BALTIMORE — Given the way the Ravens attack on defense, it is no surprise their linebackers lead the team in sacks, as Paul Kruger has eight and Dannell Ellerbe has 4 1/2 . Terrell Suggs, back in action and limited to just seven games because of a torn triceps, has only two sacks.
The one area in which the Giants consistently have been good all season is limiting sacks. They have allowed an NFL-low 16 — the Texans, with 20 sacks allowed, are second. Eli Manning has been sacked 15 times; David Carr was sacked once. Consider Manning and Joe Flacco have thrown the exact same number of passes (487) but the Ravens have allowed 34 sacks of Flacco.
“It is a unit, it’s a full unit,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said of the low sack total. “It takes all 11 to accomplish anything like that. You have to have great communication.’’
Coughlin cited the experience of the offensive line, the incorporation of a new tight end in Martellus Bennett and, of course, Manning.
“The quarterback has a great deal to do with that because not only does he have the ability to change what he’s in in terms of the protection, but he also gets the ball out of his hand,’’ Coughlin said.
* The Giants didn’t leave Justin Tuck behind, as Tuck made the trip despite not practicing all week with a sore left shoulder. That doesn’t mean Tuck will play. He likely will be a game-time decision. RB Ahmad Bradshaw and G Chris Snee, like Tuck listed as questionable, also were on board the team charter Amtrak train. The only player who did not make the trip and was ruled out is TE Travis Beckum (knee).
If Tuck does not play or is limited by his sore left shoulder it means increased time on the line for Mathias Kiwanuka, most likely in a starting role. It also means Adrian Tracy will get reps on defense and rookie Adewale Ojomo will be activated for only the second time all season.
* Ravens LB Ray Lewis will not make his long-awaited return from a torn triceps injury. The Ravens said Lewis will not play against the Giants. He is not expected back until the playoffs at the earliest.
* Ominous trend for Giants: The Ravens have won 12 consecutive home games vs. NFC teams since 2006 and John Harbaugh is 9-0 vs. the NFC at home. … The Ravens have won nine straight home finales. You guessed it, this is the final home game of the season for the Ravens.
* This is the second game for the Ravens since Harbaugh fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and replaced him with Jim Caldwell. The results weren’t there last week in a 34-17 loss to the Broncos.
“Obviously, we didn’t go out there and perform well, but with coach Caldwell, nothing has changed for us,’’ RB Ray Rice said. “We’re not changing our offense. We just try to simplify things. We got rid of a lot of things that we didn’t need in our offense. We just really made everything simple.”