ExtremeRavens

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

Just a quick peek at the rankings right now, the rest will follow tomorrow… The Giants hold onto to the top spot in the rankings for the second straight week, but the Titans loss to the Jets cost them the number two position. The Jets, on a five-game winning streak, have taken that spot from the Titans, along with their hopes of staying undefeated. Moving through the Top 10, you will not find too many changes. The Panthers loss to their division-rival Falcons cost them a few spots, but most of the other leaders won this week. The biggest change in our Top 10 this week: The Redskins, despite a close win over the Seahawks, have fallen from the number nine position. Replacing them in the rankings are the Ravens, who beat up on the Eagles on Sunday. The AFC is slowly but surely asserting its dominance in the rankings, it appears… Rank Team LW 2008 Record Ups and Downs1 Giants 1 10-1 They can beat up good defenses. They can out-gun good offenses. What more do they need?2 Jets 4 8-3 Brett Favre is getting all the glory, but it was Thomas Jones that did all the dirty work. 3 Titans 2 10-1 The Jets were the first true offensive threat they faced all season, and they Titans stumbled. Bad news ahead: they still have to faced a reenergized Colts team in the coming weeks.4 Buccaneers 5 8-3 Slow and steady wins the race. Is there a more apt description of Jeff Garcia and this offense?5 Steelers 7 8-3 Talk about a tough final run: New England, Baltimore and Tennessee… all on the road.6 Colts 8 7-4 Riding a four game winning streak already and their next three opponents have a combined five wins. 10-4, here they come.7 Panthers 3 8-3 Not only did the loss cost them control of the division, it made them a target. The Falcons are now just a game behind and the Saints just two.8 Patriots 10 7-4 I continue to stand by my assertion: this team has a problem on defense. What happens when Cassel and the offense get shut down? Can the Pats stop anyone from scoring?9 Cardinals 6 7-4 No shame in falling to the Giants. Everyone’s doing it, you know. It would have been nice to see them clinch the division though. Maybe, Thursday.10 Ravens 11 7-4 Over their last four games, including the Giants loss, the Ravens have a plus-11 turnover differential. Their defense + and offense that holds onto the ball = serious success. View the full article

Quarterback: B Joe Flacco had a fine game. His first half was shaky and he looked a step behind, but so did both offenses. By the second half, Flacco was making his reads and finding his targets. His pass to Wilcox in the endzone was a beaut, but it was the pass to Clayton, burning a slant, that really finished the game for the Ravens. Runningbacks: B Le’Ron McClain bullied the Eagles. He ran over their line and linebackers, and made moves to run around them when he had to. Ray Rice had moments, but a fairly disappointing day overall. Willis McGahee is starting to look like Jamal Lewis in 2004 and 2005 - something is missing. As a unit, however, the backs did their job: They kept the Eagles offense and eventually created passing lanes for Joe and his receivers. Wide Receivers: C- There were a number of nice catches and runs in the game, but this unit was invisible for most of the game. There were several plays where Flacco managed to create time, buckets and buckets of time for himself, and yet still had no one to throw to. Generally, the rule is that after five seconds, any WR in the league should be able to find an open space. Apparently our receivers don’t play by the rules. Offensive Line: B+ For the patchwork group they were, they did a fine job. In the running game, especially, the line dominated. In the passing game they did their best to keep the pressure off of Flacco with varying degrees of success. Defensive Line: B The Ravens front did its job: They shut down Brian Westbrook and the Eagles running game. It was not the toughest challenge they’ve had all year, though, given Westbrook’s injury and the Eagles own admission that, if the run is not working, they are happy to pass. Linebackers: A Ray Lewis and Company blitzed and blitzed and blitzed. They did it so well, you may have thought that bringing the house is part of the Ravens SOP. Truth is, the heavy blitzes that the Ravens were sending at McNabb and Kolb were fairly unusual for this team. Lewis and Jarrett Johnson both had stellar games forcing McNabb and Kolb to throw early or throw on the run. Defensive Backs: A+ Not sure of the last time the Ravens defensive backs got anything close to an A in our report cards. Between four interceptions and all-around solid play, this group looked young and fresh. Everyone had something to contribute - even if Corey Ivy missed another sack. It was a pleasure to see that our corners remember how to play the ball. Special Teams: C- Kick-off coverage cost the Ravens a shutout, which is downright unacceptable. And the return units - namely Yamon Figurs - are still having trouble. But Sam Koch was kicking the **** out of the ball and Stover connected on two 40-plus yard field goals. Coaching: B+ Rex Ryan’s plan of attack by the Ravens defense worked to perfection. Cam Cameron and John Harbaugh made the necessary adjustments to the offense at halftime. This team seems to get better as the game goes on, which is a credit to this coaching staff. They make changes when they have to, they know how to motivate their players, and most importantly, they are critical of themselves as much as anyone else. View the full article

