varaven45

Maybe this is Joe's soph slump, eh ? Maybe he just needs experience/time and a little patience from us all. Or perhaps if he had the same toys as Favre: Shiancoe, Rice, Adrian Peterson, Harvin. Imagine Joe with that and the OL? I suspect its both. He needs time, toys and talent.

This is a good, average team, probably the best .500 team in the NFL ! Its destined to finish 8-8, 9-7 if we are damn lucky. That's it. Our season ended when we lost twice to the Bengals. We dont deserve to be in the playoffs. When you cant score a TD with a first and goal vs Indy in your own house, with our OL and RBs, that pretty much sums it up. This team doesnt know how to win close games against quality opponents. Players make plays to win ball games. Our team doesn't have players yet who know how to make game winning plays. Maybe next year. This team is disfunctional. The D is on; the O is off, and vice versa. On a rare occasion when both are in sync, the ST lays an egg (Minn game). Its frustrating but its reality. We have an average team which had high expectations placed on it, after last year's AFC Title game. We need another season with low expectations (placed on it), a couple of close wins via lucky break, a more favorable schedule, a more comfortable, confident Flacco, and an infusion of young or new talent on offense - TE, WR and defense - including a stealth pass rusher and a secondary that tackles, wraps up the ball carrier (not the ball) and plays consistent, relentless, sense of urgency. We are not that far off but this is not our season. We are just a good, average team !

PLAYOFFS ????!!!!!!!

Vmax, A long shot indeed. Like another poster, Manning will throw at will all day and should put up sick, fantasy loving numbers - > 100 rating, +300 yards and 4-5 TD passes to Wayne, Clark and Garcon. Our glaring secondary (esp CB) weaknesses will be exposed big time once again. Wouldnt it be nice to see Cam, Joe and the "O" to get back on track today ?

Tend to agree with you about Panthers (being weak) but the Dolphins just came off a hugely dissapointing loss to Pats, then lost Ronnie Brown. They had every reason to lay an egg at Carolina. Instead, they played with tremendous resolve, passion and urgency- qualities that have been missing from the 09 Ravens (at least the last month (sans Broncos game). Thats the point. We need to start punching opponents in the mouth and not let up !!!!!

After watching last nights game, I am thoroughly convinced our guys need to deliver a high spirited, enthusiastic effort to have any chance against the Colts on Sunday. The Dolphins really had little chance to win that game (what with Ronnie Brown going down and having lost Pennington earlier in the season). The Dolphins showed tremendous grit and character for a team with average talent. The Panthers were listless, punchless. Sound familiar ? The point: Our team is talented on both sides of the ball but is not playing consistently, relentlessly with a sense of urgency week in-week out. We saw a sample of it two weeks ago against Denver. Bottom Line: If we do that for entire 60 minutes Sunday, we have a chance to be competetive. If not, we are toast and will be blown out. As Harbs said, we will know about this team (and its character) the next 3 games. To me, we will know this Sunday.

BallTMore : You are spot on, dude. We wont run on tne Colts and Peyton will throw for 350 +, 4-5 TDs and a > 100 rating. Ray and Reed will look aging veterans. Not even close.

By whom ? Otis Campbell the town drunk !

Yep, Peyton and Co are licking their chops.

Not worried about tonight. I just think our hangover (from Cincy game) continues. This is a classic trap game. We are a very mediocre squad with aging vets and underachieving talent. I expect a very motivated, spirited performance from the Browns and Brady Quinn. It will be a very close game that is too close to call.

I know this is a post on kickers but, with all due respect, we' ve got bigger problems than kicking. How about : * our inability to get motivated for big games * our need for a power running game * our inconsistent passing attack * our disfunctional defense (no pass rush/secondary) * our inability to control the LOS You could go on and on.... Like another poster said, leave Haushka alone and let him grow. He's only lost 1 game.

Amen. Its time for Harbs to kick butt and take names. Tomlin is doing it and its working at the "Burgh.

VMax, Well put. Its hard to believe but maybe this team has forgotten how to play smashmouth football and is becoming soft.

