Ravens Report

Ravens Report-AFC Championship Game 2012

2012-01-20T16:48:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens came away with a narrow 20-13 victory over the Texans to advance to the AFC Championship Game. The Ravens offensive line was bullied by the Texans front seven, which made moving the football down the field difficult. It was a strong first half for the Ravens that allowed them to play so poorly in the second half and still escape with the win. With the Texans up 3-0, the Ravens punted the ball away, and a bonehead fumble by Jacoby Jones gave the Ravens the ball inside the Texans 5 yard-line. After two failed conversions, Flacco finally rolled out and found TE Kris Wilson for the touchdown. Then, late in the second quarter, Flacco put the Ravens back on the board with a 10-yard pass to Anquan Boldin to make the score 17-3. The Texans narrowed that difference to 17-13 by halftime though, highlighted by a touchdown run from Arian Foster, who racked up over 130 rushing yards on the afternoon. In the second half, the Ravens defense stepped up when they were absolutely needed, keeping the Texans scoreless for the rest of the game. With a Billy Cundiff field goal and a game-sealing interception by Ed Reed, the Ravens lived to fight yet another week. While the Ravens defense did not once bring T.J. Yates to the ground, they did intercept him three times. It seems pathetic that a defense as strong as the Ravens would not get even one sack, but this needs some clarification. Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano intentionally put pressure on Andre Johnson and Arian Foster instead of Yates, given that their threats were much greater. Also, take a quick look at my score prediction from last week for this game. Not to toot my own horn or anything.

Player of the Game: Ravens CB Lardarius Webb-4 tackles, 2 interceptions

Key to the Win: It's hard to lose when you play mistake-free football, but the Ravens almost did it. They did not turn the ball over once, and for the first time in Ravens history, they did not even commit a penalty.

Next Sunday, the Ravens will travel to Foxboro for a playoff rematch with the AFC East Champion Patriots for the chance to play in Super Bowl XLVI. The Ravens played the Patriots in the Wild Card round back in 2010, and came away with a dominant 33-14 victory. It will be a daunting challenge for this Ravens team, but if the real Ravens come to play, not the ones who limped away with a win last week, I believe they can pull it off. Patriots QB Tom Brady is the NFL's Golden Boy, and with the Ravens aggressive style of play, watch out for yellow flags being thrown on hard hits to Brady. Unlike his 2010 squad, Brady's offensive core is decisively better than the one he had two years ago. WR Wes Welker, who is having the best season of his career, missed that game due to injury. Also, second-year TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez have become the most dangerous threats on the field for the Patriots offense. Gronkowski's monstrous figure will prove difficult to cover come Sunday. The Ravens ability to limit the productivity of those three receivers could decide the outcome of this game. Also, the Ravens will need to put pressure on Brady, because if they don't he'll pick them apart all day. That means Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata will be major difference makers. If they can rattle him the way they did two years ago, the Ravens already have an advantage. The Patriots, however, are an entirely different team when it comes to the defensive side of the football. Their defense was ranked 31st during the regular season, and became a complete pushover for their opponents. The Ravens offense will have to take advantage of that as well. Joe Flacco's ability to conduct successful, time-efficient drives will also decide if the Ravens can put points on the board. By giving the ball to Ray Rice at least 25 times, you guarantee yourself time eaten off the clock, as well as points on the scoreboard. This is bound to be an entertaining, back-and-forth kind of game. Last week, we saw the league's two most high-powered offenses fall to great defenses, and I expect we'll see that again. The Patriots offense is right behind that of the Packers and Saints, but offense only gets you so far at this point in the season. Ladies and gentlemen, offenses may sell tickets, but defense wins championships. I have the Ravens winning, 27-24.

Key to the Game: If the Ravens want to keep Tom Brady off the field, as well as give their own defense a rest, they'll need to control the clock. As I said earlier, putting together long, effective drives that end in points is the way the Ravens will win this game.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Patriots
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Patriots offensive line Edge: Suggs
Analysis: Suggs was held without a sack last weekend, plus he's facing a quarterback he has a long history with. He'll be thirsty.

Ravens CB Lardarius Webb vs. Patriots WR Wes Welker Edge: Welker
Analysis: Welker's maneuverability will help him get past Webb, but remember Webb still has not allowed a touchdown scored on him.

Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Patriots QB Tom Brady Edge: Push
Analysis: You're talking about two of the greatest players of this era, this showdown will be classic.

Ravens linebackers vs. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski Edge: Gronkowski
Analysis: The Gronk is just too strong and too powerful to not have a big game at this stage, he is extremely dangerous.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Patriots S Patrick Chung Edge: Flacco
Analysis: Flacco needs to prove his naysayers wrong, and I think he'll do the job.

Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Patriots LB Rob Ninkovich Edge: Rice
Analysis: Rice is a great runner in this stadium, he'll be able to burn Ninkovich easily.

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
S Ed Reed-Ankle-PRB

Patriots
Player-Injury-Status
WR Deion Branch-Knee-QST
S Patrick Chung-Knee-QST
TE Aaron Hernandez-Concussion-QST

Whoever wins the Ravens/Patriots game will play the winner of the Giants/49ers game, which will be played Sunday night, in the Super Bowl on February 5.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Divisional Playoff

2012-01-13T17:11:00.000-05:00

In Week 17, the Ravens clinched the AFC North with a 24-16 win over the Bengals. The Bengals still clinched a playoff spot though, but would lose in the first round to the Texans. On just the fourth play from scrimmage, Ray Rice sprinted through blocks from Vonta Leach and Marshal Yanda to take the ball 70 yards to the end zone, giving the Ravens the early advantage. After the teams exchanged field goals, Flacco took the Ravens on an eighty-yard drive at the end of the half, finishing it off with a beautiful throw-and-catch to Dennis Pitta in the back of the end zone. In the third quarter, however, Bernard Scott turned the corner, shook off would-be tackler Ed Reed, and bounced his way 25 yards for the score,narrowing the Ravens' lead to 7. After a Mike Nugent field goal made the score 17-13 in the fourth quarter, the Ravens were forced into a three-and-out, and the Bengals began to drive the ball downfield. They were stopped in their tracks however, when Terrell Suggs forced his 7th fumble of the year (a Ravens franchise record), and the Ravens took over possession. It didn't take long for the Ravens to get back on the board, and Ray Rice took a 51-yard scamper to the end zone to make it a two-possession lead. Down by eight in the final seconds of the game, a failed hail-mary attempt sealed the victory for the Ravens.

Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice-24 attempts, 191 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns

Key to the Win: Plain and simple, Cam Cameron did a great job designing the game plan for this game. Finally, he set up Flacco's passing game by using Ray Rice as a beginning point. Flacco threw just 19 passes, but that was all he needed to throw. The Ravens are a running team, no doubt about it, and Cameron did a great job of establishing that by using Ray Rice to his advantage.

With their win over the Bengals last week, the Texans earned themselves a trip to Baltimore for the divisional round of the playoffs. When the Texans came to Baltimore in Week 6, they left with a 29-14 loss. The key to that game was the Ravens' ability to hold star RB Arian Foster to just 49 rushing yards. If the Ravens want to replicate their early-season success, limiting Foster will be crucial. Foster has already expressed his desire for revenge against the Ravens after that dismal performance of his, so look out. Unlike Week 6, however, is the Texans quarterback situation. After losing starter Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinart to injuries, the Texans have relied on rookie QB T.J. Yates to push them deeper into the playoffs. Yates had the best game of his season last week against the Bengals, but he'll be facing an entirely different defense this Sunday. He has not yet faced a defense as intimidating as the Ravens, so his response should be interesting to watch. You never know, one big hit from Suggs or Ngata could completely alter his mindset, and make him hesitant to want to step back and throw another pass. Yates' main target, Andre Johnson, also missed the earlier matchup, but his size and skill set could prove difficult for the Ravens to defend. Expect him to be covered by either Lardarius Webb or Cary Williams, with help from Ed Reed over top of the route. On defense, the Texans are ranked in the top 5 in all major categories. Their third-ranked secondary could prove dangerous for Joe Flacco, so expect a lot of running to set up easier play-action passes. Despite these playmakers for the Texans, I think the Ravens are smarter and more experienced in these situations, which is always key in the playoffs especially. Plus, playing at home, where they were 8-0 during the regular season, is a huge advantage. I simply can't see the Ravens letting this game get away, so I have them winning 20-13.

Key to the Game: As I mentioned earlier, limiting Arian Foster's big play ability will be vital for the Ravens. If Foster can't reach 70 rushing yards, the Ravens will win this game. By limiting Foster, the Ravens put T.J. Yates into 3rd-and-long situations, which he won't be able to convert on a consistent basis. Since the Texans won't want to put the game on Yates' shoulders, they will rely on the run game as much as possible to put up points. Yates simply doesn't have the skills to beat the Ravens on his own.

Key Matchups for Texans at Ravens
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Texans QB T.J. Yates Edge: Suggs
Analysis: Suggs knows how to overpower both an offensive line and a quarterback, so I expect him to be relentless in his pursuit of Yates.

Ravens CB Lardarius Webb vs. Texans WR Andre Johnson Edge: Johnson
Analysis: Johnson has both a size and skill advantage over Webb, but keep in mind Webb still has not allowed a touchdown to be scored on him.

Ravens defensive line vs. Texans RB Arian Foster Edge: Ravens
Analysis: They did it in Week 6, and now that the stakes are higher, I expect them to do it again.

Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Texans CB Johnathan Joseph Edge: Joseph
Analysis: This is a close one, but Joseph is having a career year, so he'll be full force come Sunday.

Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Texans defensive line Edge: Rice
Analysis: Rice's speed and agility, plus superb blocking from Pro Bowl FB Vonta Leach, will help him make big plays on Sunday.

Ravens G Marshal Yanda vs. Texans DE Antonio Smith Edge: Yanda
Analysis: Yanda was injured last week, and still threw a key block on Rice's 70-yard TD run, there is no reason he won't be even better Sunday.

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo-Thigh-QST
LB Jameel McClain-Knee-QST

Texans
Player-Injury-Status
TE Owen Daniels-Hand-PRB
S Troy Nolan-Ankle-PRB

AFC Playoffs:
Broncos at Patriots, Sat. 8:30 PM
Texans at Ravens, Sun. 1:00 PM
The winners of these two games will face each other next Sunday in the AFC Championship.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 17 2011

2011-12-28T17:47:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday, the Ravens escaped a scare from the Browns to pull out a 20-14 home win. With this win, the Ravens finished undefeated at home for the first time in franchise history. They were rolling on all cylinders in the first half, giving themselves a 17-point cushion that ended up being the difference between a win or a loss. The Ravens first score came early in the first, when Flacco hit Ed Dickson in the back of the end zone on third and goal. Then, free agent signee Shayne Graham was put to the test, setting up and hitting a 48-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10. Midway through the second quarter, Flacco floated the football up to Ray Rice, who then ran 20 yards into the end zone to make it 17-0. After another Graham field goal, things began to slow down for the Ravens. A punt-return touchdown paired with a Flacco interception thrust the Browns back into the game. The Browns then made it a one-possession game when Seneca Wallace found Evan Moore for a touchdown. After a Ravens three-and-out, the Browns got the ball back with a chance to take the lead. On fourth down with four minutes left, Wallace threw to Peyton Hillis for no gain, and the Ravens were given an opportunity to seal the win. On a fourth and two at the two minute warning, Flacco drew lineman Phil Taylor offsides, and a series of kneel downs finished the game.

Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice-83 rushing yards, 3 catches, 48 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

What Worried Me: After what was at one point a 20-0 lead, this win was way too close for comfort. It leaves a lot to question about this team's stamina. Also, Joe Flacco looked dazed in the second half, making ill-advised passes and paying the price for them. He didn't get much help though. Ed Dickson had three drops, all which would have helped the team move the ball down the field and put up more points in the second half.

Next Sunday, the Ravens face a crucial game in Cincinnati against the 9-6 Bengals. When the teams met in November, the Ravens won 31-24. With a win, the Ravens lock up a first-round bye, and depending on the outcome of the Patriots/Bills game, homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. With a loss, the Ravens risk falling to a wild-card spot and having to play games on the road. This game is about as important as they get, and with the Ravens' struggles on the road this year, it won't be an easy one. The Bengals may have even more to play for than the Ravens. With a loss, they might not be able to even make the playoffs. However, they are in a win-and-you're-in situation, which could give them quite the emotional advantage. Because of all these implications, expect a playoff-like atmosphere when the Ravens hit the field on Sunday. Bengals rookie QB Andy Dalton showed the poise of a veteran in November, and certainly poses a serious threat to the Ravens' hopes of a first-round bye. Rookie WR A.J. Green, who missed the previous matchup between the teams, will be active this week, and is a vertical threat whom the Ravens' secondary will find tough to defend. On defense, Carlos Dunlap and Domata Peko lead the Bengals pass rush. They will need to put pressure on Joe Flacco if they want a chance to stop the Ravens offensive attack. With a combination of Flacco's passing and Rice's ground game, the Ravens can pound their way onto the scoreboard. With some defensive help, the Ravens will be able to pull out what is going to be a close game. Keep in mind that new Ravens K Shayne Graham, who is expected to start in place of the still injured Billy Cundiff, spent 7 seasons with the Bengals. No one knows that stadium and that weather like Graham, which could become important if a late-game field goal is needed. With the Ravens' implications as grand as they are, I have them winning 24-20.

Key to the Game: Andy Dalton has incredible poise for his age, and does a great job of getting the ball out quickly and accurately. The only way to stop that is pressure. If the Ravens pass rush can get to Dalton quickly, the Bengals offense will be halted, and their point-scoring abilities stopped. Also, because of the Ravens road struggled thus far, they will need to start strong and fire on all cylinders if they want to get the sold-out Cincinnati crowd out of the game fast and put a lead on the board.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Bengals
Ravens CB Lardarius Webb vs. Bengals WR A.J. Green Edge: Push
Analysis: Webb has not allowed a touchdown yet this year, while Green poses a dangerous threat down the field.

Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Bengals QB Andy Dalton Edge: Suggs
Analysis: Suggs' ability to get to Dalton will dictate the Bengals' offensive success.

Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Bengals LB Rey Maualuga Edge: Rice
Analysis: Rice will need to move the ball in order for the Ravens to maintain offensive balance throughout the game, and Maualuga doesn't have the speed to catch up to him.

Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Bengals NT Domata Peko Edge: Peko
Analysis: Peko's athleticism will help him get past the older Birk, and to Joe Flacco.

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Anquan Boldin-Knee-DBT
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Head-DBT
G Marshal Yanda-Chest-DBT
K Billy Cundiff-Calf-QST
DE Cory Redding-Ankle-QST
CB Cary Williams-Head-QST

Bengals
Player-Injury-Status
S Taylor Mays-Hamstring-DBT
LB Dontay Moch-Illness-DBT
DE Carlos Dunlap-Hamstring-DBT

AFC North Standings
Team                    W        L
Ravens                 11        4
Steelers                11        4
Bengals                 9         6
Browns                 4         11

AFC North Outlook: Here are the Week 17 AFC playoff scenarios:
Ravens win/Patriots win: Ravens clinch first-round bye, Patriots clinch homefield advantage
Ravens win/Patriots lose: Ravens clinch first-round bye and homefield advantage, Patriots have #2 seed
Ravens lose/Steelers win: Steelers clinch first-round bye, Ravens fall to wild card spot

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report. Happy New Year, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 16 2011

2011-12-23T21:50:00.002-05:00

Last Sunday night, the Chargers routed the Ravens on national television, 34-14. This was a domination from start to finish, as the relentless Chargers really put it on the Ravens. Phillip Rivers picked apart the previously unbeatable Ravens defense, torching corners and getting the ball out of his hand quickly. With this, the Ravens pass rush was simply not quick enough to get to the quarterback. We have to give San Diego some credit, they did their homework and played the Ravens the way you beat the Ravens. They played just as good as the Ravens did bad. The score was 17-7 at halftime after touchdowns from Mike Tolbert for the Chargers and Ed Dickson for the Ravens. Another missed Cundiff field goal dug the Ravens into a much deeper hole. Two third quarter Charger touchdowns combined with two Ravens turnovers put the game away with plenty of time on the clock. Torrey Smith caught a last-minute touchdown, but to no avail, as the Ravens dropped their fourth game of the season.

Player of the Game: Chargers QB Phillip Rivers-17/23 for 270 yards, 1 passing touchdown

What Worried Me: Well this list goes on and on. Mostly, Billy Cundiff's missed field goal made for a two-possession game at halftime instead of just a touchdown lead for the Chargers. Missed field goals is not something Ravens fans are accustomed to after 13 years with Matt Stover, one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. While Cundiff is injured and a new kicker (Shayne Graham) has been signed, field goals decide games down the stretch, and the Ravens need to win those stretch games.

Next Saturday afternoon, the Ravens face off against the 4-10 Cleveland Browns, whom the Ravens downed 24-10 in Week 13. The key to this game for the Ravens will once again be the running game. The Browns' rush defense ranks 31st in the NFL, so when Ray Rice has the ball in his hands on Saturday, you can guarantee good things will happen. With Anquan Boldin out for the next two weeks, other receivers such as Tandon Doss and Dennis Pitta will have to step up and fill the void. The Browns do have a good pass defense, so don't expect Joe Flacco to pass much if he doesn't have to. Colt McCoy, who started for the Browns back in Week 13, will be out Saturday with a concussion, so backup Seneca Wallace will get the nod. While he is not a great pocket passer, he is most dangerous outside of the pocket. He runs the ball well, so he will be a threat if he leaves the pocket. To defend that, expect the Ravens to put a linebacker like Jarret Johnson in the box to prevent Wallace from trying to run. This is simply a must-win game for the Ravens if they want to stay in the hunt for a bye, and I don't expect them to let up. I have the Ravens winning, 27-10. With this win, the Ravens would finish a perfect 8-0 at home, something they have never done in franchise history.

Key to the Game: The Ravens will need to keep the ball moving and eat up the clock to rest the defense. A rested defense is a good defense, and a defense which could stop the Browns in their tracks.

Key Matchups for Browns at Ravens
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Browns QB Seneca Wallace Edge: Reed
Ravens DT Haloti Ngata vs. Browns T Joe Thomas Edge: Ngata
Ravens WR Torrey Smith vs. Browns CB Joe Haden Edge: Haden
Ravens G Marshal Yanda vs. Browns DT Jabaal Sheard Edge: Yanda

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Anquan Boldin-Knee-OUT
K Billy Cundiff-Calf-DBT
DE Cory Redding-Ankle-QST

Browns
Player-Injury-Status
QB Colt McCoy-Concussion-OUT
WR Josh Cribbs-Groin-QST
CB Joe Haden-Thigh-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Ravens 10 4
Steelers 10 4
Bengals 8 6
Browns 4 10
AFC North Outlook: The Ravens remain ahead of the Steelers for the division lead after the Steelers Monday night loss to the 49ers. This weekend, the Ravens can clinch the division with a win and a Steelers loss to the Rams. If the Ravens and Patriots win out, the Ravens have the #2 seed and a bye. If the Ravens win out and the Patriots lose a game, the Ravens have the #1 seed.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week, happy holidays and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 15 2011

2011-12-17T13:18:00.005-05:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens got a much-needed 24-10 win over the still winless Colts. By putting continuous pressure on Dan Orlovsky and marching down the field methodically, the Ravens did exactly what they needed to do in order to pull out the win. After failing to score early in the game, Joe Flacco finished off the Ravens' first scoring drive with an 8-yard bullet to Torrey Smith, making it 7-0. Following a Billy Cundiff field goal, Ray Rice topped off another long Ravens drive with a 6-yard run into the end zone. The Colts would kick a field goal late in the second quarter, and the Ravens took a 17-3 lead into halftime. As the Ravens defense continued to halt the Colts in their tracks, Flacco was on his way to extending the lead. His next score was a scary 7-yard pass to Dennis Pitta, in which Flacco threw all the way across his body. Usually when we see quarterbacks throw that pass, it is caught by the other team. In fact, as he was making the catch, Pitta braced himself for a hit from who he thought was a Colts defender, but luckily it was fellow receiver Torrey Smith. Flacco really needs to be careful throwing those types of passes. Despite holding down Orlovsky for most of the game, the Ravens defense did let up late, allowing a touchdown in the final seconds of the game. John Harbaugh was visibly upset about the late letdown, but all that's important is the W in the schedule.

Player of the Game: Ravens LB Terrell Suggs-5 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles

What Worried Me: While Suggs got to the quarterback with ease, none of his three forced fumbles were recovered by the Ravens. That means three missed opportunities to get the Ravens offense a chance to score. In closer games, those loose balls will need to be recovered, or the Ravens will pay for it.

Next Sunday night, the Ravens travel to the West Coast for a primetime matchup with the resurgent San Diego Chargers. After their trademark slow start, the Chargers have made yet another comeback, and are now just two games back of the lead in the AFC West. The Chargers are known for their December success, and quarterback Phillip Rivers is 22-2 during his career this month. Rivers has started to pick his game up lately, and after throwing 17 interceptions in his first 11 games, he hasn't thrown one in two weeks. That being said, the young Ravens secondary will have to be at the top of their game in order to slow down Rivers. His receivers include future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, and up-and-comers such as Vincent Brown and Vincent Jackson. The Ravens could be getting an extra boost on defense this weekend, as Ray Lewis is expected to make his return after missing the past four games.
Defensively for the Chargers, S Eric Weddle leads the NFL with 7 interceptions, so Flacco's recognition of where Weddle is at all times will be vital to ball security. Still, the ground game could be where the Ravens win this game. The Chargers defense ranks 24th in the league in rush defense, so Rice, who has over 300 yards over the past two games, could lead the Ravens offensive attack. There is certainly a lot on the line for both teams in this game. A loss for the Chargers could mean elimination from playoff contention, while a Ravens win clinches a playoff berth and continues their track towards a first-round bye. This all makes a great recipe for a hard-hitting, nail-biting clash Sunday night. I have the Ravens pulling out a close one, 23-20.

Key to the Game: For the Ravens, halting Phillip Rivers and what has been an explosive offense lately will be key for the win. If Rivers is able to air it out like we all know he can, the Ravens will be in trouble.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Chargers
Ravens CB Jimmy Smith vs. Chargers WR Vincent Jackson Edge: Jackson
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Chargers QB Phillip Rivers Edge: Reed
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Chargers CB Quentin Jammer Edge: Boldin
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Chargers S Eric Weddle Edge: Flacco

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Back-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-QST
DT Haloti Ngata-Back-QST
DT Cory Redding-Ankle-QST
CB Lardarius Webb-Toe-QST

Chargers
Player-Injury-Status
LB Takeo Spikes-Back-QST
DE Jacques Cesaire-Ankle-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Ravens 10 3
Steelers 10 3
Bengals 7 6
Browns 4 9

AFC North Outlook: The Ravens hold of the tiebreaker is still the difference between the Ravens and Steelers. Winning out means the Ravens take the division. The Steelers face the 49ers on Monday night. The Bengals visit the Rams. The Browns visit the Cardinals.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 14 2011

2011-12-10T16:27:00.002-05:00

Last week, the Ravens took care of business with a 24-10 win over the Browns. The empty stadium created an uninspiring game from the Browns, and helped the Ravens sustain momentum throughout the game. The rainy conditions were ideal for the Ravens gameplan, which consisted of a healthy amount of Ray Rice pounding the ball at the Browns defense, as Rice and fellow back Ricky Williams combined for close to 300 rushing yards. Rice set a career high in yards on the ground, finishing with 204. He also started the Ravens scoring in the second quarter with a 6-yard touchdown score. After a Billy Cundiff field goal, the Ravens took a 10-0 lead into halftime. Then, following a Phil Dawson field goal for the Browns, Rice set up a Ricky Williams touchdown run with a 67-yard run of his own, and the Ravens extended their lead. To put the finishing touches on for the Ravens, CB Lardarius Webb returned a punt 68 yards to the house, and it was smooth sailing from there.

Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice- 29 attempts, 204 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown

Key to the Win: For weeks, we have complained that Ray Rice was not getting enough touches, and Joe Flacco was throwing too much. Finally, Rice got the carries he deserved, using his 29 for a career high in yardage. On the other side of the ball, Joe Flacco only had to throw 23 times. That's how this offense wins a game.

What Worried Me: This was a victory on most sides of the ball, but Billy Cundiff's performance caused some concern. Cundiff missed two first half field goals (34,41) that could have given the Ravens a more comfortable lead. While he does have an injury to his plant leg, those six points could be the difference in games down the strech.

Next week, the Ravens return home to host the winless Indianapolis Colts. This is not the Colts team we are used to, and it's simply incredible how much one person can affect a team's success. Peyton Manning's neck surgery has caused him to miss every game this season, and the Colts' alternatives are not getting the job done. Dan Orlovsky, who was part of the winless Lions team in 2008, will be getting his second start this week. Orlovsky has not won a game he's played in since 2004, when he was a senior at Connecticut. The Ravens defense will look to confuse Orlovsky with different blitz packages, and get him out of his zone early. Despite their record, the Colts have some offensive playmakers. Receivers Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon both have big play potential. Garcon seems to be Orlovsky's favorite target, catching two touchdowns in Orlovsky's debut last week. In the running game, youngsters Donald Brown and Delone Carter lead the way, but neither have yet to make a big statement yet as a professional. The Colts have some weapons on defense as well. DE Dwight Freeney has destroyed the Ravens in the past, and is one of the top pass rushers in the NFL. He is joined on the defensive line by Robert Mathis, who is tied with Freeney for the team lead in sacks with 5.5. With the Colts lack of defensive talent, containing Freeney and Mathis will be vital to a successful offensive day. This should be as much of a mismatch on the field as it is on paper, and I have the Ravens winning, 30-10.

Key to the Game: The biggest threat to a Ravens win is the Colts pass rush, with the aforementioned Freeney and Mathis. If the Ravens offensive line can prevent them from getting to Joe Flacco, he will have time to find his receivers, and keep the Ravens moving down the field.

Key Matchups for Colts at Ravens
Ravens CB Cary Williams vs. Colts WR Reggie Wayne Edge: Wayne
Ravens LB Jameel McClain vs. Colts RB Donald Brown Edge: McClain
Ravens T Bryant McKinnie vs. Colts DE Dwight Freeney Edge: Freeney
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Colts S Antoine Bathea Edge: Flacco

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Back-OUT
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-QST
K Billy Cundiff-Left Calf-QST

Colts
Player-Injury-Status
QB Peyton Manning-Neck-OUT
LB Pat Angerer-Knee-QST
TE Dallas Clark-Fibula-QST
WR Anthony Gonzalez-Groin-QST
LB Ernie Sims-Toe-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Steelers 10 3
Ravens 9 3
Bengals 7 5
Browns 4 9

AFC North Outlook: Since the Steelers beat the Browns on Thursday night, they technically have the division lead right now. The Ravens can overtake them with a win on Sunday. The Bengals host the Texans.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 13 2011

2011-12-03T10:47:00.004-05:00

On Thanksgiving night, the Ravens shut down the 49ers attack, and pulled out a 16-6 win. Other than bragging rights for our Harbaugh, this win keeps the Ravens in line and in control of their own future for a division title and a playoff bye. The first half was a battle of field position and field goals. With the Ravens up 6-3 and the Niners driving in the final moments of the half, Alex Smith's shot to the end zone was picked off by Lardarius Webb, and the Ravens held the lead at halftime. The one scare of the first half came on a long touchdown pass to Ted Ginn, Jr. that was called back because of an offensive penalty. One can only imagine how this game could have turned out if that touchdown had stood. The only score of the third quarter was a field goal for the Niners, but as the quarter ended, the Ravens had a third and goal deep in 49ers territory. They had failed to convert in previous red zone chances, but a Flacco bullet to TE Dennis Pitta(the first of his career) gave the Ravens a 7-point advantage. The rest was up to the Ravens defense, who came through when it mattered, and a late field goal sealed a 16-6 Ravens victory. One of the keys to the Ravens defensive success was the relentless pressure they put on Alex Smith, something that had been lacking in previous weeks. They got to Smith a franchise-record 9 times, with Terrell Suggs contributing 3 of those sacks. If the Ravens can do even half of this consistently, it will be hard for the opposing offense to get moving.

Player of the Game: Ravens LB Terrell Suggs-3 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble

Unsung Hero: Ravens DE Corey Redding-4 tackles, 2.5 sacks

What Worried Me: While the overall gameplan and its execution were a success, there were still a few questionable calls. The two that jump out came when the Ravens faced a second and goal at the 1-yard line in the second quarter. The Ravens ran Ray Rice outside, where he was stuffed for a loss of 4. Why not put in your biggest blockers, run straight up the middle, and give yourself three chances to advance just one yard? The next play was a QB Draw, where Joe Flacco was not even able to get back to the line of scrimmage. Flacco is simply not the quarterback to run that play with, he's too big. That ball should be a shot to the end zone. We simply have to execute better at the goal line. Later in the game, deep in Niners territory, the Ravens called a fade for Torrey Smith. Fades are supposed to go to hands receivers, such as Anquan Boldin and Ed Dickson. Why they didn't get that call is confusing.

Next week, the Ravens travel to Cleveland to face the 4-7 Browns. While the stadium will be empty and the team uninspired, the Browns record may be misleading. They have lost two games they could have won if not for a botched field goal attempt, and they gave the Bengals a run for their money last week. Plus we all know the Ravens pattern of losing on the road to inferior teams, but the Ravens know how to play the Browns in Cleveland, they've done it before, but they have a lot to prove this time. It's weird to say, but this is a must-win game. With a loss, the Ravens could fall behind and get off the track for a division title and a playoff bye. The Browns offense ranks near the bottom in the league in almost every category, so the Ravens defense could be looking at a good day. Once again, putting pressure on and bringing down Browns QB Colt McCoy will slow the Browns down and provide better field position for the Ravens offense. Browns RB Peyton Hillis has been slowed down this year by a hamstring injury, but his presence as a strong runner who opens up the passing game could potentially hurt the Ravens defensively. On defense, the Browns rank #1 in pass defense, which could affect the number of passes that Flacco throws, as well as the playcalls themselves. On the other side, they rank 29th in run defense, so the Ravens struggling running game could finally catch a break this week. Even with the Ravens tendency to play to the level of inferior teams, there is much more on the line this week, and I think the Ravens will realize that, and prove themselves as a team that can beat anybody anywhere. I have the Ravens winning 27-16.

Key to the Game: For the Ravens, smart play-calling and not giving in with either a lead or a deficit will be crucial for a win.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Browns
Ravens DE Haloti Ngata vs. Browns T Joe Thomas Edge: Ngata
Ravens linebacking corps vs. Browns RB Peyton Hillis Edge: Ravens
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Browns pass defense Edge: Push
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Browns LB D'Qwell Jackson Edge: Rice

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Back-OUT
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-QST

Browns
Player-Injury-Status
LB Quentin Spears-Hamstring-OUT
DB T.J. Ward-Foot/Finger-OUT
RB Montario Hardesty-Calf-QST
OL Tony Pashos-Ankle-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Ravens 8 3
Steelers 8 3
Bengals 7 4
Browns 4 7

AFC North Outlook: The Ravens still hold the tiebreaker with the Steelers, who host the Bengals in a pivotal matchup this weekend. Here are the potential situations for this game:
Ravens win/Steelers win-Bengals fall behind a game, Ravens keep lead
Ravens win/Bengals win-Ravens take two-game lead over Steelers, Bengals still behind in division race
Ravens lose/Steelers win-Steelers take one-game division lead
Ravens lose/Bengals win-Ravens still lead over Steelers, yet tied with Bengals

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 12 2011

2011-11-23T19:18:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens held off a late Bengals comeback to pull out a crucial 31-24 win. Some of the biggest plays of the game came from the Ravens' rookies. Torrey Smith caught a touchdown, Jimmy Smith got his first career interception, and Pernell McPhee's sack ended the game. The Bengals would open up the scoring with a 7-yard Cedric Benson touchdown run in the first quarter. But Flacco, who struggled early, responded well, and found an open Anquan Boldin, who fought his way to the end zone to tie up the game. Then, a Ray Rice touchdown would give the Ravens a 14-7 lead at halftime. After a Billy Cundiff field goal deep in Bengals territory, Benson got in the end zone once again to bring the Bengals within three. Not long after, Ray Rice would score again, and it was a two-possession game late in the third. In the first minute of the fourth, however, Flacco connected deep in the end zone with Torrey Smith, and the Bengals now trailed by three scores. But young Andy Dalton would not give in quite yet, finding Andre Caldwell open along the sidelines for a touchdown. On the Bengals next drive, a field goal would bring them just a touchdown away from tying the game. When they got the ball back, Dalton anchored a drive that moved the Bengals deep into Ravens territory with plenty of time to work with. But an intentional grounding call on second down not only backed up the Bengals, but also resulted in a loss of down. On fourth down, Dalton was brought down by the rookie McPhee, and the Ravens escaped with the win. While Dalton did impress with his poise against the toughest defense he's yet to face, his mistakes late in the game ended up costing the Bengals a chance to win. For the Ravens, this win puts the pressure on the Bengals to win the teams' second matchup in January, or else the Ravens gain control of that tiebreaker as well.

Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco-17/27 for 270 yards, 2 passing touchdowns

Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I stressed the importance of ball handling, which the Ravens did well for the most part. While Flacco was picked once, his winning performance made up for the one mistake.

The Brother Bowl. The Battle of the Brothers. The Harbaugh Bowl. Whatever you may like to call it, the Ravens matchup with the 9-1 San Francisco 49ers is going to be a game to remember. It will be the first time that brothers will face each other as NFL head coaches, as the Ravens' John Harbaugh goes head-to-head with his brother Jim (a former Ravens QB), the first-year coach of the 49ers. When the game was first put on the schedule, it figured to be a money-maker simply because of the brothers, but the surprising success of the Niners will take this game to a whole different level. Perhaps the most surprising team in the NFL this year, the Niners top-ranked defense has confused every offense to come their way. Led by LB Patrick Willis, a carbon copy of his counterpart Ray Lewis, the Niners defense is yet to give up a rushing touchdown, but will face Ray Rice this week, who has 8 on the year. The Niners secondary has been the weak link, but the team still leads the NFL in takeaways. Many have gone as far as to compare this Niners defense to the Ravens championship defense of 2000, and the teams certainly do have similar characteristics. Neither had a big-name quarterback, while the running backs have played an important role in the offense. 49ers RB Frank Gore has rushed for 100 or more yards in five games this season. He is a bit banged up, but is expected to play Thursday night. If the Ravens defense can contain Gore, the 49ers will have to rely on inconsistent QB Alex Smith. The former first overall pick had struggled mightily in the past, but has begun to flourish under his new head coach. We should be able to get a better idea of Smith's real skills against a ball-thirsty Ravens defense, so look out for how Smith reacts to that. With these two defenses ranking among the tops in the league, we shouldn't expect to see many points on the scoreboard. Another thing to keep in mind is the short week the teams had to prepare for this game. Both teams played Sunday afternoon, but the Niners' week included a cross-country flight. While that shouldn't become a factor, remember that these are human beings playing the game, and that it is very possible fatigue will come into play. With all of these factors, I think the Ravens do hold a slight advantage. I'm proud to say I'm confident in what Joe Flacco will be able to do, and I think he will use all he has to help pull out this win. I have the Ravens winning a thriller, 20-16.

Key to the Game: Once again, Cam Cameron's play-calling will become a major factor. We've seen him give up on Ray Rice after just a few failed carries, and against a defense as strong as the 49ers, this could easily happen again. Sticking to the game-plan and giving Rice the carries he deserves will open up more for Flacco in the passing game, which in turn will help the Ravens offense overcome the Niners.

Key Matchups for 49ers at Ravens
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. 49ers QB Alex Smith Edge: Reed
Ravens LB Jarret Johnson vs. 49ers TE Vernon Davis Edge: Davis
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. 49ers LB Patrick Willis Edge: Push
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. 49ers CB Carlos Rogers Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-QST
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-QST
CB Chris Carr-Back-QST

49ers
Player-Injury-Status
WR Braylon Edwards-Knee-QST
RB Frank Gore-Knee-PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Ravens 7 3
Steelers 7 3
Bengals 6 4
Browns 4 6

AFC North Outlook: With the Ravens and Steelers technically tied (the tiebreaker does not come into play until the end of the year), a win for the Ravens would be huge in keeping pace in the division. A Steelers loss makes them two games behind the Ravens. The Steelers visit Kansas City on Sunday night. The Bengals host the Browns.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, have a happy Thanksgiving, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 11 2011

2011-11-19T14:33:00.002-05:00

Last week, the Ravens suffered another loss to a below .500 team, falling 22-17 to the Seattle Seahawks. What seems to be a curse hanging over a winning Ravens team has turned into an unacceptable string of losses. The Seahawks began the scoring with a Marshawn Lynch touchdown. The following kickoff was one of David Reed's two fumbles, and the Seahawks would jump out to a quick 10-0 lead. The Ravens made it 10-7 in the second quarter when a reverse went to Ray Rice, who threw, yes threw, a 1-yard pass to Ed Dickson. At halftime, the Seahawks had a 19-7 lead after former Ravens K Steven Hauschka hit three field goals. The teams then exchanged third quarter field goals, and the Ravens had a two-possession deficit with 15 minutes remaining. After being repeatedly stopped by the Seahawks' defense, Joe Flacco finally penetrated the end zone himself with a touchdown pass to Dickson, and made the score 22-17 with six minutes left in regulation. But the usually clutch Ravens defense was beaten when it mattered, and the Seahawks were able to kill the clock and escape with the win. Ray Rice, easily the biggest playmaker on the Ravens offense, had just 13 touches, putting the pressure on the inconsistent Ravens passing game. While the Ravens were trailing for most of the game, not giving Rice at least 20 touches a game puts the Ravens in an unfavorable position offensively. In fact, in all three of the Ravens losses this year, Rice has had less than 20 touches. See a trend? This loss puts the Ravens in a must-win spot for the next few weeks if they want to take advantage of the tiebreaker hold they have with the Steelers.

Player of the Game: Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch-102 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD

Last Week's Key to the Game: The Ravens did exactly what they could not afford to do, getting sloppy with the ball and not taking advantage of a winnable game, which both contributed to the loss.

Next Sunday, the Ravens return home to face the division rival Cincinnati Bengals. The winner of this game joins the Steelers in first place in the AFC North, while the loser falls behind. While this isn't Ravens-Steelers, these two teams have a hard-hitting history with each other, so expect a physical battle on Sunday. The young cardiac cats have gotten off to a surprising 6-3 start with rookie QB Andy Dalton at the helm. Dalton's most explosive target, fellow rookie WR A.J. Green, hyper-extended his leg last week and will be a game-time decision on Sunday. Green's absence would change the dynamic of the Bengals offense, as Green leads all rookie receivers in catches and yards. Also on offense is RB Cedric Benson, who has a history of torching the Ravens defense with his power running. Benson has not had a strong year so far, but all it takes is one breakout run to change the course of this game. With Ray Lewis expected to miss the game, this task becomes even harder for the Ravens defense. While the Bengals rush defense has been outstanding this year, Cam Cameron needs to set aside his imaginary offense and run the ball down the Bengals' throats with Ray Rice. Luckily, the Bengals injury bug stretches to the defense as well with DE Carlos Dunlap expected to miss the game, and Leon Hall, who will miss the rest of the season. These injuries will help Joe Flacco, who has struggled historically against the Bengals, throwing five interceptions against them in two games last year. The Ravens need to come out rolling early on Sunday, and prove once again that their miscues are simply a fluke. I have the Ravens doing just that, and escaping with a close 23-17 win.

Key to the Game: The key to the game for the Ravens will once again be holding on to the ball, and not getting sloppy. Even with a lead, using the clock wisely and being merciless on all sides of the ball will be a key to victory in the second half.

Key Matchups for Bengals at Ravens
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Bengals QB Andy Dalton Edge: Reed
Ravens LB Jameel McClain vs. Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham Edge: Gresham
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Bengals DT Domata Peko Edge: Rice
Ravens T Michael Oher vs. Bengals DE Robert Geathers Edge: Geathers

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-QST
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-QST
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-QST

Bengals
Player-Injury-Status
WR A.J. Green-Knee-DBT
TE Donald Lee-Foot-DBT
DE Carlos Dunlap-Hamstring-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Steelers 7 3
Ravens 6 3
Bengals 6 3
Browns 3 6

AFC North Outlook: The winner of the Ravens-Bengals game joins the Steelers at the top of the division with the Steelers on their bye week. The Browns host the Jaguars.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 10 2011

2011-11-12T14:57:00.002-05:00

Last Sunday night, the Ravens completed their first sweep of the Steelers since 2006 in a last-minute 23-20 win. This win gives the Ravens the tiebreaker in the AFC North, which could come in handy as we head down the final stretch of this season. The first half of the game was a battle of field goals, one that the Ravens won when Billy Cundiff hit from 51 yards in the final seconds of the half, giving the Ravens a 9-6 edge. In the third quarter, the Ravens defense continued to hold back the Steelers, and a Ray Rice touchdown run gave the Ravens a two-possession lead after three. But early in the fourth, the Steelers capped off an eighty yard drive with a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown, and with an entire quarter left, the Ravens lead was cut to 16-13. The Ravens offense then began to slow down, and a late Flacco fumble gave Pittsburgh good position to tie or take the lead. Ben Roethlisberger then orchestrated a perfect drive, and finished it with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace to give Pittsburgh a four-point lead with 5 minutes remaining. The Ravens were forced into a quick three-and-out, and the Steelers had a chance to run out the rest of the clock. But the Ravens defense buckled down and forced a punt, and Joe Flacco had two and a half minutes to drive the Ravens 90 yards for a touchdown. This quickly became a defining drive for Flacco as he marched his unit down the field. After converting a crucial fourth down, Flacco's end zone shot to Torrey Smith was dropped, but Smith still had something to prove. After a Boldin drop, Flacco looked again to Smith, who's diving effort for the score gave the Ravens a victory in the waning seconds of regulation. Perhaps the most important statistic of the game is the Ravens ability to convert on third down, going 14 for 21 including two conversions on the final drive. Without these conversions, the Ravens simply would not have had the success they did.

Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco- 28/47 for 300 yards, 1 touchdown

Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week I said that the Ravens needed to better be able to sustain drives, which they did very well at points in the game. The final drive was simply perfect, and is an early defining moment in Flacco's career.

This Sunday, the Ravens take a visit to Seattle to face the struggling 2-6 Seahawks. Unfortunately for the Ravens, consistent road success has been an issue, so putting together a quality performance that ends with a win will be important for the continuity of this Ravens team. We all saw the embarrassing losses to the Titans and Jaguars, so we don't want to add the Seahawks to that list. The quarterback position has been the main area of concern for Seattle, as jumping between Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst hasn't seemed to work out too well. Jackson is expected to start Sunday despite a pectoral injury. While the Seahawks have struggled mightily on offense, RB Marshawn Lynch is a powerful and very dangerous runner that can break out into the open field at any time. Containing Lynch will be vital for the Ravens. The Seahawks defense is lead by DE Chris Clemons and S Earl Thomas. Making sure Flacco knows where those two are before the play will help to avoid them getting involved in the play. This could once again be a trap game for the Ravens, and staying focused on the task at hand instead of worrying about the opposing team's record will prove key for not letting this one get away. I have the Ravens giving up some points, but still pulling out a 27-16 win.

Key to the Game: The key to a Ravens win will be staying focused at what is at hand, not getting sloppy with the ball, and playing tough, hard-nosed defensive football. With some consistent offense and shutdown defense, it shouldn't be a difficult win for the Ravens.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Seahawks
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Lardarius Webb vs. Seahawks WR Mike Williams Edge: Webb
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Seahawks S Earl Thomas Edge: Flacco
Ravens T Michael Oher vs. Seahawks DE Chris Clemons Edge: Clemons

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-DBT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-DBT
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo-Head-QST

Seahawks
Player-Injury-Status
LB David Vobora-Concussion-OUT
TE Cameron Morrah-Toe, Knee-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Ravens 6 2
Bengals 6 2
Steelers 6 3
Browns 3 5

AFC North Outlook: The Steelers-Bengals game this weekend will decide if the Ravens have a counterpart atop the division, and the Ravens hold of the tiebreaker could be important if the Steelers were to win and the Ravens to lose at any point in the season.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 9 2011

2011-11-05T15:50:00.002-04:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens completed the biggest comeback in team history, rallying from a 21-point deficit to win 30-27. While the comeback showed great leadership from Joe Flacco, the deficit itself elicits some concern. The offense lacked in effort, and Flacco made crucial mistakes, but luckily they got it together when they needed to. After early field goals on both sides, a Flacco fumble put the Cardinals in great position, and they would score soon after to make it 10-3. After a Ravens three-and-out, Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson returned Sam Koch's punt 82 yards for a touchdown, breaking 5 tackles on his way to the end zone. Next, a Flacco interception set up another Cardinals touchdown, and the score was 24-6 at halftime. Luckily, Flacco realized that we weren't going to be able to get the lead all back at once, and the only way to come back was to slowly chip away at the lead. After a long well-executed drive, Ray Rice pounded it in from a yard out, and the comeback was underway. On the Ravens next drive, Anquan Boldin made some spectacular catches and another Rice touchdown made it a one possession lead. The Ravens finally took the lead on the first play of the fourth quarter with another Rice score. But the Ravens defense finally relented, and a late Cardinals field goal set up a tough task if the Ravens wanted to win in regulation. Then, with under 50 seconds remaining, Flacco connected deep with Torrey Smith, who made up for an earlier drop by putting the Ravens inside the ten, and in prime position to take the game. A last-second Billy Cundiff field goal lifted the Ravens to an important victory, and a 5-2 record.

Player of the Game: Ravens LB Terrell Suggs- 9 tackles, 1 sack

Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said the Ravens needed to do a better job of sustaining drives, which they didn't do until the second half. That being said, they did a very good job of doing it in the second half.

Next week, the Ravens travel to Heinz Field to take on the hated Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. This game means more than just the division lead now, but a Ravens win gives them the division tiebreaker and possible home-field advantage over the Steelers during the playoffs. When these two teams met in September, the Ravens put a 35-7 shellacking on the Steelers, and that game will not soon be forgotten on either side. The Steelers will be looking for a little revenge come Sunday night, and they'll have a great chance to do it. Since that early season matchup, it seems as if the Ravens have been playing worse, while the Steelers have been playing better. That being said, the Steelers will be missing some key defenders. LBs Lamarr Woodley and James Farrior are both expected to be out, while James Harrison could be a game-time decision. The one defender that Joe Flacco will have to look out for is Troy Polamalu, who is a threat to turn the game around on every snap. The Steelers first-ranked pass defense poses a big threat to a struggling Ravens offense, and the real test for Flacco will come here. On offense, Steelers WR Mike Wallace has made himself one of the most explosive receivers in the game, and can turn even a screen pass into a huge gain. The Steelers running game has not been strong, and could have serious problems against the Ravens-top ranked defense. This game should live up to its physical expectations, because there is continuous bad blood on both sides. The two teams are practically designed in order to beat each other, that's what makes the games so good, and also so unpredictable from time to time. Being the Ravens fan I am, I've gotta go with my team in this one, taking Pittsburgh down with a close 17-16 win.

