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BALTIMORE -- There once was a time when Ray Lewis served as the centerpiece of the best defense in the NFL.That role is now being played by Zachary Orr, the Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker and leading tackler on a unit ranked No. 1 in the league.Though the names have changed, the philosophy behind the Ravens defense remains the same.So does its effectiveness.The current edition of the Baltimore defense is not yet worthy of being compared some of the great ones of the past, most notably the 2000 version, which set a record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season before winning the Super Bowl.But entering Monday nights game against the New England Patriots, the Ravens (7-5) are in the mix for the AFC North title on the strength of a defense that has limited the opposition to an NFL-low 73.8 yards rushing per game.Theyre the first-rated defense in the league, so no one has done a better job over the course of the season than them, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said.They dont give you anything easy. You have to earn it. They do a good mix with their scheme and also with their personnel.The plan hasnt changed much since Lewis arrived in Baltimore in 1996. While the tackles jammed the front of the line, Lewis honed in on the guy with the ball. In case of a pass, safety Ed Reed had Lewis back.Tony Siragusa, Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg and several others played front man for Lewis, who retired after Baltimore beat San Francisco in the 2012 Super Bowl.This season, the 335-pound Brandon Williams is paving the way for Orr.He is in the middle of the defense, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. That is the heart of it, if you ask me.For a long time around here, we had the great Ray Lewis, but nobody ever really mentioned Kelly Gregg and the dominance that he had. Our middle linebacker and our nose guards, thats pretty much the source of our defense.Dean Pees has followed the practice of former Ravens defensive coordinators Marvin Lewis and Rex Ryan in utilizing that sound strategy.With Williams up front, Orr in the middle and three-time Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle in the back end, Baltimore has allowed only 17.3 points per game.We know how we want to play fundamentally, Pees said. You just have to play that way.Now in his fifth season as Ravens defensive coordinator, Pees knows how to put together a unit and make it work.Were sitting at the top of the league right now because of the things hes been doing, cornerback Jimmy Smith said.Last weeks 38-6 rout of Miami was one of those rare afternoons when both the offense and defense were clicking in unison. If the offense continues to improve, so will the defense.Ill tell you this: Our defense is going to look even better if -- and when -- our offense goes out and puts up points, Smith said, because we can start playing the defense where we can get after a lot of guys, pin our ears back, get sacks and a lot more turnovers.The Baltimore offense should be tested by the Patriots, who in turn know theyll have to be at their best to score on the Ravens.Asked what concerned him most about the Baltimore defense, New England coach Bill Belichick said, Pretty much everything. Tough to run against, very good on third down, dont give up a lot of points, turn the ball over.You just cant be sloppy around this defense. You have to take good care of the football and youve got to be physical with them. Theyve got some big, strong guys up front.Its been that way for a long, long time. Just ask Orr, who entered the weekend tied for fourth in the NFL with 112 tackles.I have great players around me that have allowed me to flourish in this system, Orr said. Its probably the best situation I could be in.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Nike Air Max Nz . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Nike Air Max Clearance Nz . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. http://www.airmaxnzcheap.com/ . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. Nike Air Max Nz Online . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Nike Air Max Buy Nz . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. CLEVELAND -- What happens when the cork pops on a 108-year-old bottle of champagne?Well, as soon as the throw from Kris Bryant settled into Anthony Rizzos glove in the bottom of the 10th inning of the damnedest game in the damnedest World Series ... maybe ever, the Chicago Cubs sprang from the visitors dugout to celebrate their 8-7 victory and first World Series title since -- let it breathe -- 1908.Yes, there were ghosts out there, and millions of long-suffering Cubs fans, but this celebration was about this mostly young team that survived expectations and defied the odds by winning the last three games of the Series. One player stood apart from his teammates, looking at them for a moment and smiling proudly.That was David Ross, known as Grandpa Rossy, the backup catcher who had long ago announced that this would be his last season. He came into the game in the fifth to catch his battery- and soulmate, Jon Lester, and he had a big hand in this game.OK, yes -- first he made a throwing error, and then he fell on his butt chasing a wild pitch while the Indians scored two runs to close the lead to 5-3. But then, in the top of the sixth, he hit a home run off the virtually unhittable Andrew Miller to put the Cubs back on top, 6-3. As he later described, in his return to the dugout, assistant batting coach Eric Hinske told him, Dude, you just homered in Game 7 off Andrew Miller!At 37 years, 228 days, he also became the oldest player to hit a home run in Game 7 of a World Series, surpassing Willie Stargell of the 1979 Pirates by only three days. (Those We Are Fam-a-lee Pirates also happen to be the last team to come back from a 3-1 deficit by winning the last two games on the road.)In the end, like Ross performance Wednesday, and the Cubs over the course of the season, this game had a lot of ups and downs. (In a charming TV miked-up moment during the game, Ross told a nervous Rizzo, Just continue to breathe. Thats all you can do, buddy. Its only gonna get worse.) But by the time it ended, all that was immportant was the ending: A ground out to Bryant.dddddddddddd At which time, all heaven broke loose as an inordinate number of Cubs fans cheered and Cleveland fans turned away.As the Cubs celebrated on the field, Ken Rosenthal from Fox Sports interviewed Ross, who spoke eloquently about how proud he was of his teammates and was interrupted by manager Joe Maddon in a tight embrace. What a group of winners, Ross told Rosenthal. These guys never quit. Theyve answered every challenge all year long. ... Its a good organization, Im so happy for these guys and Im just glad they took me on this journey.?The interview ended when Rizzo and Jason Heyward came over to take Ross on a literal journey, hoisting him on their shoulders and carrying him off.What a last ride this has been for Ross, who started his major league career with the Dodgers in 2002 and won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2013. He caught Jake Arrietas no-hitter earlier this season and won 100 regular-season games for the first time. And he has earned the love and respect of every player and coach in the room.But he was nowhere to be found as the corks popped and the champagne flowed in the visitors clubhouse. Employees posed and took selfies with the World Series trophy. Maddon brought a silver plate of crab legs into his office. Bill Murray held court, of course, but he was subdued and pensive as he wiped the bubbly from his eyes. The dream has come true, he said. Its wonderful but a little overwhelming. Weve been good losers. I just hope we can be good winners.Ross chose to spend time with his family in the weight room below the clubhouse, but eventually the media found him. Asked if he was rethinking his decision to retire, he said, Oh, God, no. How can I top this? If I come back, itll be to get my ring and maybe yell at Rizzo from the seats.This has been a storybook season for me. And I got my happy ending. ' ' '