There's always hope but this team lacks character, chemistry, talent and consistency. As unpopular and painful as this will be, the end of Ray and Reed era is nearing rapidly. Ray cant keep up with RBs any more and Reed makes more bonehead plays and whiffs than ballhawking, feelancing picks and fumble recoveries. Organizationally, we need to accept and bring in some youth to replace these guys. I am convinced we dont have thse guys on our current roster. If we draft properly and make the prudent FA choices (not Foxworthy!), we can retool our D in 1-2 years. We have and we'll continue to take our lumps but this organization needs to bite the bullet. At worst, we are a 7-9 and 8-8 for this season and next. With the right moves and transitioning, I believe we can be a playoff team for years to come.

I am with Geo. This is not our year. 8-8 is best case scenario.

Where has it gone ? Did this team lose it over offseason ? Maybe this team has completely lost it Meanwhile, the talent (especailly on D) is looking old, fearful and disinterested. Ray is shoulder/head tackling and getting dragged 3-4 yards by running backs. Even Ray's biggest ESPN supporters (Sapp and Irvin) say his game skills are waning and his true team value is as a coach/leader. Ed Reed is now a liability in the secondary. He tackles the football and the opponents head and is whiffing on tackles. We have no pass rush and there are no immediate solutions. This Defense may need a big overhaul in the offseason including at: Cornerback Safety Linebacker B Defensive Lineman

This game is simply to us ..... for all the marbles. If Bengals lose, no problem ! They are 5-3 and will earn at least a split vs Steelers and us. They will likely go at least 5-3 the rest of the season and finish no worse than 10-6. Look at their schedule. For us, we MUST win as we likely couldnt recover (emotionally) from a loss, especially after going 0-2 against Bengals and dropping to 4-4. Plus, we will be fortunate to go 5-3 from here on out (w/Browns, Colts, Steelers (twice), Packers, Lions,Bears and Raiders. In other words, with a loss, we arent looking any better than 9-7 (and outside looking in). So, for the second week in a row, we MUST play with an even greater sense of urgency. We will know whether this team truly has character and is a playoff team. There should be little doubt after Sunday's litmus test.

Oh and No 6. Have to avoid the dumb game/momentum changing penalties -roughing passer, late hits, pass interference, etc.

Ditto on Cravs comments. I would add one other (though its linked to 1)- 5. Our secondary must shut down the Cincy receiving corps. They must stay glued to Ocho, Coles, Caldwell and Henry for 60 minutes. No letup !

Go Bazooka Joe !!!

Vmax, Spot on. Just like last game, if Carson aint running for his life all game, we aint winning. Its that simple.

I am with Raysbiggest fan on this - it may be a close, tough game but, unlike like Ray, I think Denver keeps its winning ways in tact and we come up short.....yet again. There is a reason they are 6-0 and we are 3-3. We dont have a secondary or pass rush to stop Denver's pass offense and Orton has been nearly flawless. He should have a 200-250 yd game with 2-3 TDS. Our team needs a season defining play or bizarre bounce to turn this ship around. Unless we are the benefactor of a tipped pass (see Cincy - Denver game), a pick six, miraculous fumble recovery for TD, or Denver just doesnt show up, I dont see a win for us on Sunday. Stranger things have happened and hopefully they will. We need them .....now

Really ? Some pundits had us at 6-0 by this time with away games at SD, NE and Minny ? Other than a big time homer, I dont know any rational person who saw us at 6-0. ht

Crav, Agree with you on the one-two unprogrammed wins. I dont see it happening but one never knows. The Bengals, like it or not, are playing as a team with a true sense of purpose. They and the Squealers are making game winning plays. We havent in the last 3 weeks - missed FG, missed TD (NE), and failure to stop Cincy at home. We havent made the plays necesary to win. I know its so cliche but there is such a fine line between winning and losing. Yes, we could be 6-0 or 5-1 but we are not. Its starting to define who we are as a team. Now, we could turn this ship around on Sunday. If we do, there is hope. If not, our season is over. If we go 3-4, we wont have enough emotionally to recover. To me, its all on Sunday. Hang in there Crav !

Crav, I agree. maybe he will be another Troy P - certainly has the hair thing going (sans the dreadlocks). Cant be any worse than our current crop of CBs.