FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane, who leads the team 97 tackles, has been ruled out for Sunday night's road game against the Baltimore Ravens due to a left ankle injury, coach Mike Vrabel said. Spillane had been active for the Patriots' Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, but didn't play in the game, with Vrabel saying he was available only in an emergency.
Top linebackers like tackling machine, Robert Spillane, who'd averaged more than 150 tackles the previous two seasons, and the emerging linebacker, Christian Elliss, missed tackles all over the yard in the first few games. They looked like they had goose grease on their hands as they missed tackle after tackle, helping to lose to the Raiders and Pittsburgh in two eminently winnable games.