oldno82

There goes the comp pick.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing that Walker would play more. Actually I think he should anyway part-time so to speak and give Bate a rest. Pickens out definitely helps our penalty infested secondary but they still will have their hands full with Wilsons moon balls. This game could go anywhere from nail-biter to unexpected easy victory---for either team.

Pickens is ruled out too. Watt looks like a go.

I think you summed it up best when you said the Ravens just have to relax and play and not try to be perfect. That’s when they’re at their best. When they play loose they can overcome adversity.

I don't think Lamar is 'the problem'. I think what would get us beat is if Wilson has time to throw his 'moon balls' and our defenders make their usual run of PI penalties.

No I think it's too inconclusive to say we're going to lose on Saturday. Sure it's possible but that game will have a whole different feel to it.

A chance for him to redeem himself if he has any talent left but I'd feel better with AW playing. Either way we ought to clean their clock.

Yeah I agree...jump out to an early lead, a comfortable one, then get them ready for Pitts. That should be the plan anyway.

Well, that is a possibility. Let's hope for the best.

I'll think they'll lose to the Eagles and Chiefs. If we win out then we'll take the AFC North. It'll be hard but definitely possible.

Well, here we are at the last 4 games. If we win out we will probably win the division. Is it possible? Can the O-line hang together? How about the secondary and the pass rush? Questions aplenty and answers are hard to come by. I will end by saying only that I don't really fear any of our last 4 opponents.

Hey, no worries. Just wait until fake A/I really gets rolling.

I saw it on a couple of websites I've never heard of, but I can't find it on anything I consider reputable either.

Outright insubordination has no place on a successful football team. Maybe they just should have cut him.

Good. I hope they keep talking, but he might need more than just Matt.

Like I said, the Ravens are quite able to win the next 4 games and if Pitts has a loss against the Eagles and us, then we're in as Division champs. That's the optimistic outlook. Pessimistically, we lose to Houston and Pitts and wind up as a wild card team. If we can get the FG game back on track, I like our chances with the first option above. But, if Tuck continues to miss FGs in the 45+ yard range, then I lean towards the pessimistic option. A lot depends on Tucker and whatever help our coaching staff can throw his way. I hope somebody is actually out there helping him in some way and that he's not just in this slump all alone. Will be an interesting finish to the season. Right now I'm kind of holding my breath.

Anything's possible...they could win 4 straight.

A close loss like we just experienced magnifies all aspects of the weaknesses of a team and every team has a good share of weaknesses this year, Eagles included. It's a killer that Tucker is having problems right now, sure, but we can blame something on almost everybody. Lamar is great in my book, but he took a 14 yard sack on a 3rd down play that put the team out of Tucker's range. Agolar dropped 2 passes though granted one was a tough one but damn it was catchable. Penalties as usual hurt us more than Philly after the Eagles got over their first quarter lack of discipline. We have problems with penalties, dumb ones, every game. I think this team can still win the AFC North. The rest of the schedule is not impossible for us and the Steelers still have to play us here and the Eagles as well. As Lamar said, we have got to take care of ourselves first and don't worry about the Steelers. Each game has to stand on its own for the next 4 games. It's an old cliche but we have got to focus on one game at a time. The bye week came late this year but still gives the coaches a chance to do some self-scouting and the players a chance to rest their bodies before we play, I believe, 3 games in 10 days. And, maybe, Tucker consults with a sports psychologist to get his frame of mind straightened out.

Tucker just scares me now...whenever he goes to kick a FG, I find myself thinking 'don't miss it' which never happened before this year. He's got to be in a funk about it as well and that just creates a vicious cycle. Hard to believe Dionte Johnson didn't get a chance in this game with Bateman out. I guess he's in Harbs' doghouse for some reason that we'll never know.

...or until the NFL bans it.

Roquan was practicing too. Having him back should help with Barkley. But this is going to be another tough game. We'll need Pierce. Yeah, Kolar is out...potentially for a month or more. Amazingly, he played the whole game against the Chargers.

Exactly. Once you get a reputation for being penalized, it seems ticky-tacky things will get called you more than other teams.

I don't think Harbs made a good call there on 4th down but I will say it did wake up the team when they made it. The announcers just plain sucked...and I detected a pro-LA bias to boot. Hell even my wife didn't think they were up to other announcing crews. To me, the best pair is Tony Romo and Jim Nantz. Finally, I'll say this: I think the Ravens could beat any team if they could just cut down shooting themselves in the foot with penalties. Some of that, but far from all, was on the Refs too.

What did you think when Harbs went for it on 4th and 1 from the 17 yard line?

Monken has decidedly had a positive effect on Lamar and this season, the second in Monken's system, shows that. He's reading his progressions better and except for a few brain farts in Pitts he's been throwing well to the whole field. It will be interesting to see if he can keep it up this Monday night where the Chargers' coaches will know all about his strengths and weaknesses.