Making the most of a second chance Cheap Deshaun Davis Jersey , Don Martindale has done an impressive job assembling and directing the top-ranked defense in the NFL.Combining an aggressive array of blitzes with bold coverage in the backfield, Martindale has added his name to the long list of accomplished Ravens defensive coordinators that includes Marvin Lewis, Rex Ryan, Chuck Pagano and Dean Pees.Baltimore (10-6) heads into Sunday's playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers (12-4) with a unit that allowed the fewest yards per game (292.9) and second-fewest points (17.9). The Ravens yielded an NFL-low 58 points in the fourth quarter, notched a team-record 11 sacks in a win at Tennessee and had three interceptions in last week's must-win game against Cleveland.A year ago, Baltimore lost its finale against Cincinnati to miss the postseason. After the Ravens snuffed the Browns' final drive on Sunday, linebacker Terrell Suggs was asked the difference between this season and last."Don Martindale," he replied. "It wasn't perfect. It hardly ever is. It wasn't pretty, but it was The Raven Way. It was a good finish, and a way to punch our ticket."After serving for seven years as Baltimore's linebackers coach, Martindale was promoted by head coach John Harbaugh in January after Pees bowed out.Obviously, Harbaugh has no regrets."Don Martindale did a great job. Not at all unexpected in any way," Harbaugh said. "I just think the world of him, always have."This marks Martindale's second stint as a defensive coordinator. The first time, at Denver in 2010, was a disaster. The Broncos went 4-12 that season and gave up more points (29.4 per game) and yards (390.8) than any team in the league.Martindale was fired after that season. He wasn't sure if he would ever get another shot at it, but Harbaugh made it happen.Asked if Baltimore's performance this season served as vindication Hardy Nickerson Jersey , Martindale responded, "I haven't sat back and reflected on that. We're just looking forward to this game on Sunday and keeping it rolling. But since you ask me, yeah, it feels a lot better."Martindale is known around the team complex as "Wink," a nod to former game show host Wink Martindale. In his role as defensive coordinator, Martindale has found that treating the players as individuals is the best way to get optimum production from the entire unit."I love 'Wink,' man. He's a great dude," linebacker Matthew Judon said. "He believes in all of his players, and he knows how to speak to us in different ways. He doesn't speak to me like he speaks to (linebacker) C.J. (Mosley). He knows how to reach us in our own different spaces. I think that's why we work so hard for 'Wink' and play so hard for him."Safety Eric Weddle also appreciates Martindale as a coach and communicator."What sets him apart is his personality, his openness, his belief in us and in how honest he is," Weddle said. "When your defensive coordinator has put in the time and the effort, and really is genuine to each player, it makes you want to play that much harder for him."Lewis, Ryan, Mike Nolan and Pagano are among the Ravens defensive coordinators who have gone on to become NFL head coaches. Given Martindale's ability to communicate and whip up a wicked defensive scheme, he might be a candidate to at least receive an interview in the near future."I think he would be a terrible head coach Deshaun Davis Jersey Womens ," Judon said with a wry grin. "I say that because I want to keep him around as our defensive coordinator."Weddle said: "No matter how bad you play, how things may go throughout the season, he'll always stand (up) for you. That's what you love about him, and why the guys play hard for him. I know a team would play lights out for him if he ever got the opportunity."Martindale got his first coach job as a backfield coach at Defiance College in 1986 and has steadily climbed the vocational ladder, but has has never had a team to call his own."If you're worth your salt as an assistant, I think everyone wants to be a head coach," Martindale said. "It's just something that if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't."I told John this the other day, 'I'm 55. However long you want to go, I'd love to just be the D coordinator here and do it with you.'" CINCINNATI (AP) — Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is back on the Cincinnati Bengals‘ active roster after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancer policy.He’s glad to be back, even doing some work with special teams. He watched his teammates pull out a 37-36 win at Atlanta last Sunday on Andy Dalton’s touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 7 seconds left in regulation.“Of course, I missed it,” Burfict said before Friday’s practice. “My daughter came downstairs and said, ‘Daddy, we won.'”Burfict is expected to play Sunday when the Bengals (3-1) host Miami (3-1). Cincinnati is aiming to extend its best start since winning eight straight games in 2015.Burfict’s next snap will be his first of the season. He had an ankle injury that limited him during training camp, and he sat out all four preseason games before leaving the team for a month to serve his suspension.How much he’ll play is unknown Deshaun Davis Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , but he has a history of piling up snaps in similar circumstances.He was in for 36 plays against Pittsburgh in his first game in 2015 after missing six following knee surgery, 34 against the Dolphins in 2016 after missing three games following an NFL suspension for egregious hits, and 52 at Cleveland last season in his first game following another three-game NFL suspension for an egregious hit.“When you get out there, you want to be competitive,” said the former Arizona State player, who’s preparing for his seventh NFL season. “You don’t have to play every play. We’ve got enough good linebackers that it gives me a chance to get out for a couple of plays.”The Bengals activated Burfict after Friday’s practice. They hope he can shore up a defense that ranks 29th in the 32-team NFL in yards allowed and last in opponents’ third-down conversions while giving up the 10th-most points in the league.“I think we’ll be all right,” Burfict said. “Every game, there are always two or three plays that get messed up. Last year, the other teams wouldn’t score on those plays. This year, they’re scoring sometimes.”Burfict expects his biggest contribution might be his fiery personality — the same intensity that has led in the past to penalty-causing, suspension-inducing hits.“I’m a vocal leader,” he said. “I’ll add my little two cents. I think that can help.”Temperatures in the mid-80s are forecast for Paul Brown Stadium, which could affect Burfict’s stamina. But he believes the conditioning he maintained during the suspension will help him stay on the field. He also doesn’t anticipate needing much time to adjust to first-year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s system.“Football’s football,” he said. “The playbook’s the playbook. Your man is your man. His system is similar, but it’s different. You’ve got to get used to his calling of the game. It’s going to happen. It might take a couple of games.”BERNARD RULED OUT: Running back Giovani Bernard didn’t practice on Friday and was ruled out for Sunday’s game, leaving Joe Mixon with a bigger role in his return. Mixon missed the last two games following arthroscopic surgery to remove a cartilage chip from his right knee. He returned to practice this week. Receiver John Ross also was ruled out with a groin injury. Tight end Tyler Eifert went on injured reserve with a broken right ankle suffered Sunday at Atlanta.