ExtremeRavens

Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikes. Pulled that one out. Nice game on both sides, scary on both sides, impressive on both sides. Ravens sneak by. Defensive Game Ball: Ray Lewis.Gotta start where it ended. Not only did Lewis make the tackle that ended the game, beautifully reading the Chargers’ blocking scheme and meeting Darren Sproles 4 yards in the backfield, but he also controlled Sproles throughout the second half. After Sproles and the Chargers abused the Ravens defense on screens and swings, the Ravens assigned Lewis the task of hawking the speedy back. In the second half, Sproles’ big screens were far less damaging. Lewis had a forced fumble, an innumerable number of tackles, and was one of the few highlights of an otherwise forgettable defensive performance. Two-Face Ball: Dawan Landry. It was the tale of two halves for Landry. In the first half, he needed a GPS to find his way around the field. Landry lost Sproles on the Chargers 70+ yard screen to score in the first, and found himself out of position or turned around frequently. It’s hard to deny that my mind occasionally wandered to Jim Leonhard’s spirited campaign at safety last season. But in the second half, Landry found himself and turned his game around - intercepting Rivers once and almost doing it a second time later in the third. Winner / Whiner Ball: Philip Rivers. (more…) View the full article

Three Questions: 1. Can the Ravens pass rush shake Philip Rivers? Rivers is used to getting hit - he’s hardly the least sacked quarterback in the league. But Rivers thrives despite his line’s deficiencies and is still one of the league’s most productive and dangerous quarterbacks. If the Ravens can’t rattle him, he’ll be in the game until the end. That’s you we’re looking at, Terrell Suggs and Trevor Pryce. 2. Can Joe Flacco eliminate the mistakes? Big mistakes are not Flacco’s big weakness. He makes small mistakes - overthrows and missed receivers - that have small consequences. But against a good team, small mistakes can turn into big mistakes. Flacco can’t be flinging the ball around recklessly on this defense. 3. Can Michael Oher and Jared Gaither handle Shawne Merriman? Merriman was a non-factor last week in Oakland for the Chargers, but it was his first full game back from last season’s injury. If the Ravens expect to be able to pass the ball, they’ll have to protect against Merriman’s attack - and the youngsters on the corner will have to do it. Three Predictions: 1. Todd Heap will outshine Antonion Gates. It’s not just that Heap is back in rhythm, but Joe Flacco clearly knows how to use the big man. Heap will make an impact for the second straight week and confirm what many in the league have feared: he is still one of the league’s most impressive tight ends. 2. Darren Sproles will not top 50 yards on the ground. If Sproles is going to change this game, it’s going to be receiving out of the backfield and on special teams. While the “thunder and lightning” tandems have trouble the Ravens in past, the defense can handle just speed - which is all Sproles has going for him. 3. Turnovers will rule. This game will be decided by mistakes - who makes more and when they make them. Neither the Ravens or Chargers have proved to be mistake-free yet (on offense or defense). But a big mistake or two will burn the losing team. Don’t think the Ravens can survive a blocked punt and 70-yard interception return this week. View the full article

Ravens Rush Attack vs. Chargers Rush Defense: The Chargers defense is not quite the feared force it was growing into in 2006 and 2007. They are a decent at stopping the rush, but not superb, allowing just over 100 yards a game in 2008 and allowing well over 100 yards on the ground against the Raiders. The Chargers will struggle mightily with the Ravens multi-faceted rush attack, especially if the Ravens return to their run-oriented gameplan and control the clock. Even with limited touches, the Ravens showed they know how to use their running weapons, getting quality touches to Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and even Le’Ron McClain. We may not see any back top 100 yards on their own, but the Ravens expect to be pushing 200 yards as a team on a weekly basis. Edge: Ravens. Ravens Pass Attack vs. Chargers Pass Defense: (more…) View the full article

