It was a miraculous comeback moment when Terrell Suggs sacked Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub on just his third series back from an Achilles tear.
But that may have been Suggs' high point since returning from the injury.
Suggs hasn't been as much of a factor with his pass rush or as a tackler this season.
Since the game in Houston, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year has logged one sack in eight games. He has just one quarterback hurry in his past three games, including none against Denver three weeks ago.
Suggs registered two tackles in the wild-card playoff game against Indianapolis, in which he posted his lowest grade of the year, according to ProFootballFocus.com. He has 22 tackles since his return, and hasn't registered five tackles in a game this season after posting nine such games (including the playoffs) last year.
Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees was asked whether injuries or something else are to be attributed for Suggs' quiet stretch.
"I'm marveled the guy has played at all this year," said Pees, who went on to say he never dreamed Suggs would be back this season.
"So I think anything that we've gotten out of Terrell Suggs has been a positive. I don't look at it at all that he hasn't done something successful. I look at it as this has been a bonus that we ever had the guy."
When Suggs returned just over five months after tearing his Achilles tendon, it was considered a modern medical miracle.
But the injury apparently isn't totally behind Suggs. He said his Achilles was “acting up” and “felt pretty bad” Sunday against Indianapolis. Suggs shook it off and played 67 of the defense's 94 snaps.
Suggs has also been battling a biceps injury suffered in Week 13 against Pittsburgh. It knocked him out of one game and the linebacker has played with pain for the rest of the season.
The Ravens could use a big performance from Suggs against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Baltimore sacked him twice in their first meeting, coming from linebacker Albert McClellan and defensive end Pernell McPhee.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is another Ravens defensive star who has been riddled with injuries this year. Ngata dealt with shoulder and knee ailments that especially limited him during the middle of the season.
While Ngata's five sacks and 51 tackles are about on par with his other Pro Bowl years, he hasn't been as dominant throughout the year.
"It's not on the same regards as Suggs, but Haloti has been hurt all year," Pees said. "The guy never says a word. He just comes out, plays, does what he's supposed to do, and it's a credit to him."
Pees said Ngata has gotten better as he's had some time off. The Ravens have also given some of his snaps to Art Jones and rookie DeAngelo Tyson to try to keep Ngata fresher.
"There was a point in time during the middle of the season he was really hurt," Pees said. "He was still playing, but he wasn't playing at the level that he's used to playing at."
