"I was pushing it, but there was never a time when I asked myself if I was going to be able to come back when I did," Suggs said of the recovery from the Achilles problem. "I was just able to come off Week 6 and play. God has blessed me to be able to play and I just did what my doctors told me."
Suggs said he has seen significant improvement in the Ravens defense from the start of the season. One factor was the move by coordinator Dean Pees from calling plays on the sideline to calling them from a coach's booth.
The other key development was just a matter of trust.
"Once he moved upstairs, we started getting the calls in faster," Suggs said. "Guys then became more confident in the plays being called instead of guys running around trying to get the play in. It cut down on a lot of worries.
"I think now we trust each other again, and we're being more accountable for our jobs. A lot of mishaps happen because of a lack of trust."
The absence of Lewis after this year puts more pressure on Suggs to become a leader. Suggs has already accomplished one major goal in returning before this season was over and then helping to lead the Ravens to the playoffs.
It wasn't a vintage Suggs year, but it was actually better than expected, considering the circumstances.
"You know, I don't feel like I've been playing a long time," Suggs said. "I know it's my 10th year, but I feel fresh. I know I got some injuries, but as far as my legs and mental stability, I don't feel tired at all.
"This is a tough team, and that's a major part of our character. The goal was for me to come back and we were going to go on a playoff run, and it looks like we're on schedule."
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