Saturday, December 13, 2008

Ravens Report-Week 15 2008

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins, 24-10, on Sunday Night Football. The Ravens got on the board first when FB Le’Ron McClain ran for an 8-yard touchdown. Then, the Ravens took a 14-0 lead into halftime when S Ed Reed returned a fumble 22 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Next, Ravens K Matt Stover hit a 32-yard field goal to make the score 17-0. The Redskins got on the board next when K Shaun Suisham hit a 43-yard field goal. The Redskins made it a 17-10 Ravens lead when QB Jason Campbell found WR Antwan Randle El for a 5-yard touchdown. The Ravens then sealed the victory when QB Joe Flacco found WR Derrick Mason in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown.
Other Game Notes: Ravens S Ed Reed had two interceptions.
Player of the Game: Ravens S Ed Reed-3 tackles, 2 interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a fumble recovery for a touchdown
Next week, the Ravens take on division rival Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) at M@T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. This is a matchup of two of the best defenses in the NFL. These two teams met back in Week 4 on Monday Night Football. The Steelers won on a game-winning 46-yard field goal in overtime by Steelers K Jeff Reed. The Steelers have not won a game in Baltimore since October 27, 2002. This game could come down to the team that makes the least mistakes. This will be a defensive battle, but I have the Ravens taking away a 23-20 victory.
Suggestion: The Ravens need to blitz, blitz, blitz. If they put enough pressure on Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, they will force him to make mistakes. If the Ravens play well enough on defense, they can come away with a win.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Steelers
Ravens C Jason Brown vs. Steelers DT Casey Hampton Edge: Hampton
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Steelers LB James Harrison Edge: Harrison
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Steelers CB Deshea Townsend Edge: Mason
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Steelers WR Hines Ward Edge: Ward
Ravens RE Trevor Pryce vs. Steelers RT Willie Colon Edge: Pryce
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
WR Marcus Maxwell Hip DBT
RB Ray Rice Calf DBT
WR Mark Clayton Knee PRB
WR Yamon Figurs Knee PRB
T Jared Gaither Shoulder PRB
G David Hale Ankle PRB
S Jim Leonhard Illness PRB
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder PRB
S Ed Reed Thigh PRB
CB Samari Rolle Thigh PRB
K Matt Stover Ankle PRB

Steelers
Player Injury Status
DE Brett Keisel Knee OUT
T Marvel Smith Back OUT
RB Carey Davis Calf QST
LB James Harrison Knee PRB
S Troy Palamalu Calf PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L T
Steelers 10 3 0
Ravens 9 4 0
Browns 4 9 0
Bengals 1 11 1
AFC North Outlook: The Ravens and Steelers would be tied for the division lead if they win. If the Steelers win, they clinch the division. The Browns face the Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday Night Football. The Bengals play the Redskins at home.
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Steelers’s butts!

1 comment:

steev said...

WOW! Must be the best start to a game this year, with everyone bringing their A Game:
Suggs, rush
Reed, interception
Rice, run (to the 10)
McClain, rush (TD!) WOW!

THEN... 'Skins 4-and-out
Partially blocked kick
'Skins get the ball back, BUT...
Fumble caused by and recovered by Reed for TD
WOW!

Flacco wasn't throwing great, but everyone got a piece of the win: Fabian Washington with great coverage on a deep pass to Santana Moss, Heap makes a great catch, Suggs starts the 4th the way he started the game, and Reed ends it with an interception.

Still, as great as the win was the offense never really showed spark, and worse still appeared once again to have not made the half-time adjustments that marked their early-season wins. Today's NFL will not grant much success to a defense-only-reliant team. But there's next year, and next year Flacco's inexperience will be a memory and we'll win win win!

One additional note: while it's a drag that we can't count on teams that SHOULD best the Steelers to do so, I'm actually kinda happy about it. I mean's it's poetry that it come down to this, to us vs. them. Straight up, straight down. No excuses, no prisoners. I can't wait.