved him or not, Reggie Bush is gone and that’s going to have an impact. Although he never put up huge numbers, Bush was the kind of player who made defenses account for him every time he was on the field.

It’s easy to say the Saints will try to replace Bush by committee and, to some degree, that’s true. They brought in Darren Sproles to do a lot of what Bush did -- run outside, catch passes out of the backfield and work as a return man. They also have Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory, who are pretty solid all-around backs.

But the biggest offensive move the Saints made this offseason was drafting Mark Ingram. He’s a running back who can do everything well, and he'll probably be used the way Deuce McAllister was in the early years of coach Sean Payton’s tenure. Sproles will inherit the packages Bush was in on, but Ingram’s going to get most of the playing time -- and carries.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Nobody got very excited when the Saints added Will Herring. That’s understandable, because he spent four seasons in Seattle as a backup linebacker and special-teams player. Herring has only seven career starts, but a coaching staff and front office that’s been known to find some steals might have another one. Herring has been getting most of the first-team work on the strong side in training camp, and the coaches have been raving about him. He’s quick and he’s smart, and the change of scenery apparently has him playing better than ever.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

When he’s healthy and on the field, Tracy Porter is a solid cornerback. But Porter hasn’t been on the field this training camp. He’s been walking around the sidelines with his left knee wrapped as he recovers from offseason surgery. There’s hope that Porter will be ready for the regular season, and there is even higher hope that he’ll be motivated to have a huge year because he can become a free agent after the season.

But there’s also some skepticism, because this isn’t the first injury for Porter. He missed four games last year and four the year before. Fellow starter Jabari Greer also has a history of injury problems. If Porter and Greer have more problems, the Saints could be thin at cornerback. They signed veteran Fabian Washington, but he’s missed some camp time with an injury.

The upside is that the absence of Porter and Washington has given second-year pro Patrick Robinson and rookie Johnny Patrick more work. Williams has been praising both of them. If either or both continue to impress and Porter’s recovery lingers, we could see a change in the lineup. That also wouldn't help Porter's chances of earning a big contract and staying with the Saints next season.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Wide receiver Robert Meachem was a close runner-up for the biggest-surprise category above. Meachem is coming off ankle surgery for an injury that slowed him last year, and he's having an excellent camp. He’s caught just about every pass thrown his way and seems to be moving much better than a year ago. Meachem was a force as a deep threat in 2009, and it looks like he might be returning to that form.
• Herring has been working on the strong side and Scott Shanle on the weak side. But nothing’s settled yet. Herring appears headed for a starting job, but Shanle is aging. The Saints have liked what they’ve seen from Clint Ingram and Jonathan Casillas, and they know what they have in Jo-Lonn Dunbar. They’ll probably go through several preseason games before deciding firmly on their starting linebackers. Even then, they could still rotate linebackers because the coaches view all of them as pretty close to equal.
• One linebacker who is struggling a bit is third-round pick Martez Wilson. You can see he has good athleticism, but he looks lost at times during team drills. The Saints aren’t anywhere close to being ready to give up on him because he has lots of upside. But a lot of fans thought he’d be an instant starter. That’s not going to happen.
• The Saints never have been afraid to take a shot on a reclamation project, and that’s what they did with Rogers at defensive tackle. He came into the league with a lot of hype back in 2001 but had spent his career stuck with some pretty bad teams in Detroit and Cleveland. Rogers even lost his starting job with the Browns last year, and there have been questions about his conditioning and attitude throughout his career. But this might be a perfect fit. Rogers is on a good team for perhaps the first time in his career, and Williams is a master motivator. Even if Rogers doesn’t work out, I like how the Saints hedged their bet by bringing in Franklin.
• The Saints also took a shot on another former first-round pick. That’s offensive tackle Alex Barron. But he’s not off to a great start. He’s been sidelined by injury, and unless he comes back soon and makes a big impression, he probably won’t make the roster.
• Since entering the league in 2009, punter Thomas Morstead has been known as a guy with a big leg. That hasn’t changed. But Morstead put in a lot of work on his directional punting in the offseason, and you can see the results in practice. That should help the defense with field position.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- I just arrived in “Sparkle City’’ and will be doing interviews and watching the Carolina Panthers practice Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

I’ll provide some live updates and notes and also will be gathering information for our Camp Confidential series and our season previews.

