Ray Lewis is the unchallenged leader of the Baltimore Ravens. Between his fiery oratories, and inspiration play, he means more to his teammates than most people understand; even Ray Lewis knows how important Ray Lewis is. It's for this reason that the injured middle linebacker elected to travel on his own dime to Pittsburgh to ensure he was there for his teammates during Baltimore most storied of rivalries.
Ravens vs. Steelers: Ray Lewis knows how important Sunday night’s game is
Traveling on his own dime, Lewis defines leadership.
Jim Rogash
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
The news from NFL.com's Aditi Kinkhabwala confirms what most know – Lewis is important. Even when he can't be on the field, Lewis is on the sideline with his teammates. Looking over film with young players, motivating his fellow defenders, and along with Ed Reed are the Alpha and Omega of the Ravens defense, as they have been for over a decade.
The Ravens are looking to stave off the Steelers to retain sole possession of the AFC North. Baltimore currently sit at 7-2, with Pittsburgh close behind at 6-3. A Steelers win tonight would tie up the division, and put Wild Card pressure on the division for the first time with the 6-3 Colts holding the other Wild Card, and a spate of 4-6 teams within an earshot.
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