and though it is a half-yard higher than what their

We have reached the month of December, the time when the best NFL teams begin pulling away from the pack, and to that end: Look out for the Baltimore Ravens.The Ravens have won four of their past five games and sit a game outside of first place in the AFC North?entering Monday nights showdown with the New England Patriots. While the Ravens made news earlier this season by changing offensive coordinators, and averaging 23.1 points per game since, the overriding force in their turnaround is a defense that in some aspects is challenging the historic 2000 group that led it to victory in Super Bowl XXXV.Largely unnoticed outside Baltimore, the Ravens defense is destroying opponents running games and hasnt been much worse against the pass. Lets take a closer look at the numbers, with a huge assist from ESPN Stats & Information senior statistics analyst Jacob Nitzberg, as well as some custom crunching from Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders.First, just for kicks, well look broadly at what the Ravens have done this season alongside numbers from that 2000 unit through 12 games.Comparing 2016?Ravens defense to 2000 unitPoints allowed are the most important statistic for any defense, and the Ravens are tied for No. 2 (with the Patriots) in the league this season. When comparing that to 2000, keep in mind NFL scoring efficiency has inflated over the past 16 years. In 2000, teams scored about two points fewer per game than they have scored this season.But lets drill down on the Ravens run defense in particular. It has allowed 101 fewer rushing yards than the next-closest team, the Dallas Cowboys,?and opponents have attempted 23 more carries against the unit. The Ravens 3.4 yards allowed per carry leads the NFL, and though it is a half-yard higher than what their 2000 defense gave up through 12 games, its important to consider that through a contextual prism.Football Outsiders DVOA statistic takes into account the strength of opponents, among other data points, to level out comparisons. According to Schatz, DVOA judges the Ravens 2016 opponents rushing games to be stronger than what the 2000 team faced, and thus, their run defense efficiency rating is actually better this season (-39.7 percent) than in 2000 (-36.9 percent). In fact, the 2016 Ravens have the best run defense DVOA in Football Outsiders 27-year dataset. Its also worth noting that the Ravens allowed an 85-yard rushing touchdown to Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell in Week 2. On their other 259 attempts, Ravens opponents are averaging 3.09 yards.Put simply, the Ravens havent allowed opponents to use their running games in ways they are used everywhere else in the league. (Note: The Titans, also listed below, rank second.)Rushing first downs allowed, 2016You cant have a strong run defense without good tackling, of course, and the Ravens have demonstrated that across the board. Linebacker Zach Orr?is tied for No. 4 in the NFL with 112 combined tackles, and the addition of free-agent safety Eric Weddle has added stability to the back end.The Ravens arent allowing opponents to tack on many extra yards, whether thats against the run or pass. They have allowed the NFLs fewest yards per attempt after contact on rushing plays and are also tackling receivers after the catch quicker than all but five NFL teams.Average yards allowed after first contactDont let the focus on tackling and the run game cloud any perceptions about the Ravens pass defense. When facing the Ravens, opponents have the NFLs third-lowest Total QBR (57.0), and in an era when quarterbacks are throwing fewer interceptions than ever, the Ravens have the leagues second-highest total.Team interceptions, 2016Opponents are averaging 9.53 yards per pass completion, the second-lowest total in the NFL. The Ravens have been particularly stingy on the deep ball, allowing the second-lowest completion percentage (32.5) on passes that travel at least 15 yards downfield.Put it all together, and the Ravens are making opponents earn their yards and points. They have allowed 67 explosive plays, defined as a run of 12-plus yards or a pass of 16-plus yards, four more than the NFL leader.Number of explosive plays allowed, 2016The 2016 Ravens defense probably wont find itself next to the 2000 unit in the history books. But this seasons edition of the Ravens defense is stronger than you probably realized and the biggest reason the team is poised to return to the playoffs in 2016.All numbers entering Week 14.Cheap Nike React Shoes . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Cheap Nike React China . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. http://www.cheapnikereact.net/ . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Nike React Cheap Wholesale .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Nike React Shoes Cheap . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot.BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Penn State University is challenging a jurys $7.3 million award to a former assistant football coach in his defamation case against the university.In court filings, attorneys for the school say Mike McQueary failed to prove the university defamed him after it became public that his testimony helped prosecutors charge Jerry Sandusky with child molestation.Philly.com reported the university calls the jurys award last month excessive.McQueary claims he was defamed by a statemeent the school president released the day Sandusky was charged.dddddddddddd He also says he was retaliated against for helping with the investigation and misled by school administrators.Penn State argued McQuearys reputation was harmed by public opinion about his decision not to go to police or child-welfare authorities when he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a boy. ' ' '