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Ravens Limp Into Bye Week

The Ravens could not ask for a better time to have a bye week after coming out a brutal 43-13 defeat in Houston .

It was the first week without linebacker Ray Lewis and corner back Lardarius Webb on the field and the defense had their hands full with the Texans high powered offense. Coach John Harbaugh said, "We didn't put our players in a great position to win the game. We obviously weren't ready to handle their scheme, their intensity, the crowd. All the things we were up against in that game, we did not do a good job with, and I take full responsibility for that." Certainly it is not on his shoulders alone, but give the Texans a lot of credit for what they have done thus far . So now, the Ravens after reviewing film and "technique", will look for answers heading into a much needed week off.

WATCH VIDEO: Harbaugh taking blame

If there was one highlight for the Ravens in the game, it was the return of Linebacker Terrell Suggs, who looked like he had not missed a beat since recovering from his torn right Achilles. Harbaugh addressed Suggs' return and immediate impact. "I didn't know that he'd be able to play that many snaps, in all honestly. For him to be able to play 44 snaps is really something. I don't know if that has ever been accomplished. To come back from an Achilles tear at that stage of the off season and to come back this quickly, and then to play the way he played, it's probably unprecedented. The credit goes to him and it goes to our training staff for what they accomplished – pretty remarkable."

That is definitely a positive sign especially heading into the bye week. Raven fans should know this much, their team is still 5-2, and in first place in the AFC North . Absolutely no need to panic just yet. Harbaugh mentioned how to bounce back from a loss like this one. "The key is reacting, but not over reacting – understanding that there is opportunity in this whole thing, that it's a 16-game season, that it's a tough league, and if you get so enamored, self-centered around your own situation, then you kind of miss the forest for the trees." Even though the Ravens have their share of injuries they are still in first place – with nine games remaining . Not a bad place to be heading to Cleveland on November 4th.

WATCH VIDEO:  Harbaugh on Suggs

Follow Jerry Coleman on Twitter:  @sportswcoleman

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