There are only a handful of teams in the NFL who can create a little worry for the Ravens defense, and the San Diego Chargers should be one of them. Any other given week, the key to a Ravens victory will lie almost entirely on the offense, but not when an attack as well-rounded as the Chargers presents itself. The Chargers present one of the most well-rounded, versatile offensive attacks in the league; they have for the past few seasons. Start with one of the league’s most dangerous running backs, LaDainian Tomlinson, add in a a speedy compliment, Darren Sproles, a rifle-armed quarterback, Philip Rivers, and the league’s best tight end, Antonio Gates; it all adds up to trouble. In fact, the Chargers offense represents everything the Ravens want their offense to be. As Ravens fans have learned over the past 13 seasons, a one-dimensional attack is easy to handle. Even if your rushing game is outstanding, a team that can only run the ball faces serious limitations. But balance - the ability to run or throw with deadly execution on any play - presents a real problem for even the best defenses in the league. It’s the ultimate catch-22, a paradox: if you blitz the pass, Darren Sproles will be in the secondary before you’re in the backfield; if you squeeze the run, Philip Rivers will pick you apart. The Ravens defense is not out-matched, by any stretch of the imagination. We all know that the Ravens can handle just about anyone when they are on top of their game. But that’s the key, the Ravens will have to be far more perfect in San Diego than they were against the Chiefs. Missed assignments, missed tackles, lost footing - it will all spell disaster if it happens this Sunday because the Chargers won’t let an opponent get away with it. On the ground, the Ravens biggest challenge will be containing the speedy Darren Sproles. LaDainian Tomlinson is recovering from a number of minor injuries, including a tweaked ankle, and will likely get limited touches on Sunday, if he plays at all. But Sproles is capable of handling the ground game all by his lonesome, even against a stout Ravens defense. If the Ravens overcommit, Sproles will burn them. But here’s where the conundrum builds. While containing Sproles may require an element of patience, containing Philip Rivers and the Chargers’ pass attack is all about the blitz. If you saw any of the Raiders-Chargers game on Monday, you saw what Rivers can do with a little bit of time - even without a corps of big name receivers. To rattle Rivers, the Ravens have to hit him and hit him hard. Luckily for the Ravens, their saving grace may come in the form of an injury report. The Chargers are banged-up, especially along the offensive line. At present, it is looking more and more likely that they will be without a pair of starters from Monday - when San Diego allowed three sacks. Add Tomlinson to the list of questionable starters, and things are looking up for the Ravens defense. Regardless, the Ravens defense will have to be at its very best on Sunday to contain an explosive and balanced Chargers attack. Oh, and a few signature turnovers wouldn’t hurt either… View the full article

In case you’ve missed it, Bills return man Leodis McKelvin was the victim of a vandal’s attack last night. McKelvin’s lawn was vandalized last night, with the 25-24 final score to the Bills loss to the Patriots painted onto his front lawn with obscenities. Police have not released more information. Read more about the incident here. McKelvin fumbled a kickoff return in the final minutes of the Bills-Pats game on Monday night. With the Bills leading the game and less than three minutes left in the game, McKelvin opted not to take the kick as a touchback. After a solid 30-yard return, McKelvin had the ball knocked out of his arms as he was tackled. The Patriots recovered and later scored to win the game. Regardless of how you feel McKelvin or any other professional athlete, these types of crimes are pathetic and should not be condoned. Hopefully, no one is getting any bright ideas when they read this story. It’s not our job to punish players - they have bosses in the forms of coaches and owners to do that. Football is a game, no matter how strongly we may feel about it as fans, and we need to remember that. Boo, hiss, write mean things on message boards - but leave players alone off the field. View the full article

Not too many surprises in the AFC North in Week 1… but here’s the breakdown… Baltimore Ravens: W (1-0) against Chiefs (0-1). The Ravens aired it out and totaled more than 500 yards of total offense - good for best in the AFC and second best in the NFL. But we didn’t really learn too much about this Ravens team. Beating up on what may be the league’s worst team, and giving up some big plays at crucial times, doesn’t bode well. In short, the Ravens are still a mystery. Don’t bet on 500 yards against the Steelers. This Week: at San Diego (1-0). Pittsburgh Steelers: W (1-0) against Titans (0-1). Classic Steelers football on Thursday. The defense took a few drives to find its feet, but shut the Titans down later in the game and never let things get out of hand. Big Ben and the offense took a few shots, but made the plays when they had to. Many fans had to be wondering why the Steelers were even in the game in the third quarter - but that’s how good football teams play. This week: at Chicago (0-1). Cleveland Browns: L (0-1) against Vikings (1-0). The Browns introduced themselves as the division whipping boys this season with a blowout loss against Minnesota. The Vikings proved they are deserving of mentions as Super Bowl contenders, running and throwing all over the Browns. Brady Quinn and the offense showed some signs of life, but never made it count against a tough Vikings defense. This week: at Denver (1-0). (more…) View the full article

