Fix the defense.

Sunday's 33-31 loss at Minnesota once again signaled that one of most dominating defenses of this era is in trouble.

The run defense is struggling like never before with Ray Lewis roaming the middle. The secondary is making receivers such as Sidney Rice look like Jerry Rice. And the pass rush isn't getting penalized for roughing the passer anymore, but it's not making quarterbacks feel uncomfortable in the pocket either.

While enduring a three-game losing streak is tough, the devastating free fall has been the defense, which has plummeted to 17th in the NFL after being ranked in the top six for the past six seasons.

So can all this be corrected over the 13-day layoff before playing the Denver Broncos?

"We have the players and coaches to do it -- without question," coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "I've got complete confidence in our coaches and players that not only can we get it done, but we will get it done because the issues are very solvable. But we got to do it."

Harbaugh said there wouldn't be any lineup changes during the bye, although rookie Lardarius Webb "continues to earn" more playing time at cornerback. He indicated that the team wouldn't count on the return of cornerback Samari Rolle, who is likely out for the season with a neck injury.

He also said the problems on defense aren't the result of going from Rex Ryan to Greg Mattison as coordinator.

"Whatever struggles we've had on defense are not due to who is not here," Harbaugh said.

Still, this defense doesn't strike fear in teams like the ones under past coordinators (Ryan, Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan).

The Ravens were known for moving around before the ball was snapped, confusing quarterbacks before punishing them. They were known for crushing running backs, stopping teams from even thinking about running the ball against them.

Those Ravens defenses were intimidating, violent and dominating.

Now, instead of shooting for shutouts, they could more easily get blown out. The Ravens have allowed 24 or more points four times this season, the same number they gave up all last season. Sunday marked the first time the Ravens have scored more than 30 points and lost since the 2002 season finale at Pittsburgh.

"Offensively, they have what they need," said Deion Sanders, a former Ravens cornerback who is now an analyst for the NFL Network. "But that is not a playoff-caliber defense."

As in previous years, this Ravens defense has made big plays: Lewis' game-clinching fourth-down stop in San Diego, Terrell Suggs' sack-and-strip play that led to a touchdown in New England, and Ed Reed's 52-yard interception return for a touchdown against Cincinnati.

The problem is the Ravens have given up too many in return. They have allowed 24 plays of 20 yards or more (21 passes and three runs).

"We just cannot continue to give up big plays," Harbaugh said. "Big plays are the problem. If we continue to give up big plays, we're going to continue to struggle."

The only changes to the starting lineup from last season were at linebacker (Tavares Gooden taking over for Bart Scott), cornerback (Domonique Foxworth replacing Rolle) and safety (Dawan Landry getting his job back from Jim Leonhard).

Perhaps the biggest difference is at coordinator. In replacing Ryan and his unpredictable schemes, Mattison has preferred to go with a more static and straightforward game plan.

"They miss Rex (Ryan)," Sanders said.

Harbaugh acknowledged there is a transition in going from Ryan to Mattison.

"It's not a transition that we can't play great defense through," Harbaugh said, "and we intend to."

Sunday's game was the first time the Ravens shifted their lineups, and Harbaugh said all decisions were his.

Defensive end Dwan Edwards started in place of Trevor Pryce, a move designed to make Pryce fresher on passing downs. Fabian Washington was benched at cornerback because of performance and replaced with Frank Walker. And Webb rotated with Chris Carr at nickel back.

Harbaugh made it seem that Washington would return to the starting lineup against Denver.

"I guarantee you Fabian is going to be back out there playing again," he said. "He has to be, and he's too talented not to be."

The Ravens, who practice today before getting the rest of the week off, have a lot of work to do defensively.

They have to improve their tackling after watching a Ray Lewis-led defense allow back-to-back 100-yard rushers for the first time since 1997.

They have to figure out a way to shut down taller receivers such as San Diego's Vincent Jackson (six catches for 141 yards), Cincinnati's Chad Ochocinco (seven catches for 94 yards) and Minnesota's Sidney Rice (six catches for 176 yards).

And they have to pressure quarterbacks consistently so they don't have time to pick apart the secondary and throw deep.

These missteps have caused the Ravens to give up 332.7 yards and 21.7 points per game.

"Trust me," Washington said, "things will turn around."

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