New York Local News

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) ― It's fair to say Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants and Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens are planning on having a run-in or two on Sunday.

It's the 265-pound halfback who leads the NFC with nine rushing touchdowns against the middle linebacker considered by many as the hardest-hitting and possibly the best in the game.

"This is a business," Jacobs said. "This is a part of our job and this is what we do. He's coming down here and he's got a helmet and shoulder pads, just like I do. He'll come down here and I'll come down there, that's just the way the game goes. Whatever happens, happens. I am looking forward to the challenge."

So is Lewis.

"The only way to stop somebody like that is to run into them full speed," Lewis said. "The game of football is hit or be hit. So the bottom line, I don't care how big his size is ... football is football. And when you strap on your chin strap I don't care how big you are -- deal with whoever has the ball and let life take care of itself."

The matchup of Jacobs and Lewis is the focal point of a game that matches the NFL's best rushing offense against the league's top rushing defense.

The Giants (8-1) are averaging 169.9 yards rushing, including at least 200 yards in each of the last two games. The Ravens (6-3) are giving up an average of 65.4 yards, and they have not allowed anyone to rush for 100 yards in 28 games, the league's longest current streak.

A nine-time Pro Bowler, Lewis said the Ravens are not approaching this week's game differently.

"Our guys do a great job in just understanding what type of mentality that is, not letting anyone come in and just run the ball on you," Lewis said. "And I think the Giants do a great job with telling people that they are going to run the ball on them. So, hey, we will find out Sunday, man."

Watching videotapes of the Giants games against Dallas and Philadelphia, Lewis said the Ravens can't let Jacobs get past the front seven and rumble into the secondary.

Lewis also noted New York is very "old school" in the way it attacks defenses, using a fullback to lead and having a three-headed halfback system in which Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw each bring a different aspect to the running game.

He also likes the Giants offensive line.

"You see these backs and, not to take any credit away from these backs, but they are running into a hole so big you are sitting there saying, 'What in the world?"' Lewis said. "When you watch the film you're like, 'OK, I have to move on to another film because I have to see at least somebody' and things like that. So I just think offensively they have a great chemistry on the offensive line."

Jacobs, who has gained at least 100 yards in his last two starts, said he would not be focusing on Lewis during Sunday's game at Giants Stadium.

"I don't care who is out there," he said. "I don't look at them. Just as they look at me, I look at them and say, 'He's human. Let's play football, It's a game."

The Giants have been held below 100 yards only once this season, gaining 83 in a 21-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jacobs had 47 in that game.

"No question Ray Lewis plays linebacker the way I would," Jacobs said "He's downhill, a hard-hitting player and nothing more, nothing less. He wants to establish the game right away and he's good at doing that. I think his career has been pretty good and I have a lot of respect for Ray and I'm looking forward to the challenge." 

 

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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