When Baltimore’s 1300 AM became a totally ESPN radio station (it was once a blend of ESPN radio content and local sportscasters), it seemed to signal a shift in the legitimacy of sports talk in Baltimore. The availability of ESPN’s full lineup (from Mike & Mike to Scott Van Pelt) provides the city with a national view of sports, something that was severely lacking in this town. One of my main complaints with the former 1300 AM was the onslaught of commercials. Obviously, the ads are needed to bring in revenue to the station, but at times these commercial breaks lasted a good five minutes. That’s a long time when there are no visuals (like on television) to help break up the monotony of sound. Unfortunately, since the station’s switch, the ad blitzkrieg has seemingly taken a turn for the worst. Driving home from downtown Baltimore, I was keyed up to hear the start of the second of two games being broadcast for Monday Night Football’s opening night. Instead, I was thrust into 12 minute hell of advertisement after advertisement after advertisement. Twelve minutes. In case you’re wondering, I traveled from M&T Bank Stadium on 395 to Route 100 in Columbia in the time span. The broadcast started with the announcers in mid-sentence explaining that the Raiders were now on their second possession. That’s a darn shame. And it isn’t ESPN’s fault. This same nonsense occurs on a daily basis on Baltimore’s 1300 AM. Try catching the traffic report on this station. They’ll introduce the traffic reporter. And the traffic music will play. But there won’t be any traffic report. What you will get, underneath the mundane music, is another ad in the background. This station used to be a proud and reliable station. Now, one has to wonder if the powers that be aren’t trying to sabatoge ESPN’s market share in favor of their own sports commentators were moved to the FM dial. Maybe just a little? View the full article

Joe Flacco is not Trent Dilfer. That not certainly does not come as a surprise to any fan of the Ravens. But around the league, to other fans and commentators, Flacco was nothing more than a glorified Trent Dilfer throughout his rookie season. Take a glance at the numbers though, especially the Ravens heavy reliance on the run (nearly 40 attempts per game), and it is easy to see why anyone not intimately familiar with the Ravens would confuse the two. Flacco’s mediocre 80.3 passer rating certainly didn’t help his cause, either. But on Sunday against the Chiefs, Flacco stood up and put the Ravens offensive attack on his shoulders in a way that Trent Dilfer never did. And, with all respect to Dilfer, Flacco did so in a way Dilfer would never be able to. (more…) View the full article

One game in and the debate is already raging. The Ravens won their first fight of the new season, amassed more than 500 yards of total offense, and exploded with four second half touchdowns. And yet a debate rages on. Did the Ravens throw too much against the Chiefs? The answer is probably yes. But the question is stupid. (more…) View the full article

It may not have been the prettiest win the Ravens have had - especially not as double digit favorites at home - but it was still a win and impressive in many ways. The 38-24 final in the Ravens win over the Chiefs doesn’t even sound like a score from the Ravens in recent years, but eager fans will take it. Offensive Game Ball: Joe Flacco. To open his second season, Flacco set career highs in touchdowns, passing yards and passing attempts. He topped 300 yards for the first time in his career as well. Despite a few overthrown balls and a brutal interception that really had the Ravens spinning, Flacco managed the game well and showed that he is no Trent Dilfer. The Raven said they were going to test this offense’s limits, and they did it perfectly today. Flacco never looked overmatched and the offense fired on just about all cylinders. Welcome-Back Ball: Todd Heap. Between injuries and blocking assignments in recent years, most Ravens fans had forgotten why Heap made it to a pair of Pro Bowls and was once considered among the league’s most dangerous tight ends. Today, they remembered what it’s like to see a tight end simply dominate a defense. Heap had five catches for more than 70 yards and a momentum-changing touchdown. Defenses beware: the Mormon is stormin’ again. (more…) View the full article

It was a season ago that the Baltimore Ravens dumped nearly their entire coaching staff, ousting Brian Billick and bringing in young gun John Harbaugh. Harbaugh might have been green when it came to leading an NFL team, but he proved his worth last season in taking the Ravens to an AFC Championship Game appearance. This season, the Ravens have said goodbye to the final holdover from the Billick era; Rex Ryan is now in charge of his own team in New York. But take a look at the 2009 Ravens coaching staff, study them a bit, and there is something oddly familiar. We’ve seen these guys before. That’s because Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens general manager, has a pretty good mold for what he wants his coaching staff to look like. He finds coaches that fit his mold, just like players, and just drops them in. If that sounds a little too similar to an old-fashioned sci-fi movie, I apologize. But the system works. So I present to you your 2009 Ravens coaching staff, led by The Mastermind himself, Ozzie Newsome… (more…) View the full article

