SCOUTING REPORT

Ravens run offense vs. Colts run defense -- RAVENS

The Ravens need to dominate this area of the game in order to win. Jamal Lewis made his biggest impact since off-season knee surgery when he pounded out 187 yards rushing last week, and his power running is the key to controlling time of possession. With the focus on grinding out yards, the Ravens will spell Lewis with rookie Chester Taylor occasionally. Center Mike Flynn is expected to sit out with an ankle injury, but backup Casey Rabach isn't much of a drop-off. The Colts haven't stopped anyone's running game. The NFL's third-worst run defense, Indianapolis has allowed 145 yards rushing per game - 35 yards above the league average - and has given up 4.8 yards per carry.

Key stat: 32-11. Ravens' record when Jonathan Ogden and Edwin Mulitalo make up the left side of their offensive line.

Ravens pass offense vs. Colts pass defense -- EVEN

Chris Redman has posted quarterback ratings over 100 in consecutive games. The first-year starter is gaining more zip on his passes as his confidence in the system grows. Brandon Stokley, the Ravens' third-leading receiver, is a game-time decision with an ankle injury and most likely would be replaced by rookie Ron Johnson. That means tight end Todd Heap would become Redman's security blanket again. The Ravens need to maintain balance to keep a potentially dangerous Colts pass rush in check. The Colts' cover-two defense - a staple of coach Tony Dungy - is tough to come back against since the scheme doesn't allow many big plays.

Key stat: 57. Pass attempts by Redman since his last interception.

Colts run offense vs. Ravens run defense -- COLTS

The Ravens probably will be without linebacker Ray Lewis and may have trouble containing Colts running back Edgerrin James' breaks to the outside. Veteran Bernardo Harris will fill in for Lewis in running situations and has a reputation of being a solid run stopper. James, 11 months removed from reconstructive knee surgery, can't make the same staggering cutbacks yet and is averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. But James is still a tremendous weapon - especially on artificial turf - and ranks sixth in the AFC in rushing.

Key stat: 1. 100-yard rushers allowed by the Ravens in their past 55 games.

Colts pass offense vs. Ravens pass defense -- COLTS

The Ravens are concerned about quarterback Peyton Manning beating their rookie safeties deep on play-action fakes and James exploiting their defense on screen passes. When Ray Lewis is in the lineup, teams don't even attempt to run screen passes because Lewis is too quick sideline to sideline. But the Ravens could be vulnerable there today. Last year, Manning lit up a more experienced Ravens secondary for 310 yards passing. Look for the Ravens to double Colts receiver Marvin Harrison and take the other receiver, Qadry Ismail, out of the game with physical, one-on-one play.

Key stat: 20. 30-point games produced by Manning in 68 career games, though none this season.

Special teams -- COLTS

Under former Ravens special teams coach Russ Purnell, the Colts lead the league in covering kickoffs and punts. Indianapolis punter Hunter Smith tops the AFC in net average. The Colts have allowed only two field goals on five attempts, the best rate in the league. Ravens punt returner Chris McAlister is averaging 9.3 yards per runback, which is just a yard off the pace of Houston's Jermaine Lewis. The Ravens are making progress on their coverage teams and silenced Cleveland's dangerous returners last week. Both teams allowed an onside kick by opponents last Sunday.

Key stat: 3.0 yards. League-low punt return average against the Colts' coverage team.

Intangibles -- RAVENS

The Ravens will play before another apathetic crowd. The Colts had trouble selling out the NFL's smallest stadium this week, and there have been rumors of the team piping in crowd noise to make the dome louder. The pressure is on Indianapolis. The Ravens could be without four starters and feel like they have nothing to lose.

Prediction -- COLTS

The Ravens have thrived on beating the odds the past two weeks, but losing Ray Lewis creates an irreplaceable void. It's like trying to drive a car without an engine. The Ravens' two-game winning streak ends in a 27-20 loss to the Colts.

BREAK DOWN

Records

Ravens 2-2 Colts 3-1

Line

Colts by 7

Vs. spread

Ravens 2-2 Colts 1-3

Series

Ravens lead 2-1

Last meeting

Ravens won, 39-27, on Dec. 2, 2001, in Baltimore.

