varaven45

42-3 Ravens? Crav, exactly what Christmas cheer have you spiked your purple kool- aid with ? Either that or you have been watching too may Pats games and are fantasizing about Flacco being Tom Brady.

Hey Papa, I didnt know Palmer was on the Steelers payroll.

I am convinced, after Steelers game, our performance tonight will reflect a simple toe stubbing from last Sunday night and will play lights out, OR we will play with a HUGE hangover and play down to the competition. Any predictions....do we show up or play with a hangover ?

Crav et al, Lost in all of "this" is our inability to run, The infamous "3 Headed Monster" 3HM is dead. Unless it is resurrected, we have absolutely no chance to make the playoffs. To put Joe in the position to win these games with his arm is unrealistic. If we cant run in December we are done. Forget the one and done (in playoffs), we wont even make it there. We have four games to miraculously unlash the run game. If we (Joe) gets into a throwing match with Schaub, we are toast. Gotta pound the rock....now. It starts Monday night.

In my opinion, the outcome of Monday nights' Texans game will determine our playoff fate. On the surface, you could argue its just another game. But in reality, how we respond in "primne time" after the Steelers loss will tell us all we need to know about this team. Can the offense and Cam wake up ? Can Joe respond in a big way ? Can the 3 head monster be resurrected ? Can we control Schaub and their offense ? If we win, we have a good shot of getting in the playoffs. If not, we are out in my mind and not worthy of the playoffs. It should be clear as a bell after Monday night !

He was spot on about Joes passing under pressure and our lack of running attack. The problem, Crav, is we have forgotten how to effectively run the ball. I am not sure we have enough time to "turn this ship around". Texans and NO are actually stout against the run, Browns not bad, Cincy so so. The point: We lost our 3 headed monster and its OL this year. If we dont miraculously find it, we end up 8-8 or 9-7. If we rediscover it, we could make it as a wild card and make a run.

Finally arrived back home after thawing out all day ? Man it was cold last night (like our offense). Awesome seats in Section 111 near jumbotron. Amazing crowd and electic atmosphere all night. The 12th man was stout ! Great finally hooking up with fellow poster Max and buddy last night. Max, we got to do something about Cam. Everyone in my section was bitching and moaning about him all night. It wont happen till the season is over, but do you see the FO and /or Harbs really parting ways with Cam. It just seems the game has passed him by. He doesnt run effectively or at all. Doesnt or cannot use Rice. Our OL is all discombobulated and lacks physicality from years past. I am afraid Joe isnt going to elevate his game under Cam. Meanwhile, If I am Cam, I am winging it and saying "cut it loose Joe"! "If you threw a damn pick or two, fine !" Take the damn reins son and lead this offense". We had last night's game in the bag and 1 more TD, at any point in the game, would have sealed it the win. This one was on the O.

sounds good. See you there at 7.

hey max, still try to meet up for a beer? See you at the unitas statue at 630? I'll be wearing my heap jersey, how about yourself?

On Colin Cowherd's show this AM, Sal Palantonio offered: 1. Joe Flacco's passer rating this year when blitzed, under pressure, guys in his grill is an impressive 101. 2. Not sure where or how he determined, but he is very impressed and said Joe seems to have gotten progressively better each year while under pressure. He wasnt dismissing the importance of protecting Joe but offered that Joe actaully thrives with pressure (see Housh TD catch in Pittsburgh). 2. He voiced concern over our running attack which he claimed has gotten progresively worse in the last 3-4 games and believes Cam's love for the pass could be the teams undoing Sunday night. Like most everyone, Sal says are running game must improve in December if we are to become a playoff team. None of this is earth shattering or enlightening but just another perspective. Go Ravens !

Max, To me, there are three: 1. Pressure on Ben - we must be in his grill ALL NIGHT. No missed tackles, mucho sacks and make life miserable for him. 2. Keeping Joe upright - got to protect him like last game. Keep Harrison, Timmons and "hairdo" guy off his ______. 3. 60 minutes - Team must perform all 3 game phases relentlessly, with a sense of urgency on every play. No letup. Oh, and the 12th man has to come up huge. I'll be there and doing my part !

