Ravens Report-Week 12

Ravens Report

The Ravens lost to the Browns last Sunday, 33-30. This was probably the craziest NFL game this year. The first points of the game were on a 28-yard field goal from Browns K Phil Dawson. After that score, former Ravens RB Jamal Lewis ran in a 1-yard touchdown to make it 10-0. Then, the Ravens got on the board. Ravens LB Ray Lewis ran back a 35-yard interception for a touchdown to make it 10-7. Browns K Phil Dawson hit a field goal to make it 13-7 at the half. Ravens RB Willis McGahee gave the Ravens their first lead since their 22-3 win against the Rams in Week 6 with a 2 yard touchdown run. The Browns then got the lead back with a 1 yard touchdown run from former Ravens QB Derek Anderson. The Browns extended their lead with a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown from FS Brodney Pool to make the score 27-14. The Ravens then got back into the game with two field goals (34 yards and 41 yards) from K Matt Stover to make the score 27-20. Then, the Ravens tied up the game with a 27 yard pass from backup Ravens QB Kyle Boller to WR Devard Darling for Darling’s first career touchdown catch. The Ravens then got back in the lead with a 47-yard field goal from Matt Stover. Then the weird part happened. With three seconds on the clock, Browns K Phil Dawson lined up for a 51-yard field goal attempt. The ball bounced off the left post and then hit the back side of the crossbar and then back onto the field, the refs called the field goal no good. Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick sent the Ravens into the locker room thinking the game was over. Then, the refs huddled and after a long discussion (the play was not allowed to be reviewed) by the refs, they called the field goal good and we went into overtime. In overtime, the Browns started with the ball and Phil Dawson hit a 33-yard field goal to give the Browns the win and the season sweep of the Ravens.

Player of the Game: Ravens RB Willis McGahee, 21 carries, 102 yards and a touchdown.

Next Sunday the Ravens will take on the San Diego Chargers in San Diego. These two teams met last year in Baltimore, the Ravens won 16-13 on a game-winning touchdown pass to TE Todd Heap. The Ravens will be trying to end a four game losing streak. The Chargers are 5-5, only one game better than the Ravens and are tied for their division lead with the Denver Broncos. The Ravens will really take on a handful with one of the best Running Backs in the NFL, Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson is the reigning NFL MVP and only needs 29 yards to reach 10,000 yards for his career. To add to that, the Chargers have one of the best Tight Ends in the NFL, Antonio Gates, who has caught 54 passes for 729 yards and 6 touchdowns so far this year. The Ravens will also have to face an amazing defense, which includes Antonio Cromartie, the league leader in interceptions with six. Cromartie will haunt Ravens QB Kyle Boller, who will be making his 2^nd consecutive start for the injured Steve McNair. Also, Ravens RB Willis McGahee will try for his 6^th consecutive game with a rushing touchdown. The Ravens are struggling horribly right now, which is why I’m picking the Chargers to win, 38-20.

Suggestion: Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick has got to run with RB Willis McGahee more, McGahee is probably the most exciting player on the team right now and Billick has got to realize that.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Chargers

Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson Edge: Tomlinson

Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Chargers QB Phillip Rivers Edge: Reed

Ravens DT Haloti Ngata vs. Chargers RT Shane Olivea Edge: Ngata

Ravens QB Kyle Boller vs. Chargers LB Shawne Merriman Edge: Merriman

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Chargers CB Quentin Jammer Edge: Mason

Ravens WR Mark Clayton vs. Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie Edge: Cromartie