Updating our earlier item on guard Justin Blalock returning to Atlanta, his six-year contract is worth $38 million with $16 million guaranteed.

Now, on to some links about the day’s happenings around the division.

The Saints, who are assembling one of the league’s deepest defensive backfields, signed former Baltimore cornerback Fabian Washington.

Tampa Bay safety Cody Grimm admitted he’s not fully recovered from the leg injury that ended his rookie season. But Grimm said he expects to be 100 percent by the start of the regular season.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton said he believes defensive end Will Smith finally will have to serve the four-game suspension for violating the league's rules on performance-enhancing substances that was tied up by the legal system since 2008.

Safety Roman Harper said he really didn’t want to leave New Orleans. But he might have if the Saints hadn’t stepped up with a four-year, $28.5 million contract.

Carolina coach Ron Rivera said the Panthers are very much in the market for another quarterback. Presumably, they want a veteran to help mentor Cam Newton and Jimmy Clausen. Makes you wonder if Jake Delhomme, who was released by Cleveland, could be up for a return to Carolina.

It just makes sense.

After Oakland took offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski in the second round, the Raiders came back at No. 81 and took Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke.

A classic Oakland pick.

He was one of the fastest players at the combine, keeping up with a Raider tradition. Last year, Oakland took receiver Jacoby Ford, who was the fastest player at the combine and it recently took combine star cornerback Fabian Washington and Stanford Routt.

Van Dyke is not polished, but he has raw ability. He may have to play right away if star Nnamdi Asomugha leaves through free agency.

From top to bottom, the AFC North is full of talented players.

Everyone knows household names such as Ray Lewis, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed and Chad Ochocinco. But the division also has solid, under-the-radar players who have important roles without the spotlight.

In no particular order, here are five underrated players in the division from last season.

1. Sam Koch, P, Baltimore Ravens

2010 stats: 81 punts, 43.6 average, 39 inside 20

Analysis: Koch's stellar year was overshadowed by Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff's record-setting season. But Koch joined Cundiff to become the 12th and 13th men on defense with Cundiff's 40 touchbacks, which tied an NFL record, and Koch's 39 punts downed inside the 20. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who is a former special-teams coach, takes the third phase of the game very seriously, and Koch is a big part of that.

2. Scott Fujita, LB, Cleveland Browns

2010 stats: 51 tackles, 3.5 sacks

Analysis: Fujita was a solid free-agent signing for the Browns and played nine games last season. But as soon as he got injured in Week 10, the defense lost its toughness and went downhill. The Browns are going through a lot of transition under first-year head coach Pat Shurmur, which includes a switch to a 4-3 defense. But Fujita played much of his career in a 4-3 and should be comfortable going back to that scheme. He's expected to start, along with fellow linebackers Chris Gocong and D'Qwell Jackson.

3. Isaac Redman, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

2010 stats: 52 carries, 247 yards, two total touchdowns

Analysis: Two years ago, Redman was a player who would do well in practice and training camp but never got the opportunity in games. Last season the Steelers finally used their best-kept secret, and the undrafted running back was productive in a limited role. Redman averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season while spelling workhorse Rashard Mendenhall. Redman is a very tough runner who moves the chains. He likely will have an increased role in 2011, as Pittsburgh tries to do a better job of keeping Mendenhall (324 carries) fresh.

4. Josh Wilson, CB, Ravens

2010 stats: 40 tackles, three interceptions

Analysis: Last summer's trade to acquire Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks didn't garner many headlines. But the move turned out to be solid for Baltimore. Wilson got better as the season progressed and eventually replaced Fabian Washington to start nine games. There were some highs, such as Wilson's interception for a touchdown in overtime to beat the Houston Texans, and some lows, such as getting beat on the late touchdown to Roddy White in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. But overall Wilson was Baltimore's steadiest corner in the second half of last season. The Ravens will attempt to re-sign Wilson, who is a free agent.