Key to the Game: The Ravens will be getting a key offensive boost with the return of lineman Ben Grubbs, who should open up more holes for Ray Rice, who had a big game against Pittsburgh in September. For the Ravens to win, they'll need to rely on Rice once again to lead the charge down the field.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Steelers
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Edge: Suggs
Ravens CB Lardarius Webb vs. Steelers WR Mike Wallace Edge: Wallace
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons Edge: Rice
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Steelers S Troy Polamalu Edge: Polamalu

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-OUT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST
WR David Reed-Knee-QST

Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
G Doug Legursky-Toe-OUT
WR Emmanuel Sanders-Knee-OUT
LB LaMarr Woodley-Hamstring-OUT
LB James Farrior-Calf-QST
WR Hines Ward-Ankle-QST
P Daniel Sepulveda-Knee-QST
LB James Harrison-Eye-PRB

As a parting note, I'd like to leave you with this quote from Ravens LB Terrell Suggs pertaining to Sunday night's game.

"Big Ben, you know he’s a great quarterback. God can have his soul, but his ass belongs to me." If that isn't inspiration, I don't know what is. Let's go get em.

Ravens Report-Week 8 2011

2011-10-29T16:42:00.003-04:00

Last Monday, the Ravens lost an embarrassing and downright unacceptable game to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 12-7. This was one of the most pathetic displays of football I've ever seen, and we frankly did not deserve to win. The defense played the way they needed to for most of the game, but the offense could simply not get things together. Jaguars K Josh Scobee hit two field goals from 54 yards in the first half, and it was 6-0 at the half. After another long Scobee field goal in the third, the Ravens needed to get it together, and quickly. That didn't happen until late in the fourth, when Joe Flacco finally decided to wake up. He found Anquan Boldin in the end zone, and with two minutes left, the Ravens were in striking distance. After Scobee nailed it through the uprights yet again, Flacco was faced with one final chance to put the Ravens on top and get out of Jacksonville with a win. But on just the second play of the drive, Flacco's pass was picked off by Drew Coleman, and the Jaguars pulled off the upset. With a loss like this, one must wonder, who is to blame? The immediate responsibility is put on the shoulders of the offensive leaders who were unable to get it going, Flacco and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Ravens fans can look at Flacco and say that this is a learning experience for a quarterback that is still young, but that excuse won't last long. Flacco has had these kinds of games before, and we keep waiting for him to learn from it, and it is a big problem that that hasn't happened yet. As for Cameron, my tolerance is quickly diminishing. One stat from this game that really jumped out at me was Ray Rice, or maybe the lack of Ray Rice. He got just 8 carries Monday night, the lowest since he became the Ravens' starter. When the biggest playmaker on this team gets only eight touches, it will be hard to win. Rice needs to be incorporated much more.

Player of the Game: Jaguars K Josh Scobee-4/4, all from 50+ yards

Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said the Ravens needed to stop Maurice Jones-Drew. He put up over 100 rushing yards, torching the Ravens defense at the biggest moments of the game, and leading the Jaguars offense to a win.

Next week, the Ravens will host the 1-5 Arizona Cardinals, a struggling team who will have a tough task ahead of them. The Ravens will be extremely hostile and in need of a breakout performance after their game last week. That hostility and anger needs to come out on the gridiron Sunday afternoon. Simply said, I would not want to be an Arizona Cardinal on the field this weekend. Former Raven fan favorite Todd Heap makes his first return to the Charm City, so if he plays, expect quite an ovation for "Heaaap." Heap bought a half-page color ad in the Baltimore Sun thanking the Ravens organization and the Ravens fans on Friday. A classy act from a classy guy. As for the rest of the Cardinals offense, they could be in some trouble. RB Beanie Wells is not expected to play, which puts a lot of pressure on QB Kevin Kolb, who will be facing an angry Ravens defense. Kolb's main target is WR Larry Fitzgerald, who has established himself as one of the top receivers in the league, and could become an important factor for Sunday's outcome. On defense, the Cardinals have a potentially dangerous defensive line, that could cause problems for a struggling Joe Flacco. Their linebacking corps is weak, but they have one of the most underrated safeties in Adrian Wilson, and young cornerback Patrick Peterson, yet another dangerous combination. In one of the more intriguing matchups, Peterson will be facing Anquan Boldin, who is facing his former team for the first time. I have a feeling the Ravens will bounce back well, and put quite a vengeful beatdown on a weak Cardinals team, winning 27-10.

Key to the Game: The Ravens offense needs to put more points on the board, and Joe Flacco needs to help lead that attack. By sustaining drives, putting 7 points on the board, and giving our hard-working defense a break, this becomes a much easier game to win.

Key Matchups for Cardinals at Ravens
Ravens CB Jimmy Smith vs. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald Edge: Fitzgerald
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb Edge: Reed
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson Edge: Boldin
Ravens T Marshal Yanda vs. Cardinals DE Darnell Dockett Edge: Yanda

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-OUT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
G Ben Grubbs-Ankle-OUT
CB Danny Gorrer-Thigh-QST

Cardinals
Player-Injury-Status
S Kerry Rhodes-Foot-OUT
RB Beanie Wells-Knee-QST
WR Early Doucet-Quad-QST
TE Todd Heap-Hamstring-QST
LB Joey Porter-Knee-QST

Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 7 2011

2011-10-22T10:22:00.004-04:00

Last week, the Ravens improved to 4-1 with a 29-14 defeat over the Houston Texans. At the end of the first quarter, the Ravens used a number of Texans penalties to score, and Joe Flacco finished the drive off when he pounded the ball into the end zone from less than a yard out. Houston tied it back up when a Texans fumble bounced into the end zone, and was recovered for the score. Billy Cundiff added a field goal and the Ravens took a lead into the half. After another Cundiff field goal, the Texans took advantage of one-on-one coverage, and took the lead on a perfectly-throw pass from Matt Schaub to Jacoby Jones. After that lapse in coverage, the Ravens defense quickly stepped it up, and wouldn't allow another Texans score. After two Cundiff field goals, Ricky Williams sealed the win late with a four-yard run, and the Ravens got a much-needed home win over the Texans. We saw the best and the worst from the Ravens in this game. The offense produced, but were successful in just 50% of their red zone opportunities. That percentage will simply not cut it if the Ravens defense cannot hold the opponent's offense. That trend is a tad bit scary, and needs to stop in order for the Ravens to contend against better offensive teams. One good thing we can take away from the offense's performance last week was Anquan Boldin, who had one of his best games as a Raven, and is finally getting thrown the passes he deserves.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice- 23 carries for 101 rushing yards, 5 catches for 60 receiving yards

Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week I said the Ravens couldn't use the Texans injuries as an excuse for lightening up on them. At times it seemed like they did, but in the end, the Ravens defense buckled down, and were able to pull out the win.

Next Monday night, the Ravens travel to Jacksonville for a prime-time matchup with the struggling 1-5 Jaguars. A former rival of the Ravens, the Jaguars have got off to a bad start this year, and could have a tough time contending with a strong Ravens team. After cutting veteran QB David Garrard, the Jags have turned to rookie Blaine Gabbert to lead their offense, and he has yet to win a game. He has made his share of rookie mistakes, yet there is some promise in Gabbert's future. Last week, the Jaguars made it a game against the Steelers, losing by just four. The Ravens will need to do everything the Steelers did not in order to avoid a game that is even close to that. The Ravens defense enters this game with a tremendous advantage. They have allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL, while the Jaguars have the second lowest points per game total. Chuck Pagano's defense relies on confusing the opposing quarterback with many blitz packages, and this week, facing a rookie quarterback, expect Pagano's crew to thrive on the young meat they'll be presented with. All in all, Gabbert could be in for a long night. The one bright spot on the Jaguars offense is RB Maurice Jones-Drew, one of the premier backs in the game, who is averaging close to five yards per carry this year. If the Ravens can shut down Jones-Drew, they should have no problem stopping the rest of the weak Jaguars offense. On the defensive side, the Jaguars are allowing over 100 rushing yards per game this year, so look for Ray Rice to have a substantial role in Monday night's gameplan. To give you another example of the Ravens advantage in this game, Rice's single game average is just slightly worse than that of the entire Jaguars offense. On the bright side, the Jags defense are ranked 8th in yards allowed, so not everything is bad in Jacksonville. Also, former Ravens and current Jaguars S Dawan Landry will have the first chance to face his old team. On paper, this shouldn't even be close, and that is exactly what I think will happen come Monday night. I have the Ravens winning once again, 27-9.

Key to the Game: As I said earlier, the Jaguars main offensive threat is Maurice Jones-Drew, who has the chance to burn any defense he faces. If the Ravens defense can stop Jones-Drew, it should be smooth sailing.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Jaguars
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert Edge: Reed
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew Edge: Lewis
Ravens WR Torrey Smith vs. Jaguars CB Reshean Mathis Edge: Mathis
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Jaguars LB Paul Posluszny Edge: Rice

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury Status
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-OUT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Head-DBT
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST

Jaguars
Player-Injury-Status
S Courtney Greene-Hamstring-OUT
T Eben Britton-Back-DBT
G Jason Spitz-Quad-QST

Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 6 2011

2011-10-15T18:31:00.003-04:00

Two weeks ago, the Ravens put a Sunday night beatdown on Rex Ryan's Jets, with a final score of 34-17. The defense put together a performance as good as you'll see, forcing four turnovers, all at the hands of Jets QB Mark Sanchez. The domination started early, when Ed Reed came off the blind side to sack Sanchez and force a fumble that was returned to the end zone by Jameel McClain. The Jets tied it up quickly, when Joe McKnight returned the following kickoff 107 yards for a touchdown. After a Billy Cundiff field goal, Ray Rice pounded it into the end zone, and the Ravens had a 17-7 lead at the end of one quarter. After another Cundiff field goal, Sanchez fumbled, and Jarret Johnson picked it up and returned it for a touchdown. As good as the Ravens defense was, the offense was just that sloppy. Soon after, Joe Flacco under-threw a screen pass, and Jets LB David Harris picked it off returned it back for a score. Nick Folk added a field goal, and the Jets were within 10 points after a first half that lasted two hours. The second half moved much quicker, and midway through the third quarter, the Jets were driving and gaining a ton of momentum. Sanchez stepped back and threw across his body, and Lardarius Webb stepped in front of the pass and returned it for the last score of the game. The rest of the game was defined by more Ravens defensive domination, and the Ravens got a much needed victory. The Jets offense gained just 150 yards of total offense, and Mark Sanchez was under constant pressure. With this game, the Ravens defense has proved that they have the ability to win games on their own, which could be important if Flacco has another game like last week.
Player of the Game: DT Haloti Ngata-2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said that the Ravens needed a balanced offensive attack, but Flacco's bunch came out looking restless and uneasy, and if it weren't for our outstanding defense, we would have lost this game.

The Ravens had their bye week last Sunday.

This Sunday, the Ravens welcome the 3-2 Houston Texans to Baltimore. Ravens FB Vonta Leach and S Bernard Pollard are both former Texans, and should be looking for a little bit of revenge against the team that didn't re-sign them. Houston is coming off a devastating home loss to the Raiders, so they'll surely have some redemption on their mind as well. Texans WR Andre Johnson, their main offensive playmaker, will miss the game with a hamstring injury. With Johnson's injury, the Texans felt the need to acquire another receiver, so they traded for former Raven Derrick Mason. Mason has been with the Jets all season, and played against the Ravens just two weeks ago. I guess he just can't resist Baltimore. The Ravens defense still has to deal with RB Arian Foster, who was the last running back to gain 100 yards against them. QB Matt Schaub is injured but expected to play, as he's been bothered by a sore right shoulder. As for the Texans defense, they have completely turned around since last year, when they finished dead last in pass defense. The addition of CB Jonathan Joseph, who was previously with the Bengals, has meant the world to this defense. But their main impact on defense comes from former first overall pick Mario Williams, who went down in last week's loss, and will miss the rest of the season. Facing such a banged up team, and riding high off a great performance, I have the Ravens winning, 27-13.
Key to the Game: The Ravens should be able to take advantage of this banged-up team, and on paper, this shouldn't even be close. But this game isn't played on paper, and if the Ravens over-think the Texans' many injuries, they could be in trouble.

Key Matchups for Texans at Ravens
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Texans QB Matt Schaub Edge: Reed
Ravens defensive line vs. Texans RB Arian Foster Edge: Push
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Texans CB Jonathan Joseph Edge: Joseph
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Texans LB DeMeco Ryans Edge: Rice

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-OUT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Head-OUT
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST

Texans
Player-Injury-Status
WR Andre Johnson-Hamstring-OUT
FB James Casey-Chest-DBT

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 4 2011

2011-10-01T16:24:00.002-04:00

Last week, the Ravens recovered from a tough loss by putting a 37-7 beating on the St. Louis Rams. The Ravens came out of the gates hot, as Joe Flacco connected with rookie Torrey Smith for a 74-yard touchdown, Smith first reception, and first touchdown of his young career. On the very next drive, Flacco found Smith again, this time from 41 yards. And then, on just Smith's third catch of the game, Flacco found Smith once more in the end zone, and the Ravens had a 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. In just 15 minutes' time, Torrey Smith established himself as a dangerous deep threat for the Ravens offense, and put himself in the NFL history books, as his first three career receptions all went for touchdowns. Billy Cundiff would add three field goals, and the Ravens held a comfortable 30-0 lead early in the third. The Rams finally got on the board when Brandon Gibson made a fantastic catch in the back of the end zone. Then, late in the fourth, a sack-fumble allowed Haloti Ngata to recover and then run for a touchdown to seal a Ravens win, the first touchdown of Ngata's career. The Ravens defense dominated in this game, sacking Sam Bradford 5 times, and forcing two turnovers. The Ravens offense also had a historic game, with a franchise high 553 total yards. In last week's report, I said the Ravens needed to come out strong, and establish an early lead that would last, virtually sucking the life out of the stadium, and that is exactly what they did. By scoring 21 quick points, the stadium was nearly empty in the second half, other than Ravens fans. Keeping this trend going is vital to a successful year.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco- 27/48, 389 yards, 3 touchdowns
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said it would depend on which Ravens team took the field, and fortunately, the right one did.

Next Sunday night, the Ravens welcome many former coaches and players back to Baltimore for a prime-time matchup with the 2-1 New York Jets. Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan spent an entire decade coaching the Ravens defense, and will now have the chance to face his product. Other former Ravens players including Bart Scott and Derrick Mason make their return to the Charm City. The Jets offense is led by QB Mark Sanchez, who is just about as unpredictable as can be. Sanchez's main targets are Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress, who each have the talent to spread the field against an inconsistent Ravens secondary. But there is no doubt that for both of these teams, the defense is truly the backbone. The Jets secondary is among the best in the league, with Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, two of the league's top cornerbacks. It should be interesting to see how Joe Flacco responds to facing such an opponent. Since Flacco now has a new deep threat in Torrey Smith, this Jets secondary will have the tough task of defending against that deep game, and a short game that includes Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin. Also, the Jets run defense has not been as strong as expected, so Ray Rice could break out this week. Last week, the Jets lost a disappointing game to the Raiders, and with last year's Ravens win over the Jets, revenge should certainly be on their minds. With another close game between very similar teams, I have the Ravens pulling out a 17-13 win.

Key to the Game: For Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense, being able to have a balance in the pass game will be vital. Flacco needs to keep the Jets defense guessing by throwing short to targets such as Ray Rice and Ed Dickson, and long to targets such as Torrey Smith.

Key Matchups for Jets at Ravens
Ravens DE Haloti Ngata vs. Jets T D'Brickashaw Ferguson Edge: Ngata
Ravens CB Cary Williams vs. Jets WR Santonio Holmes Edge: Holmes
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Jets LB Bart Scott Edge: Rice
Ravens receiving corps vs. Jets secondary Edge: Jets secondary

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
S Haruki Nakamura-Knee-OUT
WR David Reed-Shoulder-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-DBT
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST

Jets
Player-Injury-Status
WR Logan Payne-Wrist-OUT
OL Nick Mangold-Ankle-QST

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 3 2011

2011-09-24T15:46:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens suffered a tough loss at the hands of the Titans, falling 26-13. The Titans opened up with a 3-0 lead in the second quarter on a Rob Bironas field goal. The Ravens would respond soon, as Ray Rice took a screen pass to the end zone for a 31-yard score. The Ravens defense would continue to get beaten though, allowing another Titans score, and a last-second Cundiff field goal would send the teams to halftime tied at 10. But the Titans would waste no time, scoring on a fourth down from inside the ten, and a Bironas field goal extended the lead with one quarter left. With only seven minutes left on the clock, and trailing 23-10, the Ravens faced a fourth down and goal from the Titans 11-yard line. It seemed like a touchdown was necessary, in order to make it a one-possession game, and the way the Ravens defense was getting thrown around, two stops within seven minutes seemed highly unlikely. But John Harbaugh went against the grain and kicked the field goal. The Ravens defense could again do nothing, and a late field goal sealed the win for the Titans. The Ravens defense seemed lethargic all game, and seemed to be one second behind the Titans on every play. Plain and simple, they got beat bad. The Ravens offense played exactly how they didn't last week, turning the ball over three times. Between the two, the Ravens simply didn't deserve to get this win. This loss shows how much of an any-given-sunday league this is, any team can really beat any team.
Player of the Game: Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck-30/42, 358 yards, 1 touchdown

Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said that the Ravens needed to avoid a hangover from the Steelers win. That is exactly what they did not do. They came out way too confident, and the Titans made them pay for it.

Next Sunday, the Ravens travel to face the 0-2 St. Louis Rams, who had high expectations coming into the year, but have yet to fulfill them. QB Sam Bradford had a breakout rookie season last year, and many thought he would pick up where he left off, but he's yet to play at that same level. One aspect of the Rams offense is their no-huddle attack, which they have used to confuse defenses this year. Since the Ravens defense is slow at times, reacting to the hurry-up offense will be a key to a win against the Rams. RB Steven Jackson is the biggest playmaker on their offense, but has been limited this year with a quad injury, and will be questionable for Sunday's game. Cadillac Williams, his replacement, has rushed for 127 in the first two games. The Rams defense has been a low point so far this season, giving up an average of 177 rushing yards and 29 points per game. QB Joe Flacco needs to lead the Ravens offense to an early start, and try and get the Rams out of the game early by tiring out their defense, and sucking the life out of the stadium. Flacco needs to take advantage of the weak Rams defense by having a statement game to prove that last week was just a fluke. Ravens WR Lee Evans has already been ruled out, so Flacco will have to rely on a thin receiving corps that could see guys like Torrey Smith and Dennis Pitta getting more looks. You can also expect Ray Rice's load to increase after a bad game last week. Ravens WR Anquan Boldin has over 1,000 career receiving yards against the Rams, so he could be vital in the Ravens gameplan. In a win that the Ravens really need, I have them taking it with a score of 24-13.

Key to the Game: This game will really come down to which Ravens team takes the field Sunday. The team that beat the Steelers can beat any team in the NFL. On the other hand, the team that lost to the Titans can lose to any team in the NFL. We'll see.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Rams:
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Rams offensive line Edge: Suggs
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Rams RBs Cadillac Williams/Steven Jackson Edge: Lewis
Ravens T Bryant McKinnie vs. Rams DE Chris Long Edge: Long
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Rams LB James Laurinaitis Edge: Rice

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
WR David Reed-Shoulder-OUT
CB Jimmy Smtih-Ankle-OUT
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST

Rams
Player-Injury-Status
WR Danny Amendola-Elbow-OUT
RB Steven Jackson-Quad-QST
LB Ben Leber-Groin-QST
RB Cadillac Williams-Hamstring-QST

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 2 2011

2011-09-17T12:14:00.002-04:00

Last week, the Ravens made a statement by dominating the Steelers with a convincing 35-7 win. The Ravens jumped out of the gates early, as Flacco found Anquan Boldin for a 27-yard score on a 3-play drive that saw the offense drive 66 yards in under two minutes. The Ravens would score again when Ray Rice pounded it in from a yard out on a drive that stemmed from a Steelers fumble that put the Ravens in position to strike. Pittsburgh would rebound in the second quarter when Big Ben found Emmanuel Sanders in the back of the end zone. But Flacco wouldn't let the Steelers gain momentum, and the Ravens would make it a two possession game once again, when Flacco dumped it off to Rice, who ran it in for the score. At that point, we could all remember the last time the Ravens took a 21-7 lead into halftime against Pittsburgh, but the Ravens were bound to make sure that didn't happen. On the Steelers first play from scrimmage, Haloti Ngata got into the backfield, put a huge hit on Rashard Mendenhall, and forced a fumble that gave the Ravens the ball in Steelers territory. On the very next play, Flacco found Ed Dickson for a touchdown. The Ravens then faked the extra point, and punter Sam Koch rushed in for the two-point conversion, and the Ravens took a 29-7 lead. The Ravens would go on to force seven turnovers, including two picks from Ed Reed, and one from Ray Lewis. Billy Cundiff would add two field goals, and the Ravens sealed a win that was nothing less than total domination. Every side of the field did their part in this win. A shaky offensive line played a fantastic game, allowing only one sack of Joe Flacco. A questionable receiving corps helped Joe Flacco to one of the best games of his career. The two teams had their fair share of scuffling, including one fight that ended up with Steelers CB Ike Taylor thrown out of the game. The one thing the Ravens and their fan base need to take out of this win is that it's only week one, we have fifteen games left to play, and the Steelers will not go away.
Players of the Game: QB Joe Flacco-17/29 224 yards, 3 touchdowns
RB Ray Rice-19 carries, 107 yards, 1 touchdown
LB Terrell Suggs-5 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
DT Haloti Ngata-2 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Last Week's Key to the Game: The Ravens responded to the key of the game, easily winning the battle of the pass-rushers. The Ravens sacked Big Ben 4 times, and forced him to commit 5 turnovers, while Flacco was sacked just once.