Injury Report

Ravens

Player- Injury- Status

QB Steve McNair- Left Shoulder- OUT

WR Demetrius Williams- Ankle- OUT

DT Justin Bannan- Ankle- QST

TE Todd Heap- Thigh- DBT

CB Chris McAlister- Knee- QST

S Ed Reed- Back/Neck- PRB

S Gerome Sapp- Thigh- QST

LB Gary Stills- Knee- PRB

TE Daniel Wilcox- Foot- QST

DB Jamaine Winborne- Ankle- PRB

CB Samari Rolle- Illness- PRB

T Jared Gaither- Ankle- QST

T Adam Terry- Ankle- PRB

Chargers

Player- Injury- Status

DE Luis Castillo- Ankle- OUT

DT Jamal Williams- TEAM DECISION

C Nick Hardwick- Foot- QST

PRB-Probable

QST-Questionable

DBT-Doubtful

AFC North Standings

Team- W- L- GB

Steelers- 7- 2- 0.0

Browns- 6- 4- 1.5

Ravens- 4- 6- 3.5

Bengals0 3- 7- 4.5

AFC North Outlook: As I said last week, the Steelers are starting to run away with the division, and if anyone catches them, it’s the Browns. The Steelers play the 0-10 Dolphins on Monday Night Football in Pittsburgh, the Browns play the Texans in Cleveland and the Bengals play the Titans in Cincinnati.

News: Ravens CB Samari Rolle has missed six consecutive games with an undisclosed illness. That illness has finally been released. Rolle has been dealing with epilepsy, an illness that can cause seizures. Rolle has had three seizures since the 2007 season began. As you can see in the Injury Report, Rolle is expected to play Sunday against the Chargers. Rolle is very excited to be playing after thinking he might not ever play again.

That’s all for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, I’m Max Buchdahl, let’s go kick the Chargers butts!

Ravens Report-Week 11

Ravens Report

The Ravens lost to the Bengals, 21-7. With this win, the Bengals swept the Ravens this season. You might think that the Bengals scored three touchdowns, but no. Bengals K Shayne Graham hit 7 field goals. The score was 21-0 in the 4^th quarter until Ravens RB Willis McGahee ran in a 1-yard touchdown. One of the main reasons for the loss was the number of times the Ravens turned the ball over--six times! That makes 10 turnovers in the past two games. This was one of the worst losses so far this year.

Player of the Game: Bengals K Shayne Graham, 7 field goals (34, 19, 22, 35 twice, 21, 33).

The Ravens will take on the Cleveland Browns next Sunday at M@T Bank Stadium. The Ravens will have to start backup QB Kyle Boller due to an injury to starting QB Steve McNair. The Ravens lost to the Browns 27-13 back in Week 4. The Browns have been an unexpected surprise this year, with an explosive offense that includes former Ravens QB Derek Anderson, former Ravens RB Jamal Lewis, WRs Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius and TE Kellen Winslow. The Ravens will try and get a boost from RB Willis McGahee, who is probably the most exciting player to watch on the team right now and is 6^th in the NFL in rushing yards with 749. The Ravens will try and win their first division game plus try and break a three-game losing streak, but I don’t think it’ll work, I have the Browns winning, 34-13.

Suggestion: The Ravens need to start playing like a team if they want to get back into the division race.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Browns

Ravens LB Bart Scott vs. Browns QB Derek Anderson

Ravens DL Trevor Pryce vs. Browns OL Joe Thomas

Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Browns RB Jamal Lewis

Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Browns LB Willis McGinest

Ravens QB Kyle Boller vs. Browns LB D’Qwell Jackson

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Browns CB Eric Wright

Injury Report

Ravens

Player- Injury- Status

QB Steve McNair- Left Shoulder- OUT

CB Samari Rolle- Illness- OUT

WR Demetrius Williams- Ankle- OUT

TE Todd Heap- Thigh- QST

S Gerome Sapp- Thigh- OUT

TE Daniel Wilcox- Foot- OUT

KR Yamon Figurs- Knee- PRB

CB Chris McAlister- Knee- QST

LB Gary Stills- Knee- PRB

FB Le’Ron McClain- Shoulder- PRB

S Ed Reed- Back- PRB

Browns

Player- Injury- Status

LB D’Qwell Jackson- Ankle- QST

LB Willie McGinest- Hamstring- PRB

LB Antwan Peek- Knee- PRB

CB Leigh Bodden- Back- PRB

DL Shaun Smith- Knee- QST

RB Lawrence Vickers- Tooth- QST

PRB-Probable

QST-Questionable

DBT-Doubtful

AFC North Standings

Team- W- L- GB

Steelers 7- 2- 0.0

Browns 5- 4- 2.0

Ravens 4- 5- 3.0

Bengals 3- 6- 4.0

AFC North Outlook: The Steelers are pretty much in control of the division at this point, if anyone catches them, it's the Browns. The Bengals play the Cardinals in Cincinnati and the Steelers play the Jets in New York.

