Sunday, November 16, 2008

Ravens Report- Week 11 2008

Ravens Report
Last week, the Ravens defeated the Houston Texans, 41-13 to improve their record to 6-3. The Ravens got on the board first when QB Joe Flacco found WR Yamon Figurs for a 43-yard touchdown. In second quarter, Texans K Kris Brown hit a 23-yard field goal to make the score 7-3. On the Texans next drive, T Duane Brown was called for a holding enforced in the end zone for a safety to make the score, 9-3. Then, Ravens rookie K Steven Hauschka hit a 54-yard field goal to increase the Ravens lead to 12-3. To end the first half, Kris Brown hit a 48-yard field goal, and the Ravens had a 12-6 lead at halftime. Next, Ravens RB Willis McGahee busted through the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Ravens a 19-6 lead. But then the Texans got a little momentum when QB Sage Rosenfels found WR Kevin Walter for a 60-yard touchdown. In the beginning of the second half, Flacco found TE Todd Heap for a 1-yard touchdown; it was Heap’s first touchdown reception of the season. Later, Flacco found Heap again, this time a 14-yard TD. Willis McGahee ran for a 4-yard touchdown to cap off a Ravens victory.
Player of the Game: Ravens LB Ray Lewis- 5 tackles, 2 interceptions
Next Sunday, the Ravens face the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, who are 8-1 this season, in a rematch of the Ravens lone Super Bowl win. This is the first time this year that the Ravens face an NFC team. In three meetings, the Ravens have never lost to the Giants. The Giants are arguably the best team in the NFL, so the Ravens are really facing a challenge. The Ravens defeated the Giants, 37-14 in the last matchup between these two teams. The Ravens will have to face the touch RB combination of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw. The three combine for 168.9 rushing yards per game, the first in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Ravens defense hasn’t allowed a 100 yard rusher in 28 games. The Ravens rushing attack, lead by Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and Le’Ron McClain, is averaging 150.2 yards per game, third in the NFL. Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco has thrown 6 touchdowns and no interceptions in his last four games, all four of those games were Ravens victories. In the meantime, the Giants defense is allowing 177.1 passing yards per game, which is second in the NFL. It will be a great game, but I predict a 34-21 Giants victory.
Suggestion: The Ravens defense will not only have to face a tough Giants rush game, but also an amazing pass game. The Ravens will have to put pressure on Giants QB Eli Manning, making him unable to find main targets, like WRs Plaxico Burress and Steve Smith.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Giants:
Ravens LT Jared Gaither vs. Giants LE Justin Tuck Edge: Tuck
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Giants CB Aaron Ross Edge: Mason
Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Giants LB Antonio Pierce Edge: Pierce
Ravens DT Haloti Ngata vs. Giants C Shaun O’Hara Edge: Ngata
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Giants QB Eli Manning Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Giants WR Plaxico Burress Edge: Burress
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
WR Terrance Copper Shoulder OUT
T Willie Anderson Ankle QST
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder QST
S Ed Reed Thigh QST
CB Samari Rolle Neck QST
TE Daniel Wilcox Thigh QST
S Tom Zbikowski Thigh QST
Giants
Player Injury Status
LB Gerris Wilkinson Knee OUT
S James Butler Knee QST
CB Kevin Dockery Back QST
LB Jonathan Goff Concussion QST
CB Corey Webster Groin QST
RB Rueben Droughns Neck PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Ravens 6 3
Steelers 6 3
Browns 3 6
Bengals 1 8
AFC North Outlook: The Ravens can take the division lead with a win and a Steelers loss. The Steelers would take the lead in the division with a home victory against the Chargers and a Ravens loss. If the both teams win or both teams lose, the lead will remain tied. The Browns face the Bills in Buffalo on Monday Night Football. The Bengals have a home game against the Eagles.
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Giant’s butts!

2 comments:

steev said...

OK, let's not get too excited. Yes, a win is a win, but the Houston Texans? Their ineffectual defense allowed way too many scores, and let slip way too many interception opportunities. Our coaching staff's insistence on Flacco using all the strength of his arm on throwing deep, and Flacco's blindly following such calls even when there's a throng of opposing players surrounding the intended receiver, often on the lamest most obvious play-fakes seen on a football field... Well, I just feel the score could have been 13-41 Houston if they'd played proper defense. Sorry, I know the win looks great on paper, but I can't get too excited.

steev said...
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