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| Indianapolis Colts - Baltimore Ravens |
Chuck Pagano and
Ray Lewis spent the previous four seasons as part of a
Baltimore Ravens defense known for making life tough for the opposition.
As secondary coach and then defensive coordinator,
Pagano teamed with the future
Hall of Fame linebacker to help the
Ravens reach a pair of
AFC championship games before taking the
Indianapolis Colts' head coaching job in January.
The game plans
Pagano put together during those years weren't able to prepare him for what he'd endure next.
Pagano is back on the
Colts' sideline after beating leukemia in time for Sunday's wild-card matchup against his former team in
Baltimore, which could be the final time Lewis steps between the lines after announcing his decision to retire following the playoffs.
Indianapolis was 1-2 when Pagano took an indefinite leave of absence to receive treatment, beginning a "Chuckstrong" movement that captivated the league.
He stayed close to the team as interim coach
Bruce Arians and No. 1 overall draft pick
Andrew Luck helped transform Indianapolis from a two-win team in 2011 to a playoff qualifier.
Pagano returned after a 12-game absence and couldn't hide his emotions during the
Colts' 28-16 home win over
Houston last week that capped an 11-5 regular season, and he's not about to rest as his team prepares for a tough postseason matchup.
"My doc said be prudent, if you remember, but I may not be prudent this week in spending a lot of time in a lot of different areas in trying to get as much information out as I possibly can and help where I can,"
Pagano said.
His knowledge of the
Ravens' defense surely will be a benefit for
Indianapolis, but it may have to contend with Lewis, who expects to play after missing the last 10 games with a torn right triceps.
The good news of
Lewis' possible return, though, took a twist Wednesday as he announced plans to end his 17-year career when
Baltimore's season concludes.
Lewis made 13
Pro Bowls and was a seven-time All-Pro while twice being named defensive player of the year. He won a
Super Bowl ring following the 2000 season and is the only player in
NFL history with at least 40 career sacks and 30 interceptions.
Fourth-seeded
Baltimore and No. 6 seed
Cincinnati would have to reach the
AFC championship for
Lewis to play another home game.
"Everything that starts has an end," said the 37-year-old
Lewis, who plans to spend more time with his sons - including his oldest,
Ray III, who will play at
Lewis' alma mater of
Miami. "For me, today, I told my team that this will be my last ride."
Pagano, who was conducting his Wednesday press conference as news broke of
Lewis' retirement, said the fact he's facing
Lewis and the rest of a defense he helped coach in his first playoff test seems fitting.
"Nothing shocks me anymore,"
Pagano said. "Everything that's transpired to this point, I guess it was just meant to be."
The
Ravens are fond of
Pagano as well.
"Chuck's like a dad to me," safety
Ed Reed said. "He means a lot to me. I would have much rather seen them in the
AFC championship game than the first game."
With
Peyton Manning under center, the Colts won eight straight meetings - including two playoff victories - before the
Ravens (10-6) took the most recent matchup 24-10 on Dec. 11, 2011.
Luck will be the first quarterback other than
Manning to start a postseason game for
Indianapolis since his former coach at
Stanford,
Jim Harbaugh - the current
San Francisco coach and brother of
Baltimore coach
John Harbaugh - was under center for the
Colts' 42-14 wild-card loss to
Pittsburgh in 1996.
Luck has experienced an up-and-down first season, ranking 31st in completion percentage (54.1) and 26th in passer rating (76.5), but he threw five touchdowns without an interception in the
Colts' final three games.
Baltimore finished 17th in total defense (350.9 yards per game) - its lowest ranking since the 2002 team finished 22nd - and
Luck believes
Pagano's knowledge of that unit will be beneficial Sunday.
"They're a great team,"
Luck said. "Obviously, coach
Pagano knows more about them than I do so I'll lean on him, but obviously (it's) a historic defense."
The
Ravens, though, dropped four of their last five games after falling 23-17 to
Cincinnati in Week 17, though
Harbaugh rested most of his starters with the division locked up.
Joe Flacco - the only starting QB in
NFL history to make the playoffs in each of his first five seasons - attempted only eight passes, and
Ray Rice had just three rushing attempts. Receiver
Anquan Boldin sat out with a bruised shoulder, though he's expected to play Sunday.
Terrell Suggs (biceps) also didn't play last week but he,
Lewis and safety
Bernard Pollard, who missed the final three weeks with a rib injury, all hope to be on the field together for the first time this season against the
Colts.
"This is the first time we get a chance to get our defense back. We're excited and ready to roll,"
Pollard told the team's official website.
Harbaugh knows Sunday will be an emotional contest given
Lewis' pending retirement and the team's ties to
Pagano.
"It will be great. It's something that, in this profession, is a big deal," said
Harbaugh, the only coach in league history with a postseason win in each of his first four seasons.
"Relationships are important. But by the same token, it's a game and they're the opponent."
article source: ESPN