In case you missed it in the last 24 hours, a back-up linebacker for the Ravens, Tony Fein, was arrested last night for assaulting a police officer in downtown Baltimore. Fein was arrested after allegedly shoving a police officer to the ground during an investigation of his party at a bar near the Inner Harbor (read more here). While Fein and his agent are disputing the claims and calling the arrest a case of racial profiling, the Ravens are finding themselves in a precarious situation. It’s been five years since the last major incident involving a Ravens player and the police. When Jamal Lewis was arrested and jailed in 2004 in connection with a drug deal in 2000, the Ravens were already earning a reputation as one of the league’s most troubled teams. But since then, the Ravens have maintained a relatively low-profile and the front office has done a good job of keeping the Ravens out of the headlines. Fein was not likely to make the final roster this season anyway, and this arrest (whether it sticks or not) is not clearly not going to help his cause. Regardless, his arrest serves as a strong reminder that GM Ozzie Newsome needs to stay on top of his game to keep his team’s image in good light. For all the talk of experience and veteran leadership, the Ravens, like most NFL teams, are made up of 20-somethings with more fame and fortune than they know how to handle. Team rules and expectations need to be explicit and should extend beyond the team’s clubhouse and hotels and into the lives of players everyday. Like in any other career, in the NFL, your actions away from the team affect your status with the team. League commissioner Roger Goodell has made it his mission to clean up the league and, whether you agree with his authoritarian style or not, has largely succeeded. And the Ravens hardly need any more attention from the commissioner’s office than they tend to get on a regular basis. Hopefully, Fein’s arrest and eventual release (which will be publicized as completely separate from this incident) will be used to remind Ravens players just how easy it is to get caught in a bad situation, and an example of how not to deal with it. They call themselves men on the field; they should act like men off the field. View the full article

Change is supposed to be a good thing, but it may be hard to convince fans in Baltimore that a minor overhaul of a storied and respected defense will end up helping their football team. Despite a familiar chorus of criticism directed at the offense, most of the Ravens’ moves this offseason have involved the defense. Unfortunately, not all of the changes were entirely voluntary. Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan has found a new home, this time in New York as a head coach. Under Ryan, the Ravens defense never finished worse than sixth in the league in yards allowed, and they also consistently ranked near the top of the league in rushing yards allowed as well as turnovers. And it is not just Ryan who’s gone. He took with him star linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard, who filled in for the injured Dawan Landry for nearly the entire 2008 season. Top it all off with the fact that three-time Pro Bowl selection Chris McAlister, the team’s lockdown cornerback for the last nine seasons, is gone as well. For the Ravens, the combination of coordinator and player changes will lead to some pretty glaring differences on the field. Given the team’s depth and breadth of defensive talent, however, you can be sure that Baltimore will again be ranked among the league’s best defenses. (more…) View the full article

Coming off a surprising and superb 2008 campaign, expectations for the Baltimore Ravens are high as the 2009 season approaches. But the offseason has not been kind to General Manager Ozzie Newsome and company, who have parted ways with a number of big names. Newsome did his best to fill the team’s biggest holes, but even wizards fall short sometimes. The good news for Ravens fans is that the core of the team is still intact. For a group that found its way to the AFC Championship, that is not an insignificant statement. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed still lead a strong defensive unit and Joe Flacco and Derrick Mason anchor the offense—hardly a bad place to start on either front. Unfortunately, the weaknesses threatening a repeat of last year’s playoff run will sound all too familiar. In training camp, the Ravens two weakest positions will line-up face-to-face on every down. (more…) View the full article

Let’s start the way we have to…What a season. What a freaking season. We might not be happy to say it today, but Ravens fans cannot walk away from the run these Ravens made with any regrets. But that is plenty of sappiness. Real football talk to follow. The Ravens were simply one-upped tonight. They were in this game until the bitter end—six minutes to play, even—and it is hard to complain about a game that stayed so close for so long. A game that was winnable in so many ways until that six minute mark. The Blame Game Darren Stone: 40 Percent. Steep, I know, but deserving. Stone cost the Ravens upwards of 30 yards of field position on the most crucial drive of the game. Instead of starting near their own 45 yard line, the Ravens started all the way at their own 14. And instead of needing to game between 20 and 30 yards to get into field goal range, they suddenly needed more than 50 yards. It changed everything. All because Stone wanted to get a lick in that didn’t faze his man anyway. When the Ravens hit the field, Flacco and the entire unit were pressured to pass and get big yardage. And that pressure is a big part of why Troy Polamalu wound up in the end zone just minutes later. (more…) View the full article

