A little more than nine months ago, major contributions from Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb helped the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Houston Texans in the divisional playoffs.
Neither, though, will have any impact on Sunday's rematch between the AFC's top teams in the Lone Star State.
Lewis recorded a team-high seven tackles and Webb intercepted two passes as Baltimore beat Houston 20-13 on Jan. 15 to advance to the conference championship game.
The Ravens' defense will look much different in this contest, however, after Lewis (torn right triceps) and Webb (torn left ACL) both suffered serious injuries in last week's 31-29 win over Dallas.
Baltimore (5-1) also has been without reigning defensive player of the year Terrell Suggs as he recovers from a right Achilles' tear suffered in the offseason. Suggs was removed from the physically unable to perform list and practiced for the first time Wednesday, and hasn't ruled out the possibility of making his debut Sunday.
That seems far-fetched, though, considering he probably won't be in game shape and a quick return could push back his recovery.
"There no plan in place," the five-time Pro Bowl linebacker said. "I've got to take it day by day. Come Sunday I may or may not be out there.''
Like Suggs, Webb also tore his right ACL, in 2009. The 27-year-old defensive back will likely recover and return next season, but the future isn't as certain for the 37-year-old Lewis.
With an enshrinement in Canton awaiting, the aging linebacker will have to decide if he plans to pursue another Super Bowl title next season. Lewis was put on injured reserve Wednesday, though Baltimore placed a "designated to return" tag on him in case he's able to play.
It doesn't seem likely, however.
"That's for Ray to speak on," Harbaugh said of Lewis' future. "When you look at his situation and what he's accomplished, and what he was hoping to accomplish this year, he's going to have to accomplish those things in different ways because that's the way it's gone. He puts his faith in providence. That's where he's going to go with that.''
With key defenders missing, the Ravens' task of slowing down Arian Foster may have become more difficult. Baltimore gave up 481 total yards and a franchise-record 227 on the ground versus the Cowboys.
Foster, who ran for 132 yards and a touchdown versus the Ravens in the playoffs, will be looking to bounce back after rushing for a season-low 29 yards on 17 carries Sunday as Houston (5-1) fell 42-24 to Green Bay. He scored on a pair of one-yard runs, but the Texans managed only 90 yards on the ground, marking the third time they've been held to 95 or fewer.