5. Jordan Shipley, WR, Cincinnati Bengals,

2010 stats: 52 receptions, 600 yards, three touchdowns

Analysis: Shipley was taken one spot ahead of friend and former Texas teammate Colt McCoy last year, and both had productive rookie seasons. Shipley is a smart player who, despite his size, is fearless going across the middle. He quickly became a favorite of Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer and caught 52 passes. The Bengals may have a new quarterback next season, but Shipley should remain productive in the slot.

This is the final week that several big names will be under contract with their respective AFC North teams.

The new league year starts on Friday, March 4, with a lot of labor uncertainty. Free agency cannot begin until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. But at least we will know who the key players are this offseason by the end of the week.

Here is how things are shaping up in the AFC North:

Baltimore Ravens: Pro Bowl defensive lineman Haloti Ngata received the franchise tag, and signing him long term is Baltimore's biggest priority this offseason. The Ravens also have several interesting free agents. Offensive lineman Marshal Yanda is one of the most underrated free agents in this division. He has the versatility to play guard and tackle, and the Ravens want him back to help patch up the right side of their offensive line. The secondary also could be taking a hit as safety Dawan Landry and cornerbacks Josh Wilson and Fabian Washington are all set to hit the open market. Of the three, I think Wilson was the most consistent for Baltimore this season. The Ravens will allow fullback Le'Ron McClain to test free agency. He wants the opportunity to carry the football more and won’t get that in Baltimore. With the team expected to release Willis McGahee, the Ravens could be thin at running back behind starter Ray Rice if both McClain and McGahee do not return in 2011.

Cincinnati Bengals: We have addressed the situation numerous times with Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph. He has quietly been one of the top defenders in the AFC North and will likely get a huge payday, considering the going rate for cornerbacks. Unless Cincinnati is willing to pay at least $10 million per year to keep Joseph, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t hit the open market this week. Starting tailback Cedric Benson is another interesting free agent. He’s led Cincinnati in rushing two years in a row after posting a pair of 1,000-yard seasons. But Benson was unhappy with the Bengals last year and his production also tailed. Will he work out a deal to stay in Cincinnati? Stay tuned. The Bengals also have aging free agents like receiver Terrell Owens and linebacker Dhani Jones who are not expected to return because the team is rebuilding and going younger. Cincinnati also has to figure out what to do at quarterback now that starter Carson Palmer wants to be traded and threatened to retire.

Cleveland Browns: The Browns were lacking talent to begin with. So they don't have many big-name free agents. But some players who were productive in 2010 are hitting the open market, including fullback Lawrence Vickers, linebacker Matt Roth and safety Abe Elam. Both Roth and Elam were unhappy about not getting long-term extensions in Cleveland and probably will look elsewhere, while it's unknown how well Vickers, a power fullback, fits in a West Coast offense. With a new coaching staff led by head coach Pat Shurmur, expect a lot of turnover on the roster as the Browns get players who fit their offensive and defensive schemes. The Browns recently used the franchise tag on veteran kicker Phil Dawson to keep him off the market.

Pittsburgh Steelers: No. 1 cornerback Ike Taylor has been in preliminary discussions with Pittsburgh but is likely running into the same challenges as Joseph. Similar to Cincinnati, would the Steelers be willing to commit at least $10 million per year to a cornerback? That appears to be the going rate for solid, free-agent corners. The Steelers will probably let Taylor test the market and compete with other teams before they pay that amount. If Taylor can get that elsewhere, he probably will take it. If not, Taylor can return to a Super Bowl contender in Pittsburgh at a reduced rate. Other than Taylor, the team doesn't have many key players hitting the open market next week. Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley was given the franchise tag. Role players like tailback Mewelde Moore, backup center Doug Legursky and kicker Shaun Suisham are among other notable free agents for Pittsburgh.