David Steele wrote a column today saying that the Ravens may have finally lost their underdog status, the status that has defined this team for its entire existence. But less than 24 hours after learning that the Ravens division rival Pittsburgh Steelers will be the foe in the AFC Championship, I have yet to see the tide change much for the Ravens in the national media—or at least with ESPN. In John Clayton’s early analysis of the matchup, the focus is almost entirely on the Steelers. His questions are fair; the answers are loaded. According to Clayton, the Steelers have more to prove, the Steelers have the difference maker in Willie Parker, the Steelers have the edge in the series—and we’re not just talking records—and his bottom line: You have to put your money on the Steelers. In his early analysis, ESPN’s AFC North blogger James Walker is heavy on Steelers talk as well. Walker has done a fabulous job all season and it’s nice of both teams to repay him with such success in the postseason. But still, the talk is leaning slightly to the Steelers. But perhaps most disrespectful to the Ravens has to be the analysis in last night’s SportsCenter Special Report with analysts Merril Hoge and Cris Carter. Cris Carter who has gone a pathetic 1-7 in his postseason picks so far this year (his only correct pick was the Steelers last night). Steele might be right. The tide might be turning for the Ravens. But the early analysis is all Steelers and its getting to be frustrating. I don’t want or need or expect the Ravens to be favored. I don’t even want the experts to be picking the Ravens: I like my inferiority complex just the size it is. But it would be nice if, based on their comments, we could walk away with at least the notion that some of these guys have watched the Ravens play more than once. Let me poke a few holes while I have the chance. (more…) View the full article

Waking up this morning, I still am not quite sure what I saw yesterday afternoon. Well, I know what I saw, but I still have not been able to fully comprehend it. I suppose all that matters is that the Ravens have at least one more game on their schedule for now. In shuffling through the piles on on-line jargon about the Ravens-Titans game, however, one thing kept coming up. The repeated mentions of how these defensive battles are so much like boxing matches—how many times have you heard “knock-down, drag-out fight of a football game” in the last 24 hours? So it got me thinking. If last night’s game were a boxing match, which would it be? The answer is all too obvious: Foreman and Ali’s classic “Rumble in the Jungle,” where Ali unveils his classic Rope-a-Dope scheme. It doesn’t fit perfectly, I know, but it still fits. (more…) View the full article

Not too much moving and shaking this week in the Power Rankings. The Giants loss to the Eagles cost them the top spot, but nothing more. And down the rankings, it all shakes out as expected with three teams falling out of the top 10 thanks to losses – including the New York Jets, who just two weeks ago were sitting pretty in the division lead and at number two in the rankings. The newcomers are a trio of 8-5 teams, not far ahead of the 8-5 bunch unseen behind them. The Dolphins, Cardinals and Vikings are all welcomed to the top 10 courtesy of their positions as division leaders. For the Dolphins and Vikings, it is their first trip into the top 10 this season and with how things have been going, it may be a short stay. Fallen Off: New York Jets (7): Losers of two straight and now stuck in a three way tied for their division lead. Dallas Cowboys (9): Because Tony Romo still cannot win the big game. Atlanta Falcons (10): The rule in the NFC South this year is that the home team always wins. The top ten are after the jump… (more…) View the full article