Well, that went from one of the most dreadfully boring games of football to an entertaining home team blowout in no time. Here’s a few thoughts running across my head as the game winds down… Talk about rebounding. The Ravens defense had perhaps its most dominating effort in recent years. They totaled five turnovers (four interceptions and a fumble), a defensive touchdown, a safety, and several sacks. Not only did the Ravens completely shut down Brian Westbrook and the Eagles running game, but they beat up on both Donovan McNabb and replacement Kevin Kolb.The Ed Reed antics with the football get old fast - there is no need to pitch the ball at the 5 or 6 yardline - but it is hard to deny that Reed is the game’s most exciting and explosive defensive player. His two interceptions, one for a touchdown and another close, illustrated that.A note to Andy Reid: I really do not believe that Donovan McNabb is your problem. The problem is your play-calling. Last week against the Bengals, in a 13-13 tie, the Eagles ran 58 passes to just 18 rushes. 18 rushes against one of the league’s worst defenses and with one of the league’s best running threats. Even John Runyan on your offensive line said that if the run is not established quickly, then Reid abandons it altogether. That is not West Coast. That is stupid. You might not be able to run on the Ravens, but you cannot let them drop seven and read your quarterback every down either.It has been a long time since the Ravens defensive backs have performed as well as they did today. Credit Rex Ryan with a great game plan, but also credit the entire unit. Ed Reed, as mentioned, was certainly on his game. So were Fabian Washington and Samari Rolle, who both had interceptions, and Jim Leonhard who was strong in run protection. It was nice to see our defensive backs jumping routes for once. Not one of the Ravens’ interceptions was the result of a bobble or a tip, they were all clean and pretty.For Joe Flacco it was the tale of two halves. The first half was rough for the Ravens offense all-around, but especially for Flacco. In the second half we finally saw Joe Flacco break out a bit. The late touchdown to Mark Clayton was the perfect example of what the Ravens should have done in the passing game all game: wait for the safeties to blitz and then expose the weakness over the middle.The offensive line for the Ravens gets mixed reviews for its play. Penalties and confusion still hurt the unit in the first half. But for how beat up they were, and for how strong the Eagles pass rush is, it is hard to hold much against them. Flacco did a lot of the work himself in avoiding the pass rushes, but the line deserves some credit.Extra credit to the McClains (Le’Ron and Jameel, no relation). Le’Ron led the Ravens in rushing and finally found the endzone on the team’s last drive. He was strong all game long and really kept the Eagles honest. He exploited their small, fast, pass-oriented line and the threat of the run gave Flacco a little bit of room to work. Jameel recorded his second safety of the season, this time on a blocked punt.Special teams again proved to be this team’s biggest weakness. No shame in Steven Hauschka’s missed kick, but sloppy play on kick offs, punts and all returns kept the Eagles closer than they should have been.Almost forgot to mention Jarrett Johnson. In case anyone is wondering why Bart Scott is the odd-man-out at linebacker come season’s end, Jarrett Johnson is the answer. Scott’s had a fine year, but he is a product of the system. Jarrett Johnson is a part of the system, along side Lewis, Suggs and others, that is going to make any interior linebacker look solid.Game Balls: Le’Ron McClain and Ed Reed.What’s your take? View the full article

The Ravens are looking to rebound from a devastating loss last week to the Giants. Their playoff hopes are still alive, but the outcome of this Sunday’s game against the 5-4-1 Eagles could determine whether those playoff hopes remain realistic. The Eagles, like the Ravens, have had many ups and downs this season. And of course, let’s not forget where John Harbaugh established himself as a premier special teams coach. Here are two key match-ups to keep an eye on as the Eagles come to town. Eagles Offense vs. Ravens Defense RB Brian Westbrook vs. Ravens Front Seven It’s not often the Ravens worry about an opponent’s running game. Over the last 30 games, nearly two full seasons, the Ravens defense has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher. The pride this unit takes in its ability to stop the run is almost mythical at this point. But last week things changed. The Ravens may not have allowed a 100-yard rusher against the Giants, but they almost allowed two. Giants starter Brandon Jacobs left the game at the half, having already totaled more than 70 yards. And in the second half, the Ravens gave up more than 90 yards to third-stringer Ahmad Bradshaw. And that doesn’t include the 41 yards they allowed to Derrick Ward. The trio of New York running backs steamrolled the Ravens - almost literally at points, putting lineman and linebackers on the ground on every play. And that pounding is certainly changing the way we look at games upcoming. (more…) View the full article

