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For Portis, Pain Precludes Practice
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The Redskins have the league's fifth-best rushing offense with an average of 139.4 yards per game, but they rank 28th in scoring at 17.3 points per game. Washington went 1-3 in November, scoring only 23 points in losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Giants on their home field. Portis totaled less than 70 yards in those defeats. He had a season-low two-yard average against New York.
Baltimore ranks second in the league in overall defense and rushing defense. Led by Pro Bowl middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens excel at pressuring quarterbacks, shutting down running games and forcing turnovers in their aggressive 3-4 scheme.
"It's going to be a tough game," Portis said. "That's just like playing Philly, you know it's going to be tough. It don't matter what the scheme is you come up with [on offense], or how good you think you going to run the ball, it's just going to be a tough, physical game. You just got to be ready for it."
Although Zorn has said he would prefer to have every member of the 53-man roster participate in every practice, he has eased off Portis. "He's not really ready to practice," Zorn said, "where you feel like he could grit and go."
Backup running back Ladell Betts has regained his form after missing three games in late October and early November because of a knee injury, and Betts and special teams standout Rock Cartwright "are going to have to help us," Zorn said. "No question."
A lot is at stake for the Redskins in their final four games, Portis said, and the final quarter of their season begins against the Ravens. "It's really playoff hopes for both of us," he said. "This game mean a lot to them also because the AFC is in a tight race as well. They got a tough four-game stretch left, and we got a tough four-game stretch left.
"Every game you can get right now at this time in the season is critical. For us, we need to win. I think [a win would] change the morale, get us back on track, keep our hopes alive. Everyone know we got to elevate our game. Everybody got to look at themselves and find out what can you do to help this team get through the month of December."
Staff writer Barry Svrluga contributed to this report.