Quarterback: B- Joe Flacco had trouble finding open receivers and hitting targets against a zone defense, but he still kpet his cool and controlled the game. He made only one major mistake, which certainly hurt, but otherwise he was fine. His completion percentage was down, but many of his incomplete attempts were hitting receivers in the hands, so how much blame can we really assign? Running backs: B It is a tale of three backs. Willis McGahee deserves a D for lack of concentration and rust leading to bad numbers and a pair of fumbles. Ray Rice played well when he had the opportunity, but injury kept him from being a real factor. Le’Ron McClain’s efforts deserve an A. He ran for a touchdown and helped to eat up more than seven minutes of clock in the final quarter. Wide Receivers: C Rarely open, rarely able to catch. A few moments saved this unit from complete failure, including TE Todd Heap’s big fourth down catch and Derrick Mason’s touchdown reception. For most of the game, the Ravens receivers were invisible in the cloud of Redskins’ DBs. Offensive Line: B+ The Ravens offensive line did a fine job of keeping pressure off Flacco for most of the game and certainly dominated the running game. They had a little bit of help, though - namely an extra tackle in on numerous plays and heavy use of unbalanced formations. Regardless, the unit redeemed themselves following last week’s weak performance. Defensive Line: A+ The Ravens defensive line owned the game. Nothing was more satisfying than seeing Terrell Suggs sack Jason Campbell just moments after Chris Samuel left the field due to injury and was replaced by a back-up. At one moment, Suggs even pointed to the new guy while looking at the Ravens bench, appearing to say “This guy is blocking me?” Similar to last week, Jason Campbell had trouble getting any passes off without interference and the ‘Skins running game had no where to go. Linebackers: A Ray Lewis totaled 13 tackles, Jarrett Johnson had a solid day, Bart Scott had one of his best games of the season, and Terrell Suggs was on fire (as previously mentioned). Somehow, though, the linebacking unit is not starring in this show the way it once did… Defensive Backs: A The Ravens secondary handled Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El without blinking. Once the weakest piece of the Ravens defense, the secondary has turned a corner in recent weeks. Ed Reed is playing at his best, but his success is due in large part to the solid play of Samari Rolle and Fabian Washington on the corners. With few exceptions, the Ravens had the passing game completely locked down. Special Teams: C+ Matt Stover hit his kicks. Steve Hauschka was just okay - hindered a bit by the wind. Sam Koch had some very solid punts. Penalties and poor choices on kick and punt returns, however, continue to be the Ravens MO on special teams. Coaching: B Offensively, the Ravens should have been able to do more. The Redskins are a solid defense, but there were plenty of opportunities and the Ravens continued to miss on them. Low marks for not fixing the special teams yet, too. But otherwise? High marks for winning a night game for the first time in years and for keeping this defense as focused as ever. View the full article

Quarterback: B- Joe Flacco had trouble finding open receivers and hitting targets against a zone defense, but he still kept his cool and controlled the game. He made only one major mistake, which certainly hurt, but otherwise he was fine. His completion percentage was down, but many of his incompletions were hitting receivers in the hands, so how much blame can we really assign? Running backs: B (more…) View the full article

