OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens bid to reach the postseason will depend heavily of their second-ranked defense, a unit that has performed effectively despite an assortment of injuries.Baltimore leads the NFL in stopping the run and is seventh against the pass. Thus far, thats been good enough to offset a spotty offense that ranks 22nd in yardage and is averaging only two touchdowns per game.The Ravens (5-5) long ago built a reputation for hitting hard and playing rugged defense, and this team is a throwback to the days when Ray Lewis and Ed Reed made life miserable for the rest of the league.Its your typical Baltimore defense, said Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, who will face the Ravens on Sunday. They do a really good job against the run and get you into third-and-long situations. Thats the way Baltimores been for a long time.The most impressive aspect of the current unit is that rarely has it been at full strength.Linebackers Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley, along with cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Shareece Wright, all have missed at least one game because of injury. Linebacker Elvis Dumervil has suited up only once this year while recovering from foot surgery, but hes hopeful of returning against Cincinnati (3-6-1).Linebacker Zach Orr leads the team with 86 tackles and safety Eric Weddle ranks second with 51. Weddle also has two of the Ravens 11 interceptions.Signed as a free agent during the offseason after a nine-year run with San Diego, Weddle has been an integral part of a defense he expects to ultimately finish as the best in the business.Theres only so many opportunities you have in this league to do something special and be No. 1, he said Wednesday. You always will have that.The Ravens owned the top-ranked defense before sputtering in a 27-17 loss to Dallas on Sunday. Try as he might, Weddle couldnt get that game out of his mind.We did a lot of good things in last weeks game but it wasnt good enough, he said. We didnt do our part to get a win.Dallas scored all its points over the final 36 minutes. That left the Baltimore defense with the feeling that theres plenty of room for improvement.Our defense has played really well, coach John Harbaugh said. And the thing I love about our defense is theyre not satisfied with anything theyve done in the past. Theyre going to keep building on what theyve done well and keep trying to improve. Thats the beautiful thing about it. As well as theyve played, we can play better.Weddle understands the importance of defense for Baltimore. Yet, he doesnt believe the success of the team depends upon it.We want to play great, week-in, week-out, regardless whats happening on offense, he said. I know deep down theyre going to win us some games and were going to need them when it matters most. Until that happens, weve got to go out and play great. Weve got to keep the ball out of the end zone, eliminate the big plays and stuff the run like weve been doing.Game notes Dumervil and TE Crockett Gillmore (thigh) practiced Wednesday. ... Smith (back) missed the session but Harbaugh expressed hope the DB would practice on Thursday. ... RB Lorenzo Taliaferro (hamstring) also missed practice.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Nike Air Max 95 Herr Rea . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Nike Air Max Billigt . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. http://www.reaairmaxsverige.com/air-max-270-react-rabatt.html . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Beställa Nike Air Max . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Nike Air Max 270 Rabatt .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. 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VILLARS-LES-DOMBES, France -- As the Tour de France enters the Alps on Sunday, many would expect Chris Froome to be worried of pure climber Nairo Quintana.The diminutive Colombian rider, who twice finished runner-up to Froome on the Tour, managed to gain time on the British champion in the closing stages last year, and will have plenty of opportunities in the mountains in the coming week.But Froome landed what seemed to be a decisive blow at Quintana in the hilly time trial on Friday, moving 2 minutes, 59 seconds in front of the Colombian overall.So, when asked about his main rival ahead of a tough final week of racing featuring two mountaintop finishes, Froome singled out another opponent.Now its Bauke Mollema, who is in second place, Froome said after defending his yellow jersey on Saturday during the flat stage in the Rhone valley. Ive got to keep a good eye on him, I have got to treat him as my biggest rival. He did a good time trial, and at the Ventoux he was able to sit in my wheel.Courtesy of an impressive performance in the time trial, Froome leads Mollema by 1:47 overall, with Briton Adam Yates in third place, 2:45 back.Im very happy with my time trial, I have more room to breathe, but the Tour is not over, there is a long way to go.Seventh overall last year, Mollema is aa strong allrounder with excellent climbing abilities, and rides for the Trek-Segafredo team.dddddddddddd.He could be even closer to the yellow jersey if the race jury had not reinstated Froome at the top of the standings following the chaotic Mont Ventoux stage marred by a motorbike incident.Richie Porte hit a TV motorbike, and Mollema and Froome also crashed. Mollema was unscathed and crossed the finish line first, but race officials ultimately awarded Porte and Froome the same time as the Dutchman, calling the incident exceptional circumstances.Froome defended the jurys decision on Saturday.That moto caused the accident for us, it would be a shame if the race was so heavily influenced by an incident like that, he said. I feel they made the right decision.Despite Quintanas lack of impact on the race so far, Froome remains fearful of the Colombians reaction in the Alps.No doubt he is going to attack in the Alps. If Nairos history has anything to go by, we know hes very strong in the last week, he is going to be trying, Froome said. My expectations for the last week are that it will be a very testing week, probably tougher than what we had up until now. ' ' '