Next Sunday, the Ravens will travel to Nashville to face off with the 0-1 Tennessee Titans. The Titans looked uninspired last week, losing to the Jaguars. Their star RB, Chris Johnson, was not a factor at all, rushing for just 24 yards. Johnson missed all of training camp and the pre-season because of a contract holdout, and his performance last week reflected that missed time. The Ravens need to hold Johnson again, as the Titans lack offensive playmakers without him. Other than WR Kenny Britt, who performed well last week by catching two touchdowns for over 100 yards, nobody on the Titans offense has the potential to really burn the Ravens defense. If the Ravens can find some way to render both Johnson and Britt irrelevant, the Titans offense won't be able to get it going. The Ravens need to come out strong on offense again. They will be forced to face Titans CB Cortland Finnegan, who can change the tide of the game with an interception. Finnegan has had a decent amount of run-ins with receivers who don't like his over-aggressive style of play, so watch out for that. In another good offensive performance, I have the Ravens taking down the Titans, 23-10.
Key to the Game: Following a dominating win over Pittsburgh, it would be understandable for the Ravens to be over-confident. But if the Ravens come out a bit too happy-go-lucky, the Titans will make them pay for it.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Titans
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Titans RB Chris Johnson Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Titans WR Kenny Britt Edge: Britt
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Titans CB Cortland Finnegan Edge: Finnegan
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Titans LB Barrett Ruud Edge: Rice

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
G Ben Grubbs*-Toe-DBT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-PRB
FB Vonta Leach-Foot-PRB
*Grubbs will be a game-time decision.
Titans
Player-Injury-Status
S Chris Hope-Shoulder-DBT
DE William Hayes-Shoulder-QST
WR Damian Williams-Hamstring-QST

Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 1 2011

2011-09-10T13:09:00.003-04:00

Well, here we are. Just a day away from Ravens football. The NFL lockout officially ended on July 25, so NFL players had a shortened training camp to get ready for the season. The Ravens went out and traded for veteran receiver Lee Evans from Buffalo, and signed 5-time Pro Bowl C Andre Gurode. With Matt Birk already entrenched at center, both Gurode's and Birk's roles are yet to be seen. As for Evans, he is a great threat down the field, and will likely be running one main route this year for Flacco. Run straight, look up, catch ball. The Ravens also signed FB Vonta Leach, a physical blocker who will help find holes for Ray Rice to run. As far as cuts went, the one surprise was the release of LB Tavares Gooden, whose injuries helped run him out of Baltimore. The Ravens had a strong pre-season, finishing 3-1 after losing the first game to the Eagles. There were no major injuries, but RB Matt Lawrence and OL Ramon Harewood have already been placed on injured reserve, and will be out for the year.

On Sunday, the Ravens will welcome the hated Pittsburgh Steelers to M&T Bank Stadium to renew the fiercest rivalry in the NFL. After an upsetting loss to the Steelers in the postseason, the Ravens will be looking for a little revenge to open the year. No matter what, until the Ravens win a real important game against Pittsburgh, the Steelers will always have the edge, and the Ravens know that. What has been hurting the Ravens the most against Pittsburgh is the lack of a big playmaker on offense, while the Steelers lead with Big Ben, Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace. With the acquisitions of Lee Evans and Torrey Smith, the Ravens will finally have the opportunity to counterattack. Some might say that because this is the first week of the season, the game isn't as important, but I beg to differ. While it is disappointing that the teams won't have a late-season matchup, I think it is even more important that they're playing here in Week 1. A Ravens win sets the tone for the entire season, and is a huge confidence boost for the players going on. A loss could hurt the Ravens' confidence as the year goes on. In yet another close game, I have Joe Flacco finally getting the monkey off his back, as the Ravens will win 16-10.

Key to the Game: The key to this game will be pass-rushing, as both defenses have premier defenders putting pressure on the quarterback. We've seen these games come down to a sack-fumble or interception, so the team that forces that turnover has a good chance of winning the game.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Steelers
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Steelers offensive line Edge: Suggs
Ravens CB Jimmy Smith vs. Steelers WR Mike Wallace Edge: Wallace
Ravens offensive line vs. Steelers LB James Harrison Edge: Harrison
Ravens WR Lee Evans vs. Steelers CB Ike Taylor Edge: Evans

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR David Reed-Suspended*-OUT
LB Jason Phillips-Concussion-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Thigh-PRB
*Reed was suspended one game by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
LB Chris Carter-Hamstring-OUT
WR Jerricho Cotchery-Hamstring-DBT
T Marcus Gilbert-Concussion-PRB
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Off-Season Report

2011-05-18T19:49:00.002-04:00

Well it's been a busy few months since the Ravens devastating playoff loss to the Steelers, so I'll give you a quick recap of the events and a preview of what's next to come. After beating the Ravens in the Divisional Playoff, the Steelers went on to beat the Jets, and then eventually lose to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers by a score of 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV.
As you may or may not have heard, the upcoming NFL season is in serious jeopardy after the owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement between the owners and players. Some of the main issues debated upon in the agreement are the proposed 18-game schedule (as opposed to the current 16-game format), a rookie wage scale, and the division of the league's $9B revenue. After two delays of the expiration of the agreement, the NFL lockout finally began on March 11, 2011 after the players union officially decertified. After federally mediated meetings continued unsuccessfully for an entire month, Judge Susan Nelson declared the lockout invalid, and ordered the league to resume normal operations. The owners immediately filed for a stay of the ruling as well as an appeal of the ruling. The stay of the ruling was granted to them until June 3, when the full appeal will be heard in court. Right now, we are over two months into the lockout, and June 3 remains the date circled on the calendars of NFL players, coaches, and fans alike. If the owners appeal is rejected, chances are that the two sides will agree on a deal quickly and we will be right back on the track to an NFL season. If their appeal is granted, then meetings will resume and the chances of a deal will be slim until August or September, when the players will most likely give in so they'll be able to get back on the field and play. In my opinion, there will be a 2011 NFL season. It may be short, it may be modified, but there will be some sort of season.
Now that we have the depressing part of this post over with, on to the Ravens and what they have done to prepare for next season. Keep in mind that free agency has been halted due to the lockout, and players are not even allowed into team complexes to work out.
First to the release of next year's schedule. The NFL released the dates for next season despite the looming lockout, and here is the schedule for your 2011 Baltimore Ravens.
Pre-season (Dates To be Determined)
at Philadelphia Eagles
vs. Kansas City Chiefs
vs. Washington Redskins
at Atlanta Falcons
Regular Season
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Week 3: at St. Louis Rams
Week 4: vs. New York Jets
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Houston Texans
Week 7: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 8: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 10: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Thanksgiving game)
Week 13: at Cleveland Browns
Week 14: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers
Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals
Notes on the Notable Games:
The Ravens-Steelers rivalry will be over just halfway through the season, meaning there the winner of the game will most likely not decide the winner of the division, as it has the past few years. But as a side note, there is always the post-season. Despite this, the Ravens will end the season with two division matchups, but if those teams are anything like they were last year, the winner won't necessarily take the division as well. For many, the most intriguing game on the schedule is the Week 13 home matchup against the Niners. This game will mark the first time in NFL history that two brothers will face each other as head coaches as Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh will go head-to-head with his brother, new 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh. The thing that makes this game even more interesting is that it takes place on Thanksgiving, a family holiday. Other good games include a home meeting with the professional football team from Indianapolis, a road game against the Chargers, a home game against outspoken former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and his Jets, and a meeting against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Now to the 2011 NFL Draft, in which the Ravens layered the team with extra starters as well as depth. Here are, in order, the Ravens eight picks in this year's draft.

1st Round: CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado- Smith is easily the best cover corner in this year's draft, and will provide the Ravens with a man to cover the top receivers on the teams they will play. He would have been a higher pick if it weren't for his off the field issues, which include past failed drug tests. But all we can say about this issue is that the Ravens have veterans in the locker room that will put him in his place if he even thinks about acting out.
2nd Round: WR Torrey Smith, Maryland-Joe Flacco finally has his big play wide receiver he has been looking for. The speedy Smith comes from Maryland to fill this important void in the Ravens offense. Be sure to see Flacco look long for Smith all year, as this will be Torrey's specialty in the coming years.
3rd Round: OT Jah Reid, UCF- Reid, more than anything else, provides more depth at offensive line for the Ravens, who have been plagued with injuries to key members of the line like Jared Gaither. Reid can play most positions on the line, so consider him the fill-in for the first injury we'll see.
4th Round: WR Tandon Doss, Indiana- Doss has great size, standing at six foot three, and is bigger than most corners. He has tremendous hands, and will be a go-to-guy on third down for Joe Flacco.
5th Round: CB Chykie Brown, Texas- Injuries have hurt Brown in recent years, but if he can get past them, he is a great press corner who also gives the Ravens more depth at cornerback.
5th Round: DE Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State- McPhee is a big physical presence on the defensive line who will help out Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs on the line with extra pressure on the quarterback.
6th Round: QB Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech- With the probable leave of last year's backup Marc Bulger, Taylor will be Flacco's backup and won't likely see the field too much in 2011. He is a running quarterback who can help the Ravens run specialty plays like the Wildcat offense.
7th Round: RB Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech- With Willis McGahee likely leaving, Allen will help add depth to the Ravens running game along with Ray Rice.
Overall Ravens Draft Grade: A- The Ravens filled much needed gaps at positions like cornerback and defensive line, as well as adding depth to other positions.

That's it for this offseason version of my Ravens Report, hope to see you back soon for 2011 Baltimore Ravens football.

Ravens Report-Divisional Playoffs 2011

2011-01-15T09:05:00.004-05:00

Last week, the Ravens took it to the Kansas City Chiefs with a 30-7 pounding. With this win, Joe Flacco became the first QB to win a playoff game in his first three seasons. After the Ravens drove down the field early in the game, they were forced to settle with a Cundiff field goal after not converting deep in Chiefs territory. But then the Chiefs set out to prove that they wouldn't go away without a fight, as Jamaal Charles busted up the middle and sprinted 41 yards to the end zone to take the lead. The Ravens responded, when Flacco dumped it off to Ray Rice, who could walk into the end zone, and the Ravens took a 10-7 lead at the half. In the third, Cundiff hit two 29-yard field goals to make it a two possession game. Late in the third quarter, the Ravens began to pull away from the Chiefs. The score went to 23-7 late in the third when Flacco found Boldin in the back of the end zone for another score. This is when the Chiefs really began to collapse as a whole. After more turnovers, the Ravens sealed the deal late with a Willis McGahee touchdown run. The Chiefs turned the ball over five times, after only turning it over 15 times over the course of the season. A second quarter fumble by Charles ultimately changed the tide of the game. Before the fumble, Charles was a running back trying to get yards, but after the fumble, he became a ball-carrier trying not to lose the ball, and his team paid a price for that. After 87 rushing yards in the first half, he was then held to -5 in the second half, and the Ravens continued their streak of not letting a 100-yard rusher in the playoffs. Also, Ravens TE Todd Heap had broke the franchise record for receptions in a playoff game, as well as having the first postseason 100-yard receiving game in Ravens playoff history. The Ravens have to be extremely happy about this win, after dominating the time of possession, and keeping a healthy team overall.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco-25/34, 265 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 7 rushes, 26 rushing yards

Next week, the Ravens play a team they know all too well, as they'll travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two teams split the regular season head-to-head, so the winner of this game has bragging rights for the next year. This is about as even a matchup as you can get, and I believe that no team has any kind of edge or advantage heading into Saturday's game. The Steelers have really had the Ravens number in the playoffs, winning the two matchups they've had in the postseason. But now the Ravens head in with momentum trying to move on, and the inspiration from Ed Reed and his situation seems to have lifted the entire team. No matter the skill on either side of the ball, inspiration has proven a reason for victory throughout sports history. Reed will play once again despite his family situation. The Steelers offense is usually conservative, but two or three times a game, they take a risk, and sometimes, it changes the momentum and is a key to the game. Their big play weapon is Mike Wallace, one of the fastest and most explosive receivers in the game. If the Ravens defense can prevent those big plays the Steelers will throw at them, they'll be able to hold Pittsburgh to field goals, and get the ball back quicker. The Ravens are virtually completely healthy on defense, so it will be big that they won't have to hold back. On offense, the Ravens will need to stay steady and limit mistakes. The play-calling will have to be top notch, and even more important, the execution of the plays will have to be perfect. Just as they did last week, the Ravens will need to control the time of possession, keep their offense on the field, and have their defense stay resting on the sidelines while wearing out the Steelers defense. The one defender the Ravens offense needs to be aware of the most is Troy Polamalu, who basically won the game for the Steelers back in Week 13. Polamalu is one of the most dangerous blitzers in the entire league, so being aware of him at all times is key for the Ravens. As I said earlier, this matchup is just about as even as can be, but I have the Ravens pulling out yet another last-minute win, 20-17.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Steelers
Ravens CB Josh Wilson vs. Steelers WR Mike Wallace Edge: Wilson
Ravens NT Kelly Gregg vs. Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey Edge: Pouncey
Ravens LT Michael Oher vs. Steelers LB James Harrison Edge: Harrison
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Steelers CB Bryant McFadden Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
C Matt Birk-Knee-QST
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST
S Tom Zbikowski-Back-QST
Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
DE Aaron Smith-Triceps-DBT

AFC Playoff Bracket
Ravens at Steelers
Jets at Patriots
AFC Playoff Outlook: It's as easy as the winner of the two games will play each other next week in the AFC Championship. The Patriots automatically have a home game if they beat the Jets. If the Jets win, they will travel to the winner of the Ravens/Steelers game.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Wild Card Round 2011

2011-01-08T16:14:00.011-05:00

Last week, the Ravens survived a scare from the Bengals, winning 13-7 to finish the year 12-4. With the Steelers win over the Browns, the Ravens hold the #5 seed despite this win. Ed Reed recorded yet another multi-interception game, making his total 8 interceptions on the season, which leads the NFL at the end of the regular season. Reed's picks were two of five turnovers on the day for the Bengals. The Ravens lead the game 6-0 at the half, with Cundiff hitting field goals from 25 and 47 yards. The lead was extended in the third quarter when Ray Rice ran in for a 7-yard touchdown. The Bengals quickly made it a game again, as Carson Palmer connected with Jerome Simpson for an 11-yard touchdown. Over the next 10 minutes or so, the teams all but exchanged punts. But in the final minutes of the game, the Bengals drove down the field at will. Then, on 4th down from the Ravens 2 yard line, Palmer threw incomplete to end the game. The Ravens suffered costly injuries throughout this game, including Josh Wilson and Michael Oher. Their status' for Sunday's game are yet to be determined.
Player of the Game: Ravens S Ed Reed-2 interceptions, 2 tackles

Next Sunday, the Ravens will head to Kansas City to face the AFC West Champion Chiefs. This is the first playoff matchup between the two teams. Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is known as one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL, so the Ravens will have to be careful of early jumps due to the noise. The Ravens could be highly affected by key injuries to be determined sometime Sunday morning. Ravens WR Anquan Boldin is going against his former offensive coordinator, current Chiefs Head Coach Todd Haley. The two have a less than polite history after disagreements throughout their player-coach relationship during their time with the Cardinals. This probably won't have too much an effect on the game, but look for Boldin to want some revenge, and it could be interesting to see if Flacco lets him get it by involving him more in the gameplan on Sunday. The Chiefs have relied on an explosive young offense to lead the way, so look for them to try and get the Ravens defense on some big plays using guys like RB Jamaal Charles and WRs Dexter McCluster and Dwayne Bowe. Bowe has established himself as a top receiver in the league, so the Chiefs could look to him for that big play. If the Ravens can stop that big play offense and contain them to short gains, they can spend less time on the field, and more time resting on the sideline, which means more points for the Ravens on offense. The few strong points on the Chiefs defense could be the key to this game for them. Their stars on defense include DE Glenn Dorsey, CB Brandon Flowers, and LB Tamba Hali. If Flacco and the Ravens offense are aware of their presence on defense, they can limit their effectiveness by planning their way around these defenders. I think the Chiefs' overall inconsistency will hurt them as they try to succeed in this game, and I have the Ravens moving on with a 23-13 win.
Ravens Key to Success: Start off strong. A strong start could prove key for both teams, as in an atmosphere like Kansas City, a dead crowd often means a victory for the road team. If the Ravens get the fans out of it early, they can control the game's momentum all the way through.
Chiefs Key to Success: Chip away on offense. We've learned that the Ravens defense is prone to breaking down when tired late in the game. If the Chiefs can pound at them early, and then go for the big shot later on, they could take everything away from this Ravens defense, thus controlling the final minutes of this crucial Wild Card battle.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Chiefs
Ravens CB Chris Carr vs. Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe Edge: Bowe
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Chiefs LT Brendan Albert Edge: Suggs
Ravens LT Michael Oher vs. Chiefs LB Tamba Hali Edge: Hali
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Head-QST
LB Tavares Gooden-Shoulder-QST
DT Haloti Ngata-Thigh-QST
S Ed Reed-Chest-QST
LB Terrell Suggs-Knee-QST
CB Josh Wilson-Head-QST
S Tom Zbikowski-Back-QST
Note: Ed Reed will play Sunday despite the disappearance of his brother on Friday.
Chiefs
Player-Injury-Status
WR Quentin Lawrence-Illness-PRB
G Brian Waters-Illness-PRB

AFC Wild Card Round
#5 Ravens at #4 Chiefs
# 6 Jets at #3 Colts
Byes:Patriots, Steelers
Divisional Round Situations: There is no automatic team the Ravens will play if they beat the Chiefs Sunday. If the Ravens and Colts win, the Ravens will travel to New England to play the Patriots. If the Ravens and Jets win, the Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh and play the Steelers.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 17 2010

2011-01-01T11:47:00.005-05:00

Last week, the Ravens beat the Browns, 20-10, to improve to 11-4 on the season. With this win, the Ravens clinch a playoff berth, making Joe Flacco the fourth QB in NFL history to make the playoffs in his first three seasons. This is also the third consecutive season that the Ravens have swept the season series against the lowly Browns. The Browns did open up this game on top though, and after they got the Ravens scrambling on a trick play, receiver Mohamed Massaquoi threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie. After a Cundiff field goal, Joe Flacco threw a 15 yard strike to T.J. Houshmandzadeh to put the Ravens on top. This score made it 10 straight games with a touchdown pass for Flacco, the longest streak of his career. Flacco also surpassed the 10,000 career passing yard mark early on in the game. At the end of the second quarter, Cundiff and Browns K Phil Dawson each hit field goals, from 40 and 30 yards respectively. This gave the Ravens a 13-10 lead heading into the half. The final score of the game was a 22-yard floater from Flacco to Derrick Mason, the first second-half offensive touchdown for the Ravens in six games. Ed Reed came up with two key interceptions for the Ravens, his 10th career multi-INT game. Reed and the Ravens are 10-0 when Reed picks off the QB twice. The Ravens also forced two other turnovers, a Lardarius Webb INT and a fumble that lead to the Houshmandzadeh touchdown.
Player of the Game: Ravens S Ed Reed-2 tackles, 2 interceptions

This Sunday, the Ravens will close out the regular season at home against the 4-11 Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens already control the 5th seed in the AFC, but a win coupled with a Steelers loss to the Browns gives the Ravens the 2nd seed along with a first-round bye and a division title. The Ravens met the Bengals back in Week 2, a game Joe Flacco would like to forget, as he threw four interceptions en route to a 15-10 loss. But Flacco has thrown just four interceptions since throwing four back in Week 2, and only one all season at home. The Bengals have actually begun to heat up over the past few weeks without the distractions of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco both on and off the field. Even with a lack of receivers to throw to, Carson Palmer has found a way to win receivers like Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson creating big plays. The Ravens defense also needs to look out for RB Cedric Benson, who has a history of tearing them up. The Bengals have a lot of veteran talent on the defensive side of the ball, but rookie DE Carlos Dunlap leads the team with 8 sacks, and could be a force off the end Sunday. In a bit of a revenge game, I have the Ravens winning, 24-13.
Key Matchups for Bengals at Ravens
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham Edge: Lewis
Ravens LB Jarret Johnson vs. Bengals RB Cedric Benson Edge: Benson
Ravens RT Marshal Yanda vs. Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap Edge: Dunlap
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Bengals secondary Edge: Even

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Tavares Gooden-Shoulder-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Back-OUT
TE Todd Heap-Thigh-QST
WR David Reed-Wrist/Head-QST
Bengals
Player-Injury-Status
WR Chad Ochocinco-Ankle-OUT
TE Jermaine Gresham-Knee-DBT
CB Johnathan Joseph-Ankle-QST
LB Dan Skuta-Back-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Steelers 11 4 --
Ravens 11 4 --
Browns 5 10 6
Bengals 4 11 7
AFC North Outlook: The Steelers can win the division with a win in Cleveland against the Browns. But if the Steelers lose, and the Ravens take care of business, the Ravens take the division, plus the #2 seed, and the Steelers will fall to the #6 seed below the Jets. If both the Ravens and Steelers win, the Ravens would hold the #5 seed, and most likely travel to Indianapolis to play to Colts.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 16 2010

2010-12-25T15:11:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens beat the Saints in Baltimore, 30-24. The Saints opened the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Jimmy Graham. This Saints drive made it seem like it was going to be another long day for the Ravens defense, but they responded well to the immediate adversity. The Ravens offense also responded well, as Joe Flacco dumped it to Ed Dickson, who avoided some tackles to get into the end zone for the tying score. The second quarter belonged to Ray Rice's many talents. First, he ran for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Ravens the lead. Then, Joe Flacco threw a perfect pass to Rice in the end zone for another score. At the end of the second half, the Ravens defense allowed a Saints score on another pass to Graham to make it a one possession game. The score was 24-17 after the third quarter when Cundiff and Garrett Hartley exchanged field goals. In the fourth, the Saints drove down the field, and on third and goal, Drew Brees threw to Marques Colston, who tipped it up into the air, where it was caught by Lance Moore to tie up the game at 24. On their next drive, Billy Cundiff hit another field goal, giving the Saints the ball back down by three. On fourth down deep in their own territory, Brees' pass was tipped and picked by Cory Redding. The Ravens added another field goal for extra effect and took home a good team victory.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice-153 rushing yards, 80 receiving yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 1 receiving touchdown

Next week, the Ravens will travel to Cleveland to face the 5-9 Browns. If the Ravens win this game, they clinch a playoff berth. These two teams met in Week 3, with the Ravens getting a 24-17 win. Browns RB Peyton Hillis broke out in that game, running all over the Ravens for 144 yards. Expect Ray Lewis and his men to want serious revenge for letting that outbreak happen. Hillis is the main weapon for that Cleveland offense, so containing him is a major step in getting an important win. In that Week 3 matchup, the Browns gave up three touchdowns to Anquan Boldin, who has been a non-factor in the past few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if Flacco remembers that game, and brings Boldin back into the action on Sunday. But the Browns secondary has improved over the year, with rookies T.J. Ward and Joe Haden leading the way. Joe Flacco will look to tear apart that secondary in order to improve to 6-0 career against the Browns. Flacco could be getting back Todd Heap, his favorite target, for Sunday's game. Heap practiced all week, but is still listed as questionable. In a better game than people think, I have the Ravens winning, 23-13.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Browns
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Browns RB Peyton Hillis Edge: Lewis
Ravens DE Cory Redding vs. Browns LT Joe Thomas Edge: Thomas
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Browns CB Joe Haden Edge: Boldin
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Browns S T.J. Ward Edge: Flacco

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR/KR David Reed-Head-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Back-OUT
CB Chris Carr-Illness-QST
TE Todd Heap-Thigh-QST

Browns
Player-Injury-Status
TE Robert Royal-Shoulder-DBT
LB Eric Alexander-Groin-QST
DE Kenyon Coleman-Knee-QST
DT Shaun Rogers-Ankle-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Steelers 10 4 --
Ravens 10 4 1
Browns 5 9 5
Bengals 3 11 7
AFC North Outlook: The Steelers still control the tiebreaker, and with their win Thursday night over the Panthers, all they need to do is beat the Browns in Week 17 to win the division title. If the Ravens win out, and the Browns beat the Steelers, the Ravens win the division. If the Ravens lose this week to the Browns, the Steelers clinch the division.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 15 2010

2010-12-18T22:33:00.006-05:00

Last Monday night, the Ravens pulled out a 34-28 overtime win over the Texans. This improves the Ravens record to 9-4 on the season. The Ravens opened up on fire, with a 1-yard McGahee touchdown run. They then put two more scores on the board, two passes from Flacco to Mason to stretch their lead to three possessions. But the defense made a bad mistake at the end of the half, letting up a 45-yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson. But the momentum shifted back to the Ravens to begin the second half when KR David Reed returned the kick 103 yards to the end zone for another Ravens score. Neil Rackers hit two field goals to finish the third quarter, the Ravens still holding on to a 28-13 lead. This is when the Texans began their outrageous comeback. After driving 99 yards down the field, Schaub found Jacoby Jones for a 7-yard score. After another three-and-out by the Texans defense, Ravens Punter Sam Koch pinned the Texans inside their five yard-line once again. But once again, the Texans marched down the field at will, scoring on a 5-yard pass to Johnson with less than a minute left. But now, they still had to convert the two-point conversion in order to tie the game. Schaub's pass went to the back of the end zone, looking for Johnson, but Jacoby Jones leaped in front and caught the pass to tie the game, putting all momentum in the Texans' hands. The Ravens won the toss, but were forced to punt again, and again Koch pinned the Texans. On just their second play, Schaub threw an off-balance pass intended for Kevin Walter, but CB Josh Wilson stepped in front of the pass and returned it 12 yards to the house to give the Ravens a victory.
Co-Players of the Game: Ravens Punter Sam Koch-5 punts inside 20 yard-line, punt leading to game winning touchdown
Ravens CB Josh Wilson-7 tackles, game-winning interception returned touchdown

An awful second-half performance gives me the opportunity for yet another Really?!?!?! with Max Buchdahl.
Really Greg Mattison? You can't prepare your defense for one big stop in the second half? Get them ready to go and shut down the Texans. Really?

