CLEVELAND -- When will the Baltimore Ravens’ best players seemingly slow down with time?
It is the age-old question that has been asked of past Ravens defenders like middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed, both of whom had stellar NFL careers that could earn them induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame sooner rather than later.
And after 15 years in the NFL, it is the same question being asked about outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who despite multiple surgeries over his career and 210 regular-season games on his resume, still finds a way to make impactful plays.
“I’m not surprised,” Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson, who was Baltimore’s quarterbacks coach in the early part of Suggs’ career. “Terrell Suggs is one of the best players that has played in this league in my opinion.
“Having been there with him and spent time watching how he prepares and how he works and how much football means to him and how passionate he is about football and the Ravens and their defense, I am not surprised by anything he is doing.”
Despite being in his 15th NFL season, Suggs has registered 11 quarterback sacks, which is the third-best total among AFC players heading into Week 15. It marks his seventh season with double-digit sacks, and three more will equal his single-season personal best of 14, which he set in 2011.
The Ravens’ all-time leader in sacks, Suggs registered one of those 11 quarterback hits in a 24-10 win over the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 2.
“You definitely have to play through your feet,” quarterback DeShone Kizer said. “You have to play to the rhythm of the game. He is always going to be around. In the last two games, there have been two specific situations that I am sure everyone knows where you take your eye off of a guy and you think after he gets run around you, that is gone.
“With Suggs, he is the same one of those guys. He is going to be a guy who is going to continue to work hard and get to the quarterback, no matter what it takes. It is my job to make sure that the ball is out of harm’s way. In order to do so, I have to play to the rhythm of my feet. When I get to my second and third hitch, it is time to check the ball down or throw it away.”
Suggs is no stranger to success against the Browns.
In 26 outings against the Browns, Suggs has registered 111 total tackles, including 74 solo stops, 37 assists and 18 sacks for 116.5 lost yards. Additionally, Suggs returned his lone interception 42 yards for a touchdown, forced nine fumbles, recovered two others and defended nine passes.
Suggs’ sacks, forced fumbles and passes defended against the Browns are the most he has collected against any single opponent.
“He is a talented guy,” Kizer said. “Typically, those guys who figure it out young can keep it forever. He is a guy who is multidimensional, and that is what allows him to continue to have the success that he has. He works hard, and obviously, has a really good rep in this league. It is on us to make sure we do whatever we can to execute to try to limit his big plays.”
