And according to Carroll County Times staffer Aaron Wilson, the Ravens' top-ranked defense hopes to keep Lewis silent, and maintain their league-high streak of 20 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher.

The Ravens rank fourth in the league against the run and haven't allowed anyone to eclipse the century mark since Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson on Dec. 10, 2006.

Lewis opened the season with 62 yards on 13 carries in a loss to the Cowboys, but his impact decreased against the Steelers as virtually nonexistent run-blocking and an inability to bounce outside relegated him to a negligible role.

The winless Browns have scored just one touchdown, and haven't been able to achieve the same balance that they did last season when Lewis rushed for 1,304 yards and scored nine touchdowns during his first season in Baltimore.

The Browns went 8-1 last season in games where Lewis had 20 or more carries, including a 216-yard effort in a 51-45 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

"Sometimes in situations we don't give it to him enough because of what's happening," head coach Romeo Crennel said. "But Jamal is one of those guys who would like to have it 30 times and we've been a little lax in trying to get him that 30, but we know he can make plays."

In a 33-30 overtime win over the Ravens last season, Lewis rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. He has yet to score this season.

Nonetheless, the Ravens are preparing for the Lewis they knew in Baltimore, the former Pro Bowl selection who generated 2,066 yards in 2003 for the second-highest total in league history behind Eric Dickerson.

"Outside of maybe one or two bad games, Jamal has always been Jamal," middle linebacker Ray Lewis said. "Jamal is going to hit the hole hard. Jamal is going to play a physical football game.

"He's the still the same Jamal. He's going to really try to get down. Our job as a defense is to make sure he doesn't get rolling and pretty much try to contain the offense."

The bad news?

Cleveland has the NFL's 27th-ranked running game, averaging 72 rushing yards per game. The Ravens gave up only 70 yards on 24 carries in a 17-10 win over the Bengals, surrendering an average of 2.9 yards per rush.