Really Cam Cameron? You called a pass play on 3rd and 2 that ended in an incompletion? A run play would have taken 40 huge seconds off of the clock. Really?

Really John Harbaugh? The Texans are marching down the field, you have two timeouts, and you don't take one to give the defense a rest. Really?

Next week, the Ravens will host the defending world champions, the 10-3 New Orleans Saints. The Saints high-powered offense will provide a big challenge to the Ravens defense. If the defense can buckle down and shut down the Saints, they will be able to maintain their reputation as a hard-nosed defense, a reputation that they slightly lost in their collapse last week in Houston. There is a small chance of precipitation Sunday, which would help the Ravens because it would be tougher to pass for Drew Brees and the Saints, a pass-heavy offense. The main cause of Brees' success in New Orleans is the number of receivers he has, and his ability to spread the ball around. It seems as if he finds a new receiver he loves each week, and the defense has to figure out who it is. The lack of a running game for the Saints hurts their attempt at a balanced attack, with RBs Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas sharing carries. The Saints also have a top-ten defense, led by LB Jonathan Vilma and veteran S Darren Sharper. Their defensive system is designed to be able to contain all types of offense, and when successful, it isn't easy to move the ball against them. These teams expect to see each other in Dallas come February, and if both teams can improve, it's a likely Super Bowl matchup. I have the Ravens winning this battle on Sunday, 23-17.
Key Matchups for Saints at Ravens
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Saints QB Drew Brees Edge: Reed
Ravens CB Josh Wilson vs. Saints WR Marques Colston Edge: Colston
Ravens LT Michael Oher vs. Saints DE Will Smith Edge: Smith
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Saints CB Tracy Porter Edge: Boldin
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
TE Todd Heap-Hamstring-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Back-OUT
FB Le'Ron McClain-Illness-QST
RB Willis McGahee-Illness-QST
Saints
Player-Injury-Status
WR Courtney Roby-Head-OUT
TE David Thomas-Knee-OUT
DT Anthony Hargrove-Knee-QST
RB Chris Ivory-Hamstring-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Steelers 10 3 --
Ravens 9 4 1
Browns 5 8 5
Bengals 2 11 8
AFC North Outlook: Again, all the Steelers need to do is win out in order to win the division. But two Steelers losses together with the Ravens winning out gives the Ravens the division title. The Steelers do have an easy ride, as after facing the Jets this week, they play two sub-.500 teams.
Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 14 2010

2010-12-12T15:31:00.003-05:00

Last week, the Ravens lost a heart-breaker to the Steelers, 13-10. This was yet another classic defensive battle between the best rivals in the National Football League. Ravens TE Todd Heap injured his hamstring on the first play of the game, did not return, and will miss at least next week's game. The Ravens began with a first quarter touchdown, a 14-yard pass from Flacco to Boldin. The teams exchanged third quarter field goals, and the Ravens took a 10-3 lead into the fourth quarter. Shaun Suisham hit a 19-yard field goal at the beginning of the fourth to make it 10-6. With just three minutes left in the game on 2nd and 5, Troy Polamalu came unblocked to Flacco, forcing a fumble and giving the Steelers the ball back deep in Ravens territory. On third and goal, Roethlisberger threw to Isaac Redman, who broke through two tackles and rolled into the end zone. On the Ravens next drive, they drew a pass interference, and were later forced into a fourth and two at the Steelers 31 yard line. John Harbaugh decided not to kick the 49-yard field goal, but instead to go for it. Flacco stepped back, but then under-threw his receiver, ending the game. This game left me and other Ravens fans with many questions about decision making and executing plays. These questions have triggered a new feature I'd like to present called Really?!?!?! with Max Buchdahl.
Really Cam Cameron? You called a pass play on 2nd and 5 with less than three minutes left and a 4 point lead. Really?

Really Michael Oher? You let Troy Polamalu come untouched off the blind side for a sack-fumble that caused a game-winning touchdown? Didn't they make a movie about how you protect the blind side? Really?

Really Dawan Landry? You had Isaac Redman in your arms at the five yard line, which would have forced a fourth down, and you let him get away? Really?

Really John Harbaugh? You decided not to kick the field goal? Billy Cundiff said yes, I want to kick it. Trust your kicker John, come on, that's Football 101. He was bombing those kickoffs, you've got to let him kick that. Really?

Really Joe Flacco? You threw a one-hopper to a wide open receiver on just a three yard pass? Aren't you our franchise quarterback? You have to make that throw. No question about it. Really?

Next Monday night, the Ravens visit the 5-7 Houston Texans for a prime-time Monday Night matchup. The Texans began the year with a big win against the Colts triggering playoff expectations, but have since fallen apart and are on the verge of elimination from playoff contention. The Texans have become known for their explosive offense, led by QB Matt Schaub. RB Arian Foster has emerged as a premier back this season, and could be a threat Monday night against a non-consistent Ravens run defense. The pass defense will have a challenge Monday as well, as they'll be forced to contain Andre Johnson, a top-tier wide receiver. Johnson will be playing with an injured ankle which he re-aggravating last week. If he's limited, Schaub will have to look for other options in receiver Kevin Walter and tight end Joel Dreesen. In a complete contrast to their offense, the Texans have one of the worst defenses in the league. Other than average linebacker play from Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans, their pass defense could take a beating from Flacco on Monday. The Texans pass defense allows an NFL-worst 287.4 passing yards per game. Their run defense is just above average, due to the play of former first-round pick Mario Williams. I have the pass-happy Ravens winning in Houston, 27-14.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Texans
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Texans RB Arian Foster Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Josh Wilson vs. Texans WR Andre Johnson Edge: Johnson
Ravens RT Marshal Yanda vs. Texans DE Mario Williams Edge: Williams
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Texans CB Kareem Jackson Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
TE Todd Heap-Hamstring-OUT
CB Fabian Washington-Thigh-QST
Texans
Player-Injury-Status
TE Garrett Graham-Hamstring-OUT

AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Steelers 9 3 --
Ravens 8 4 1
Browns 5 7 4
Bengals 2 10 7
AFC North Outlook: All the Steelers need to do in order to win the division is win the rest of their games. Currently, if the Ravens and Steelers end up tied at the end of the year, the Steelers would control the tie-breaker.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 13 2010

2010-12-04T20:16:00.004-05:00

Last week, the Ravens improved to 8-3 with a 17-10 win over the Buccaneers. The score doesn't nearly show how dominating a Ravens performance this was. The Ravens pretty much controlled the game all the way through, with just a slight breakdown towards the end that didn't affect much. Joe Flacco rebounded from a tough start to finish the game well. After a scoreless first quarter, Billy Cundiff and Connor Barth exchanged 45 and 22 yard field goals respectively to make it 3-3. Then, the Ravens took the lead when Flacco went over the middle for Todd Heap, who rumbled and bumbled his way into the end zone for a touchdown. The score was 17-3 at the half after another Flacco TD pass, this one to 10 yards to Mason. The second half consisted of mostly good defense and punting on both sides, and the final scoring of the game came when Josh Freeman threw to Kellen Winslow for a touchdown with just a few minutes remaining. Despite this try at a comeback, the Ravens were able to get the ball back and run down the clock for the win. While this could be called a comfortable win, it came with a price. Three key players (Michael Oher, Dawan Landry, Le'Ron McClain) all left the game with injuries and are questionable for next week's game.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco-25/35, 289 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns

Next Sunday night the Ravens will host the 8-3 Steelers to decide the sole leader in the AFC North. As one of the most physical rivalries around, you can always expect a lot of hard hits, which in the NFL now means a lot of fines going around too. The Ravens beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh earlier this year, but that was without QB Ben Roethlisberger, who is now back from his suspension. The Ravens haven't beat Roethlisberger since 2006, and now would be the ideal time to break the streak. Rumors have been going around about Roethlisberger's right foot all week. At first he just had a sprained ankle, but the reports have changed to a broken right foot and then back to a sprained ankle on the final injury report. Whatever the injury actually is, Roethlisberger will play with a boot on, in weather that could include rain and snow. The effectiveness of the Ravens defense will definitely affect the outcome of this matchup. The defense has looked older and slower each week, and if the Steelers come out in no-huddle offense, it could be a long and tiring day for Ray Lewis' squad. I think the Ravens can step it up, and I have them taking the lead in the division with a 20-17 win.
Key Matchups for Steelers at Ravens
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Josh Wilson vs. Steelers WR Hines Ward Edge: Ward
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Steelers S Troy Polamalu Edge: Polamalu
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Steelers CB Ike Taylor Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
S Dawan Landry-Head-QST
FB Le'Ron McClain-Ankle-QST
T Michael Oher-Knee-QST
Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
DE Aaron Smith-Triceps-DBT
TE Matt Spaeth-Concussion-DBT
QB Ben Roethlisberger-Foot-QST

AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Ravens 8 3 --
Steelers 8 3 --
Browns 4 7 4
Bengals 2 9 6
AFC North Outlook: With the Browns and Bengals mostly out of contention, the Ravens and Steelers are now fighting for the division title. If the Ravens win this week, they will take the sole lead of the top spot, which basically makes it a 2 game lead because the Ravens would control the possible tie-breaker if the teams were to end with the same record. If the Steelers win, than the Ravens will need that tie or better in order to win the division.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!!!

Ravens Report-Week 12 2010

2010-11-28T11:54:00.002-05:00

Last week, the Ravens defeated the Panthers on the road, 37-13. This game was closer than the score shows, because of two late Ravens touchdowns. The game did get too close, but the Ravens eventually came away with the W. The Ravens scored just 30 seconds into the first quarter, when Flacco launched a 56-yarder to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Billy Cundiff hit his first field goal of the game next, from 22 yards. The Panthers made it a one possession game soon after, when John Kasay hit a 45-yard field goal. But the Ravens closed out the half with 17-3 lead after a Ray Rice rushing touchdown. The teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, Cundiff hitting from 33 yards and Kasay from 40. Then the Panthers tried to make this a ball game. Brian St. Pierre threw to David Gettis for an 88-yard touchdown to make the score 20-13. The Ravens responded though, when Billy Cundiff hit yet another field goal, a season-long 49-yarder. This is when the fun began for the Ravens defense. First, Ed Reed picked off St. Pierre and pitched to Dawan Landry who ran it in for a touchdown. On the very next play for Carolina, Ray Lewis stepped in front of the pass and ran it back for a TD to seal the win. The last two touchdowns were scored in just 11 seconds.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco-24-33, 301 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown
Congratulations to these Ravens who reached career milestones last week in Carolina:
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh-600th career catch
WR Derrick Mason-900th career catch
S Ed Reed-50th career interception
QB Joe Flacco-Tied Vinny Testaverde for most touchdown passes in Ravens history (51)
LB Ray Lewis-30th career interception

This week's game will showcase two 7-3 teams looking to achieve elite status in the NFL, when the Ravens host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have the youngest team in the NFL, and being 7-3 surprised everyone after a horrendous 3-13 finish last season. While their turnaround is commendable, they have yet to beat a team with a winning record, and all three of their losses have been to teams who have winning records. Rookie RB LeGarrette Blount has become the starter and has since rushed for 4 touchdowns and over 400 yards, so watch out for the matchup between Blount and Ray Lewis. Another Bucs rookie, WR Mike Williams, leads NFL rookies with 681 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. But as explosive as their offense can be, their defense has been lacking, giving up close to 350 yards per game on average. Flacco will have to look out for the Tampa's corners though, as Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib lead a talented secondary. Ray Rice will look to have a field day, as he will be running against the 29th ranked Buccaneers rush defense. I think that the Ravens experience on both sides of the ball will trump the Buccaneers youth, and the Ravens will go to 8-3 with a 24-13 win.
Key Matchups for Buccaneers at Ravens
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount Edge: Lewis
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman Edge: Reed
Ravens LT Marshal Yanda vs. Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy Edge: McCoy
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Buccaneers CB Aqib Talib Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
G Chris Chester-Illness-QST
TE Ed Dickson-Thigh-QST
DE Cory Redding-Arm-QST
S Tom Zbikowski-Foot-QST
S Ed Reed-Illness-PRB
Buccaneers
DE Kyle Moore-Shoulder-OUT

AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Ravens 7 3 --
Steelers 7 3 --
Browns 3 7 4
Bengals 2 9 5.5

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 11 2010

2010-11-20T20:20:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday night, the Ravens lost a heart-breaker to the Atlanta Falcons, 26-21. The Ravens defense really showed its age this week, they just flat out looked tired, and the Ravens suffered a loss because of it. Their first half defense was especially poor. The Falcons opened the game up with a 28-yard pass from Matt Ryan to RB Jason Snelling. Matt Bryant then hit a 28-yard field goal to put the Falcons up by ten at the half. Down 10-0 at the half was lucky for the Ravens with the way they played, but they still needed to make an improvement to get back in it. Matt Bryant hit another field goal, this time from 51, to open up the second half. Then Flacco got the Ravens on the board, anchoring a nice drive and finishing it on a 5-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin. The Falcons looked to try and seal the deal with a touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Roddy White, but the Ravens weren't done yet. The comeback started with a touchdown pass from Flacco to Mason, making the score 20-14. After a defensive stop, the Ravens got the ball back, and Flacco found the end zone again, a 9-yard pass to Todd Heap with just a minute left on the clock to give the Ravens the lead. This put the Ravens destiny in its defense's hands, something that us as Ravens fans are often pretty comfortable about. The Falcons started their drive deep in their own territory. On third down, Ryan went long for Michael Jenkins, who tiptoed at the sideline for a first down catch. The play was challenged, but was ruled complete even though he only had fingertip control, something I don't think actually exists in the NFL. This was just the first controversial play on the drive. Just a few plays later, Ryan went deep again, a 33-yard touchdown to Roddy White. It wasn't called, but White had pushed down Ravens CB Josh Wilson, allowing White to score and win the game for the Falcons.
Player of the Game: Falcons QB Matt Ryan-32/50 316 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns
Next week, the 6-3 Ravens travel to Carolina to face the 1-8 Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have had a disastrous year, losing two starting quarterbacks. This week, the Panthers will start Brian St. Pierre at quarterback, who just last week was a stay-at-home dad caring for his 18-month old child. St. Pierre's problems have quickly changed from calling his parents for help with the baby to calling audibles at the line for help against the Ravens defense. And being on one of the worst teams in the NFL against this defense won't help St. Pierre. As another sign of this horrible year, the Panthers running back Sunday will be Mike Goodson, who began the year as the third-string RB, but will start due to injuries to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. LB Jon Beason leads the Panthers defense, who give up an average of 326.8 yards per game. Overall, this could be a tough day for the Panthers. I have the Ravens winning a not so close game, 31-13.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Panthers
Ravens CB Josh Wilson vs. Panthers WR Steve Smith Edge: Smith
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Panthers QB Brian St. Pierre Edge: Suggs
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Panthers LB Jon Beason Edge: Rice
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Panthers CB Chris Gamble Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
S Tom Zbikowski-Foot-OUT
G Chris Chester-Illness-QST
Panthers
Player-Injury-Status
QB Jimmy Clausen-Concussion-OUT
S Marcus Hudson-Ankle-OUT
WR Brandon LaFell-Concussion-OUT
RB Jonathan Stewart-Concussion-OUT
RB Tyrell Sutton-Ankle-OUT
T Travelle Wharton-Toe-OUT
AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Ravens 6 3 --
Steelers 6 3 --
Browns 3 6 3
Bengals 2 7 4

Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and go Ravens!!!

Ravens Report-Week 10 2010

2010-11-11T19:09:00.002-05:00

Last week the Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 26-10. The Ravens scored on their first drive of the game, when Flacco completed a screen to Willis McGahee, who weaved his way through the Miami defense for a touchdown. The Dolphins responded though, when Ronnie Brown ran through the Ravens defense for a 12-yard touchdown. The score was 13-10 Ravens at the half after two Billy Cundiff field goals, and then a Dan Carpenter field goal to send it to the half. In the third quarter, Flacco threw his second touchdown of the game, finding Mason in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. The Ravens capped the win off with two fourth quarter field goals from Cundiff. This was really a great team win, and it wasn't as close as the score shows.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco-20/27 266 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns

The Ravens travel to Georgia this week for Thursday Night Football against the 6-2 Atlanta Falcons. This should be a tough game solely because of the short week. The Ravens held a practice the day after their win over the Dolphins. The lack of preparation will be present for both teams, so I don't think one necessarily has much of an advantage over the other. This game also showcases the two highest drafted QBs of the 2008 NFL Draft, #3 overall pick Matt Ryan and #18 overall pick Joe Flacco. This is the first matchup between the two quarterbacks whose history will have them compared for the rest of both their careers. Ryan has not had quite as successful a career as Flacco, Ryan has only been to the playoffs once, losing in his only game. But he has proven himself to be one of the best QBs at home. He has only lost once at home, including a thirteen consecutive home win streak he is currently on. Ryan has plenty of options on offense, including RB Michael Turner and WR Roddy White, who are both having great years. This is bound to be a terrific game between two teams who are near the top of their conferences. It would be a big win for both teams, and some people have called this a Super Bowl preview. I have the Ravens pulling it out on defense, 24-16.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Falcons
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Falcons WR Roddy White Edge: White
Ravens DE Haloti Ngata vs. Falcons LT Sam Baker Edge: Ngata
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Falcons CB Dunta Robinson Edge: Boldin
Ravens RT Marshal Yanda vs. Falcons DE John Abraham Edge: Abraham

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
S Tom Zbikowski-Foot-OUT
Falcons
Player-Injury-Status
TE Justin Peelle-Groin-OUT
LB Sean Weatherspoon-Knee-OUT

AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Ravens 6 2 --
Steelers 6 2 --
Browns 3 5 3
Bengals 2 6 4

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week and go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 9 2010

2010-11-06T21:54:00.000-04:00

In their last game, the Ravens barely defeated the Bills in overtime, 37-34. This game got way too close, as the win-less Bills really gave the Ravens a run for their money. The Ravens scored first when Billy Cundiff hit a 41-yard field goal. The Bills took got on the board next, when Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a 33-yard pass to veteran Lee Evans, and the score went to 10-3 after a Rian Lindell field goal. Fitzpatrick went long again, this time 33 yards to Steve Johnson to make it a two possession game. The Ravens responded though, when Flacco threw a 26-yarder to Todd Heap. But the lead didn't last very long, as Fitzpatrick found Evans again for a 20-yard touchdown. The Ravens made it 24-20 at the half after a 48-yard Cundiff field goal, and another Flacco-Heap hookup. The Ravens finally decided to show up in the third quarter, opening up with a flea flicker in which Flacco threw a 34-yard touchdown to Anquan Boldin. Willis McGahee made it a 10 point lead with a 2-yard run to finish up the third quarter. But the Bills were not done yet, as Evans caught his third touchdown of the game, this time a 17-yarder. Later in the fourth, Rian Lindell tied the game up with a 50-yard field goal, later sending the game into overtime. In overtime, the Bills forced a three and out and the Ravens punted away. The Bills were ready to drive down the field and complete the upset. But Ray Lewis had a different idea, after Fitzpatrick completed to Shawn Nelson, Lewis lifted Nelson into the air, then striped and recovered the ball, giving the Ravens possession. After a Bills penalty set the Ravens up for a field goal, Cundiff hit a 38-yarder to give the Ravens the win. As scary and sad this close win was, we have to give some credit to the Bills. They are now the only win-less team in the NFL, but they play their asses off. At this point, most win-less teams will just give up and die, but the Bills won't give up. They won't make the playoffs, but they are a great example of never give up.
Co-Players of the Game: K Billy Cundiff-3/3 on field goal attempts, game-winning field goal LB Ray Lewis-14 tackles, forced fumble and fumble recovery to set up game-winning field goal.
Next Sunday, the Ravens will host the 4-3 Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are an undefeated 4-0 on the road this season. The Fins could be in trouble this week though, because the Ravens are one of the best home teams in the league. They are also coming off a well-rested bye week, and would like to prove a point following a way too close home win over the win-less Bills. After missing the first half of the season, new Ravens WR Donte Stallworth is expected to play Sunday. If the Ravens win this game, they will be 3-1 against the AFC East, providing some key tie-breakers if needed come the playoff stretch in just a few weeks. The Dolphins have some play-makers on offense, and may use the wildcat with RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. QB Chad Henne loves new WR Brandon Marshall, who the Ravens were close to acquiring this off-season. Marshall leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, but has only caught one touchdown. The Fins defense is shaky and has been off and on all year. If the Ravens can figure out and exploit the holes in that defense, Flacco and the Ravens offense has a chance of scoring a lot of points. In another close game, I have the Ravens winning, 24-19.

Key Matchups for Dolphins at Ravens
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Dolphins LT Jake Long Edge: Suggs
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall Edge: Marshall
Ravens T Marshal Yanda vs. Dolphins LB Karlos Dansby Edge: Dansby
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Dolphins CB Jason Allen Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
S Tom Zbikowski-Foot-OUT
WR Donte Stallworth-Foot-PRB
TE Dennis Pitta-Head-PRB
Dolphins
Player-Injury-Status
S Yeremiah Bell-Toe-QST
RB Patrick Cobbs-Hamstring-QST
LB Channing Crowder-Thumb-PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L GB
Ravens 5 2 --
Steelers 5 2 --
Browns 2 5 3
Bengals 2 5 3
Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week and Go Ravens!

