Terrell Suggs is now expected to return earlier than once thought as he recovers from his Achilles tendon injury.

Suggs, who was the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, would be eligible to return as early as Week 7.

"He has his target date,” Baltimore Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh said, without sharing the specific date. "He is doing well. The main thing we want to do now is make sure there is no setback, and he continues to get in shape and continues to get stronger.”

Suggs previously said that he could be back in October and no later than November.

"Football shape will be a factor,” Harbaugh said. "As soon as he gets on the field, it’s not like he is going to be back to Defensive Player of the Year form. We need to all understand that. Just give him a little space and let him kind of grow into this thing.”

The Baltimore Ravens improved to 3-1 with a close 23-16 win over the Cleveland Browns in what was their fourth game in 18 days.

The Ravens had a +5.6 advantage in The Trench Counter, having a +1.3 advantage in yards per pass, 1.2 in yards per rush while turning the ball over one fewer time. Baltimore had a +13 edge in Total Rushes/Completions.

Joe Flacco went 28-for-46 for 356 yards, one touchdown and one interception, finding Anquan Boldin for 131 yards on nine receptions and Torrey Smith for 97 yards on six catches. Flacco also had a rushing touchdown in the beginning of the third quarter.

Ray Rice was limited by the Browns' defense, averaging 2.7 yards per carry on 18 carries and eight receptions for 47 yards.

Brandon Weeden went 25-for-52 for 320 yards and an interception. Weeden and the Browns had two chances to tie the game in the final seconds, but his second attempt flew over the end zone.

Trent Richardson rushed 14 times for 47 yards and one touchdown.

Joe Flacco's Ravens won 44 of 64 regular season games from 2008 to 2011.

An average NFL quarterback with a similarly effective defense, according to a study done by Grantland's Bill Barnwell, would have won 42 games with that same defensive output.

Flacco's performance were worth about a half-win per season.

The Ravens have yet to commit to Flacco long-term.

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the New England Patriots 31-30 in a rematch of last season's AFC Championship Game.

The Ravens had a -1.4 deficit in The Trench Counter, despite averaging 2.6 more yards per play due to their turnover and racking up 135 yards lost to penalties. The Patriots had a +8 advantage in Total Rushes/Completions.

Joe Flacco had an excellent game, going 28-for-39 for 382 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

But the story was Torrey Smith catching six balls for 127 yards and two touchdowns just hours after his brother died in a motorcycle accident.

Ray Rice was the lynchpin of the Ravens' offense, rushing 20 times for 101 yards to go with five catches for 49 yards.

Tom Brady went 28-for-41 for one touchdown, connecting with Wes Welker eight times for 142 yards and Brandon Lloyd nine times for 108 yards in the first full game without Aaron Hernandez. Rob Gronkowski was limited to just two catches for 21 yards.

The Patriots relied heavily on the running game, as Steven Ridley and Danny Woodhead combined for 28 carries and 71 yards.

Torrey Smith's brother Tevin passed away early Sunday morning in a motorcycle accident.

"I can't believe my little brother is gone...be thankful for your loved ones and tell them you love them...this is the hardest thing ever," wrote Smith on Twitter.

Smith's status for Sunday's game against the Patriots is in doubt as he left the team hotel at 2 AM to be with his family.

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Baltimore Ravens by a final score of 24-23.

The Eagles had a +6.0 advantage in The Trench Counter, recording nine more first downs and averaging 11.2 yards per pass against 5.1 for the Ravens. The Eagles also had a +21 advantage in Total Rushes/Completions.

Michael Vick had three turnovers, but threw for 371 yards on 23-for-32 passing and one touchdown. Vick also had 34 yards rushing and the game-winning touchdown.

LeSean McCoy rushed 25 times for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Ray Rice had 152 total yards from scrimmage on 22 touches to lead the Ravens.

Joe Flacco completed just 22 of his 42 passes for 232 yards, one touchdown and an interception.

The Baltimore Ravens and Joe Flacco have cut off extension talks.

The two sides were close to finalizing a long-term extension during the beginning of August when they were shelved and talks haven't been picked up since.

Flacco seemingly has indifference about signing a long-term deal.

The Ravens could use their franchise tender on Flacco for both the 2013 and 2014 season.

If Flacco and the Ravens resume talks, they would start from scratch.

Michael Oher will keep Michael Oher at left tackle, according to three sources.

Bryant McKinnie, who started last season for the Baltimore Ravens at left tackle, didn't play.

With a no-huddle scheme, the Ravens feel Oher is more reliable than McKinnie.

Oher was a starter at right tackle during his first and third NFL seasons, with one season at left tackle in-between.

This development helps explain the team's motives last week to ask McKinnie to take a pay cut, which he originally fought and eventually accepted. McKinnie's salary went from $3.2 million to $2.2 million.

The Denver Broncos had the best DVOA in Week 1 as they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens over the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots over the Tennessee Titans.

Football Outsiders also has a stat calle DAVE, which stands for DVOA Adjusted for Variation Early. After Week 1, DAVE accounts for 90 percent and the current VOA counts for 10 percent.

The Patriots rank first in DAVE at 41.0%, followed by the Falcons, Packers, Bears and Ravens. 

Here are the full rankings for DAVE with the preseason DVOA ranking in parentheses: 

1. Patriots (1)
2. Falcons (3)
3. Packers (2)
4. Bears (6)
5. Ravens (7)
6. Jets (8)
7. Broncos (11)
8. Saints (5)
9. Steelers (4)
10. Texans (13)
11. Eagles (12)
12. Cowboys (14)
13. Panthers (10)
14. Giants (9)
15. Buccaneers (22)
16. Lions (21)
17. Chiefs (15)
18. 49ers (23)
19. Chargers (19)
20. Bills (16)
21. Titans (17)
22. Redskins (20)
23. Raiders (24)
24. Bengals (18)
25. Vikings (29)
26. Seahawks (28)
27. Jaguars (26)
28. Dolphins (25)
29. Colts (27)
30. Cardinals (30)
31. Browns (31)
32. Rams (32)

Joe Flacco had an excellent beginning to his contract season, completing 21 of his 29 pass attempts for 299 yards.

“We've always stood up here, and we've always, all our coaches, the organization, we know what we've got in this guy,” said John Harbaugh, agreeing with a reporter's question that Flacco could be “scary good” this season.

“Of course he is [elite]. He is a winner. He is one of the toughest quarterbacks I have ever been around. He's the best quarterback I've ever been around.”

Harbaugh was asked if Flacco has already elevated his asking price.

“Pay him whatever he wants,” Harbaugh said to the laughter of the press conference room. “Pay the man.”