OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As soon as December arrived Baltimore’s hard-shell defense turned as soft as a crabcake left in the sun. The Steelers, Redskins, and Broncos rolled up 88 points and 1,139 yards on consecutive Sundays. Could this be the final croaking of the Ravens? Not then and not yet.

This may be the last ride for Ray Lewis, their larger-than-life linebacker, but as long as he’s suiting up their Angry Birds persona endures. Once the playoffs began and Lewis and colleagues Terrell Suggs and Bernard Pollard returned to the lineup the Baltimore defense again began tearing rivals apart. On Sunday the Ravens return to Foxborough for an AFC Championship rematch with the Patriots with their usual approach — attacking talons-first as a flock.