Let’s dig right in… First, no need to talk around it: Ed Reed deserves serious consideration for NFL player of the year. We’ve heard the talk about Albert Haynesworth since week one, and more recently we have heard about James Harrison and Joey Porter. But with two interceptions tonight, a forced and recovered fumble, and another touchdown, Reed has planted himself firmly in the hunt for the award. His five interceptions put him in second in the league; his three defensive touchdowns tie him for first. He single-handedly changes games and makes offenses rethink everything they are doing.Reed is the single-most feared defensive player in the league. Hands down. No questions asked. In Baltimore, even, he is feared for the erratic way he handles the ball when he gets it. It is the fear he puts into opposing quarterbacks and coaches, though, that makes him so much fun to watch. His performance tonight won the Ravens this game.Yes, Ed Reed deserved two bullets (now three) all to himself.As for the rest of the defense? The line got plenty of rush and the blitzing packages worked wonders. Terrell Suggs had one of the best games of his season - he too deserves some player of the year consideration. The entire unit clicked.In other news…the Ravens book-ended this game, playing well at the start and at the finish, but the middle has to raise some concerns. Between the weather and a tough opposing defense, maybe the offense is just fine. But for the majority of three quarters, the Ravens offense looked defunct - not quite as sharp as we would all like with the Steelers coming to town.Dear Willis McGahee, I am sure there will be plenty of excuses for your play in the week to come - by fans and coaches alike - but it must be said: what a sad performance. For starters, when you start dropping pitches and passes, maybe it is time to remove the dark visor … it’s not like you are playing at night time in December. But additionally, your vision and ability were both lacking tonight. This is not what was expected after that extra rest you were given last week that caused so much controversy.Take a note from Le’Ron McClain when you get a chance (or was the blocked by the visor too?). McClain again put this offense on his back when it mattered most. On the Ravens final scoring drive, McClain carried the ball eight times and helped to eat up more than seven minutes of game time. In fact, mid-drive, multiple Steelers fans in the area were unhappily noting how much the drive reminded them of Jerome Bettis when he played. Seeing that from an opponent has to be frightening.Also regarding the running game, the Ravens introduced and frequently used the super unbalanced line. They took unbalanced to a whole new level. The Ravens not only shifted RT Willie Anderson to the left side, but they would bring in third tackle Adam Terry, and send him to the left as well. The result? A line that looked like this: T-T-T-G-C-G-TE. It had to be intimidating for the Redskins and it was entertaining to watch, but the results were not exactly stellar. The most fun thing about the formation was watching the Ravens call plays to the weak side after spending so much time inflating the strong side… but hey, that’s misdirection, I suppose.Otherwise, the Ravens offensive effort was mostly lame. Literally, lame. As in “pulling up lame.” The Ravens receivers were again the biggest disappointment, unable to find any open space in the Redskins zone secondary. John Madden continually noted that the Ravens had to have some plays to cut the zone and they were just not being called. I always though, however, that any play could work against a zone if you have a receiver or two that knows how to find the gap. Apparently, the Ravens do not have any of those receivers. Perhaps it was a mix of confusion and unfamiliarity from Joe Flacco, but I think it was a problem of the entire unit. As for Flacco? He was fine, but did little worth mentioning.Now would be a good time to get in a solid word for Lorenzo Neal. The Ravens were beyond wise in grabbing Neal when they had the chance and it has paid off as well as any investment in recent franchise history. John Madden and Al Michaels were not shy about sharing Neal’s impact on this offense. On the obvious side, adding a fullback has allowed the Ravens to move McClain to tailback when necessary. And that has become necessary more than ever anticipated. But additionally, Neal’s ability, experience and knowledge are all unmatched when it comes to fullbacks. He has transformed this offense, in both its play and its mentality, as much as anyone else. He is certainly an unsung hero that deserves a few more nods from fans and analysts alike.Overall: The Ravens effort was commendable and it is hard to complain about the result. Discussions about being unable to beat good teams should be fading by now. Next week, expect much more of the same against the Steelers. Offensive mistakes against the Steelers, however, are far more costly. At least the offense had its down day now. The Ravens are ready for Pittsburgh to come to town next weekend and really pound away in the stretch run.Gameballs: Ed Reed, Ed Reed, Ed Reed and Le’Ron McClain.Bonus Note! Kudos to the fans at the stadium today. While the Washington presence was notable, the Ravens fans sounded on top of their game. I was disappointed in the lack of mention by Madden and Michaels. By my count, the crowd was responsible for numerous penalties and timeouts. M&T Bank is underrated as far as stadiums in this league go. It is top notch both as a facility and in atmosphere. Not many places get as loud when it is 20 degrees outside… the studios will pick up on it one of these days. View the full article

Apologies for the brief break from this last week… but it was Thanksgiving, no one was going to read it anyway, and it was the Bengals. We all lived, right? So moving on… The Redskins come right up I-95 on Sunday in a fairly important game for the Ravens. Winning home games, especially in this final stretch, it crucial for the Ravens. But no, one of the match-ups will not be the Ravens vs. their fear of the primetime. They will have to get over it themselves. And you’ll have to look up the numbers on that yourself if you want to know anything about it. Here are my two key match-ups heading into Sunday night… Ravens’ Defense vs. Redskins’ Offense Ravens DBs vs. QB Jason Campbell The Redskins offense is much like the Ravens, especially with their “rush first, ask questions later” mentality. But in recent weeks, the Redskins have struggled as their powerful rush attack as stuttered and left the game in the hands of Jason Campbell too often. Proof? Clinton Portis has been slowed by nagging injuries and has topped 100 yards just once in his last four games, after eclipsing the 100-yard mark in six straight games. And Jason Campbell has been throwing the ball more often too - in the same four game period, Campbell has more attempts than in all but one game earlier in the season. The result? Well, the Redskins are 1-3 over their last four games, averaging just over 10 points per game, and suddenly, Jason Campbell has learned to turn the ball over. A popular story line earlier in the year, Campbell was approaching the NFL record for pass attempts without an interception. It took until Week Nine this year for Campbell to throw his first pick. He still has thrown just four all season, but all four have come in his last four games. Enter the Ravens. (more…) View the full article

