Sunday, December 28, 2008

Ravens Report-End of Regular Season 2008

Ravens Report
Last Saturday night, the Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas, 33-24. This was the last game ever at Texas Stadium, the home of the Cowboys. The Cowboys got on the board first when RB Tashard Choice ran for a 2-yard touchdown. Then the Ravens got on the board on a 26-yard field goal by K Matt Stover. In the second quarter, Stover made it a 7-6 game when he hit a 29-yard field goal. The Ravens took a 9-7 lead into halftime on a 37-yard field goal by Stover. Then the Ravens took a 16-7 lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from QB Joe Flacco to WR Derrick Mason. Next, Cowboys K Nick Folk hit a 35-yard field goal to make the score 16-10. After that, Matt Stover hit a 35-yard field goal to make the score 19-10. Next, Cowboys QB Tony Romo found WR Terrell Owens for a 7-yard touchdown. Then, Ravens RB Willis McGahee exploded for a 77-yard touchdown run to give the Ravens a 26-17 lead. But the Cowboys then made it a one possession game again on a 21-yard pass from Romo to TE Jason Witten. But then the Ravens put the game away when FB Le’Ron McClain ran for an 82-yard touchdown.
Other Game Notes: In the third quarter, the Ravens faked a field goal, and P Sam Koch ran for 9 yards and the first down. Ravens S Ed Reed had two interceptions. Le’Ron McClain’s 82-yard touchdown run was the longest run in the history of Texas Stadium.
Players of the Game: Ravens RBs Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee- Combined for 30 rushing attempts, 247 rushing yards, 4 catches, 25 receiving yards

Next Sunday, the 10-5 Ravens face the 5-10 Jacksonville Jaguars at home in the final regular season game for the Ravens. If the Ravens win, they clinch a playoff spot. The Ravens will also clinch a playoff spot if the Patriots lose their 1:00 PM game in Buffalo against the Bills. The Jags are no longer in the playoff race. When the NFL had two divisions, these two teams were big rivals, so this is a matchup of old rivals. Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio used to be a coach with the Ravens. The Jaguars have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, and Jags QB David Garrard has been sacked 41 times, so the Jags will have a tough time against the 2nd ranked defense in the NFL. But the Jaguars have one of the best RBs in the NFL, Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew is a threat to be the first runner to surpass the 100 yard mark in a game against the Ravens in 33 games. In an exciting game, I have the Ravens winning, 31-13, and clinching a playoff spot.
Suggestion: The Ravens defense must shut down Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew, forcing the Jaguars to pass in order to move the ball. The Ravens then must get past the struggling Jaguars offensive line, so they can put pressure on David Garrard and force him to make bad passes.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Jaguars
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Jaguars LB Mike Peterson Edge: Flacco
Ravens C Jason Brown vs. Jaguars DT John Henderson Edge: Henderson
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Jaguars CB Drayton Florence Edge: Mason
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew Edge: Jones-Drew
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Jaguars QB David Garrard Edge: Suggs
Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Jaguars WR Reggie Williams Edge: Rolle
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
LB Antwan Barnes Chest OUT
WR Marcus Maxwell Hip OUT
T Willie Anderson Foot QST
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder/Neck QST
S Ed Reed Thigh QST
RB Ray Rice Calf QST
CB Samari Rolle Ankle QST
T Adam Terry Knee QST
CB Fabian Washington Toe QST
WR/KR Yamon Figurs Head PRB
DE Trevor Pryce Illness PRB
Jaguars
Player Injury Status
RB Maurice Jones-Drew Knee PRB
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, let’s go kick the Jags’s butts and clinch a playoff berth!

1 comment:

steev said...

Damn those Dallas cheerleaders are fine!

You know, an interception is part of the cost of doing business. A fumble, not so much. I mean, what, should we tell Ed Reed 'Please don't make the interceptions 'cause you're just giving the other team better field position'?

But I get too negative. And you gotta give props to Romo for that great pass fake. I thought for sure he was gonna pass to Owens.

Well at this point it was 7-3, Dallas, but you really didn't know. They held us to a field goal but we marched down the field pretty handily.

And again Flacco & Co. looks good moving down the field, and again they hold us to 3. We gotta make friends with the red zone, though it was worth it to see that hit on Flacco. Wow.

After our defense again introduces themselves to the Cowboys, we get the ball. Good catch by Mason on a short sideline pass, but why was he three yards short of the stick? Well, he got it the next down, but still, why stop short? A sack on the next series ends it, but it was fun to see an all-air series, especially with no fumbles or interceptions.

Enough sacks! (Up to 5.) Then after the 2 minute warning, a too-typical, lame, stuttering, loudly telegraphed fake. Cameron has got to teach Flacco the art of the fake.

9-7 at the half. OK, it's settled, next election the ticket is Reed-Stover. And a word about Heap: the man is smooth. It seems he never speeds up or slows down for the catch, almost like slo-mo. Just lovely.

A fumble and Mason, winner of the player-with- heart award recovers. Next, though, I do not like this short side route to the line of scrimmage. So you make it. So what. You gain 2 inches. But then, a gorgeous, hysterical fake field goal attempt good for a 1st. Good coaching! Of oh, I am so happy to see Mason get the TD.

Now it's 4th quarter. God I hate 4th qtr. Can't we just end the game at the 3rd? C'mon, be honest. When Dallas got that last TD, didn't your stomach sink? Didn't you flash back to the Pittsburgh game? And when the kickoff return fumbled, didn't you just know it was all over? Didn't you know you'd seen this too often before? And lastly, don't you love Willis Mcgahee. I do. I love Willis Mcgahee.