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%. 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 endzone just minutes later.

Wide Receiving Corps: 25%. The blame here is for a few reasons. First and foremost, for their inability to get open. Flacco was rushed often, sure. But just as often Joe Cool had mountains of time in the pocket and no one to throw to. Good teams, good receivers, can use time to get open. The Ravens were not able to do that. Part of it should be a credit to the Steelers pass defense. Part of it falls on the Ravens receivers.

But in addition to their inability to get open, the receivers deserve some blame for just being lazy. There were multiple times - multiple - where Ravens runners were taken down by defenders that should have been blocked. Hines Ward may be hated, but he does his job as a blocker. To Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason: you need to run, and hit your defender. Don’t just assume he is going to let you block him. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick take on the kickoff controversy.

First and foremost, when it comes to rules and on-field rulings: never trust Joe Buck.

In case you missed it, it was a bit of a wacky play. The Cardinals, following a score to go up 21-6, pooch the kickoff toward the sideline. The ball appears to hit in bounds at approximately the 28 yard line, bounce and hit an Eagles blocker whose foot is out of bounds, and then stay in bounds to be recovered by the Cardinals.

Now, the officials got it wrong. But unfortunately for Cards fans, the ball should not have gone to the Cardinals anyway.

Official Walt Anderson, after a lengthy conversation with his crew and later with both coaches, announced that the ball was ruled out of bounds after touching an Eagles player and that, by rule the ball belonged to the Eagles at that mark. He also said that such a ruling was non-challengable, after Ken Wisenhunt of the Cardinals dropped his little red hanky. [By the way, if Anderson’s announced version of the events is correct, his ruling is correct. Unfortunately, that’s not how it happened on the field.] Additionally, a flag was on the field (appearing to be for a kick out of bounds) that was never mentioned by Anderson. That is likely because Anderson’s ruling is that the player touched the ball before it went out of bounds.

Looking at the replays, however, the officials got it wrong. First, the ball does not touch the Eagles blocker until after the Eagles player establishes himself out of bounds. At the point of contact, the ball is then out of bounds and the ball is dead. Additionally, by rule, the kick has gone out of bounds and a flag should be thrown for illegal procedure on the kick-off. Ravens fans should remember this rule from several years ago. A Matt Stover kick appeared to be headed for the endzone when an opposing player stood out of bounds and reached in to touch the kick, thus establishing the kick as out of bounds.

So, what’s the point? Well, apologies to the Cardinals, but its actually the Eagles that got the raw deal. The Eagles should have been given the ball 12 yards further upfield.

Walt Anderson did get one thing right: once the ball is established as out of bounds, whether its by going out itself or by touching a player, the play is dead. There is no way the ball should have been awarded to the Cardinals.

… get it?

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 match-up,  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 pathetic1-7 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…

From John Clayton: Willie Parker will be the difference maker.

Willie Parker looked great last night… against the Chargers. Those Chargers of the league’s 25th ranked overall defense and 11th ranked rush defense. Cris Carter adds that the Ravens struggled against Chris Johnson in Tennessee, so watch out for Willie Parker. But Parker isn’t quite as fast as Johnson and the Steelers line isn’t quite a nimble as the Titans.

If we really want to get into the nitty-gritty of it all, let me bring it up this way:  in six career games against the Ravens, Parker has averaged just 43 yards a game. In his last four games against the Ravens, Parker has not even topped 43 yards a game. In fact, his only games with more than 50 yards against the Ravens were both in 2005, when he was splitting carries with soon to be Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis.

Also from Clayton: The Steelers won’t be surprised by anything the Ravens do on Sunday.

These I hate. Are we supposed to expect that the Ravens will be surprised by anything the Steelers do, though? The teams are familiar with each other. Beyond familiar. How Clayton can so easily proport that the Steelers are therefore at an advantage is beyond me.  If anything, I would say that the familiarity favors Joe Flacco more than anyone else. Even Steelers linebacker, in Clayton’s article, is quoted as saying that Flacco gets better every game, every week.

And from Walker: Roethlisberger made the important plays in the early season match-ups, Flacco didn’t.

Perhaps Walker should review his own blog, or even Clayton’s article. Flacco, for all his early mistakes, engineered a beautiful drive against the Steelers in the first match-up to tie the game with just minutes remaining. Remember that? It was eerily similar, in fact, to Big Ben’s drive against the Ravens in Week 15. Head-to-head, I’d say that Flacco and Ben have both had their drives.

Ben certainly has the edge in many ways in these match-ups, but to say that Flacco hasn’t been able to make the plays when they count is somewhat absurd. The whole Ravens offense failed five weeks ago, not just Flacco.

… I won’t even bother with Cris Carter.

Apologies for the long hiatus. Hopefully the writing will be more frequent these days.

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 online 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? Read the rest of this entry »

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…

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

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.

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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… Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »