Ravens at Steelers

[tsylvester]

Oh brother, some still have hope that this team will make the playoffs. As if by some Christmas miracle they will turn into a dominating team. But that miracle may be as real as Santa, yes, I said it, sue me....

Over rhe years the last games between these two teams have meant the loser would be knocked out of the playoffs. Other years it has the winner being rhe division champ. In this Sunday night, ugh, game, both will be on the line. 

The last time these two teams met with real playoff implications, the Ravens rolled over, around and pounded rhe Steelers, knocking them out of the playoffs, keeping them another year from winning one game in the post season.

This time around, who knows if Lamar will play as he nurses what is reportedly a bruise, oh pardon me, a contusion in his back.

Even if he does, how will this Jeckle and Hyde offense perform? How will the Ravens defense, that can't seem to stop a leaf blowing across the tundra, stop the Pit offense?

So who ya got?

[papasmurfbell]

We lose.  I go with the better coach.

[oldno82]

Somehow I feel we have a better chance to win if Snoop plays. 

I'll say Ravens win if Snoop plays and TJ Watt doesn't.

Otherwise, all bets are off.

But man this has been a weird year!

[tsylvester]

Harbs said IF, Lamar is ready to play, he will. I just watched a guy, middle linebacker for Cleveland, Swearenger, play a full game with a bad Charlie horse, as they called them back in my day.

Today, they call them contusion.

He held up pretty well. 

If Lamar cant handle a bruise on his back, provided it wasn't to his spine, then he is soft. This is a playoff game. 

[papasmurfbell]

I wonder if Lamar has a lacerated kidney.

[tsylvester]

I wonder if mommy said not to play until you feel 100%

Clearly, all year Lamar has seemed distracted, I wonder what it could be?

Can't be a contract, he has the one he wanted, even if they don't extend him.

Can't be Monken, with Todd, Lamar was all worldly.

Did he buy his offensive linemen Christmas presents like most quarterbacks did?

Or did he give them coal for how bad they been?

Maybe that is what has him miffed, he isn't happy that they keep saying Faalele is playing great and refuse to switch him out...

Jones played great when he given a chance

[oldno82]

Some columnist I read a few days ago, his name escapes me now, said Lamar is still a little boy in a grown man's body.

I don't doubt he's hurting but his injuries aren't serious enough to not play in the Steelers' game if he wants to.

And therein lies the problem. Lamar is demoralized by the team's showing this year but he doesn't have the necessary leadership skills and demeanor to still play for the enjoyment of the game and for his responsibilities.

Snoop does know how to lead though he lacks the quality level of Lamar's many physical talents. But Huntley can get the job done. I'd like to see him play this Sunday.

[papasmurfbell]

20 minutes ago, tsylvester said:

I wonder if mommy said not to play until you feel 100%

Clearly, all year Lamar has seemed distracted, I wonder what it could be?

Can't be a contract, he has the one he wanted, even if they don't extend him.

Can't be Monken, with Todd, Lamar was all worldly.

Did he buy his offensive linemen Christmas presents like most quarterbacks did?

Or did he give them coal for how bad they been?

Maybe that is what has him miffed, he isn't happy that they keep saying Faalele is playing great and refuse to switch him out...

Jones played great when he given a chance

There has been a lot of talk Lamar and monk are not getting along.  

[tsylvester]

Yeah, why get a long with someone who took a lackluster offense and turned it into one of the best in the league....

[oldno82]

Well what is the original of these rumors of Lamar and Monk not getting along...I just don't see any daylight between the two of them?

I do know Harbs threw Monk under the bus a few weeks back which I thought was unprofessional.

[tsylvester]

Question, if Lamar does not play and Huntley does & plays well, Ravens win; who starts in the playoffs?

We know, with the rumor mills running with Lamar being traded in the off season, now to Mini of all places, my goodness, the rumor mills will explode!

Tom Brady has openly said how great Lamar is, will he use his position to push for an all out trade for him?

We can rule out Miami, that talk is stupid, how could the Phins trade for him and his contract when they have Tua with the similar amount? They cant...

Atlanta? Don't they still have the $100 mil quarterback named Cousins on the books till 2028? You like that!

Jets? Giants, yeah, he would be thrilled going to either team, 

 

[papasmurfbell]

Don’t forget he has a no trade clause.  I try to get him where he wants to go but if I can’t he better work with me.  If I ran this team and I can’t make the trade bc of a Lamar veto I trade everyone else.  He will have jv receivers, ol, backs and defense.  His stats will be crap and I run designed run plays for him behind that ol at least 20% of the time.  He would have less than no value by the time the contract is over.

 

[oldno82]

1 hour ago, tsylvester said:

Question, if Lamar does not play and Huntley does & plays well, Ravens win; who starts in the playoffs?

 

I'd start Huntley. He would have earned it. Doesn't he own the only 2 victories over .500/better teams the Ravens have this year?

 

[oldno82]

I think it's downhill from here...

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/video/4f630DNwoSlnd3z/?source=athletic_user_shared_video_copylink&smid=url-share-ta

 

 

[papasmurfbell]

I have literally been saying this for months.

[tsylvester]

That is just piling on, bad journalism from the hits and clicks media.

If the Ravens offense wants to win this game, they have to cut off rhe back side backer/end. Pit uses that defender to crash down, it kills the Ravens run game.

Fast hitting plays, a chip on the back side like they did in the playoff game last year, it stymied Watt all game, they have to get back to that, no matter who is at quarterback 

[papasmurfbell]

The idea always was the backside defender couldn’t catch Lamar.  It allowed for an extra blocker frontside.   

[tsylvester]

Right, they tried it last year Watt was attacking Lamar 1st, only Lamar would quickly hand it off to Henry going off tackle, got them every time.

This year, they kept using slow developing plays, and Watt would crash down the line making the tackle usually for a loss. 

All it would have taken was a chip or Lamar keeping it a time or two.