» NFC Decisive Moments: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

For the past month, the most memorable play in Baltimore Ravens cornerback Josh Wilson's season was a controversial touchdown he allowed to receiver Roddy White in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

But Wilson made up for that play Monday night with a game-winning pick-six to lead the Ravens to a 34-28 overtime win over the Houston Texans. He read Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, caught the interception in stride and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown. The play propelled Baltimore to a 9-4 record and negated an embarrassing second-half collapse where the Ravens blew a 21-point lead.

Wilson was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks and the move has paid dividends. He began as a backup, then eventually replaced Fabian Washington in the starting lineup. Wilson has 37 tackles and three interceptions for Baltimore this season.

The Ravens have some concerns, particularly with their recent play in the fourth quarter. But Wilson's big interception allows Baltimore to search for answers while coming off a victory.

The Ravens will play host to the pass-heavy New Orleans Saints (10-3) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback: We may be watching the last days of Palmer in a Bengals' uniform. After eight seasons with the team, Palmer has become very inconsistent and put up his fifth multi-interception game of the year in a loss to the New York Jets. Both picks against New York were awful throws into heavy coverage. He also recorded 135 yards and one touchdown. Not everything this year falls on Palmer. But his play has contributed to the team's many issues, which isn't good when you're considered the franchise building block.

2. Jake Delhomme, Cleveland Browns quarterback: Browns coach Eric Mangini made a risky decision to go back to Delhomme last week, despite little proof that he's the right person for the job. The thinking was his familiarity would help against the Carolina Panthers, but it nearly backfired as Delhomme threw two interceptions -- including a pick-six -- in a 24-23 victory. Delhomme has one touchdown and six interceptions this season, while both Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy have played more efficiently. McCoy is currently nursing an ankle injury.

3. Fabian Washington, Baltimore Ravens cornerback: It's been a pretty dramatic fall this season for Washington. He began as the team's starting cornerback, struggled and was benched, then was inactive for the first time this season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Corners Lardarius Webb, Josh Wilson and Chris Carr have played well the past couple of weeks, making it even tougher for Washington to earn his way back in the rotation.

RISING

1. Ravens/Steelers rivalry: This is our favorite time of year when the Ravens and Steelers collide. In our view, this is the way football was meant to be played. It's no secret these two teams don't like one another and, as usual, there is a lot at stake. The winner will have the inside track to capturing the AFC North title and at least one home playoff game. The fact that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn't play in the first meeting and Baltimore won in Heinz Field only adds to this matchup.

2. Peyton Hillis, Browns tailback: Hillis is clearly Cleveland's MVP this season. For the first time in his career, he's been the feature back for most of the year and he's proving his worth by leading the Browns in rushing (905 yards) and receptions (46). Hillis rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers last week. He is the one constant threat on offense opponents have to account for every week.

3. Shaun Suisham, Steelers kicker: There were a lot of questions surrounding the next kicker to replace Jeff Reed. But Suisham has done well with his opportunity in Pittsburgh. Suisham further endeared himself in the Steelers' locker room by nailing four important field goals, including the game-winner in overtime, against the Buffalo Bills. Pittsburgh will be playing in big games down the stretch and relying on the journeyman kicker.

In one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory, one thing is clear in the AFC North: Pass defense is the division's Achilles' heel.

An 0-4 Week 10 highlighted the AFC North's secondary woes. Whether it was Tom Brady picking apart the Pittsburgh Steelers, Roddy White running circles around the Baltimore Ravens, or Santonio Holmes zipping by the Cleveland Browns in overtime, it was an ugly week for defensive backs in the division.