Ravens Report-Week 7 2010

2010-10-23T22:39:00.000-04:00

Last week, the Ravens lost to the New England Patriots, 23-20 in overtime, to bring their record to 4-2. The Ravens got on the board first when Billy Cundiff hit a 26-yard field goal. The Pats responded quickly when BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for a two-yard touchdown. But the Ravens took the lead into the half when Flacco found Heap for a 16-yard touchdown. The Ravens extended their lead when Flacco threw a touchdown pass to Boldin from 25 yards out. Stephen Gostkowski got the Patriots back on the board next with a 38-yard field goal. Cundiff hit again for the Ravens from 25-yards to make it a 20-10 lead. The Pats made it a one possession game next when Tom Brady found old target Deion Branch for a 5-yard touchdown. Gostkowski tied to game and sent it into overtime with six minutes left in regulation. After exchanging punts, the Patriots moved the ball down the field following a dumb Ravens penalty, and won the game on another Gostowski field goal. Simply, the Ravens should have won this game. There was no excuse for blowing the lead and later losing. This team needs to be able to hold on to leads late in the game, or this will be a long year.
Player of the Game: Patriots WR Deion Branch-9 reception, 98 yards, 1 touchdown

Next Sunday, the Ravens will welcome the 0-5 Bills to Baltimore. S Ed Reed and LB Brandon Ayanbadejo were activated off the PUP list and will be active for the rest of the season. The Bills are arguably the worst team in the NFL. After shifting quarterbacks a few times and evantually cutting Trent Edwards, they have finally landed on Ryan Fitzpatrick, a long time and now professional NFL backup. Rookie C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson share the carries for Buffalo. Former Ravens DE Dwan Edwards is returning to his former home. At halftime, the Ravens will be honoring the tenth anniversary of the Super Bowl XXXV Champion Baltimore Ravens, including players from the team returning for the event. The Ravens will be looking to improve to 5-2 heading into their bye week. In a not so close game, I have the Ravens winning 31-13.
Key Matchups for Bills at Ravens
Ravens LB Jarret Johnson vs. Bills RB C.J. Spiller Edge: Johnson
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Bills WR Lee Evans Edge: Washington
Ravens LT Michael Oher vs. Bills DE Marcus Stroud Edge: Stroud
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Bills LB Paul Posluszny Edge: Rice

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Tavares Gooden-Shoulder-OUT
WR Donte Stallworth-Foot-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Foot-OUT
TE Todd Heap-Neck-QST
WR David Reed-Thigh-QST
Note:T Jared Gaither was been placed on the IR, ending his season.
Bills
Player-Injury-Status
T Cornell Green-Knee-OUT
CB Terrence McGee-Back-OUT
LB Keith Ellison-Knee-QST
NT Kyle Williams-Ankle-QST
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 6 2010

2010-10-17T11:30:00.000-04:00

Last week, the Ravens improved to 4-1 with a 31-17 win over the Denver Broncos. Ray Rice finally broke out of his shell this week, rushing for 133 yards and two touchdowns. After missing an opportunity to score on their first drive, the Ravens struck first when Flacco pounded it in from a yard out to make it 7-0. Then they made it 14-0 with another one-yard run, this time from Rice. Billy Cundiff hit a 37-yard field goal next, but Kyle Orton hooked up with Brandon Lloyd for a 42-yard touchdown to make it 17-7 at the half. For most of the first half, Flacco and the Ravens offense were able to move the ball down the field at will, but towards the end, the Broncos defense improved. After another scoreless third quarter, Rice got into the end zone again, and again from just one yard out. After a Matt Prater field goal, Willis McGahee attempted to seal the game with a 30-yard touchdown run. Orton found Lloyd again, this time from 44 yards, but to no avail, as the Ravens ran down the clock to get the win.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice-133 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns

Next Sunday, the Ravens will travel to Foxborough to face the 4-1 New England Patriots. The Ravens beat the Pats last year in the playoffs, 33-17. This will be the Patriots first game without Randy Moss, who was traded to the Vikings last week. To make up for his loss, they signed Deion Branch this week. Expect Branch to be in the game-plan a lot this week. But I believe the Patriots key factor on offense will be rookie TE Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez will be the Pats' main target on third down all day. The Patriots defense has weakened these past few years, so I think if Cam Cameron calls the right plays, the Ravens can move the ball easily down the field on Sunday. In another tight matchup between these two teams, I have the Ravens pulling out a 24-20 win.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Patriots
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez Edge: Suggs
Ravens DE Cory Redding vs. Patriots LT Matt Light Edge: Light
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Patriots CB Darius Butler Edge: Boldin
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Patriots NT Vince Wilfork Edge: Wilfork

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Back-OUT
LB Tavares Gooden-Shoulder-OUT
WR Donte Stallworth-Foot-OUT
LB Paul Kruger-Knee-DBT
DT Haloti Ngata-Knee-QST
CB Josh Wilson-Thigh-QST

Patriots
Player-Injury-Status
RB Fred Taylor-Toe-OUT
S James Sanders-Hamstring-QST
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 5 2010

2010-10-10T10:43:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens defeated the rival Steelers in Pittsburgh, 17-14. The two teams are now tied atop the AFC North with matching 3-1 records. The Steelers struck first, when Rashard Mendenhall went in for a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter. In the second, Willis McGahee rolled nine yards into the end zone to tie up the game. The Ravens took a 10-7 lead into the half after Billy Cundiff sunk a 33-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, the Steelers took the lead with seven minutes left when Mendenhall scored again, this time from 7 yards out. The Ravens tried to respond, but were denied at the goal line after an unsuccessful fourth and goal. But the Ravens defense gave Flacco's offense one more chance at the win, forcing a three and out. Then, it took Flacco four plays to get the Ravens the win. He was 4/4 with 40 yards passing on the winning drive. The winning score was with :36 seconds left in the game, an 18 yard touchdown throw to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, his first touchdown grab as a Raven. Ray Lewis picked off a Charlie Batch pass on their next drive to seal up a sweet Ravens victory.
Player of the Game: Ravens DT Haloti Ngata-8 tackles, sack
Next week, the Ravens will host the 2-2 Denver Broncos. These teams met in Baltimore last year, with the Ravens destroying the Broncos, 30-7. The Broncos running game is the worst in the NFL this year. But their passing game is more than making up for it. Kyle Orton is the NFL's leading passer in this young season. That is no surprise, seeing that the Broncos throw 50 times each week. But they will absolutely not be able to do that this week against this Ravens defense. The Broncos offense needs to understand that they cannot be one-dimensional this week. They need to balance out the run and the pass, or else the Ravens will just drop back and it will be a long day for Orton. The Broncos ability or inability to balance out their offense can change the tide of the game this week. I have the Ravens improving to 4-1 with a 24-13 win.
Key Matchups for Broncos at Ravens
Ravens DT Haloti Ngata vs. Broncos LT Ryan Clady Edge: Ngata
Ravens S Dawan Landry vs. Broncos QB Kyle Orton Edge: Landry
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Broncos CB Champ Bailey Edge: Boldin
Ravens RT Marshal Yanda vs. Broncos DE Justin Bannan Edge: Bannan

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Back-OUT
LB Tavares Gooden-Shoulder-OUT
LB Paul Kruger-Knee-OUT
WR Donte Stallworth-Foot-OUT
Broncos
Player-Injury-Status
RB Spencer Larsen-Ankle-OUT
RB Knowshon Moreno-Hamstring-OUT

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 4 2010

2010-10-03T10:53:00.001-04:00

This week's version of my Ravens Report is dedicated to the memory of my great-grandmother, Myna. We all love and miss you.

Last week, the Ravens pulled out a close 24-17 win over the Browns. This was Anquan Boldin's breakout game, catching 8 balls for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns. Now we know why the Ravens got Boldin. The Browns got on the board first, when Phil Dawson hit a 38-yard field goal. The Ravens quickly scored, when Flacco found Boldin for an 8-yard touchdown, their first connection of the day. Their second came in the second quarter, this one a 12-yard floater to give the Ravens a 14-3 lead. The score would go to 14-10 at the half when Peyton Hillis pounded in a 1-yard touchdown, the first touchdown the Ravens have given up all year. After no score in the third quarter, the Browns took the lead in the fourth when Seneca Wallace threw a 1-yard touchdown to Benjamin Watson. Then the Ravens took the lead for good, as Flacco found Boldin from 27 yards out, the Ravens final touchdown of the day. Billy Cundiff would add on a 49-yard field goal, and the Ravens came away with the victory.
Co-Players of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco-262 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns
WR Anquan Boldin-7 catches, 142 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns

Next Sunday, the Ravens head to Pittsburgh take on their biggest rival, the 3-0 Steelers. The Steelers have been playing without suspended QB Ben Roethlisberger, and have surprisingly won all 3 games behind great defense and QB play from Dennis Dixon and veteran Charlie Batch. Batch will start for the Steelers on Sunday. Even with Batch at QB, that's not who this Ravens defense needs to worry about, because RB Rashard Mendenhall can break loose at any time. Mendenhall is the biggest factor on this Steelers offense, and if the Ravens can shut him down, then they can win this game. Now to the Steelers defense. Led by S Troy Polamalu and LB James Harrison, the Steelers have been one of the most dominant defenses in the league. Joe Flacco is known for struggling against them, so he will need to finally break loose and beat up on this Steelers defense. Ray Rice was injured last week but is expected to play Sunday, he will need to pound in, and get this defense tired early. In another tight game between these teams, I have the Ravens pulling it out, 16-13.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Steelers
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Steelers WR Hines Ward Edge: Ward
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Steelers CB Ike Taylor Edge: Boldin
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. NT Casey Hampton Edge: Hampton

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Back-OUT
LB Tavares Gooden-Shoulder-OUT
WR Donte Stallworth-Foot-OUT
DE Cory Redding-Head-QST
RB Ray Rice-Knee-QST
Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
QB Dennis Dixon-Knee-OUT
G Trai Essex-Ankle-OUT
DT Chris Hoke-Knee-OUT
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 3 2010

2010-09-26T11:07:00.000-04:00

Last week, the Ravens lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 15-10. Joe Flacco played one of the worst games of his career, throwing four interceptions, and probably throwing the entire game away. The Bengals opened the game with two second quarter field goals from Mike Nugent, hitting from 36 and 30 yards. Flacco struggled mightily throughout the half, not completing one pass in the first quarter. He rebounded quickly in the third, striking Derrick Mason for a 31-yard touchdown to put the Ravens on top. The Bengals took a 9-7 lead at the end of the third quarter on a 46-yard Nugent field goal. The Ravens took the lead back on Billy Cundiff's 38-yard field goal. The Bengals quickly responded with a field goal of their own. On the Ravens next drive, Flacco's pass was tipped and intercepted, which ultimately resulted in another Bengals field goal. The Ravens couldn't score on their next drive, and the Bengals won.
Player of the Game: Bengals K Mike Nugent-5 field goals
Next Sunday the Ravens play their season opener against the 0-2 Cleveland Browns. Browns QB Jake Delhomme was injured in last week's loss to the Buccaneers, so Seneca Wallace will start next week. The Browns offense is nothing to get to worried about, and I'm sure that the Ravens defense can easily stop them. This defense has not let up a touchdown to two decent offenses on the road, and they shouldn't this week at home against the Browns. The Browns defense is pretty weak overall, but has some strong points too. If the Ravens offense can get by players like Shaun Rogers and Eric Wright, they will have no trouble scoring points. The Ravens should win this game with ease, but they can't make the same mistakes they've made these past two weeks. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice must step their game up for these next games. I have the Ravens winning, 24-6.
Key Matchups for Browns at Ravens
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Browns LT Joe Thomas Edge: Suggs
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Browns RB Peyton Hillis Edge: Lewis
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Browns DT Shaun Rogers Edge: Rogers
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Browns CB Eric Wright Edge: Boldin

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Back-OUT
LB Tavares Gooden-Shoulder-OUT
WR Donte Stallworth-Foot-OUT
Browns
Player-Injury-Status
G Shawn Lauvuo-Ankle-OUT
QB Jake Delhomme-Ankle-OUT
LB D'Qwell Jackson-Chest-DBT
WR Brian Robiskie-Hamstring-DBT
RB Jerome Harrison-Thigh-QST
DT Shaun Rogers-Ankle,Hip-QST
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Reports, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 2 2010

2010-09-19T10:19:00.000-04:00

Last week, the Ravens pulled out a close 10-9 win over the Jets in New York. It wasn't a pretty win, but I'll take it. On the Ravens first offensive play of the game, Joe Flacco was sandwiched after not throwing the ball, and the Jets forced a fumble. Fortunately, all that they could get on offense was a 23-yard Nick Folk field goal. The Ravens defense was pretty dominant all game, only giving up the three field goals. The Jets got another one on the board in the second quarter after a Flacco interception, making it a 6-0 game. The Ravens offense didn't look good at all in the first half, but got an important 1-yard touchdown run from Willis McGahee at the end of the half to give the Ravens a 7-6 lead. The offense did look somewhat better in the second half, mainly relying on new receiver Anquan Boldin, who had an amazing first game as a Raven. But other than Boldin, the Ravens got a lot of help from the Jets' defensive penalties, as 7 Jets penalties forced 7 Ravens first downs. The Ravens took a 10-6 lead on a third quarter field goal by Billy Cundiff. After a lot of defense, Nick Folk hit a 48-yard field goal in the fourth to make it a one point game. Then the Jets got a chance to win within the two minute mark. On second down and 10 from their own 32, Mark Sanchez went over the middle for TE Dustin Keller, who got absolutely rocked by Ray Lewis, forcing an incomplete pass. Then, on fourth and ten, Sanchez found Keller again, who stepped out of bounds before the first down marker, ultimately ending the game.
Co-Players of the Game: WR Anquan Boldin-7 catches, 110 receiving yards, LB Ray Lewis- 4 tackles.
Next Sunday, the Ravens will travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals, who lost to the Patriots last week. Ravens WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh will be facing his former team. The Bengals Batman and Robin duo of WRs Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will force problems for a shaky Ravens secondary. They will definitely need to step up their game to control those two receivers. There has always been a rivalry between Ray Lewis and Ochocinco, so expect some mouthing off Sunday. The Ravens defense will also have trouble with Bengals RB Cedric Benson, who rushed for 100 yards against the Ravens twice last year. That means that the Ravens will be happy to avenge those games, and expect them to Sunday. On the offensive side of the ball, I think the Ravens need to improve over last week. Given that they are playing a much weaker defense, they still cannot make some of the same mistakes that they made last Monday night. Expect a lot of catches for Anquan Boldin this week. In what is going to be an interesting game, I have the Ravens winning 20-13.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Bengals
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Bengals RB Cedric Benson Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco Edge: Ochocinco
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Bengals CB Leon Hall Edge: Boldin
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Bengals DT Tank Johnson Edge: Birk

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Back-OUT
WR Donte Stallworth-Foot-OUT
DT Terrence Cody-Knee-QST
LB Tavares Gooden-Thigh-QST
TE Todd Heap-Shoulder-QST
LB Jarret Johnson-Back-QST
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-QST
WR Anquan Boldin-Thigh-PRB
Bengals
Player-Injury-Status
RB Brian Leonard-Foot-QST
LB Keith Rivers-Foot-QST
RB Cedric Benson-Shoulder-PRB
WR Andre Caldwell-Groin-PRB
That's this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 1 2010

2010-09-13T16:07:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 2010 Baltimore Ravens season, and to my weekly Ravens Report!!!

The Ravens are coming off of a 3-1 preseason, losing their final game against the Rams. The following are key additions and losses for the Ravens this off-season.
Key Additions: WR Anquan Boldin
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh
WR Donte Stallworth
DE Cory Redding
Key Losses: DE Dwan Edwards (Bills)
DT Justin Bannan (Broncos)
Now here are the Ravens picks in the 2010 NFL Draft:
Round 2-LB Sergio Kindle
Round 2-DE Terrence Cody
Round 3-TE Ed Dickson
Round 4-TE Dennis Pitta
Round 5-WR David Reed
Round 5-DT Arthur Jones
Round 6-OT Ramon Harewood
The Ravens are entering this season with high expectations, expectations of Super Bowl or bust. They have the best offense in franchise history complimented by an elite defense. The Ravens definitely have all the tools to go all the way this year.

The Ravens will open the year on Monday Night Football in New York against the Jets. The Jets come into the year with tons of hype. Jets Head Coach and Former Ravens Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan has been a continuous trash talker, getting his team in the media often. The team's hype might just be talk though, as I believe QB Mark Sanchez is nothing to get yourself excited about, and his lack of experience and success weakens this offense. He has almost no experience and almost all the Jets playoff success last year came from an outstanding defense. We have learned that a great defense and a weak offense isn't often a successful mixture. I know what you're thinking. What about the 2000 Super Bowl Champion Ravens? That defense was much better and powerful than this Jets defense. Yes, this Jets defense is one of the best in the league, and the Ravens will have a tough time with them Monday Night. DT Kris Jenkins is very dangerous off the line, but the Ravens offensive line will be able to contain him. CB Darrelle Revis is the best corner in the league, and after ending his holdout he is back for the game on Monday. Even without a training camp for him, he will still be on his game, so Joe Flacco will have to look out for him, and make sure not to take any risks on his side of the field. In the end, I believe that the weak Jets offense will slow down their elite defense, and they won't be nearly as successful as they were made out to be. I have the Ravens winning this game, 17-9.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Jets
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Jets RB Shonn Greene Edge: Lewis
Ravens DT Haloti Ngata vs. Jets C Nick Mangold Edge: Ngata
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Jets DT Kris Jenkins Edge: Jenkins
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Jets CB Darrelle Revis Edge: Revis

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
DT Terrence Cody-Knee-OUT
T Jared Gaither-Back-OUT
WR Donte Stallworth-Foot-OUT
T Oniel Cousins-Head-PRB
LB Paul Kruger-Shoulder-PRB
CB Lardarius Webb-Knee-PRB
Jets
Player-Injury-Status
LB Calvin Pace-Foot-OUT
S Brodney Pool-Ankle-QST

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Divisional Playoff

2010-01-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

Last week, the Ravens beat up on the New England Patriots, 33-14. This was the first time in Ravens history that they have beaten the Patriots. The Ravens offensive line was spectacular, opening holes for Ray Rice and Willis McGahee. The one downside to this game was the lack of production from Ravens QB Joe Flacco. Flacco completed just 4 passes for 34 yards and an interception. The Ravens scored on the first play from scrimmage, as RB Ray Rice ran 83 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. The score was 14-0 next, when Ravens FB Le'Ron McClain ran for a 1-yard touchdown. The Ravens kept piling it on in the first quarter, as Rice scored again, this time from one yard out. Ravens K Billy Cundiff made a 27-yard field goal to make the score 24-0 at the end of the first quarter. This was one of the Ravens best quarters in franchise history. The score was 24-7 at halftime after Pats QB Tom Brady found WR Julian Edelman for a 6-yard touchdown. Next, Cundiff hit a 23-yarder to make the score 27-7. Then Brady found Edelman from one yard to make it a two possession game at the end of the third quarter. The final score of the game was a 3-yard run by Ravens RB Willis McGahee (the two-point conversion failed). The Ravens defense was outstanding, forcing four turnovers and sacking Brady three times.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice-159 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns

Next Saturday night, the Ravens will head to Indianapolis to face the top-seeded Colts. The Colts have not won a game in almost a month. When these two teams faced each other earlier this year in Baltimore, the Colts came away with a close 17-15 win. In 2006, the Colts beat the Ravens in the same round, that game taking place in Baltimore. The Ravens will look for some revenge on Saturday night. Colts QB and NFL MVP Peyton Manning leads the Colts offense. A key matchup in this game will be Ravens S Ed Reed, who has had success against Manning and the Colts, versus Manning himself. The banged-up Colts defense is lead by LB Gary Brackett. Colts WR Pierre Garcon got happy news this week when he found out that his parents, living in Haiti, had survived the devastating earthquake. This game will be a nail-biter, and a great game to watch, but I have the Colts winning, 27-17.
Suggestion: It will all come down to the Ravens secondary. If they can shut down Peyton Manning and all his target, I think the Ravens could win this game.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Colts
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Colts QB Peyton Manning Edge: Manning
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Colts RB Joseph Addai Edge: Lewis
Colts DE Dwight Freeney vs. Ravens RT Michael Oher Edge: Freeney
Colts LB Gary Brackett vs. Ravens RB Ray Rice Edge: Rice

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Ankle-PRB
LB Tavares Gooden-Knee-PRB
TE Todd Heap-Back-PRB
WR Derrick Mason-Hand-PRB
S Ed Reed-Groin/Foot-PRB

Colts
Player-Injury-Status
LB Gary Brackett-Quad-PRB
DE Dwight Freeney-Foot-PRB
DE Robert Mathis-Shoulder-PRB
WR Reggie Wayne-Knee-PRB

If the Ravens win on Saturday, they will play the winner of the Jets/Chargers game on Sunday.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Wild Card Weekend

2010-01-09T23:45:00.000-05:00

Last week, the Ravens defeated the Raiders, 21-13. With this win, the Ravens clinch a playoff berth. The Ravens scored first, on a 3-yard run by RB Willis McGahee. Then, in the second quarter, Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski made a 37-yard field goal. Willis McGahee would extend the Ravens lead, breaking away for a 77-yard touchdown run. To end the first half, Raiders QB Charlie Frye threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to TE Zach Miller. After the half, Frye was taken out of the game due to an eye injury. In the third quarter, Janikowski made a 39-yard field goal to make it a one point game. McGahee would score once more, from 2 yards out, to help seal a Ravens win. The Ravens made a change this week, running more with McGahee than RB Ray Rice. The Ravens stuck to McGahee during this game because he was doing well. "Don't fix something that isn't broken." In other words, if he's doing well, let him keep going. The offensive line was great, and was a big factor in McGahee's success.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Willis McGahee-167 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns

Next week, the Ravens travel to New England to face the Patriots. Patriots QB Tom Brady has never lost a home playoff game, and the Patriots haven't lost a home playoff game since 1980. These two teams met in New England back in Week 4, with the Pats edging out a 27-21 win over the Ravens. Last week, the Patriots lost one of their best Wide Receivers, Wes Welker, to a torn ACL. He will miss the entire postseason. This could be vital to the game's outcome. One main target on Sunday could be TE Benjamin Watson. The Ravens have had some difficulty this year defending the tight end, and the Patriots could use this to their advantage. Welker's replacement will be his younger clone, WR Julian Edelman. Also, Tom Brady will be playing with three broken ribs. I expect the Ravens to double-team WR Randy Moss with CB Dominique Foxworth and S Ed Reed, and cover Edelman with CB Chris Carr. To win this game, I think the Ravens have to run the ball at the Patriots defense. The Ravens two-headed running power of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee can run over the Patriots, and with Joe Flacco's passing struggles, the Ravens can't afford more interceptions. With a win, the Ravens would face the Indianapolis Colts. In another close game, I have the Patriots winning, 23-14.
Suggestion: Turnovers can kill a team. Turnovers could kill the Ravens on Sunday. If the Ravens don't turn the ball over, they will have a much better chance of winning this game.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Patriots
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Patriots TE Benjamin Watson Edge: Watson
Ravens CB Chris Carr vs. Patriots WR Julian Edelman Edge: Carr
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Patriots NT Vince Wilfork Edge: Wilfork
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Patriots LB Adalius Thomas Edge: Rice

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
QB Joe Flacco-Hip-PRB
LB Tavares Gooden-Groin-PRB
TE Todd Heap-Neck-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Neck-PRB
LS Matt Katula-Elbow-PRB
WR Derrick Mason-Knee-PRB
DT Haloti Ngata-Ankle-PRB
DE Trevor Pryce-Head-PRB
S Ed Reed-Groin-PRB
G Marshal Yanda-Knee-PRB
S Tom Zbikowski-Neck-PRB
Patriots
Player-Injury-Status
OL Dan Connolly-Ankle-DBT
QB Tom Brady-Finger/Shoulder/Rib-PRB
WR Julian Edelman-Forearm-PRB
DE Jarvis Green-Knee-PRB
T Nick Kaczur-Shoulder-PRB
WR Randy Moss-Non Injury Related-PRB
CB Shaun Springs-Knee-PRB
DE Ty Warren-Ankle-PRB
TE Benjamin Watson-Knee-PRB
DL Vince Wilfork-Foot-PRB

Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 17 2009

2010-01-02T13:37:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-20. Penalties and other mistakes were costly for the Ravens. The Steelers scored first, when K Jeff Reed made a 26-yard field goal. The Ravens quickly tied the game, on a 27-yard field goal by K Billy Cundiff. The score was 6-3 at the end of the first quarter after a 39-yard Reed field goal. The Steelers made it a two possession game on a 4-yard run by RB Rashard Mendenhall. But the Ravens responded again, with a 30-yard pass from QB Joe Flacco to TE Todd Heap. To end the half, the Steelers scored on a 24-yard pass from QB Ben Roethlisberger to WR Santonio Holmes. The Ravens made it a one possession game, when Flacco found Heap again, this time a 7-yard pass. Next, Billy Cundiff tied the game at 20 on a 35-yard field goal. The Ravens were rolling now, but that quickly stopped. On the Ravens next drive, they were denied a touchdown twice due to penalties. The Steelers final and winning score was on a 38-yard field goal by Jeff Reed.
Player of the Game: Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley-7 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble.

