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That 50 yard pass play was one third of the Chiefs offense. That the score was close...a tie with 5 minutes left, is good for the Ravens. A wake up call. If a young team like the Chiefs can hang in and take you to the wall then I see them learning this lesson...give 110% no matter who you play. Harbaugh's mantra is to get better each day/each week. I expect that to happen. Opening day...first game of the season ....all teams have some rust to kick off. I'd say the Ravens don't have as much as others.

OK...it's only week 1 but take a peek... http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/total

Interesting observation there OTR and bmw800. Cam made a post game comment on this...about throwing more. He basically said it takes less time off the clock so they can run more plays. That's one confident OC. He wants points. This is a huge change in the Ravens "run the ball/eat the clock" mentality of the last decade. Let's see if the local reporters catch this.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2009/09/Postgame_Transcript_091309.aspx

It's like Ground Hog Day. Where have I seen this before? http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d81291f3d/WK-1-Can-t-Miss-All-day-Peterson

Hi cleetz! I was half kidding when I said he had a bad day....he definately over threw guys and threw behind them. Being there...I saw receivers wide open and Joe getting the ball there late. They were completions but the lateness is what I'm refering to as ' a bad day'. He missed a wide open Heap by throwing a quick out incompletion. It would have been a sure TD...Heap was alone racing for the endzone....so points were left of the field. That means to me look out when he has a good day! Like Brees and his 6 TD's today. The sky is the limit. On a more sobering note...this was the Chiefs...Joe had all day to throw.

Harbaugh said too many things can go wrong on a kick...they could block it and run it back...plus it was 4th and 6 inches...he liked those odds better. If the Ravens don't make it KC has to drive 99 yards and 6 inches. Still...make the 'automatic 3 and it's a 2 score game. Maybe he's hiding the fact that Katula is not snapping well, Hausch is missing kicks and punts are being blocked...I agree...go for the TD.

Oh gosh........The Indigenous Persons are losing...

OMG! BWAHAHAAAHAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Great game plan Chiefs! Don't do anything and wait for the Ravens to make mistakes....then a big play or two and you're in the game! Hat's off to the Chiefs...I can see them turning things around. Mark Clayton! Welcome back Kelly washington! Come on down! Who needs Brandon Marshal? Not us! Michal Oher was dominant. His first punch is a rib crusher. His second sends his man anywhere he wants. Do we have to talk about the missed field goal? Now I'm looking down the walk outside the stadium VP entrance....it's a sea of purple...people sholder to sholder.. and then I see Ogden...his head and sholders in full view above the mob of people...it was surreal. He's that tall. Nothing blocks his view. Saw Fred Cook.

Here's a few thoughts to get started... 1. Joe Flacco had his first 300 yard game and 3 TD's tosses....on a bad day for Joe. I say that because he had all day to throw and his receivers were getting open consistantly. Today Joe was too 'Cool'. I'll explain. Beginning in the 1st quarter when Joe dropped back to pass he'd give a weak pump fake. The same one time after time. If I was a DB no way that would fool me. It hurt Joe in the second quarter because that pump fake made him a little late on a bunch of his throws to open receivers. He could have had around 7 more completions today if he had thrown the ball on time. His great arm strength got the ball there...but the timing was off. I'm not saying to stop this...just perfect this because when he goes into that pump fake...he has the option to hand it off at times and defenses have to respect that. Anyway...congrates Joe. 2. 500 yards of offense...new Ravens record...even Vinny & Co couldn't do that. 3. Heap is back! Great game...clutch catches when needed and a critical TD catch and dive. 4. Willis will be a force this year...great game. 5. Ray Rice...another force...his first 100 yard game and yes....he somehow has yet to find the endzone in his career. I just shook my head and felt sorry for him going out on the 1 yard line. 6. Did I mention the Browns and Bengals lost?

Yea Dee...I'm taking my son to the game. Father and son sharing quality time... I should be back on the boards around 5pm. I think the Lions game is the only one I'm not going to this year.

LOL!

It's very rare to pitch a shutout in the NFL but we might see one today. A big part of todays excitement for me is that we have not seen the Ravens offensive package and game plan. Cam will be pulling a few rabbits out of the hat. If Heap doesn't have to stay in and block that will open up a lot.

