Spen

It wasnt a blow to the head, thats evident. I guess Ray is supposed to see that Chad didn't catch the ball and stop immediately, all in the quarter second or so he had. Quite the effort there by Chad BTW. Game on the line he really tried to go up and get the critical pass.

The defense wasnt good, and the weak secondary is here to stay this season. I dont see how they can fix it mid-season. If they cannot get to the QB quickly, its not going to be pretty. Having said that, for whatever the reasons, the defense held the Bengals to 17 points and scored a TD. So to me at least, I blame the offense much more. You cannot put up 7 points and expect to win.

You cursed them, you know it and I know it. And I guess from your response you'll continue to curse them. I guess you want them to lose, you moved to PA and became a secret Steeler fan!

Its been known a new arena has been needed for 25 years. I would be surprised if one gets built in the next 25.

Overall I think Ozzie is doing and has done a fine job. Sure there have been some misses, but all GMs have those. The Ravens have been competitive for most of the last 10 years, and have done so without a franchise QB. There have been frustrating parts to this season, but its not over yet. Even with some glaring problems the Ravens barely lost the last couple of games. Going to be a tough game next week though.

Oh I am sure more than a few will spend whatever they think it takes to win. I guess some people would like the idea of 10 good teams with tons of cash and 20 farm teams, but I am not one of them. Even if my team is one of the big spenders. It will hurt the leagues. Unlike other sports leagues, I think the NFL knows this so I dont see the cap going anywhere. Also Bisciotti and most of the other owners made their money by being smart businessmen. If they had lose money to field a winning football team, how many of them do you think would be quick to do that?

And on the Denver punt right before that the Denver kicker actually made an effort to avoid being kicked which is the way it should be. So reward the player who embellishes and not the one who is playing the game the way it should be played.

No, with about ten minutes left they flagged a Patriot defender for taunting after an incomplete pass. Initially Simms and Nance seemed to think it was pass interference but the ball was tipped. When they showed the replay the flag was being thrown before the player 'taunted' so according to them, someone else threw a flag.

Did anyone else think that penalty on the Pats for taunting was kind of weak? I think they threw a flag and felt they had to call something.

Yeah, because he is the only owner with lots of money. </sarcasm> Long live the cap.

Any word on the cause yet?

That could be it too, I dont mean to discount the Bengal's effort at all - I hope it didnt seem like I was. Its just from the standpoint of what went wrong, for whatever reason, the Ravens offense played poorly.

The penalties bothered me, and the lack of a call on Ochocinco on the final drive really bothers me (how Tasker can see the replay on that play and defend the non-call yet agree with ones far less obvious baffles me), but the Ravens played pretty poorly today. Particularly the offense. If Ray Rice doesn't make that tremendous play, I wonder whether the offense scores at all today.

Cravn, I'd like an agreement from you not to use your cursed work or any like it for the rest of the year.

I am not opposed to anything, though I have trouble thinking soccer would be a success here, but wouldnt a modern nice working arena be of more benefit?

Congrats guys. Numbers were jumping around today so it had to be close.

While I didnt like how Brady called for the penalty, other QBs do too at times, its not the QBs themselves who make the rules protecting them. The owners want their most valued players protected as much as they can. While I would like to see them treated more equally, it will never happen, so I wont waste time thinking of it. The most we can ask for is equal treatment of all QBs, not different treatments for different calibers of players.

I wish they would have run more, but I dont think it cost them the game. Nor do I think it was an awful game plan. At the end they were in a position to win the game against a quality opponent on the road so I wont fault the plan. The fumbled kickoff and stupid INT before halftime really really hurt. Not to mention the penalty yards.

Bad calls are rampant this year, probably not but it seems that way. Last Monday night, right after half time the Cowboys drove up the field and initially got a touchdown. The it was via replay that the player was down before entering the end zone. When you watched the replay you could see the ref watching the player, making no call then conversing with the other ref then calling it a TD. Watching the replay, you can tell the player was down at the 2 yard line and the ref, though staring right at him, missed it. There is no excuse for getting a play that wrong. But it happens all the time.

Sounds good, I'm still voting daily.

I really do like the team, and there are numerous reasons why they stunk more the last few weeks (months) but the late season major collapses get old. I am looking forward to next year.

really something to build on for next year. Again.

I want the Steelers (and the Patriots) to lose as many as they can early. I feel both teams will right themselves and really hope they have a number of losses before they do.

I was sent Preston's grades by someone this morning, normally I do not read his stuff. He gave Flacco a B. I cannot comprehend how 72% completion percentage, 1TD, No INTs, with 342 yards is a B. 72% is great, does he think other QBs misses are all spiked balls and throw aways? I dont really care, but I would like to hear his logic. Sadly I bet there is none and this is just an attempt to anger/rile up the readers for attention.

Glad to be seen!