bmw800

God damn it McClain. How do you drop that ball?

Updates to scenarios based on yesterday: Ravens win out: - Steelers lose to Carolina or the Jets --> Steelers win based on better division record - Steelers lose to Browns --> Division records tied. Common opponents record tied. Conference records tied. Strength of victory is the next tiebreaker. Wins against each other, Tampa, one each against Bengals, Buffalo, Miami, Carolina, and NY cancel each other out. Ravens other victories would be Houston, New Orleans, a 2nd against the Browns, and Denver (combined record at the moment: 22-30). Steelers would be Falcons, Raiders, Titans and Bengals (combined record: 24-28). If those end up tied, better strength of schedule goes to Steelers, most likely (Raiders and Titans have better records than Texans and Broncos) Ravens go 2-1: - Ravens lose to Bengals or Browns--> Steelers win on better division record - Ravens lose to Saints: - Steelers lose to Jets and Panthers: Steelers win based on division record - Steelers lose to Browns and Jets --> Division record tied. Common opponents tied. Ravens win based on better conference record (9-3 vs. 8-4) - Steelers lose to Browns and Panthers --> Strength of victory, as discussed above. Steelers would probably win Ravens go 1-2 --> Steelers win on division record. Ravens go 0-3 --> Steelers win based on division record In summary, in all likelihood, the Ravens need the Steelers to lose twice, including to the Browns. If the Ravens win out and the Steelers lose just to the Browns, the Ravens still have a chance at clinching the strength of victory tiebreaker, but Denver, New Orleans, Cleveland, and Houston would have to perform at least 3 games better than Atlanta, Oakland, Tennessee, and Cincinnati over the last three weeks. If they only perform 2 games better, than Denver and Houston would have to perform at least 4 games better than Oakland and Tennessee for the Ravens to win strength of schedule (3 games better would produce a tie there as well, and it would come down to some even more obscure tiebreakers (the next one being best combined ranking in conference in points for and points allowed). The good news is that if the Steelers DO lose twice (assuming its to the Jets rather than the Panthers), than the Ravens would win the division even if they lose to the Saints.

I've gone through the different permutations of what happens if the Ravens and Steelers end up tied atop the AFC North, and this is what results: Ravens win out: - Steelers lose to Carolina or the Jets --> Steelers win based on better division record - Steelers lose to Bengals or Browns --> Division records tied. Common opponents record tied. Conference records tied. Strength of victory is the next tiebreaker. Wins against each other, Tampa, one each against Bengals/Browns, Buffalo, Miami, Carolina, and NY cancel each other out. Ravens other victories would be Houston, New Orleans, a 2nd against the Browns, and Denver (combined record at the moment: 21-27). Steelers would be Falcons, Raiders, Titans and either Browns or Bengals (combined records: 26-22 or 23-25). If those end up tied, better strength of schedule goes to Steelers, most likely (Raiders and Titans have better records than Texans and Broncos) Ravens go 3-1: - Ravens lose to Bengals or Browns: - Steelers lose to any combination of two teams other than Browns and Bengals --> Steelers win on better division record - Steelers lose to Bengals and Browns: See above, comes down to strength of victory again. Steelers have a bigger edge - Ravens lose to Saints: - Steelers lose to Jets and Panthers: Steelers win based on division record - Steelers lose to (Browns or Bengals) and Jets --> Division record tied. Common opponents tied. Ravens win based on better conference record (9-3 vs. 8-4) - Steelers lose to (Browns or Bengals) and Panthers --> Strength of victory, as discussed above. Steelers have a bigger edge - Steelers lose to Browns and Bengals --> Ravens win on better division record. - Ravens lose to Texans: - Steelers lose to Jets and Panthers --> Steelers win based on division record - Steelers lose to (Browns or Bengals) and (Jets or Panthers) --> Division records tied. Ravens win on better records vs. Common oppnents (Ravens 9-3 vs. Bengals X2, Browns X2, AFC East, NFC South, Steelers 8-4) - Steelers lose to Browns and Bengals --> Ravens win based on division record Ravens go 2-2: - Ravens lose to Bengals and Browns: Steelers win based on division record - Ravens lose to Texans and Saints: - Steelers beat Panthers or Jets, lose to other teams: Ravens win on division record - Steelers beat Bengals or Browns, lose to other teams: Ravens win on common games - Ravens lose to (Bengals or Browns) and Texans: - Steelers beat Bengals or Browns, lose to other teams: Steelers win on division record - Steelers beat Jets or Panthers, lose to other teams: Ravens win on common games - Ravens lose to (Bengals or Browns) and Saints: - Steelers beat Bengals or Browns, lose to other teams: Steelers win on division record - Steelers beat Jets, lose to other teams: Comes down to strength of victory - Steelers beat Panthers, lose to other teams: Ravens win on conference record. Ravens go 1-3: - Ravens beat Saints or Texans: Steelers win based on division record - Ravens beat Bengals or Browns: Ravens win on common games

If the Bengals were to win, Indy would become the 6th team, I believe. It would depend on tiebreakers

If the season ended today: 1. Ravens 2. Jets 3. Chiefs 4. Titans 5. Patriots 6. Steelers Just sayin'...

Final 10: 10. Dick Butkis 9. Don Hutson 8. Peyton Manning 7. Reggie White 6. Johnny Unitas 5. Walter Payton 4. Joe Montana 3. Lawrence Taylor 2. Jim Brown 1. Jerry Rice

Trying to guess who makes up the Top 10: Walter Payton Peyton Manning Joe Montana Jerry Rice Johnny Unitas Lawrence Taylor Jim Brown Reggie White I think those 8 are probably locks. Beyond that, though, I'm having a hard time trying to figure out the last 2. Cris Carter and Dick Butkis are 2 names I haven't seen yet, so maybe its them. Thoughts?