I hope Harbs speech includes how we HAVE TO WIN this game, make every one of the 3600 seconds count, play as if its your last game, blah - blah ! This team, in my opinion has not played a complete game all year. if ever we needed one, this is it !

I am very confident it will be an intense snotknocker of epic proportions with a full display of pain and bloodshed. As always, there will be a couple of game changing plays and close/controversial calls by the zebras. Outcome ? Who knows. I gave up on the predictions a long time ago. Bad karma !

Sweet. I'll catch you there at 6:30. Are you still wearijg your "Max" jersey ? I will be wearing 86 Heap jersey. Should be a snotnocker of a game !!

Sure. We (son and me) plan to get there around 5 or 6. Are you guys tailgating somewhere ? Maybe we can catch up there. Note I'll be bringing my diehard Cowboy fan son who is still in mourning over the horrible season. He was easily recruited as a 12th man Raven fan since he hates the Steelers and is looking for a potential playoff team to latch onto. I told him we'll gladly take him !!!

Max, Maybe losing McLain for Steelers isnt as bad as most think. Maybe we can mix it up with McGahee and Rice which gives us more speed and quickness out of the backfield. BTW - I'll be there in Section 111, top row, near jumbotron. I cant wait !

Max, What youve described as Ravens football and what we dont currently have is simply... IT. We may be 7-3 but we dont have IT. In my opinion, we are getting further away from IT as the season has progresed. Cant fully explain why but we dont play: with relentless passion for 4 quarters all 3 phases consistently every game (or even most of the game) with a sense of urgency with character and chemistry (as our old friend Sock used to say) like its our last game All this adds up to not having IT. Can we get IT ? Yes. Do we have IT ? No. Will we get IT ? Dont know but there's time. Maybe.

I am with Papasmurf on his assessment. We gave up 270 yards of offense against the absolutely worst offense in the NFL, led by a QB who just got off the couch a week or two ago and who threw an 80 + yd TD bomb. We gave up 120 yards to yet another unknown running back, Mike Goodson. Mike Goodson ! Our offense was disfuctional again and still finds ways to implode in the red zone. Our offense needs to find a way to play effective offense for 4 quarters. If I'm Harbaugh, I would be extremely concerned about this team's inability to play a full 60 minute game in all three phases. Its almost like the team cant focus on a full 60 minute game. We may be 7-3 but this team has some major stuff to fix. You cant like the psyche of this team leading up to Tampa next Sunday.

Bucs will be more troublesome than the Panthers. Ya think ? If we play anything like we did today against the Bucs, we will be smoked next Sunday. Our byes, easy games, sleepwalking games are offcially over for 2010. No pansies left on the schedule. Its time for this team to wake up. Now !!!

Lets hope "St Pierre" doesnt imply divine intervention. Thats all we need. Watch St Pierre put up Ryan Fitzpatrick numbers, become Carolina's #1 QB, and save Fox's job. In this year, nothing surprises anymore !

The final run and last 7 seven games await us. Its a parity driven league, teams are beat up, so-called dominant teams are laying eggs, losers are upsetting winners. Well, we've layed our eggs (Cincy, NE and Atlanta) but hopefully gotten healthy (Reed, Webb, Stallworth), had our ego bruised, and seem ready to make a run. Its time to play with a sense of urgency, make big plays, shut down teams, put em way and go on a roll. Its our time. This team absloutely needs to KO Carolina on Sunday and come out smoking. Right from the get go. If they do, maybe we can be that team that goes on that big time roll. Are you with me ?

Disco Joe. I love it. Maybe you should send it to Cam and that might loosen him up enough to cut Joe loose on the field. Disco Joe !

Crav, I didnt know you were superstitious dude ? !

If Carolina has anything (and i mean anything) going for them its their D. They have played some teams tough and, as we have seen this season, "Any Given Sunday". Joe and Co need to come out smoking. If we dont and let Carolina hang around, we will be in for another dogfight, regardless of who is playing QB. This is our game to right this ship !

Crav, With Carolina and Tampa on tap, the D has an apportunity to turn it around and reagin some of its swagger.