Well, that’s it for this week’s version of the Ravens Report, I’m Max Buchdahl, let’s go kick Cleveland’s butts!

Ravens Report-Week 10

Ravens Report

The Ravens lost to the Steelers on Monday Night Football, 38-7. This was without a doubt the Ravens worst game of the year. Ravens QB Steve McNair only threw for 63 yards and Ravens RB Willis McGahee only ran for fifty yards. The scoring started when Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (if I spelt it wrong I don’t care) threw a TD pass to TE Heath Miller. He then threw for four more touchdowns to Steelers WRs Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington. Then, Ravens RB Willis McGahee ran for a 33-yard touchdown to get the Ravens on the board. The only score of the second half was a 22-yard field goal from Steelers K Jeff Reed. As you can see, the Ravens played flat out horrific.

Player of the Game: Steelers OLB James Harrison, 9 tackles, two forced fumbles, interception.

Next week the Ravens face division rival Cincinnati Bengals. Back in Week 1, the Ravens lost to the Bengals, 27-20. Unfortunately for the Ravens, Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh is having a breakout year, with 62 receptions for 674 yards and 10 touchdowns. The struggling Ravens secondary will have to take care of Houshmandzadeh, especially if Bengals star WR Chad Johnson isn’t able to play because of a neck injury suffered last week. The Ravens will also have to stop Bengals RB Kenny Watson, who has rushed for 4 touchdowns so far this year. This should be an interesting game, but I have the Ravens winning, 23-17.

Suggestion: Start Kyle Boller. Even though I hate his guts for what he’s done for us over the past couple of years, he’s playing a lot better than McNair right now.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Bengals

Ravens CB Corey Ivy vs. Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Bengals QB Carson Palmer

Ravens LB Bart Scott vs. Bengals RB Rudi Johnson

Ravens TE Todd Heap vs. Bengals LB Landon Johnson

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Bengals CB Deltha O’Neal

Ravens WR Mark Clayton vs. Bengals CB Johnathan Joseph

Injury Report

Ravens

Player- Injury- Status

CB Samari Rolle- Illness- OUT

LB Terrell Suggs- Knee- QST

TE Daniel Wilcox- Foot- OUT

LB Prescott Burgess- Thigh- PRB

KR/PR Yamon Figurs- Knee- PRB

TE Todd Heap- Thigh- PRB

CB Chris McAlister- Knee- QST

CB David Pittman- Head- QST

S Ed Reed- Head/Neck- QST

S Gerome Sapp- Thigh- QST

RB Willis McGahee- Head- PRB

DB Jamaine Winborne- Ankle- PRB

Bengals

T Willie Anderson- Knee- OUT

LB Ahmad Brooks- Groin- OUT (IR)

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh- Knee- PRB

S Herena-Daze Jones- Knee- DBT

TE Reggie Kelly- Knee- DBT

LB Caleb Miller- Back- OUT

CB Deltha O’Neal- Knee- PRB

LB Anthony Schlegel- Back- DBT

LB Rashad Jeanty- Knee- PRB

WR Chad Johnson- Neck- PRB

DT John Thornton- Neck- DBT

PRB-Probable

QST-Questionable

DBT-Doubtful

IR-Injured Reserve

AFC North Standings

Team- W- L- GB

Steelers 6- 2- 0.0

Browns 5- 3- 1.0

Ravens 4- 4- 2.0

Bengals 2- 6- 4.0

AFC North Outlook: The Ravens have already lost more games than they did last year, so they need to get it together. The Steelers and the Browns play each other in Pittsburgh.