Next week, the Ravens travel to Oakland to face the 5-10 Oakland Raiders. With a win, the Ravens clinch a playoff berth. Although they are not an overall good team, they have beaten many good teams including the Bengals, Steelers, Broncos, and Eagles. Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski made a 61-yard field goal last week, the 4th longest in NFL history. The Raiders will start either JaMarcus Russell or Charlie Frye at quarterback. The Raiders big offensive threats are TE Zach Miller and WR Louis Murphy. On defense, they are led by DEs Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis, and CB Nnamdi Asomugha. It's going to be a closer game than many people think, and I have the Ravens winning, 27-10.
Suggestion: The Raiders are not able to beat a good Ravens team. They are a team with some very talented players, but do not have the chemistry needed to make a winning football team. Therefore, only the Ravens can beat the Ravens. That means no dumb mistakes and/or penalties.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Raiders
Ravens Offensive Line vs. Raiders Defensive Line Edge: Raiders D-Line
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Raiders LB Kirk Morrison Edge: Rice
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha Edge: Asomugha
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Raiders RB Darren McFadden Edge: Lewis

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Oniel Cousins-Knee-QST
LB Tavares Gooden-Groin-QST
WR Derrick Mason-Knee-QST
S Ed Reed-Groin-QST
LB Terrell Suggs-Thigh-QST
CB Cary Williams-Thigh-QST
T Jared Gaither-Foot-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Back/Knee-PRB
DE Trevor Pryce-Illness-PRB

Raiders
Player-Injury-Status
QB Bruce Gradkowski-Knee-OUT
RB Justin Fargas-Knee-DBT
T Langston Walker-Ankle-DBT
S Tayvon Branch-Hip-QST
DE Greg Ellis-Knee-QST
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey-Foot-QST
CB Chris Johnson-Hamstring-QST
DT Gerard Warren-Shoulder-PRB

Ravens Playoff Picture: The Ravens need a win to clinch a playoff berth. If we win and the Jets lose to the Bengals, we take the #1 Wild Card spot. If we win and the Jets win, we have the #2 Wild Card spot. Even if we lose, there is still a possibility of us making the playoffs.
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 16 2009

2009-12-26T20:26:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens defeated the Bears, 31-7. Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw a career high four touchdowns. Flacco looked better than I've ever seen him before. Bears QB Jay Cutler threw four interceptions, and added to his league-high in picks. The Bears turned the ball over six times during the game. The Ravens scored first, when Flacco threw to TE Todd Heap for a 7-yard touchdown. The Ravens scored again, a 14-yard Flacco to Heap pass, to take a 14-0 lead into the 2nd quarter. The Bears scored their only touchdown of the game in the second quarter, when WR Earl Bennett returned a punt 49 yards to the end zone. The rest of the scoring was in the third quarter. First, Flacco found WR Demetrius Williams, who made an amazing catch for the touchdown. Flacco's final touchdown pass was 18 yards to WR Derrick Mason, who dove into the end zone to make the score 28-7. The final score of the game was a 40-yard field goal buy Ravens K Billy Cundiff.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco-21/29 for 234 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

Next week, the Ravens take on their bitter rival, the 7-7 Pittsburgh Steelers, in Pittsburgh. A Ravens win eliminates the Steelers from playoff contention. The last time these two teams met, the Ravens beat the Steelers in overtime, 20-17. Last week, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger threw for a franchise record 503 yards. The Steelers will be without star S Troy Polamalu on Sunday. Without Polamalu, the Steelers are a different and much worse team. They haven't intercepted a pass since Polamalu went down in Week 10. But Ravens S Ed Reed will most likely be out also. Reed is a vital part of the Ravens defense, but I believe that the Ravens defense has learned to succeed without him. The Ravens pass rush has not been very dominating this year, but they might get some sacks against a horrible Steelers offensive line. In another great shootout between these two teams, I have the Ravens winning 27-17.
Suggestion: To beat the Steelers, the Ravens have to play like they have these past two weeks. The Steelers are a much better team than the Lions or Bears. But they still have to play well and with heart.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Steelers
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Steelers Defense Edge: Rice
Ravens Secondary vs. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Edge: Roethlisberger

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Foot-DBT
S Ed Reed-Groin-DBT
LB Tavares Gooden-Groin-DBT
DT Justin Bannan-Illness-QST
WR Mark Clayton-Knee-QST
LS Matt Katula-Forearm-QST
C Matt Birk-Neck-PRB
WR Justin Harper-Foot-PRB
TE Todd Heap-Chest-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Knee-PRB
DT Haloti Ngata-Ankle-PRB
TE L.J. Smith-Ankle-PRB
WR Kelley Washington-Ankle-PRB

Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
G Chris Kemoeatu-Wrist-OUT
S Troy Polamalu-Knee-OUT
LB James Harrison-Biceps-QST
DE Brett Keisel-Neck-PRB
RB Rashard Mendenhall-Hip-PRB
RB Willie Parker-Knee-PRB
WR Mike Wallace-Knee-PRB
WR Hines Ward-Hamstring-PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Bengals 9 5
Ravens 8 6
Steelers 7 7
Browns 3 11

AFC North Outlook: The Bengals clinch the division with a win over the Chiefs or a Ravens loss. The Ravens clinch a playoff berth with a win, a Jaguars loss to the Patriots, a Broncos loss to the Eagle, a loss by the Jets to the Colts and a Texans win over the Dolphins.
Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 15 2009

2009-12-19T20:21:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens demolished the Detroit Lions, 48-3. The Lions simply gave up, causing this blowout win. The Ravens set a franchise record for total yards and tied the record for most points in a game. Due to a 38-yard Billy Cundiff field goal,the Ravens took a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Then, QB Joe Flacco extended the Ravens lead when WR Derrick Mason broke a tackle and ran into the end zone for a 62-yard touchdown. The Lions scored next, with a 22-yard field goal by K Jason Hanson. Ravens RB Ray Rice made it 17-3 when he broke loose for a 59-yard touchdown. Billy Cundiff sent the Ravens into halftime with a 20-3 lead after he hit a 25-yard field goal. FB Le'Ron McClain scored next for the Ravens, on a 3-yard run. Protecting the starters, the Ravens began bringing in their backups, such as RB Willis McGahee and QB Troy Smith. McGahee scored from 8 yards to give the Ravens a bigger lead. The Ravens scored once more in the quarter, with another McGahee touchdown, this time from 19 yards. The last score of the game came in the fourth quarter, with a Troy Smith 15-yard run. This game was out of control and was an easy, yet important win.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice-166 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 53 receiving yards

Next week, the Ravens play their last home game of the season, as they face the 5-8 Chicago Bears. This is another must-win game for the Ravens. The Ravens new playmaker, RB Ray Rice averages 5 yards per carry and leads the team in receptions. The Ravens offense faces a tough test against the ever-effective Bears defense, who is second in the league in forced fumbles. Bears QB Jay Cutler has thrown the most interceptions in the NFL. This could be an opportunity for the struggling Ravens secondary to pick some passes off. The Ravens are the best run defense in the NFL, and will be tested this week against Bears RB Matt Forte. Forte has struggled this year when facing tough defenses. In a snowy game, I have the Ravens improving to 8-6 with a 30-13 win.

Suggestion: The Ravens need to play like they did last week more often. They need to run the ball more, like last year. Giving the ball to Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain seems to be working pretty well right now.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Bears
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Bears DT Tommie Harris Edge: Birk
Ravens TE Todd Heap vs. Bears LB Lance Briggs Edge: Briggs
Ravens NT Kelly Gregg vs. Bears C Olin Kreutz Edge: Kreutz
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Bears QB Jay Cutler Edge: Lewis

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Foot-OUT
WR Mark Clayton-Knee-DBT
S K.J. Gerard-Thigh-QST
LB Tavares Gooden-Groin-QST
LB Jarret Johnson-Knee/Back-QST
DT Haloti Ngata-Ankle-QST
S Ed Reed-Groin/Foot-QST
TE L.J. Smith-Ankle-QST
WR Kelley Washington-Ankle-QST
C Matt Birk-Neck-PRB
WR Derrick Mason-Finger-PRB
LB Terrell Suggs-Knee-PRB

Bears
Player-Injury-Status
WR Devin Hester-Calf-DBT
CB Zach Bowman-Illness-QST
DT Tommie Harris-Knee-QST
T Orlando Pace-Groin-QST
CB Charles Tillman-Back-QST

AFC Outlook: The Jaguars loss to the Colts on Thursday gives the Ravens the second Wild Card spot. If the playoffs started today, the Ravens would be in. The chances of the Ravens winning the division are slim, so we want a Wild Card spot. If we win our next three games, we are in the playoffs.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 14 2009

2009-12-12T15:59:00.000-05:00

Last Monday Night, the Ravens lost to the Packers, 27-14. For the Ravens, this loss basically means they have to win out if they want to make the playoffs. The two teams combined for 310 penalty yards, tied for second most in NFL history. The Ravens made a lot of mistakes throughout the game, and if they could avoided some of them, they could have won this game. The Packers scored first on a 28-yard field goal by Mason Crosby. They then took a 10-0 lead on a 2-yard pass from QB Aaron Rodgers to TE Jermichael Finley. The score was 17-0 at halftime after an 8-yard pass from Rodgers to WR Donald Driver. But the Ravens started hot in the third quarter. They got on the board with a 12-yard pass from QB Joe Flacco to WR Kelley Washington. After a Packers turnover, Ravens RB Willis McGahee ran for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 17-14 at the end of the third quarter. After McGahee's run, he did the Lambeau Leap into a few Ravens fans behind the end zone. The Packers scored on their next drive, a 19-yard pass from Rodgers to Finley. With a second and goal on their next drive, Flacco was picked off on a horrible throw, to seal a Packers win. The Packers would score again, a 32-yard Mason Crosby field goal.
Player of the Game: Packers TE Jermichael Finley-7 catches, 79 yards, two touchdowns

Next week, the Ravens come home to face the 2-10 Detroit Lions. For the Ravens right now, every game is a must-win. Struggling Ravens QB Joe Flacco will look to get back on track against the last-ranked Lions pass defense. The Ravens defense is also struggling, and they will try to catch a break this week against an unorganized Lions offense. Lions QB Matthew Stafford is injured and will not be playing. He will be replaced by veteran QB Daunte Culpepper. I have the Ravens improving to 7-6 with a 31-13 win over the Lions.
Suggestion: What happened to Cam Cameron's fun play-calling? Last year, he was full of exciting surprises. Just because we are in a must-win situation, doesn't mean you can't take any risks.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Lions
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Lions LB Larry Foote Edge: Rice
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Lions DT Grady Jackson Edge: Birk
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson Edge: Johnson
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Lions RB Kevin Smith Edge: Lewis

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Mark Clayton-Knee-DBT
G David Hale-Head-DBT
S Ed Reed-Groin/Foot-DBT
TE L.J. Smith-Ankle-DBT
T Jared Gaither-Foot-QST
LB Jarret Johnson-Neck-QST
DT Brandon McKinney-Back-QST
LB Terrell Suggs-Knee-QST
K Billy Cundiff-Head-PRB
QB Joe Flacco-Knee/Hip-PRB

Lions
Player-Injury-Status
TE Casey FitzSimmons-Concussion-OUT
DT Andre Fluellen-Groin-DBT
QB Matthew Stafford-Shoulder-DBT
DT Joe Cohen-Knee-QST
T Daniel Loper-Back-QST
S Louis Delmas-Ankle-PRB
WR Eric Fowler-Knee-PRB
P Nick Haris-Knee-PRB
DT Grady Jackson-Knee-PRB
CB Will James-Neck-PRB
S Kalvin Pearson-Hamstring-PRB
LB Ernie Sims-Hamstring-PRB
DE Dewayne White-Toe-PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Bengals 9 3
Ravens 6 6
Steelers 6 7
Browns 2 11

AFC North Outlook: It is most likely right now that the Bengals will win the division. The Steelers loss Thursday night basically eliminates them from the playoffs. The Ravens need to win the rest of their games to have a chance to make the playoffs.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 13 2009

2009-12-05T18:27:00.000-05:00

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!

Ravens Report-Week 12 2009

2009-11-27T17:55:00.000-05:00

Last week, the Ravens lost to the Indianapolis Colts, 17-15. This was a game that the Ravens could have won and should have won. This was a pivotal loss because both the Steelers and Bengals lost, and it was a good opportunity for the Ravens to gain some ground in the division. The Colts scored on their first drive, when QB Peyton Manning threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to TE Dallas Clark. Then, new Ravens K Billy Cundiff hit a 46-yard field goal. To end the quarter, Cundiff hit again, this time from 44 yards. Cundiff came out again, and gave the Ravens a 9-7 lead on a 38-yard field goal. But the Colts quickly responded, when RB Joseph Addai ran for a 5-yard touchdown. Then Cundiff made a 36-yard field goal, to make it 14-12 at halftime. When he came out again, this time from 30 yards, he missed wide to the right, on a chance for the Ravens to take the lead. Cundiff gave the Ravens the lead later, though, on a 20-yarder. But then out came former Ravens K Matt Stover. Stover hit from 25 yards, to give the Colts the lead back. When the Ravens drove down the field next, they were getting closer to the score and the win. But then, Flacco was picked off by Colts LB Gary Brackett. The Colts were unable to score, and punted the ball away to Ed Reed with less than a minute left on the clock. During Reed's return, he tried to pitch the ball, but he fumbled, and the Colts recovered to win the game.
Other Game Notes: This was not Cundiff's fault. The Ravens had plenty of chances to win. For instance, in the fourth quarter, the Ravens had a first a goal at the one. But they couldn't get in the end zone, and had to settle for a field goal. During the game, Ravens CB Fabian Washington got hurt, and will miss the rest of the season.

Next Sunday, the Ravens face their arch enemy, the 6-4 Pittsburgh Steelers. This game is in Baltimore, and will be shown on national television, on NBC's Sunday Night Football. For the Ravens, this game is a must-win. A loss could be the end of the team's playoff hopes. The Steelers are without a doubt the Ravens' biggest and most fierce rival. Last year, the Steelers ended the Ravens season by beating them in the AFC Championship. The Ravens do have a little bit of an advantage, because the Steelers key defensive player, S Troy Polamalu, won't play. The Steelers are 2-4 without Polamalu this season, and 4-1 with him. Their two wins without him were very close games. But they Ravens are shorthanded on defense too, as LB Terrell Suggs will be out for at least a month. The Ravens struggling secondary will have to be superb on Sunday, as they will face Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who is 4th in the NFL in passing. Roethlisberger is expected to play Sunday despite a concussion last week. But still, he won't be completely on his game. If he gets hurt during the game, the Steelers will have to play third-string QB Dennis Dixon, because their backup, Charlie Batch, is also hurt. The Steelers strong run defense will be tested this week when they face Ray Rice and Willis McGahee. In a tough and physical game, and another desperation game for the Ravens, I have the Ravens winning, 26-24.
Suggestion: Again, the Ravens secondary could be vital to the outcome of this game. As I mentioned earlier, Fabian Washington is out for the year. In his absence, the Ravens signed CB Cary Williams. If the Ravens secondary can stop a powerful Steelers pass offense, they can definitely win this game.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Steelers
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Steelers NT Casey Hampton Edge: Hampton
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Steelers LB James Farrior Edge: Rice
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Steelers WR Santonio Holmes Edge: Holmes
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall Edge: Lewis

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Terrell Suggs-Knee-DBT
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-QST
S Ed Reed-Foot/Illness-QST
C Matt Birk-Neck-PRB
TE Todd Heap-Chest-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-PRB
DT Haloti Ngata-Ankle-PRB
TE L.J. Smith-Illness-PRB
Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
QB Charlie Batch-Wrist-OUT
G Chris Komeatu-Knee-OUT
S Troy Polamalu-Knee-OUT
DE Travis Kirschke-Calf-QST
QB Ben Roethlisberger-Head-QST
RB Willie Parker-Hip-PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Bengals 7 3
Steelers 6 4
Ravens 5 5
Browns 1 9
AFC North Outlook: We might as well let the Bengals run away with the division and hope for a Wild Card spot. If the Ravens win Sunday, there hopes of a Wild Card spot go up.
Correction: Ben Roethlisberger is OUT for Sunday's game.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 11 2009

2009-11-21T20:47:00.000-05:00

Last week, the Ravens beat the Browns on Monday Night Football, 16-0. On the opening kickoff, Ravens S Haruki Nakamura broke his ankle. Later in the week, he was placed on Injured Reserve, ending his season. Also in the game, Ravens LB Terrell Suggs was hurt on a low block by Browns QB Brady Quinn. Quinn was later fined for the play. In the first quarter, the Ravens put together a solid drive, and it lead to a 36-yard field goal from K Steve Hauschka. But Hauschka missed, his fourth miss of the year. After a scoreless first half, the Ravens finally got on the board, when RB Ray Rice found the end zone for a 13-yard run. On the Browns next drive, Brady Quinn was intercepted by Dawan Landry, and Landry took it 48 yards to the end zone. But, Hauschka's extra point was blocked, to make it 13-0. The final points of the game were on a 44-yard Hauschka field goal.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice-89 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown

Next Sunday, the Ravens will host the 9-0 Indianapolis Colts. This game is the long-awaited return of Former Ravens K Matt Stover. Stover signed with the Colts after their K Adam Vinatieri, went down with an injury. These two teams met last year in Indy, and the Colts trampled the Ravens, 31-3. The Colts are one of two undefeated teams in the NFL, along with the Saints. Their offense, lead by QB Peyton Manning, is considered one of the best ever. Manning is great at using all of his receivers, expect him to do that a lot against the struggling Ravens secondary. If the Colts can take advantage of the Ravens secondary, they could have an easy win. This will be an extremely tough game for the Ravens, and they will need to be on their game if they want to win. Ravens Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron will have to pull some tricks out of the book to confuse the Colts defense. In a tough game for the Ravens, I have the Colts winning 34-21.
Suggestion: The Ravens cannot fool around at all on Sunday. They will need to play as hard as possible to win this game. The Colts are a very tough team on all fours, and the Ravens need to find a way to stop them.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Colts
Ravens RT Michael Oher vs. Colts DE Dwight Freeney Edge: Freeney
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Colts LB Gary Brackett Edge: Rice
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Colts WR Reggie Wayne Edge: Wayne
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Colts RB Joseph Addai Edge: Lewis

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
RB Matt Lawrence-Knee-OUT
LB Terrell Suggs-Knee-OUT
TE Todd Heap-Chest-QST
DT Haloti Ngata-Ankle-QST
C Matt Birk-Neck-PRB
QB Joe Flacco-Knee-PRB
LB Tavares Gooden-Head-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-PRB

Colts
Player-Injury-Status
OT Dan Fedrkeil-Concussion-OUT
DB Aaron Francisco-Ankle-OUT
WR Anthony Gonzalez-Knee-OUT
DB Kelvin Hayden-Knee-OUT
K Adam Vinatieri-Knee-OUT
DB Antoine Bethea-Foot-QST
DT Eric Foster-Back-QST
DE Dwight Freeney-Hip-QST
WR Pierre Garcon-Ankle-QST
TE Gijon Robinson-Concussion-QST
QB Jim Sorgi-Shoulder-QST
WR Hank Baskett-Illness-PRB
LS Justin Snow-Elbow-PRB

AFC North Standings

Team W L
Bengals 7 2
Steelers 6 3
Ravens 5 4
Browns 1 8

AFC North Outlook: The Steelers face the Chiefs in Kansas City, and the Bengals play the Raiders in Oakland. The Ravens could fall to three games back if they lose and the Bengals and Steelers win.

Ravens Notes: Last Tuesday, the Ravens released K Steven Hauschka, after missing four field goals. Then, on Wednesday, they signed veteran K Billy Cundiff, who will kick Sunday against the Colts. Cundiff has played for the Cowboys, Packers, Browns, Lions, and many more teams.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 10 2009

2009-11-15T17:33:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 17-7, and fell to 4-4. The Ravens played poorly on all fours, and did not deserve to win the game. The Bengals got on the board quickly, when QB Carson Palmer found WR Andre Caldwell in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown. On the Bengals next drive, they scored again, this time a 1-yard run by RB Cedric Benson. The Bengals took a 17-0 lead at halftime after a 23-yard Shayne Graham field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Ravens scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Ray Rice. Then, the Ravens had a chance to make it a one possession game when Steven Hauschka missed 38-yard field goal, which, in a way, gave the Bengals the win. This win gives the Bengals the season sweep of the Ravens.
Player of the Game: Bengals RB Cedric Benson-117 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown

Next week, the Ravens play on Monday Night Football in Cleveland, against the 1-7 Browns. In Week 3, the Ravens beat the Browns at home, 34-3. In that game, the Browns starting QB Brady Quinn was replaced by Derek Anderson, but Quinn will start again Monday night. Browns RB Jamal Lewis is facing his former team for the last time in his career, as he announced his retirement a few weeks ago, effective at the end of the season. Ravens S Ed Reed loves playing the Browns, he has 8 interceptions against them in his career. Struggling Ravens QB Joe Flacco needs to get his game back, and it should be easy this week, because the Browns defense is ranked last in the NFL. Ravens RB Ray Rice is having a break-out season. He is averaging 126 yards per game, and is second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage. The struggling Ravens defense should get back on track Monday, the Browns offense is ranked 31st in the NFL. I have the Ravens winning, 31-10.
Suggestion: The Ravens, as a whole, need to step it up. Last year, it looked more like they were playing relaxed and having fun, but this year, the play-calling has been more conservative, and the plays have not been working that well. This team needs to play like the did last year if they want to return to the playoffs.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Browns
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Browns DT Shaun Rogers Edge: Rogers
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Browns WR Josh Cribbs Edge: Foxworth

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
RB Matt Lawrence-Knee-QST
DT Haloti Ngata-Ankle-QST
CB Lardarius Webb-Illness-QST
CB Chris Carr-Illness-PRB
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Illness-PRB
T Jared Gaither-Neck-PRB
TE Todd Heap-Ankle-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-PRB
LB Ray Lewis-Foot-PRB
S Haruki Nakamura-Chest-PRB
S Ed Reed-Wrist-PRB
CB Fabian Washington-Thigh-PRB
WR Kelley Washington-Back-PRB

Browns
Player-Injury-Status
TE Michael Gaines-Hamstring-QST
OL Rex Hadnot-Knee-QST
TE Steve Heiden-Knee-QST
RB Jamal Lewis-Ankle-QST
WR Chansi Stuckey-Calf-QST
FB Lawrence Vickers-Hamstring-QST
P Dave Zastudil-Knee-QST
LB David Bowens-Knee-PRB
OL Hank Fraley-Knee-PRB
DL Coye Francies-Knee-PRB
OL Alex Mack-Wrist-PRB
TE Robert Royal-Finger-PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Bengals 7 2
Steelers 6 3
Ravens 4 4
Browns 1 7

AFC North Outlook: The Bengals beat the Steelers Sunday, and took first place alone. This is a good thing for the Ravens because it means the Ravens can get closer to second place. The Ravens will not play the Bengals the rest of the year, but they play the Steelers twice.

