Last Sunday night, the Ravens beat the Steelers 20-17 in overtime, to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Ravens started the game with a great opening drive, and it ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by RB Willis McGahee. In the second quarter, the Steelers tied the game up with a 33-yard touchdown pass from QB Dennis Dixon to WR Santonio Holmes. To end the half, the Ravens took the lead with a 10-yard TD pass from QB Joe Flacco to WR Derrick Mason. The only score in the third quarter was a 44-yard field goal by Steelers K Jeff Reed. Late in the fourth quarter, the Steelers took the lead on a 24-yard touchdown run by Dennis Dixon. On the Ravens next drive, K Billy Cundiff tied the game up at 17 with a 24-yard field goal. On the Ravens last drive of the fourth quarter, Billy Cundiff missed a 56-yard field goal that would have won the game, but instead he sent it into overtime. The Steelers got the ball to start the overtime period. On a third down, Dennis Dixon was picked off by rookie LB Paul Kruger, who took the ball into Steelers territory. After running a couple of plays, Cundiff came out and made the game-winning 29-yard field goal.
Player of the Game: Ravens K Billy Cundiff-2 field goals (game-tying and game-winning)
Next Monday night, the Ravens travel to the frozen tundra of Green Bay to face the 7-4 Packers on Monday Night Football. The Packers are coming off a Thanksgiving win over the Lions. In the last meeting between these two teams, the Ravens won at home on Monday Night Football, 48-3, in the largest margin of victory in MNF history. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is the most sacked quarterback in the NFL. Because of this, the Ravens defense has to put a lot of pressure on him and bring him down a lot. But Rodgers is also one of the most pass-happy QBs in the league. The Packers pass offense is one of the best in the league, with WRs Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. Those receivers are big deep threats. Green Bay also has a strong running game, with RB Ryan Grant. The Packers defense has been fierce this year, they lead the league in total defense. This will be an extremely hard game for the Ravens, and I have them pulling out a win, 27-23.
Suggestion: The Ravens defense needs to take advantage of a horrible Packers offensive line. They need to get to Rodgers and bring him down. If he passes, he will go long, and the Ravens could end up losing.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Packers
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Packers CB Charles Woodson Edge: Woodson
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Packers LB A.J. Hawk Edge: Rice
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Packers WR Donald Driver Edge: Driver
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Edge: Lewis
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
TE L.J. Smith-Ankle-DBT
LB Terrell Suggs-Knee-DBT
S K.J. Gerard-Thigh-QST
S Ed Reed-Ankle/Hip-QST
CB Cary Williams-Thigh-QST
C Matt Birk-Neck-PRB
LB Prescott Burgess-Thigh-PRB
QB Joe Flacco-Ankle-PRB
T Jared Gaither-Illness-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-PRB
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-PRB
FB Le'Ron McClain-Chest-PRB
DT Haloti Ngata-Ankle-PRB
WR Kelley Washington-Illness-PRB
WR Demetrius Williams-Illness-PRB
Packers
Player-Injury-Status
LB Aaron Kampman-Knee-OUT
LB Jeremy Thompson-Neck-OUT
T T.J. Lang-Concussion-QST
G/T Allan Barbre-Ankle-PRB
LB Brandon Chillar-Hand-PRB
T Chad Clifton-Hamstring-PRB
RB Ryan Grant-Shoulder-PRB
RB Ahman Green-Groin-PRB
FB John Kuhn-Hand-PRB
QB Aaron Rodgers-Ribs-PRB
CB Charles Woodson-Shoulder-PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Bengals 8 3
Ravens 6 5
Steelers 6 5
Browns 1 10
AFC North Outlook: Our chances of winning the division are slim, so now let's hope for one of two Wild Card spots. Basically, we can only lose one more game. If we lose two, it makes it twice as hard to reach the postseason. Some teams we are competing with are the Steelers, Texans, Jaguars, Broncos, and Jets. This week, we really need the Jaguars to lose to the Texans. That would help our playoff run a lot.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!
1 comment:
Now I've got a question for you. Watching New Orleans play that great Monday night game against New England, one of the guys in the booth mentioned that CB Mike McKenzie, who was having a great night, had just been re-signed by the Saints, and prior to that had been on the streets since July. HAD BEEN ON THE STREETS SINCE JULY! Now how could the Ravens have possibly let this guy go by? A cornerback of his quality, obviously no longer suffering from injury, and the Ravens don't jump all over him. I mean, What? How? Huh?
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