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          NFL Nation

          Ravens paying Andrew Luck the utmost respect

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterOct 1, 2014, 05:32 PM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- In my 14 years of covering the Baltimore Ravens, I don't recall a time when the defensive players raved about a young quarterback like they did when talking about Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck on Wednesday.

          "We're really impressed with the kid. We don't say that about a lot [of players]," linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "Usually we come up here and play a political game and we're like, 'This guy can make every throw and this guy is pretty good.' This guy is actually really f------ good."

          The Ravens face Luck and the Colts on Sunday, and there's no question they're lining up against the hottest quarterback in the NFL right now. Luck is the first player in NFL history to post consecutive games with at least 370 yards passing, four or more touchdown passes, a completion percentage above 70 percent and one or no interceptions.

          Luck leads the league in passing yards (1,305) and has thrown the most passing touchdowns (13) by a Colts quarterback through the first four games of a season -- and that includes Peyton Manning and Johnny Unitas.

          The Ravens beat Luck in their only meeting, keeping him out of the end zone in a 24-9 win in a 2012 AFC wild-card game. But that was when Luck was in his first year in the league.

          "He was already good his rookie season, obviously," cornerback Jimmy Smith said. "Now, he's that much better. He has way better control of the offense. Anytime a person is open, he hits them. That's what it looks like on film. Everybody has to be on their game this week. Everybody has to know exactly what we're doing. We can't let any balls get over our head."

          The Ravens know Luck can hurt them with his legs as much as his arm. Since coming into the league in 2012, Luck is second only to Cam Newton among quarterbacks in converting third downs by running the ball with 27.

          "He ran like 4.5 [40-yard dash] or something at the combine, so he's outrunning most defensive ends," Suggs said. "It's going to be a fun and entertaining game."

          This game features the Ravens, who have given up the second-fewest points in the NFL (15 points per game), against the Colts, who have scored the most points in the league (34 points per game).

          "This is probably the best offense we've had to face so far," Smith said. "They have a ton of receivers who can get open, get the ball and score. They have a quarterback who is on his way to being the best in the league. We have our work cut out for us."