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Ravens can't rely solely on Lewis

The Ravens are 4-3, but it will be hard for them to continue their winning ways by remaining so one-dimensional.

Updated: October 30, 2003, 4:14 PM ET
By By Darrell Trimble | NFL Insider
Brian Billick has long been considered one of the brightest offensive minds in football. And while he has yet to bring the aerial circus he had with the Minnesota Vikings to Baltimore, he's smart enough to stick to the strengths of his team and stick with what works. Right now, that's handing the ball off to Jamal Lewis ad nauseum. But how long will that remain a viable strategy?

The Ravens are 4-3, but it will be difficult for them to continue their winning ways by remaining so one-dimensional. No team has attempted fewer passes than Baltimore, and they are the only team that doesn't have at least 100 completions this year. Therefore, it's no surprise that the Ravens 55-45 run/pass ration is the most lopsided in the league.

In their defense, it's common sense to keep pummeling opposing defenses with the 5'11", 235-pound Lewis until they can find a way to stop it, and so far only the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 have found a way to do that. Lewis recorded his sixth straight 100-yard game Sunday, setting a new team record. And he's getting those yards in chunks. He's averaging 5.9 yards a carry, and even after you take out the 82 and 63-yard touchdown runs he had in his record-setting 295-yard performance against the Browns, he's till averaging over five yards per carry.


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