A little later in the pre-game, Coach Harbaugh approached: "You feel good?" "I feel great, Coach. I feel too good. Might even take off some of these pads."

At the end of warmups, the entire team surrounded the 14-year veteran. "Fellas, I just beg you today. Take the next step. Let's take the next step. We have one goal today. Get to 4-0 on our home field. On our home field! Defend this turf. Defend it!"

Of course, with Suggs, you get humor. He approached referee Ed Hochuli: "Ed, how are you doing today?" Hochuli: "Terrell, how are you doing?" Suggs: "Ed, I ask all the referees this. If they run the read option with their quarterback, when he fakes it, he's a runner, and I can hit him anywhere as long as I don't hit him with the crown of my helmet. Right?"

The muscled ref started to explain: "If he is a runner. But once he pulls out …" That's when Suggs interrupted: "You have to understand, I am already going. I have the quarterback as my responsibility. If he clearly is giving himself up, I'm good, right?" Terrell didn't wait for the answer, he turned and ran to his teammates. You could see Hochuli smiling.

During the game, Raiders left tackle Donald Penn, a good player who kept a polite banter with "Sizzle" all day, hit Suggs in the face with both hands. "Hey!" Suggs yelled. Penn: "My fault about that." Suggs: "I'm telling on you. Ed, Ed, Hochuli. (Pointing at Penn) He has hit me in the face three times, and he's even apologizing for it. Listen to him." You could hear Penn chuckling.

What's amazing when you watch Suggs up close is his strength. He takes 300-plus-pounders, throws them aside, and makes tackle after tackle. Once he got his hands on the runner, there was no escape. He is one powerful human being.