This is a year of division greatness and division lameness. The Great: The AFC East, where, even on a four-game losing streak, the Bills are sill 5-5. The NFC East, where, thanks to a tie, every team is over the .500 mark and the Giants are 9-1. The NFC South, where the Falcons, Saints, Panthers and Bucs have been taking turns beating up on every other division out there. The Lame: The AFC West, where the division leader couldn’t even handle the lowly Browns last week. The NFC West, where the Cardinals have as many wins as the other three teams combined. The other three? Just what you’d expect. A little good. A little bad. Lots of fun to watch. Rank Team LW 2008 Record Ups and Downs1 Giants 2 9-1 Their running game destroyed the Ravens #1 ranked defense. Game over.2 Titans 1 10-0 Kerry Collins has now won two games for the Titans. But the struggles the Titans have had on the ground in recent weeks have to be worrisome.3 Panthers 3 8-2 The Panthers haven’t exactly been playing their strongest football recently, but at least they are still winning the games and clinging to a one-game lead in their division.4 Jets 7 7-3 They let Matt Cassel throw for 400 yards and still beat the Patriots. The lack of defense is scary, but letting Brett Favre chuck the ball at will is scarier.5 Buccaneers 5 7-3 You are unlikely to find anyone claiming that Bucs football is fun to watch. But they are getting their wins even when Jeff Garcia has no one to throw to.6 Cardinals 10 7-3 Kurt Warner for MVP? How about Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin? Can we give a joint-award?7 Steelers 12 7-3 Classic Steelers football: they put their noses down and snuck past a worthy foe. The gameplan looks like it might fail them more often as the season ends and the playoffs approach.8 Colts 11 6-4 Fact: The game was far closer than it should have been. Perception: They won, they won, they won and now they are “on a roll!”9 Redskins 6 6-4 The Redskins are starting to put the ball in Jason Campbell’s hands too often. With a backfield that includes Portis, Betts and Alexander, there’s no reason to fall short of 20 carries (as a team) in any game. Shame on you, Jim Zorn.10 Patriots 8 6-4 I return to a comment from their loss to Miami many weeks ago: This team’s problem is it’s defense, not Matt Cassel. Injuries are mounting and the Dolphins come to town next week.The rest of the rankings are below… (more…) View the full article

I’ve got to take a moment to comment, briefly, on something that’s been bugging me in the 24 hours since the Ravens loss to the Giants. This is an out-of-the-norm post for this blog. Already today I’ve been greeted by numerous articles from local and national media outlets proclaiming “what do the Ravens do now?” and “what does this loss mean for the Ravens?” It’s as if the Ravens season has ended with their loss to the Giants. It’s as if all chances of making the playoffs have been squashed out. But guess what? The loss wasn’t that surprising. Even on Ravens-oriented sites, the Ravens were considered underdogs. ExtremeRavens has been experiencing server issues, so chat leading up to the game here was not possible. But I can bet you that if it were, you wouldn’t find anyone calling the game a *** I'm stupid for thinking this game is easy ***, a sure win, or anything else along those lines. In fact, for the first time all season, I even picked against the Ravens (that’s another story). Look at the national and local media for a moment. The Baltimore Sun’s eight sports writers all picked the Giants. Every single analyst on ESPN (both on the website and on Sunday Countdown) picked the Giants. Bill Simmons picked the Ravens… with the spread. He did not pick them flat out. I do not remember reading a single national voice that thought the Ravens would win on Sunday. Not one. So why is this loss the end of the world? It’s something that bothers me every year, in every sport. The #25 ranked team plays the #4 ranked team in College Basketball and loses. And suddenly that #25 ranked team is out of the rankings. But isn’t that what was expected? Dear Baltimore Fans… Dear Football Writers… Dear Everyone… The Ravens lost on Sunday. But somehow, they are still 6-4. They are still in the playoff hunt. In fact, the NFL believes so firmly that the Ravens still have a chance, they are going to let the Ravens play out the rest of the season. How merciful of them. With every loss to a good opponent, the Ravens are learning. They are not a perfect team, but they are not an awful team either. Lucky for the Ravens, they have faced the two toughest teams in the league right now (the Giants and Titans) and they won’t have to face either again, unless they the playoffs become a reality. So rather than spending this week doing our best impersonations of Chicken Little, why don’t we all settle back and actually discuss what this team can do and what they need to do as the season enters its final stretch? The sky is not falling, the season is not over. This team lost a game it was supposed to lose. It may not have been pretty, but to spin the old cliche, pretty doesn’t show up in the standings. The players are going to get over it. The coaches are going to get over it. You didn’t see this team carry that loss against Indianapolis around for very long, did you? So let’s do our best to get over it ourselves, as fans and writers. I’ll start: Joe Flacco has pretty well learned how to avoid making mistakes. He is a legitimate threat when he has the ball, both with his arm and his legs. He’s learned how to avoid sacks, make plays, and he is what brings our offense to life. Now we need everyone else on the offense to learn the same. They don’t have to make huge plays or become game-changers. But they do have to learn how to avoid mistakes themselves, especially against good opponents. Your turn. View the full article