No time to mince words, just be blunt: it was a rough week for the Top Ten. Three of last week’s top ten lost, and three more snuck away with wins in the most absurd of ways. The Patriots and Cardinals fell out of the rankings this week. The Patriots lost to the Steelers by a wide margin at home. In a sentence, they offense got shut down and the defense failed to show up. It was almost expected though; defense has been the Patriots’ problem all season long. For the Cardinals, they just got outplayed by the Eagles. In the process, they lost yet another chance to clinch their division. Though, I must admit, it would be kind of fun to see a team get into the playoffs at 7-9. The two new arrivals this week, taking over the spots of the Pats and Cards, are the Cowboys and Falcons. Both teams have won eight games and are fighting for the second wild card position in the NFC. Unfortunately, both will likely end the season with better records than the winners of the NFC North and NF C West. The full list is after the jump… (more…) View the full article

Quarterback: B+ Flacco had his best statistical game of the season. He threw for 280 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and had several successful rush attempts as well. But even so, Joltin’ Joe left something to be desired. While the heavy pass rush was hardly his fault, Flacco was not at his in terms of decision-making. He seemed just a second behind at times, leading to incomplete passes and scrambling throw-aways. Running backs: B+ Le’Ron McClain topped 80 yards for the second straight game and pancaked the Bengals defense. His quick feet continue to impress, especially given his size and look - he looks like a fullback because he is a fullback. Ray Rice saw limited playing time and limited success. Willis McGahee did not play, which has to leave us all wondering what’s going on. Regardless, the running game was successful, but not perfect. Wide Receivers: A Last week it was the defensive backs who got an A for perhaps the first time in our report card’s history… The only thing less likely? Giving an A to the receiving corps, and yet, here we are. Derrick Mason was his usual steady self. Todd Heap found his way into the mix, including a touchdown reception. And then Mark Clayton showed up. Clayton proved that with a good quarterback, receivers do not need to be wide open. They are receivers for a reason - they can catch. (more…) View the full article

If you want to talk about one-sided games, the Ravens-Bengals match-up today is a perfect place to start. The Ravens came out strong and never let the question of the “trap game” enter the picture. With the exception of one, late first half drive, the Bengals never even came close to changing the feel or tempo of the game. Here are a few points to consider as we enjoy our celebration… The Ravens defense was at its very best once again. Jim Leonhard’s 4th quarter interception, the only forced turnover in the game, was a nice surprise to round things out. But the Ravens defense was strong all game long. While they were not creating turnovers or racking up a ton of sacks, the pressure on quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was evident all game. Fitzpatrick completed just two passes through the first 25 minutes of the game, with most of the incomplete attempts being knocked down and swatted by Ravens defenders at all levels.Le’Ron McClain was glad to take advantage of a battered Bengals defensive front. The best part about watching McClain is how happy he looks going up the middle and dishing out as many hits as he takes. In my mind, McClain looks more and more like Jerome Bettis every week he gets to carry the ball. That’s not a bad thing. The biggest McClain worry, however, has to be the sudden development of some slick fingers. Rain contributed, but Le’Ron lost the ball a number of times today and that cannot happen against better opponents.Joe Flacco had perhaps his best game of his short career. Flacco, despite being sacked multiple times and feeling the pressure on a regular basis, was able to really show off his arm strength and his touch. Flacco had two touchdowns and nearly 300 yards passing while completing nearly 70% of his passes. Quite the day for the young gun, who mixed short and long throws together nicely. Flacco even found Todd Heap a few times, including one pass for a touchdown.No, I did not forget about Mark Clayton. Clayton had his second huge game of the season, but this game was certainly his biggest ever. Clayton not only corralled a few big catches, but threw for a touchdown as well. It was his one-handed 70-yard reception, though, that we will be watching and talking about for weeks. Cheers all around to Mr Clayton.Defensively, the Ravens effort was strong all game long. The unit appeared to lose focus in the winding moments of the first half, but still only allowed a field goal. There was no singular stand-out, but a few players deserve mention. Fabian Washington had Chad Johnson locked down most of the game. Bart Scott scored big in protecting the run. Jarrett Johnson and Haloti Ngata both had great games pressuring the entire Bengals line. And of course Jim Leonhard deserves a sentence all to himself for doing his best Ed Reed impersonation - it was spot on.The only downside for the Ravens today? Their offensive line struggled to protect Flacco throughout the game. Again, against stronger opponents, such mistakes will not be tolerable. Flacco survived on his own wits, but not by much. The other down side? The Browns were unable to upset the Colts, leaving the Ravens in a tight playoff battle. Perhaps the Pats can help the Ravens, though.Gameballs: Mark Clayton and Jim Leonhard.More to come this week as there is plenty to discuss from Frank Walker’s benching to Willis McGahee’s disappearance… and yes, we can even talk special teams and coaching… View the full article