Ravens @ Texans

[tsylvester]

Boy oh boy, this may be the toughest game of the year for a few reasons. The Ravens will have to fight off a let down from their tough, emotional victory over their biggest rivals. They will also have to fight overconfidence for their blow out 17 pt victory over said rival. What else do they have to fight you might ask?

Well, how about fatigue, the aches and pains or 3 games in 11 days!? Then they have to fight the euphoria of making the playoffs!

All of that and we haven't even gotten to the Texans, a desperate team full of talent, but void of many of their super stars because of injury.

They too have already clinched a playoff spot, in fact they won their division: yeah, they are that good.

Like the Ravens they are playing in their 3rd game in 11 days. Yes, they do have demons to find off not named Ravens.

Their quarterback may be young, but he is excellent at avoiding the rush and, very, very accurate.

Their passing game is an extension of their running game, something the Ravens defense struggles with.

Their defense is good, fast, instinctual, they can rush the passer with the best of them.

These game on short week's are hard enough to predict, make them the 3rd game in 11 days (yes I cannot stress that enough) and on Christmas day too boot, this game could end in a 9-6 score or be a high scoring affair, maybe something in between.

So, who ya got?

[oldno82]

Wow! Damned NFL scheduling still has me digesting the big win yesterday. I just hope the Ravens are putting it in the rearview mirror because the Texans are for real.

BUT: I think our team really wants the division title, and they should prevail against a depleted Texan team that doesn't have as much to gain as the Ravens.

My biggest worry: this is an away game. If we were playing at the Bank, I'd feel more confident.

Big questions: Who's going to take Hill's place as I just can't see him clearing concussion protocol by Wednesday? Ali or will they activate and play Keaton Mitchell and is he ready?

Our offensive line played a determined game against a stout Steeler defense. Can they do the same against Houston?

Is 30 year old Derrick Henry able to play as well again after his super game against Pitts just a few days earlier?

It's a lot to ask of a team to do all the above late in the season on 3 days rest.

We'll see who prevails...and who comes out the game decently healthy to end the season.

 

[oldno82]

More worries:

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers and starting offensive linemen Tyler Linderbaum and Daniel Faalele were among the players listed as not participating in practice Sunday as the team began preparations for its Christmas game against the Houston Texans.

And this was just a walkthrough.

[tsylvester]

Eh, I'm sure it was just so that they could get treatment.

[oldno82]

I am hoping that is indeed the case.

[tsylvester]

Hahaha

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43130178/sources-texans-claim-wr-diontae-johnson-waivers-ravens

[papasmurfbell]

It’s a grab a guy mine him for any info he has on next opponent like play calls and dump him the next week.  I doubt he knows anything.

[tsylvester]

He only knows: give me the ball.

[tsylvester]

Tit for tat

https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-steven-sims-jr-claim-transaction-texans-release

With the bubbles and a fumble from the punt returners, they add another, coincidentally from the Texans

[tsylvester]

Stillers lose, nice, what was not nice was Nate, JJ and Ian, man they are beyond horrible, gag me with a spoon horrible.

Not sure why Lamar wants to skip the half time meeting just to see Beyonce lip sinc songs, but, wat eva

[papasmurfbell]

It’s almost time.  Netflix looks good.  Nice to know Lamar has his priorities straight.

[tsylvester]

Watching on Wjz, I hate being tied down to one chanel.

Nice start, 8 plays, 75 yards, mostly on the ground, touchdown Ravens, 7-0

[tsylvester]

Nice stop, a little stunt goes a long way against that offensive line of the Texans. Pound em, you know they are sore after last week's game against the Cheifs.

Keep pounding, get Henry closer to 2,000 yards, it's possible today.

[tsylvester]

Bogged down, stopped running right at them. Tucker time,

From 52, dead center from the right hash

10-0 Ravens

[tsylvester]

It pays to be lucky, 3 straight over throws that could have been really big plays by the Texans.

Instead, drilling the punt returner before the ball arrives gets the Ravens out off from the shadow of their goal posts

[tsylvester]

10 carries, 86 yards for Henry

Now Mitchell gets a chance. Run right at them,

[tsylvester]

End of 1, 10-0, Ravens driving.

Just keep running right at them, they don't wanna be here either, shorten the game

[tsylvester]

See, you try to be tricky they stop you. Right at them, no tricks

[tsylvester]

Stout forces a fair catch at their 18, they have a glimmer of life, here comes their first real scoring drive.

[tsylvester]

Washington should have picked that one off, how did he miss it? Oh, shutz pushed off

[tsylvester]

Owe gets a I'm scared sack, hey, we will take it, Stroud clearly does not look right, did he get coal in his stocking?

Simms foolishly fields the punt, and is tackled at the 5.

Flag down, player out of bounds, on them, re-kick

he let's this one go and it bounces, rolls backward and gets downed at the 3

 

 

 

[tsylvester]

Apples are for eating, baking in pies, even to candy,  not to make calls

[tsylvester]

Safety, they got cute and the Texans got a Safety and get the ball.

Straight at them, is that so difficult to understand?

[tsylvester]

Then allow a big return on the ensuing kickoff, and we have a ball game now

[tsylvester]

Great Wiggins out with a possible concussion