The loss was bad, how’s the report card? Quarterback: B- Joe Flacco avoided the pass rush all day, made a few impressive runs, and even made a few nice passes. His arm wasn’t quite as sharp was it could have been, though, with many of this throws landing behind their intended targets. The windy conditions seemed to limit Flacco and the entire offensive scheme; the Ravens never even tried to stretch the field. Flacco had two interceptions on the day, though he only deserves credit for one. Running Backs: D+ How bad was the Ravens rushing attack? Joe Flacco’s 57 yard performance led the team. Similar to in Indianapolis, the Ravens running backs tried to run around the defense, instead of through it. Willis McGahee was limited by injury again. Ray Rice stepped in and did a fair job, but even he looked scattered. The Ravens couldn’t get anything started on the ground - not that they could be expected to match the Giants 200+ yard performance. Wide Receivers: D Derrick Mason had 7 catches and 80 yards, but attempt at impersonating David Tyree may have cost the Ravens the game. Mark Clayton and Yamon Figurs were non-factors. Todd Heap made three catches for a total of 17 yards. This group continues to take the life out of the Ravens offense with dropped passes and poor routes. Offensive Line: C- The front five of the Ravens had their ups and downs, as did most units. In the passing game, they kept the rush off of Flacco for most of the game, allowing only one sack. That’s not to say Flacco never felt the pressure, but the line helped him manage it well. In the running game, the offensive line looked lost. No sealed corners. No running lanes. And worse? The unit was charged with five false starts. Defensive Line: D+ The Ravens defensive line was handled all day by the Giants fron-five. They occasionally got pressure on Manning, but were pushed aside and pancaked time and time again in the running game. Linebackers: D Outside of Ray Lewis’ interception, the unit failed miserably. Lewis was mentioned more for missing tackles and overpursuing than he was for making tackles. Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott were never mentioed. Jarrett Johnson’s off-sides penalty negated an interception by Fabian Washington. The unit was out of position and looked out of place. Defensive Backs: C The Ravens secondary normally takes the brunt of the criticism in bad losses, but not today. The Ravens secondary was far from stellar, but at least they showed up. Eli Manning and his receiving corps didn’t beat the Ravens today. Jim Leonhard deserves some credit for a game well-played and being the only Raven man enough to take on Brandon Jacobs face-to-face. Special Teams: D+ Kick returns by Yamon Figurs were surprisingly strong, but hardly enough to save face for a bad season. Matt Stover had a kick blocked. Sam Koch was bothered by the wind. The unit didn’t necessarily hurt the Ravens effort, but they sure didn’t help either. Coaching: C- The coaching in this one is hard to read. To start with, the Ravens looked outmatched. That simply shouldn’t happen. The Giants knew every scheme Rex Ryan had and they came prepared. Offensively, Cam Cameron shut the Ravens down himself. At the same time, however, adjustments were clearly made at halftime and the Ravens looked like a new team. If not for a few mistakes specific to the players, not the coaches, I believe this team would have made things far more interesting. The biggest questions, though, have to be for John Harbaugh, who conceded defeat and truly shut the offense down in the 4th quarter. Running the ball is for eating clock, not saving it. View the full article