Can anything be done about the AFC North's flimsy pass defense? We teamed with Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson to diagnose the problem and offer some solutions.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

Total defense: No. 9

Pass defense: No. 26

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "All their cornerbacks are mid-round picks, and that's what they do. They bring in mid-round corners and spend first-round picks on other positions and groom them for a year or two. Pittsburgh's cornerbacks play a lot of 'off coverage,' and a team like New England can exploit that. The Patriots took what they gave them with short and intermediate passes, and it's a really bad fit for the Steelers. They've been successful giving you a lot of the smaller stuff. But what worries me is the pass rush has fallen off a little bit." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Pittsburgh has by far the NFL's best run defense at 63.2 yards per game. At the beginning of the season, opponents were banging their heads against the wall trying to establish the run in the first half, and that played right into Pittsburgh's hands. Now teams have adjusted and determined it's better to throw for 5-7 yards on first and second down instead of trying to get it on the ground. This is where the Steelers have to adjust. More press coverage would help. Although that's not Pittsburgh's identity, mixing in cornerbacks playing closer to the line of scrimmage could reduce the short and intermediate passes against its defense. Also, taking a look at young cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and/or Crezdon Butler may not be a bad idea in sub packages, where William Gay has really struggled.

Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

Total defense: No. 10

Pass defense: No. 13

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "They have very average corners, and I think they only have one pass-rusher. They need a LaMarr Woodley-James Harrison pairing. The Ravens have Terrell Suggs, but they don't have the other guy. They drafted Sergio Kindle and he got hurt, obviously. Baltimore has one pass-rusher who is very good, but you can take Suggs away by chipping him or keeping your better players on him. So, to me, they need either one better corner or a better pass-rusher. But with the combination Baltimore has now, it's going to be a liability." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Don't be fooled by Baltimore's No. 13 ranking. The Ravens were No. 1 against the pass through the first several games, which is an indication of how much they are struggling. As Williamson mentioned, the Ravens are in a tough spot. Baltimore says it has four or five starting-caliber cornerbacks, but none is playing like a No. 1 corner. I don't like the musical chairs Baltimore is playing with Lardarius Webb, Fabian Washington, Josh Wilson and Chris Carr. The Ravens need to pick who they believe are their two best players and go with them. Being shuffled in and out of the lineup has seemingly thrown everyone off rhythm and perhaps made each cornerback unsure of his role in the defense. Suggs had his first multi-sack game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, and that could go a long way to helping the pass rush. Getting safety Ed Reed 100 percent healthy as well will be a major boost. There is hope for this pass defense despite a midseason slump.

Cleveland Browns (3-6)

Total defense: No. 24

Pass defense: No. 23

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "I think the Browns are a well-coached defense. They are physical in the front seven and obviously want to stop the run first. But the Joe Hadens of the world, and Eric Wright and T.J. Ward are working to get better. So I tend to think inexperience is the issue as opposed to these guys just can't get it done. In the case with Baltimore and the Steelers, and lately with the Browns, if you're going to game plan against these defenses, you're going to throw." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Indeed, the blitz-heavy Browns are being tested through the air and giving up too many big pass plays. That is a major reason they are 3-6. Wright has been the biggest culprit and admitted as much to the media this week. But Cleveland plays hard on defense. The Browns' secondary simply needs experience and to avoid mistakes at the worst possible times, such as overtime last week against the New York Jets. Haden, Cleveland's first-round pick, is starting to improve, and it's time to insert him into the starting lineup permanently. With Sheldon Brown (shoulder) injured, Haden could start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-7)

Total defense: No. 15

Pass defense: No. 12

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "I think they're weak at safety, but they're very strong at corner. I also thought Adam Jones looked great when he played. It looked like he was coming back to form [before a season-ending neck injury]. But injuries have taken a toll, and the pass rush is worse than people even realize. I think that deserves a lot of blame. They don't have anybody exceeding expectations as a pass-rusher. I know Carlos Dunlap got a lot more snaps this past week, and it may be time to see what he has. For Michael Johnson and a lot of those young guys, it may be time to put those guys in." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: I have the least amount of worries about the Bengals' pass defense. It still has the highest rating in the division despite the worst pass rush. Health has been an issue, too. If cornerback Johnathan Joseph and veteran safety Chris Crocker can remain in the lineup the rest of the season, that's two starters who will provide stability. The pass rush looks pretty hopeless, and I don't see much potential to improve. With the exception of Dunlap, who is very raw, there isn't a natural pass-rusher on the Bengals' defense. That should be a major priority in next year's draft. Cincinnati showed signs of playing good pass defense last week against the Indianapolis Colts, and it needs to build off that. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had some trouble against this secondary, and that's a good sign.

