Baltimore’s defense is again one of the best in the NFL.



The Ravens are near the top of the league in a variety of defensive categories, and the success has brought first-year Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano into the conversation of potential head-coaching candidates for next season.

One person not ready to see Pagano leave Baltimore is outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who tried to sway the opinion about his coordinator.

“Chuck Pagano, if anybody is trying to hire a head coach, if they ask, I’m going to say he sucks,” Suggs said jokingly after Sunday’s game. “He’s terrible. He’s a terrible coach. His players don’t love him, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing when he’s calling a game.”

A handful of head-coaching jobs will be open at the end of the season, as Kansas City and Jacksonville have already fired their coaches this year, and the tongue-in-cheek comments from the Ravens’ linebacker represent the mentality that the players want Pagano to stick around for years to come.

“We all know he’s doing a good job,” Suggs said. “He’s playing the chess match to death, and we’re doing a good job as a unit and as a whole team.”

With Pagano calling the shots, Suggs is having the best season of his career and is one of the top candidates for Defensive Player of the Year. He has 13 sacks, six forced fumbles, two interceptions and 58 tackles.

But he isn’t the only Ravens defender having a great season.

Veteran defensive lineman Cory Redding is having his best season in several years, and young players like Jameel McClain, Pernell McPhee and Cary Williams have grown into critical roles. Jarret Johnson’s contributions have also been key.

Cornerback Lardarius Webb is having an All-Pro caliber season, and veterans Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata are all likely headed back to the Pro Bowl.

The Ravens lead the NFL in sacks, and are in the top five for rush defense, pass defense, total defense and points allowed. As they continue to pile up stats and shut down opposing offenses, the focus will increasingly continue to center on Pagano, who has been key in restoring Baltimore’s place as a feared defensive team.