Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis said he avoided speaking with his former coach-turned-opponent, Rex Ryan, after beating the New York Jets 10-9 in Monday's opener.

Lewis and Ryan verbally sparred in the days leading up to the game, with Lewis taking issue with Ryan's bold pronouncement of the Jets as the favorite for the Super Bowl.

RYAN HUMBLED: Jets coach's tone changes after loss

He explained to the Baltimore Sun why he didn't speak with Ryan.

"My team is the Ravens," Lewis said. "Everything I had to say was to my team."

Lewis had a crushing hit on Jets RB Shonn Greene late in the fourth quarter.

"It became personal when the schedule came out," Lewis told the paper. "I respect Rex. We won a Super Bowl together. But anytime you challenge a warrior, a warrior is going to respond."

-- Sean Leahy