ATLANTA -- Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed walked out of the locker room with a parting shot late Thursday night. With his luggage in hand, Reed, unprovoked, had a message for the media before exiting the Georgia Dome.

"We let them off the hook," Reed said loudly to make sure everyone could hear.

"We" was the Ravens' defense, which has been one of the most consistently dominant units of the past decade. "Them" was the Atlanta Falcons, who improved to 7-2 after an exciting -- and some would say controversial -- 26-21 victory over Baltimore (6-3). In what was viewed as a possible Super Bowl preview, neither team disappointed as each club held the lead in the final minute.

The difference was the Falcons' last drive, where they marched 80 yards in 45 seconds against a Ravens' defense that had snuffed out those scenarios many times before. A 33-yard touchdown catch by Falcons receiver Roddy White over Ravens cornerback Josh Wilson sealed the game for Atlanta.

Wilson argued vehemently with the referees that he was pushed by White, but no flag was thrown.

"I was playing coverage, man, and I guess it's tough to play good coverage in this league," said Wilson. "I don't know. I can't call it."

The Ravens have felt they were on the short end of calls or no-calls before. But the overriding theme in the locker room this time was that they missed chances to make key stops.

"They made the plays at the end and we didn't," Ravens cornerback Chris Carr said bluntly. "It was a very difficult loss. With our defense, we figured that we would stop them."

Here are some other observations from Baltimore's loss:

Ravens were slow starters: Baltimore made a valiant effort by scoring back-to-back touchdowns to overcome a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter. But a poor first half put the Ravens behind most of the game. Baltimore couldn't get anything going early and fumbled a punt return, which led to Atlanta taking a 10-0 halftime lead. Atlanta is extremely tough to beat at home, especially with the lead. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan has an 18-1 record in the Georgia Dome.

"Anytime you give points away early, it's hard to come back and beat a team like that no matter how much you fight," Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. "They won the turnover battle [2-0]."

No-huddle trouble: This is a copycat league, and the three teams the Ravens have lost to this season have all used the no-huddle offense. Perhaps stealing a page from the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots, the Falcons began the game up-tempo with their version of the no-huddle and had success, taking a 10-0 lead early. The Falcons did a good job of using the no-huddle to keep personnel on the field for Baltimore. Atlanta spread out Baltimore with three and four receivers and took advantage of the Ravens' struggling cornerbacks, which we will get to next.

Cornerback is an issue: Cornerback was a weakness many anticipated for Baltimore entering the season. That wasn't the case early, but it's certainly true now. Wilson, Carr, Lardarius Webb and Fabian Washington all had their bad moments. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was 32-of-50 for 316 yards, with three touchdowns and a 101.8 passer rating. The Ravens were doing a lot of rotating at cornerback. No one could contain White, who had 12 receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. A lot of attention will be put on Wilson's final play, but Atlanta had its way with Baltimore's pass defense throughout the game.

Third-down woes: Baltimore struggled on third down in the first two quarters on offense and all game on defense. Baltimore converted 1-of-4 third downs in the first half, but got better in the second, when the team was 5-of-7 and sparked the comeback. But defensively, the Falcons kept picking the Ravens apart on third down, going 12-of-20 (60 percent). Atlanta got 16 first downs via the pass.

"That's the key right there," Reed said. "Instead of us getting off the field, they converted when they had to. Against a good team, you can't do that."

Overall, the Ravens still left the Georgia Dome a confident team. There are some holes that need to be patched. But in defeat, Baltimore proved once again that it can play with any team in any stadium.