Other Ravens made the list too: Ed Reed was #88 and was presented by Hines Ward: http://www.nfl.com/videos/baltimore-ravens/09000d5d81a58346/NFL-s-Top-100-Players-No-88-Ed-Reed I can't find the videos for them yet, but Ray Lewis was #18 (he was presented by Marvin), Ozzie was # 73, Rod Woodson was #41, Deion Sanders was #34.

I agree with what you said mostly Spen, but I don't think that the pass was ill-advised to Heap. He was singled up on a corner (there was a safety over the top, but he would have been a step and a half late). Throwing a jump ball to Heap, when singled on a corner, is a matchup that normally favors the Ravens. I would have liked to see the throw been a fade stop and let the defender run by, or else the pass needed to be a bit deeper. Either of those things happens, Heap catches it and we're in or near field goal range and have a 1st and 10. As it was, the pass was slightly underthrown, and the shorter corner was able to get a hand on it. Joe has gotten better at looking to secondary targets, but its still an area he needs to improve. Its easy to forget that hes 1/3 of the way through his 3rd year (and also remember, he didn't exactly face the same kind of defenses in college that a D-1A QB would). Personally, for me, the turning point was Mason dropping the slant at the goal line, followed by the piss poor KO from Cundiff. That swung the momentum for good. I also would have liked to see us go for it on at least one of the 4th and 1s. I understand the reason for the call to punt and don't consider it a "bad" call per se, but I think we need to gamble a bit there. This is a tough loss, but still, we're 4-2 and the hard part of our schedule is over. We should definitely beat Buffalo, Carolina, and Cleveland. We should probably beat Miami, TB, and Cincy (even though they've owned us recently). Atlanta is a good team, but they don't scare me at all. Houston will be tough with their offense, but we're a better team. Saints will be tough as well, but until today their offense did not look great. Pitt will be tough as always, but this games in Baltimore. I think we're still poised to make a run deep into the playoffs.

Ugh, thats all I can say. We had that game. If Mason catches that little slant on the goal line, we go up 2 TDs. If we pick up one fucking yard on 3rd and 1, we continue our drive and run time off the clock. If McClain doesn't commit a jackass penalty, we have a better shot to get that 3rd down or at least give the Pats worse field position. If we rush Brady, maybe he doesnt get so much time to throw. This one hurts.

Think of it this way: Today, we beat one of the (supposedly) elite AFC teams with our C game. Imagine us with our A game.

Or this, this is worse

Lets get a first down and not have to have Cundiff kick. I don't know if my heart can take it.

Can Ngata please go to the Pro Bowl this year?

We need a TO to turn field position around. Like now.

I have a feeling the big play in this game is going to be a big personal foul on someone

I didn't know Frank Walker played for the Jets now...

If Mason doesn't stumble for a bit right as the ball is about to get there, its 6. Damn it.

I don't think you can put the blame all on Flacco on that play on 2nd down. I think he expected McClain to keep running, while McClain stopped. Still not a great throw.

Knew McGahee was in trouble when he started trying to dance. Willis is so much better just slamming it up in there.

He also dropped a few huge catches on 3rd downs and in the last several minutes

Showed him on the sideline with ice on his knee, didn't come back in to the game. Offense looks pretty good though

Hopefully Ray isn't hurt too bad...

Hey, I was looking for another league to play in, so I decided to join this one. I don't want to take a spot from anyone else who played last year though, since that wouldn't seem quite fair. If someone else wants to play and cannot due to reaching the max teams, let me know and I'll back out. Otherwise, I'm in as Game Time.

Honestly, I don't understand how you say that Jamal shouldn't be in the Ring of Honor. He did a lot of things for this team (remember, he carried the offense for quite a few years. He WAS the offense). Sure, he didn't last at his peak for as long as we all would have liked, but that's a function of his running style and the sheer amount he was used over the years and especially in 2003. In terms of numbers and team success, he deserves to be there. A lot of people are also bringing up character, and those "attributes" for the Ravens' Ring of Honor. Leaving aside the fact that pretty much every one of those things is a meaningless platitude that will, likely, never actually be applied on any consistent level, Jamal lives up to more than you give him credit for. Sure, he may have been frustrated about lack of carries from time to time, but I think that it was just that, frustration. Jamal was quiet, introverted, but it was obvious that he cared very much for winning and was quite passionate about the game and the team. The desire to win sometimes bubbled over to the point where he complained about not getting the ball. I don't think it was necessarily selfish on his part (though certainly it comes across that way), I think he just cared too damn much and thought that he could be better helping the team (and, really, he was right a lot of the time). I also cannot remember him over complaining after a team win. Finally, as it comes to character, I don't think he can be excluded from the Hall based on character. I think if you were to exclude Jamal, you would have to exclude Ray also, and no one here (myself included) would argue for that. What Jamal did to get put in jail, while still a mistake (one he has freely admitted all along, I might add), was merely a blip on the radar screen, and the only reason it was even a big deal was that he had used a cell phone vice a pay phone. In fact, there probably was an 80% chance that he would have been acquitted, but with a minimum 10 year sentence if convicted, you can see why he didn't want to take that chance. Remember, Ray has had his questionable character marks too, also plead guilty to a criminal offense (obstruction of justice), has also whined about the team at times (about the DL, etc.), and I don't think anyone is rushing to push him out. So give Jamal his due. I think he's earned a spot in that ring.