Well, that’s it for this week’s version of the Ravens Report, I’m Max Buchdahl, let’s go kick the Bengals butts.

Ravens Report-Week 9

Ravens Report

The Ravens got beat by the Bills, 19-14. Both backup QBs (Ravens QB Kyle Boller, Bills QB Trent Edwards) got the start. Bills K Rian Lindell hit three field goals in the first half to make the score 9-0 at the half. Then, former Bills RB Willis McGahee was welcomed back with a 46-yard touchdown run to make it 9-7. After a field goal from Lindell and a touchdown from RB Marshawn Lynch, the score was 19-7. The Ravens tried to come back with a 15-yard touchdown pass fro Boller to WR Derrick Mason. Unfortunately, the Ravens couldn’t get the ball back and they lost a well-fought game. One of the key factors of this loss was the 11 penalties against the Ravens, there were only three against the Bills.

Next week the Ravens will face their arch rival, the Steelers, on Monday Night Football in Pittsburgh. This game will decide who has the lead in the AFC North (see full description on bottom of Standings). These two teams are considered one of the biggest rivals in the NFL. Last year the Ravens swept their season series with the Steelers and the Steelers were outscored 58-7! This should be a though test for the Ravens offense against the best ranked defense in football. Also, the Ravens are ranked second in the league in run defense, which should help against Steelers star RB Willie Parker. Also, the Ravens should get a big boost on defense, with the return of DL Trevor Pryce. The Steelers offense is one of the best in the league, with QB Ben Roethlisberger leading the way. The main receiving problem will be against one of the best WRs in the league, Hines Ward, who caught two touchdowns last week against the Bengals. This should be a great game, but I think the Steelers will win, 23-14.

Suggestion: Last week I said that we weren’t scoring enough touchdowns. But against Buffalo, we only scored touchdowns, and did not kick any field goals. In order to win, the Ravens need to mix these together.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Steelers

Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Steelers Willie Parker

Ravens LB Bart Scott vs. Steelers Heath Miller

Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (if I spelt it wrong I don’t care).

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Steelers CB Deshea Townsend

Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Steelers LB James Farrior

Ravens QB Steve McNair vs. Steelers S Troy Polamalu

Injury Report

Ravens

Player- Injury- Status

TE Daniel Wilcox- Foot- OUT

TE Todd Heap- Thigh- QST

CB Chris McAlister- Knee- DBT

LB Antwan Barnes- Thigh- PRB

C Mike Flynn- Knee- PRB

DT Trevor Pryce- Wrist- PRB

TE Quinn Sypnewski- Knee- PRB

T Adam Terry- Ankle- PRB

QB Steve McNair- Groin/Back- PRB

T Jared Gaither- Ankle- QST

CB Samari Rolle- DNP- QST

K Matt Stover- Right Thigh- PRB

Steelers

Player- Injury- Status

S Ryan Clark- Spleen- OUT

WR Santonio Holmes- Quad- QST

RB Dan Kreider- Ankle- QST

DE Aaron Smith- Knee- DBT

T Marvel Smith- COACH DECISION

TE Jerame Tuman- Back- OUT

WR Hines Ward- COACH DECISION

G Alan Faneca- Back- PRB

PRB-Probable

QST-Questionable

DBT-Doubtful

AFC North Standings

Team- W- L- GB

Steelers 5- 2- 0.0

Ravens 4- 3- 1.0

Browns 4- 3- 1.0

Bengals 2- 5- 3.0

AFC North Outlook: If the Ravens beat the Steelers on Monday night, and the Browns beat Seahawks in Cleveland, the Steelers, Ravens and Browns would be tied for the division. But, if the Steelers and Browns win, they will be tied for first place. If only the Steelers win, they have a two game lead on the Browns and Ravens. If the Ravens are the only one that wins, they will be tied with the Steelers for the division lead. The Bengals play the Bills in Buffalo.

That’s it for this week’s Ravens Report, I’m Max Buchdahl, let’s go kick Pittsburgh’s butt’s!