The Ravens have 10 days to rest and prepare for the lowly Carolina Panthers (1-7), a team Baltimore aims not to let "off the hook."

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Falcons lead the Baltimore Ravens, 10-0, at halftime.

Here are some notes at intermission:

• Perhaps after watching film of Baltimore's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Falcons went primarily with a no-huddle offense in the first half with good results. Atlanta had most of its success in the second quarter, scoring all 10 points. Atlanta running back Jason Snelling caught a 28-yard touchdown on a defensive mix up by Baltimore. The Bengals handed the Ravens one of their two losses this season by using a no-huddle offense with some success.
• The Ravens are losing a lopsided battle on third down. Offensively, they converted on just 1 of 4 third downs in the first half and their pass protection didn't give Joe Flacco much time. On defense, Atlanta is 8 of 12 on third down and that's been the difference in controlling the pace of the game.
• The Ravens are doing a lot of rotating at cornerback. Josh Wilson started in place of Fabian Washington, but Washington eventually replaced starter Lardarius Webb late in the first quarter. Carr and Wilson then started a defensive stand in the second quarter. All four played in the first half. I’m not sure if the rotating cornerbacks are by design or if the Ravens are trying to get a feel for the best combination of players.
• Overall it wasn't a good first half for Webb. He got beat by Falcons receiver Roddy White on several plays and also fumbled a punt return in the second quarter, which led to a field goal by Atlanta.

Two of the NFL's best teams will meet Thursday night when the Baltimore Ravens (6-2) face the Atlanta Falcons (6-2).

Here are five things to watch from the Ravens:

1. Who controls the tempo? The Falcons want to force opponents into a track meet at the Georgia Dome. The Ravens prefer to be physical and grind it out. The team that controls the tempo should win. I've watched the Falcons twice in person this year against AFC North teams, and I noticed a significant difference when Atlanta controls the pace. The Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 frustrated Atlanta's offense by not giving up big plays in a 15-9 overtime win. The Cincinnati Bengals played right into Atlanta's hands in Week 7 and lost a shootout, 39-32.

2. Can Joe Flacco outduel Matt Ryan? This is a great matchup between the top two quarterbacks from the 2008 draft class. Ryan and Flacco were both taken in the first round and have turned around their franchises. Both have put up comparable numbers, with Ryan having a slight edge this season in passing yards (1,949 to 1,917), TD passes (13 to 12) and interceptions (5 to 6) . This is the first head-to-head meeting between them.

3. Will Baltimore's secondary contain Falcons receiver Roddy White? White is questionable with a knee injury, but according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, he is expected to play. White, who has 58 catches for 796 yards and five TDs, is one of the more dynamic receivers in the league. Baltimore's pass coverage has been shaky and there's some turnover at cornerback. Josh Wilson, acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, has been getting more playing time recently in place of Fabian Washington. Wilson is expected to start .

4. Can the Ravens improve in the red zone? Baltimore beat the Miami Dolphins last week pretty convincingly despite going just 1-for-7 in the red zone. A similar lack of production could hurt the Ravens against Atlanta's high-powered offense. The Ravens gained 402 yards against the Dolphins but struggled to execute inside the 20. It was a busy day for kicker Billy Cundiff, who made four field goals for Baltimore.

5. Will Ed Reed make a big play? Coming off offseason hip surgery, Reed has not lost his ability to make game-changing plays. He has three interceptions in two games. Against Atlanta, there will be plenty of opportunities for Reed to make an impact. The Falcons challenge defenses vertically, and Reed is usually Baltimore's last line of defense. Look out if Reed (49 career interceptions) gets the ball in his hands.

Power Rankings: Preseason: No. 6. This week: No. 1.

2010 schedule/results

Where they stand: The Ravens are tied for the NFL's best record at 6-2 and looked strong coming off the bye in Sunday's 26-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins. A major factor this year is Baltimore has remained relatively healthy. Star safety Ed Reed (hip) and veteran receiver Donte' Stallworth (foot) recently came off the physically unable to perform list to put the Ravens at full strength. Many picked Baltimore to win the Super Bowl this year, and this team didn't disappoint in the first half.

