ExtremeRavens

Each week, Baltimore Sun columnists and NFL reporters, plus WJZ's Mark Viviano, will pick NFL games (not against the spread).Kevin Cowherd View the full article

The Ravens had hoped that the bye week would allow them to get healthy, but they’ll enter Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans still without several key contributors. View the full article

The Ravens had hoped that the bye week would allow them to get healthy, but they’ll enter Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans still without several key contributors. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh essentially ruled out Lee Evans (ankle) from playing Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. View the full article

Ravens coach John Harbaugh essentially ruled out Lee Evans (ankle) from playing Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. View the full article

CBs Smith and Carr remain out of practiceThe Ravens hoped that they would be at full strength following the bye week, but that's clearly not going to be the case Sunday against the Houston Texans. View the full article

Players will wear decal honoring late wife of former team ownerThe Ravens will pay tribute to Patricia Breslin Modell, the wife of former Ravens and Browns owner Art Modell, when they meet the Houston Texans Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. View the full article

Ravens left tackle won't have to deal with two-time Pro Bowl pass rusherThe Ravens got a reprieve when the Houston Texans placed Mario Williams on injured reserve after the outside linebacker tore a pectoral muscle in the Sunday’s 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders. View the full article

The Ravens have racked up decent yardage this season, but they still have to learn how to finish drives with touchdowns. Of 15 trips inside the red zone, the Ravens have scored only five touchdowns. They have a scoring percentage of 86.7 percent, but eight of the 15 drives have ended with field goals. The Ravens are tied for No. 27 with Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay in red-zone production. Hopefully, they've worked out some of the kinks during the bye week. View the full article

Here's a collection of Ravens-Texans picks from around the WebHere's a collection of Ravens-Texans picks from around the Web View the full article

The Ravens must hope that Vonta Leach leads the way but will be in trouble if they don't find balance on offenseTHREE THINGS THAT NEED TO GO RIGHT … View the full article

Former teammates expect to tangle at M&T Bank StadiumRavens safety Bernard Pollard has tangled with too many tight ends and pass-catching running backs to recall. But his toughest assignment may take place Sunday when Owen Daniels and the Houston Texans visit M&T Bank Stadium. View the full article

Ravens have the advantage because they'll run the ball, then stop the runRAVENS RUN OFFENSE VS. TEXANS RUN DEFENSE: Fullback Vonta Leach, who spent four seasons with the Texans, has undoubtedly given his Ravens’ teammates and coaches plenty of advice on how to run the ball against Houston. The Texans’ rush defense is surrendering 105.8 yards a game, which puts it 12th in the NFL. Houston did slow the Oakland Raiders’ Darren McFadden last week, holding him to 51 yards on 16 carries. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that that team talked extensively this week about its identity, and maintaining an aggressive approach. Expect that to include a heavy dose of Ray Rice, who rushed for only 54 yards against the Texans last season but did catch eight passes for 66 yards. The Ravens are ninth in the league in rushing, averaging 123.8 yards per game. They got their ground game going late in the victory over the New York Jets, running on 11 straight plays at one point. The Ravens could get a boost if left guard Ben Grubbs returns after missing three weeks with a toe injury. Linebackers Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans are the Texans’ top tacklers. View the full article

Kick returner has impressed special teams coordinatorThursday’s news that David Reed upgraded to full participation after being limited Wednesday was perhaps the clearest signal that the wide receiver and kick returner is ready to return Sunday when the Ravens play host to the Houston Texans. View the full article

Evans, Zbikowski don't practice, but Grubbs doesTwo of the five players who returned to practice Wednesday – albeit on a limited basis – sat out Thursday’s session, according to the Ravens’ injury report. And both are starters. View the full article

Wide receiver and kick returner eager to return to fieldThe upcoming visit of the Houston Texans Sunday evokes a smile from David Reed, who – as a rookie last season – returned a kickoff 103 yards for his first career touchdown in the Ravens’ 34-28 overtime win against the Texans on Dec. 13. View the full article

Due to the enhanced security measures the NFL has implemented this season, the Ravens are asking their fans to arrive early for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium. View the full article

Trio had practiced Wednesday on a limited basisA day after practicing on a limited basis, wide receiver Lee Evans, left guard Ben Grubbs and strong safety Tom Zbikowski did not take part in Thursday’s session at the Ravens’ training facility in Owings Mills. View the full article

Sean Tuohy Jr. has committed orally to play basketball at Loyola UniversityRavens offensive tackle Michael Oher is plenty busy with the football season, so he hasn't really gotten a chance to see his adoptive brother, Sean Tuohy Jr., play basketball much. But that figures to change soon. View the full article

Both teams have dominated opponents in first quarterWhen the Ravens and Houston Texans meet Sunday, the outcome could be decided in the first quarter. View the full article

Star wideout's absence doesn't guarantee anything for defenseThe Houston Texans appeared like a different team without five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson in their 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. View the full article

Quarterback insists offense can still be successfulAs has been documented, Joe Flacco ranks 31 st in the NFL in completion percentage with a 49.3 success rate, and the Ravens’ signal caller is just one of four quarterbacks with at least two starts who has completed less than half of his passes. (Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams, Blaine Gabbert of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kerry Collins of the Indianapolis Colts are the others.) View the full article

Former teammate was dealt by Jets just in time to return to M&T Bank Stadium, againThe news that former teammate Derrick Mason’s short stay with the New York Jets was over – and that he would join the Houston Texans for Sunday’s game in Baltimore – was met with equal parts surprise, curiosity and even humor Wednesday by the Ravens. View the full article

When Ravens cornerback Chris Carr missed a game because of injury for the first time in his NFL career this season, he bought a hyperbaric chamber to aid healing. So far, it hasn't helped. View the full article

Only Carr, J. Smith don't practiceFive of the seven players who sat out the Ravens’ 17-point victory over the New York Jets almost two weeks ago returned to practice Wednesday – albeit on a limited basis. View the full article