Morn'n Dee! Ok...the coffee is starting to kick in. I thought about what you said on the Chargers crav....I think the Ravens can take them too. Afterall...we have Cam now.

Sorry crav...I needed my beauty sleep... Waiting on the coffee but I have been looking forward to today for a long time. The weather will be terrific and so will the Ravens. Shein on Fox loves the Ravens this year... http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10037518/Picks-and-predictions-for-the-2009-NFL-season

Just a few random thoughts on the 2009 Ravens before the season opener. 1. I saw TE LJ Smith makes 2 great catch and runs during the preseason and thought what a great weapon he could be for the offense. Truth is, I don't see him contributing at all this season because physically he keeps breaking down. At this point it's a wasted roster spot. 2. Reading between the lines it seems McAlister has some personal issues that got him kicked off the team and waiting for sombody to call him with work. I don't know what they are. Guessing, I'd say his head is not in the game but in partying. All that money brought him down... but that's just a guess. He was one of my favorite Ravens and they don't get to, and win, the Super Bowl in 2000 without him. There's a correlation between hunger and success. 3. Harbaugh has done a great job getting this team prepared and ready physically. You could see they were one step ahead of every opponent this pre season. Now...let's hope they can stay healthy. Last season ended with 19 players on injured reserve and when you factor in playing 17 straight games, you can see how they ran out of gas by the AFC Champoinship game. 4. Last February I thought the Ravens schedule was easy. Not now. Every year teams rise and fall. There is always turnover in the playoff teams from one season to another. I see a playoff caliber 2009 Ravens team. I also see the competition and pitfalls this years Ravens have to hurdle in order to get back to the playoffs. 5. Speaking of playoffs. There is a winning formula teams must follow to get there. Win at home...win on the road (at least go .500), defeat teams with winning records and defeat playoff caliber teams. In short...find ways to win. All the contenders do that. The 2008 Ravens accomplished that and now, they have to do it all over again. They can certanly build on last seasons success and experience and I believe 3 playoff games worth of experience will be a serious contributing factor in the '09 Ravens favor. 6. It's not enough to be able to run the ball and play solid defense. Not in the AFC and with the rule changes that favor the passing game. To do damage in the playoffs, you have to have a good passing game....and a solid QB and receivers. Teams like the Titans and Steelers can take away the run...others will emerge this year. Joe Cool and Co have their work cut out for them and I believe they will succeed. I see them getting better each week this year. 7. Every team has some holes and weakness. I could see them in the '09 Steelers and Titans. We see then in the Ravens. That's the CAP and Parity. This 2009 Ravens team is as soild as you can get in this era. 8. Watch the O line. Gaither and Oher have their work cut out for them. If they take that next step in development this offense will be solid for years to come. This remains a young unit who are still developing. The game is won and lost in the trenches. Depth concerns me. 9. Continue loving defense Ravens fans...it will keep them in every game against every opponent...so they can "find that way to win." Finnally...click on this link to get ready for Sunday... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwXtZ4zn6bo

Bizzare but true...

I know you are putting in a lot of time and expense to keep this board up and running. I'm gratefull and I know everybody else is too. It don't happen without you. You're like the Unsung Hero...

I'd say Harbaugh and Cris 'don't see eye to eye'. He's probably here because he has no where else to live for the moment or to sell his house here. CMac was one of my favorite Ravens and the Ravens probably don't get to the Super Bowl in 2000 without him. There was no pass D in Baltimore until he was drafted.

The biggest splash the Ravens will make in Free Agency is signing their own players. The next big splash will be lower tier quality depth...like they did last year. If they do 3/4ths as well here as last year they will be sitting pretty. Playmakers everywhere...

What the hell...I'll post his rankings of Ravens.... Here's ProFootballWeekly's top 100...

Mangini can't walk over to Big Baby and say Hi...Big Baby can't walk over to Mangini and say Hi... Look...this is the era of cell phones...can't Mangini call him to clear the air..."No, I'll wait until March! I'm not talking to players until March. I'll talk about it in a press conference but I won't call him."

He's two years older than Ray....their "Ray Lewis"....cut....that's how it ends.

Browns agent has a point... After reading that article, I am not optimistic about Brown returning to the Ravens. There will be teams offering him high guard money.