Blog

Ravens:
Game over, man. Game over! Now, the early starting off-season will be filled with efforts to avoid making the same mistakes (Boldin) made last off-season that probably was enough to cost us a playoff berth. The opportunity was there for the taking, and we failed to execute due to an undersized front line, and lack of a “go to” receiver. The Defense progressed nicely throughout the season, and should continue a dominant presence for years to come.

Now the bantering from my squealer friend started after the Ravens lost, but boy was he quiet after San Diego finally posted the W. His comeback from there was that they started 0-4 and finished above the Ravens. Well, that is true, but now the Ravens pick ahead of pittsburgh in the draft, while BOTH teams are sitting at home watching the playoffs. Personally, I think we made out on that deal, although our position of 16 or 17 overall will be decided via a coin toss with Dallas.

Ravens:
Okay, the miracle endings went the other way this time. After giving up 3 TDs in the final 2 minutes, that game went down as the worst home loss in franchise history. Flacco was NOT himself, and nothing else worked or went our way. The Ravens were out of sync most all of the game, and made the patriots look better than they are. What hurts the most is that they Ravens were in control of their destiny. Now they are not. In a 3 team train wreck for the last playoff spot, the Ravens have the edge over Miami and San Diego individually, but, in a 3 car pile-up, we come up short. Only answer is to win, and hope. There are possibilities to make the show, if we lose, but that will re-introduce the steelers into the picture, and we can’t have that!

Ravens:
UNBLIEVABLE, HON. 6 Field Goals! 61 Yards!?! It worked this week, but not on Sunday, when rain is forecasted with the Patriots coming into town. Brady is much better than Stafford (who is a lite version of Tony Romo), although Brady is scared of the Ravens. The Pats have staged major comebacks in several games recently, and the Ravens can’t get a lead and try sitting on it. The Patriots don’t play defense, and the Ravens need to exploit this to the fullest to score 7’s (not 3’s) as early and often as possible. Anything else is setting up a heart breaker.

This game has all kind of playoff implications involved, and at many levels. The Patriots clinched the division title with a win or a Miami Loss. The Ravens need a lot more help, but their destiny is in their hands. If they win the next 2 games, they don’t only clinch a playoff berth, but they also clinch the division title, and don’t think that it will only be a 4 seed. There are scenarios out there that could push us further up the post season standings… as far as the 2 seed and a first round bye, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. Winning is a requirement, and no opponent can be overlooked from here on out. That story hasn’t changed since Week 12.

Ravens:
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any wilder, the Ravens and Vikings combined for 5 TD’s in the final 2:05, including a kick return that did NOT include Mike Tomlin tripping/tackling/interfering with Jacoby Jones. The scoring frenzy was an NFL record for the most TDs in a 2 minute span, and the 6 4th quarter lead changes also set a new NFL record. An independent firm who compiles statistics on NFL games rated this the 2nd most exciting non-overtime regular season game in NFL history. I am still trying to figure out what could have been more exciting.

The offense was it’s typical erratic self, but the running game was able to get more traction than usual on the snow covered field. The defense still failed to put consistent pressure on the quarterback, and gave up some big plays without recording a sack for the second consecutive game. Special teams was 1 missed tackle away from giving Minnesota a game winning kick off return for a TD. Blame what you will on the weather, the Ravens played their typical sloppy self.