Falling: Cornerback Fabian Washington, who had major knee surgery last year, has been inconsistent. He has allowed too many big plays, including three touchdowns in a Week 7 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills. Josh Wilson, acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, has played more at cornerback recently. Baltimore's pass rush (14 sacks) also could improve.

Rising: For years, defensive lineman Haloti Ngata was one of the NFL's best-kept secrets. No longer. Ngata, coming off his first Pro Bowl, is having a dominant year, recording 43 tackles and a team-high five sacks. Quarterback Joe Flacco also is having a solid third season, throwing for 1,917 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has a passer rating of 88.9. Reed has three interceptions in two games back from major hip surgery, continuing his knack for creating turnovers and making big plays.

Midseason MVP: Ngata has been impossible to block some weeks. It's not his primary job to rush the passer, but Ngata has been so difficult to contain that he's also getting to the quarterback more than any Ravens defender. Flacco is a close second.

Outlook: The second half looks bright for Baltimore. With big offseason acquisitions such as receiver Anquan Boldin (40 catches, 546 yards, five touchdowns), it's clear Baltimore is aiming for nothing less than a championship. The Ravens have as good a chance as anyone if they remain healthy. They are one of the NFL's most balanced teams offensively and defensively and have a roster full of Pro Bowl-caliber players. Baltimore will make the playoffs, but can the Ravens hold off the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the AFC North and play at home in the postseason? Home-field advantage will be key for Baltimore's title hopes.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Cincinnati Bengals: There's no reason to pinpoint one player, because this is a team-wide failing. Whether it's receivers running the wrong routes, the defense missing tackles, or the offensive linemen not knowing the snap count, the Bengals are making various mistakes during their three-game losing streak. This will be a huge challenge for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis to get this team back on track after a 2-4 start. In a must-win game, the Bengals will host the angry Miami Dolphins (3-3), who suffered a controversial loss last week to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2. Fabian Washington, Baltimore Ravens cornerback: Washington, who has played decent football this season, had his worst game as a Raven Sunday in an overtime win over the Buffalo Bills. Washington gave up three touchdowns and was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of backup Josh Wilson. Cornerback is one of the league's toughest positions, so every player has days like this. But Washington has to prove last week's game was a fluke if he wants to keep his job.

3. Ravens' pass rush: Washington had a bad game, but the front seven on defense didn't help. It's concerning that Baltimore's pass rush couldn't get through against the worst team in the NFL. Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw the ball 43 times and was only sacked once. Lack of pressure is one reason Fitzpatrick was able to torch Baltimore's secondary for 374 passing yards and four touchdowns. Pass rush has been an issue in Baltimore for the past couple of seasons. I thought this year the Ravens would be more consistent, but that hasn't been the case.

RISING

1. David Bowens, Cleveland Browns linebacker: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees doesn't throw many interceptions, but to throw two pick-sixes to the same player is a real rarity. Bowens, who received little playing time this season, intercepted Brees twice and scored touchdowns of 30 and 64 yards in Cleveland's upset win over New Orleans. Bowens also was awarded the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

2. Carson Palmer, Bengals quarterback: Despite the Bengals getting off to a slow start, Palmer had the type of game many expect from the $100-million quarterback. He threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Palmer seems more at home in the no-huddle offense, which was used nearly the entire game against Atlanta. Palmer has been part of the problem at different points this season, but that certainly wasn't the case last Sunday. The Bengals' offense will continue to score points if Palmer plays at this level.

3. Ray Lewis, Ravens linebacker: Baltimore gave up a lot of points to Buffalo. But Lewis was all over the field, recording 15 tackles and a sack. The future Hall of Famer also got a crucial strip in overtime that set up Baltimore's game-winning field goal. Lewis and the Ravens are 5-2 but have a lot to correct during their bye week. Baltimore will play Miami on Nov. 7.