NFL rankings

Ravens offense: Rush (18), pass (27), overall (28).

Ravens defense: Rush (10), pass (26), overall (21).

Colts offense: Rush (17), pass (11), overall (12).

Colts defense: Rush (29), pass (4), overall (12).

Quick hits

Colts' Tony Dungy (33-19, .635) and Ravens' Brian Billick (32-20, .615) are NFL's third- and fourth-winningest coaches since 1999.

Ravens RB Jamal Lewis recorded NFL's longest run this season, 75 yards, last week. He leads team in receptions with 18.

Injuries

RAVENS: Out: DE Michael McCrary (knee). Doubtful: LB Ray Lewis (shoulder). Questionable: C Mike Flynn (ankle); LB J.R. Johnson (thigh); RB Alan Ricard (thigh); WR Brandon Stokley (ankle). Probable: S Chad Williams (hip).

COLTS: Out: S Cory Bird (hip); TE Joe Dean Davenport (shoulder); G Rick DeMulling (ankle). Probable: DT James Cannida (knee); CB Cliff Crosby (thigh); RB Jim Finn (foot); S David Gibson (ankle); WR Drew Haddad (foot); LB Donnel Thompson (hamstring); DT Larry Tripplett (elbow); LB Marcus Washington (abdomen); DT Josh Williams (foot).

STARTING LINEUPS

Ravens offense

WR 80 Brandon Stokley

LT 75 Jonathan Ogden

LG 64 Edwin Mulitalo

C 61 Casey Rabach

RG 66 Bennie Anderson

RT 77 Ethan Brooks

TE 86 Todd Heap

WR 89 Travis Taylor

QB 7 Chris Redman

FB 39 Alan Ricard

RB 31 Jamal Lewis

Colts defense

LE 79 Raheem Brock

LT 96 Josh Williams

RT 75 Larry Tripplett

RE 92 Chad Bratzke

OLB 52 Mike Peterson

MLB 94 Rob Morris

OLB 53 Marcus Washington

LCB 21 Walt Harris

RCB 27 David Macklin

SS 34 Jason Doering

FS 28 Idrees Bashir

Colts offense

WR 83 Qadry Ismail

LT 78 Tarik Glenn

LG 61 Rob Murphy

C 63 Jeff Saturday

RG 71 Ryan Diem

RT 73 Adam Meadows

TE 81 Marcus Pollard

WR 88 Marvin Harrison

QB 18 Peyton Manning

RB 32 Edgerrin James

FB 36 Jim Finn

Ravens defense

LE 98 Tony Weaver

NT 97 Kelly Gregg

RE 96 Adalius Thomas

OLB 90 Cornell Brown

ILB 56 Ed Hartwell

ILB 51 Bernardo Harris

OLB 58 Peter Boulware

CB 21 Chris McAlister

CB 24 Alvin Porter

SS 47 Will Demps

FS 20 Ed Reed

INSIDE SLANT

George Kokinis, the Ravens' assistant director of player personnel, sizes up the Colts:

Strength

Quarterback Peyton Manning. He knows the offense better than anybody. He knows the protections and the adjustments. He has a great feel for the game and is accurate. He's the quarterback in every sense of the word.

Key matchup

Ravens linebacker Ed Hartwell vs. Colts tight end Marcus Pollard. The Colts' receiving corps gets a lot of attention because Marvin Harrison is such a great player. People forget about what an athlete Pollard is and what kind of speed he has. He's elusive with the ball in his hands. He's a strong blocker, but maybe not as strong as Ken Dilger was.

Play to watch

Spread Left Spear Play Pass 50 Lead Y Seam. It's a play-action pass intended to hit Pollard downfield. The formation is set up with two tight ends, a single back and a receiver split on each side. After the H-back motions left, running back Edgerrin James takes the fake and follows left to hold the linebackers close to the line. It's designed for Manning to hit Pollard down the seam. Even if the safeties don't bite on the play-action, they'll stay far back, playing to the deep, comeback routes by the outside receivers. With the safeties split, that leaves room down the middle for Pollard.