During the Ravens games, you can check out my new blog, http://ravensgameday.blogspot.com/, in which you can listen to my thoughts as the game goes on. Updates are made after every quarter.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week!

Ravens Report-Week 9 2009

2009-11-07T13:39:00.000-05:00

Last week, the Ravens beat the previously undefeated Denver Broncos, 30-7, and improved to 4-3. The Ravens got on the board first, with K Steve Hauschka hitting a 43-yard field goal. Then, Hauschka made it 6-0 at halftime, with a 35-yard field goal. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Ravens rookie KR Lardarius Webb returned it 95 yards for a touchdown. But Denver answered, with a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Knowshon Moreno. Next, Hauschka hit again, this time from 31 yards. The Ravens lead 16-7 heading into the fourth quarter. The Ravens got back on the board, with QB Joe Flacco finding WR Derrick Mason for a 20-yard touchdown. And, to put the seal on the deal, Ravens RB Ray Rice found the end zone for a 7-yard TD run. The Ravens defense stepped up to the plate, shutting down a tough Broncos offense, to get the win.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice-84 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards, 1 rushing touchdown

Next Sunday, the Ravens travel to Cinncinati to face the 5-2 Bengals. Back in Week 5, the Bengals beat the Ravens in Baltimore, 17-14, on a late touchdown. In that game, the Ravens defense had trouble stopping the Bengals offense, equipped with QB Carson Palmer, RB Cedric Benson, and WRs Chad Ochocinco and Chris Henry. The Bengals have been nicknamed "the Cardiac Cats," this year, because they keep winning close games. This is a huge game for the Ravens, as a loss means they are two games back in the division. I have the Ravens winning this week, 34-28.
Suggestion: The Ravens must resemble last week's performance against Denver, meaning the defense must step up once again. If they can do that, they can win the game.

Key Matchups for Ravens at Bengals
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Bengals FS Chris Crocker Edge: Flacco
Ravens LT Jared Gaither vs. Bengals DE Robert Geathers Edge: Geathers
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Bengals QB Carson Palmer Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco Edge: Ochocinco

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
S Haruki Nakamura-Chest-QST
DT Haloti Ngata-Ankle-QST
S Tom Zbikowski-Illness-QST
LB Prescott Burgess-Illness-PRB
TE Todd Heap-Ankle-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-PRB
LS Matt Katula-Elbow-PRB
FB Le'Ron McClain-Shoulder-PRB
CB Frank Walker-Illness-PRB

Bengals
Player-Injury-Status
OT Andre Smith-Foot-QST
S Roy Williams-Forearm-QST
FB Jeremi Johnson-Knee-PRB
DT Tank Johnson-Foot-PRB
S Tom Nelson-Shoulder-PRB
RB Bernard Scott-Knee-PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Bengals 5 2
Steelers 5 2
Ravens 4 3
Browns 1 7

AFC North Outlook: With a Ravens win, they automatically are in first place, but not alone. If the Ravens win, the are tied with the Bengals. If the Steelers beat the Broncos on Monday Night Football and the Ravens win, they are alone in first place. If the Bengals and Steelers win, they are tied for the division lead. If the Ravens win and the Steelers lose, all three are tied. If the Ravens and Steelers lose, the Bengals are alone in first place.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week!

Ravens Report-Week 8 2009

2009-10-31T21:13:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago in Minnesota, the Ravens lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 33-31, and fell to 3-3. The Vikings started off hot, when QB Brett Favre found TE Visanthe Shiancoe for a 19-yard touchdown. Next, Favre found WR Bernard Berrian for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. In the only score of the 2nd quarter, Ravens K Steve Hauschka hit a 29-yard field goal, making the score 14-3 at the end of the first half. Then, Vikings K Ryan Longwell hit a 40-yard field goal. The Ravens then made it a one possession game on a 22-yard touchdown run by RB Ray Rice. But then the Vikings made it 20-10 on a 22-yard chip shot by Longwell. The Vikings then made it a three possession game when Favre found Shiancoe again, this time from one yard. But the Ravens then mounted a huge 4th quarter comeback. First, QB Joe Flacco found WR Mark Clayton for a 32-yard touchdown pass. The Vikings responded with a 29-yard field goal by Longwell. Then the Ravens proved that the game wasn't over, when Flacco found WR Derrick Mason for a 12-yard touchdown. Then the Ravens took the lead, when Ray Rice ran for a 33-yard touchdown. Now there was only 3 and a half minutes left in the game. But the Vikings drove down the field, and took a 33-31 lead. The Ravens marched down the field quickly, and had a chance to win the game, with Steve Hauschka attempting a 43-yard field goal. But Hauschka's kick went wide left, and the Vikings survived a collapse.
Player of the Game: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson-143 rushing yards
The Ravens then had their bye week.
This Sunday, the Ravens face off against the 6-0 Denver Broncos at home. Both teams are coming off a bye week. The Ravens losing this game could be detrimental to their season, because they are already one and a half games behind the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers in the division. A loss could be threatening to them making the playoffs. The Ravens defense must stop the Broncos strong offense. Broncos QB Kyle Orton has one of the best targets in the NFL, WR Brandon Marshall. The Ravens struggling secondary needs to be able to shut down Marshall if they want to win this game. Another one of Orton's targets is former Ravens WR Brandon Stokley. Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth faces his former team. The Ravens defense also needs to put more pressure on Orton, making him make passes quickly. The Broncos defense is tops in the AFC, lead by LB Elvis Dumervil and veteran S Brian Dawkins. The Broncos defense has given up an astounding 10 points combined this year in the second half. In a desperation game, I have the Ravens winning, 31-20.

Suggestion: I cannot stress this enough. The Ravens secondary has got to get it together. They are currently ranked 23rd in the NFL in pass defense. This week they face a very tough wide receiving core, and need to step it up if they want a win.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Broncos
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Broncos LB Elvis Dumervil Edge: Rice
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Broncos CB Champ Bailey Edge: Bailey
Ravens DE Haloti Ngata vs. Broncos LT Ryan Clady Edge: Ngata
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Broncos WR Brandon Marshall Edge: Marshall

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Neck-QST
QB Joe Flacco-Ankle-PRB
K Steve Hauschka-Ankle-PRB
LB Tavares Gooden-Head-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-PRB
S Ed Reed-Illness-PRB
WR David Tyree-Hamstring-PRB

Broncos
Player-Injury-Status
DL Ronald Fields-Hamstring-PRB
S Brian Dawkins-Hamstring-PRB
ILB/FB Spencer Larsen-Shoulder-PRB

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week!

Ravens Report-Week 6 2009

2009-10-17T14:28:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens suffered an embarrassing 17-14 loss to the Bengals. This moves the Ravens to 3-2 on the season. This was truly a sad game to watch. The Ravens were playing without any heart, and this loss will definitely come back to hurt them later this year. After a scoreless first quarter, Ravens S Ed Reed picked off Bengals QB Carson Palmer and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. Before halftime, Bengals K Shayne Graham made a 32-yard field goal to make it 7-3. The Bengals then took the lead on a 28-yard touchdown run by RB Cedric Benson. But the Ravens responded, when QB Joe Flacco dumped off a pass to RB Ray Rice, who ran 48 yards for a touchdown. But in the last minute of the game, Carson Palmer found WR Andre Caldwell in the end zone for a game-clinching 20 yard touchdown pass. On the Bengals game-winning drive, the Ravens committed three stupid penalties, which moved the Bengals farther and farther down the field. These penalties ultimately cost the Ravens the game. Cedric Benson ran for 120 yards, the first time in 39 games that the Ravens defense allowed a 100-yard rusher. The Ravens rushed much more than they passed last week, and the rushing game didn't work. I think that the main reason for this was because they were missing T Jared Gaither, a great offensive lineman for pass rushing. Maybe the Ravens were scared that without Gaither, the Bengals defense would get to Joe Flacco easier.
Player of the Game: Bengals RB Cedric Benson-128 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 2 catches, 16 receiving yards.

Next week, the Ravens face a very tough team, the 5-0 Minnesota Vikings, in Minnesota. First-year Ravens C Matt Birk faces his former team. The Ravens have won two of the three meetings against the Vikings. Lead by veteran QB Brett Favre, the Vikings are off to a hot start. Favre is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, but this is the first time he has started a season 5-0. The Vikings also have one of the best RBs in the NFL, Adrian Peterson. The Ravens need to stop Peterson in order to win this game. The Vikings pass rush, lead by DE Jared Allen, leads the NFL with 18 sacks. That means that the Ravens offensive line will have to step it up. That will be tough, because they will probably be without Jared Gaither.
Unfortunately, I have the Ravens falling to 3-3, with a 28-20 loss.
Suggestion: The Ravens secondary has been absolutely horrible this year. CBs Fabian Washington and Dominique Foxworth have been unable to cover WRs. If they keep this up, the Ravens will not be able to beat tough opponents.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Vikings
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Vikings NT Pat Williams Edge: Birk
Ravens RT Michael Oher vs. Vikings RE Jared Allen Edge: Allen
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Vikings CB Antoine Winfield Edge: Mason
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Vikings QB Brett Favre Edge: Lewis
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson Edge: Peterson
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Vikings WR Bernard Berrian Edge: Berrian

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Neck-DBT
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-PRB
TE Edgar Jones-Hamstring-PRB
DT Haloti Ngata-Back-PRB
WR David Tyree-Hamstring-PRB
WR Mark Clayton-Shoulder-PRB

Vikings
Player-Injury-Status
WR Darius Reynald-Hamstring-DBT
WR Percy Harvin-Shoulder-QST
T Phil Loadholt-Ankle-QST
DE Rey Edwards-Hamstring-PRB
CB Cedric Griffin-Hand-PRB
G Steve Hutchinson-Back-PRB
FB Naufahu Tahi-Ankle-PRB

Ravens Info: This week, the Ravens signed WR David Tyree to a 2-year deal. Tyree is best known for an amazing catch in Super Bowl XLII that lead to a Giants win.

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week.

Ravens Report-Week 5 2009

2009-10-10T21:44:00.000-04:00

Last week, the Ravens suffered their first loss of the season, 27-21, to the Patriots. After an early Pats field goal, Ravens QB Joe Flacco found WR Derrick Mason in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown. Then, in the second quarter, the Pats took a lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by QB Tom Brady. The Patriots were up 17-7 at halftime after a 12-yard touchdown by RB Sammy Morris. In the third quarter, the Ravens made it a one possession game when LB Terrell Suggs forced a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by DE Dwan Edwards. But the Pats got back on the board on a 14-yard pass from Brady to WR Randy Moss. Then Ravens made it 24-21 on a 13-yard pass from Flacco to RB Willis McGahee. After a Pats field goal, the Ravens had a chance to win the game on their final drive. On a 4th and 2 at the Patriots 15, Flacco threw to WR Mark Clayton, who dropped the ball, ending the game.
Player of the Game: Patriots QB Tom Brady-258 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 5 rushes, 11 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Other Notes: Ravens LB Branden Ayanbadejo is out for the season after suffering an injury in this game.

Next Sunday, the Ravens welcome the 3-1 Cincinnati Bengals to Baltimore. These two teams are tied for the AFC North lead, which means the winner takes sole possession of first place in the division. After losing the first game of the year, the Bengals have won three consecutive games. Last season, the Ravens won both games against the Bengals. Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis was the Ravens defensive coordinator for their Super Bowl win. The Bengals were struck with tragedy this week, when the wife of their defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, unexpectedly died. Zimmer is still expected to coach on Sunday. Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco said earlier this week that he has already planned a touchdown celebration for Sunday. The dance is from the Will Ferrell movie, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby". Bengals QB Carson Palmer has been extremely clutch this year for Cincinnati. But Palmer has a huge test this week, against one of the top defenses in the league, the Ravens. Palmer will have to take advantage of the Ravens struggling pass defense. The Ravens defense is the best in the NFL in stopping the run, but have a tough test this week against Cedric Benson, who is the NFL's fourth leading rusher. In a very tough game, I have the Ravens winning, 31-20.
Suggestion: The Ravens secondary really needs to step it up. Last week, Patriots WR Randy Moss was basically wide open in the end zone for his touchdown, as the CB defending him, Dominique Foxworth, was a few yards off of him. That can't happen this week against Bengals star WR, Chad Ochocinco.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Bengals
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Bengals CB Leon Hall Edge: Mason
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Bengals DT Robert Geathers Edge: Birk
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco Edge: Ochocinco
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
T Jared Gaither-Neck-QST
CB Chris Carr-Groin-PRB
LB Tavares Gooden-Shoulder-PRB
LB Jarret Johnston-Shoulder-PRB
WR Derrick Mason-Neck-PRB
DT Haloti Ngata-Back-PRB
S Ed Reed-Knee-PRB
WR Demetrius Williams-Illness-PRB
Bengals
Player-Injury-Status
LB Rashad Jeanty-Finger-OUT
OT Andre Smith-Foot-OUT
S Kyries Hebert-Hip-QST
DT Tank Johnson-Foot-QST
S Chinedum Nduukwe-Hamstring-QST
RB Cedric Benson-Hip-PRB
CB David Jones-Foot-PRB
LB Rey Maualuga-Knee-PRB
DT Domata Peko-Chest-PRB
S Roy Williams-Forearm-PRB
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report. See you next week!

Ravens Report-Week 4 2009

2009-10-03T09:36:00.000-04:00

Last week, the Ravens improved to 3-0 for the second time in team history with a 34-3 win over the Browns. Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw for a career-high 342 yards. The Ravens got on the board first when RB Willis McGahee found the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown. The Ravens took a 10-0 lead into the second quarter after a 36-yard field goal from K Steven Hauschka. After another field goal from Hauschka, McGahee scored again, this time from 15 yards, to give the Ravens a 20-0 lead at halftime. Then, the Browns benched starting QB Brady Quinn for former Ravens QB Derek Anderson. The only score of the third quarter was a 9-yard run by Ravens RB Ray Rice. Then, in the fourth quarter, the Browns got on the board with a 29-yard field goal from K Billy Cundiff. To end the game, Flacco found WR Derrick Mason for a 72-yard touchdown.
Player of the Game: Ravens WR Derrick Mason-5 receptions, 118 yards, 1 touchdown
Next Sunday, the Ravens head to Foxborough to face the 2-1 New England Patriots. The Ravens have never beaten the Pats. These two teams met in Baltimore on Monday Night Football two years ago, when the Patriots barely held on for a 27-24 win. In two games in New England, the Ravens have scored a combined six points. The Pats offense is lead by star QB Tom Brady. Brady missed last season with a knee injury, and is yet to return to form. At running back, the carries are split between Fred Taylor and Laurence Maroney. Patriots WR Wes Welker is 50/50 for Sunday's game, and hasn't played since Week 1. The Patriots defense is likely to be without two of their stars, DT Vince Wilfork, and LB Jerod Mayo. The Ravens have scored the most points in the AFC, and are second in the NFL with 34.3 points per game. The Ravens defense will try to resemble what the Jets did to the Patriots in Week 2, when they shut down the passing game. Jets head coach Rex Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Ravens from 2005 to 2008. In a nail-biter, I have the Ravens winning, 31-27.
Suggestion: On Sunday, the Ravens need to blitz, blitz, blitz. They need to put pressure on Tom Brady, make him make a pass he doesn't want to make.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Patriots
Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Patriots LB Adalius Thomas Edge: McGahee
Ravens WR Mark Clayton vs. Patriots CB Shawn Springs Edge: Springs
Ravens RG Chris Chester vs. Patriots DT Vince Wilfork/Ty Warren Edge: Wilfork/Warren
Ravens NT Kelly Gregg vs. Patriots C Dan Koppen Edge: Gregg
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Patriots WR Randy Moss Edge: Moss
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Patriots RB Fred Taylor Edge: Lewis
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Taveres Gooden-Shoulder/Head-QST
WR Derrick Mason-Illness-QST
QB Troy Smith-Illness-QST
DT Justin Bannan-Knee-PRB
LB Antwan Barnes-Shoulder-PRB
TE Todd Heap-Back-PRB
LB Ray Lewis-Head-PRB
DE Trevor Pryce-Illness-PRB
WR Kelley Washington-Groin-PRB
Patriots
Player-Injury-Status
LB Jerod Mayo-Knee-DBT
T Nick Kaczur-Ankle-QST
WR Wes Welker-Knee-QST
DT Vince Wilfork-Ankle-QST
QB Tom Brady-Shoulder-PRB
CB Leigh Bodden-Thigh-PRB
RB Laurence Maroney-Thigh-PRB
DT Mike Wright-Shoulder-PRB
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report. See ya next week.

Ravens Report-Week 3 2009

2009-09-27T09:13:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens beat the host Chargers, 31-26. The Chargers got on the board quickly, as QB Phillip Rivers completed a screen to RB Darren Sproles, who ran 81 yards for a touchdown. But the Ravens answered when RB Willis McGahee ran 5 yards for a touchdown. Then, Chargers K Nate Kaeding hit a 29-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Next, McGahee found the end zone again, this time 3 yards, to give the Ravens their first lead of the game. Kaeding then hit another field goal, this time from 22 yards, making it a one point Ravens lead. The Ravens answered again, as QB Joe Flacco found wide open WR Kelley Washington for a 27-yard touchdown. Kaeding would hit another field goal at the end of the half to make the score 21-16 Ravens. In the third quarter, Flacco found TE Todd Heap for a 9 yard touchdown. Then, Phillip Rivers hit WR Vincent Jackson for a 35-yard touchdown, to get the Chargers back in the game. To make it a two-point game, Kaeding hit his fourth field goal of the game, this time from 25 yards, to make it 28-26 Ravens. On the Ravens next drive, K Steve Hauschka hit what was eventually the game-winning field goal, from 33 yards. The Chargers needed a touchdown to win it. On a huge fourth and two, deep in Ravens territory, Darren Sproles got the hand-off, but Ravens LB Ray Lewis read the play, and tackled him behind the line to seal a Ravens win. The Ravens key point to success in this game was the fact that they shut the Chargers down in the red zone, as you can see by Nate Kaeding's field goal's, all from 20-yard range.
Player of the Game: Ravens LB Ray Lewis-10 tackles, 1 forced fumble, game-winning tackle

Next week, the Ravens take on the 0-2 Cleveland Browns at home. The Ravens defense needs to take advantage of a weak Browns offense, lead by inexperienced QB Brady Quinn. The Browns defense is also not impressive, and the Ravens offense, which seems to be improving week by week, will have to go at them strong. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Ravens offense leads the AFC in both yards per game and points per game. The Browns defense has given up the most points than any other team in the AFC. The Browns secondary usually does a good job of preventing the long ball, which means that Joe Flacco will have to thrown short often. TE Todd Heap should be a good target on Sunday. Last week, the Ravens did not do a good job on special teams of stopping KR Darren Sproles. This week, they face an even tougher KR, Joshua Cribbs. The Browns could get their only touchdown next week on special teams. In an absolute route, I have the Ravens improving to 3-0, with a 41-16 win.
Suggestion: The Ravens secondary has not been very successful this year, and that has to change. They need to play tighter, and ultimately, better.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Browns
Ravens C Matt Birk vs. Browns DT Shaun Rogers Edge: Rogers
Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Browns LB D'Qwell Jackson Edge: McGahee
Ravens WR Mark Clayton vs. Browns CB Brandon McDonald Edge: Clayton
Ravens DT Haloti Ngata vs. Browns LT Joe Thomas Edge: Ngata
Ravens CB Dominuque Foxworth vs. Browns WR Joshua Cribbs Edge: Cribbs
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Browns QB Brady Quinn Edge: Suggs

Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-QST
S Ed Reed-Neck-QST
TE L.J. Smith-Hamstring-QST
DT Justin Bannan-Knee-PRB
OT Jared Gaither-Illness-PRB
S Tom Zbikowski-Concussion-PRB
CB Fabian Washington-Illness-PRB

Browns
Player-Injury-Status
RB Jamal Lewis-Hamstring-DBT
OL Floyd Womack-Ankle-DBT
LB David Bowens-Knee-QST
K Phil Dawson-Calf-QST
DT Shaun Rogers-Foot-QST
RB James Davis-Shoulder-PRB
WR Mohamed Massaquoi-Shoulder-PRB
RB Cedric Peerman-Thigh-PRB
DL Ahtyba Rubin-Toe-PRB
P Dave Zastudil-Knee-PRB
OL Alex Mack-Knee-PRB
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week.

Ravens Report-Week 2

2009-09-19T16:35:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, the Ravens defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 38-24, in the season opener. This was a career-best game for second-year Ravens QB Joe Flacco. Flacco threw for a career-high 307 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 43 attempts. RB Ray Rice ran for 107 yards, and RB Willis McGahee ran for 44 yards, a touchdown, and a receiving touchdown. The Ravens set a team-record with 501 total yards. The Ravens got on the board first with a 44-yard field goal by K Steve Hauschka. Later in the first quarter, the Ravens extended their lead to 10-0 on a three yard touchdown pass from Flacco to McGahee. But then the Chiefs brought the Ravens crowd to a silence when Chiefs LB Jon McGraw blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone to make it 10-7. That score remained at halftime. But in the third quarter, the Chiefs took the lead on a 2 yard touchdown pass from QB Brodie Croyle to WR Dwayne Bowe. The lead didn't last long, as on the Ravens next drive, Flacco found TE Todd Heap for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 17-14 to end the third quarter. In the fourth, the Chiefs tied the game at 17 on a 53-yard field goal by rookie K Ryan Succop. The Ravens then took another lead, on a 1-yard touchdown from FB Le'Ron McClain. Next, the Chiefs showed that they were not giving up yet, tying the game up again, this time on a 10 yard pass from Croyle to TE Sean Ryan. But the Ravens were determined to win, and on their next drive, Flacco found WR Mark Clayton for a 31-yard touchdown, giving the Ravens a 31-24 lead with just over three minutes left. On the Chiefs next drive, they fumbled the ball, giving the Ravens great field position late in the game. Willis McGahee later scored to seal a Ravens victory. The Ravens suprised everybody on Sunday with the amount of passing they did. Last season, the Ravens run percentage was the highest in the NFL. But Sunday, they passed 42 times.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco-26/43, 307 yards, 3 touchdowns

Next week, the Ravens travel to San Diego to face the Chargers. The Ravens new aerial attack could be in full effect against a average Chargers secondary. The Chargers are very tough at home, as they are 20-4 there since 2006. In the last meeting between these two teams, the Chargers blew past the Ravens in San Diego, 32-14, back in 2006. This Sunday, the Chargers will be lead offensively by QB Phillip Rivers. Rivers is 22-5 at home in the NFL and in his college days at NC State. Last season, Rivers was the best QB in the NFL stat-wise. The Chargers star RB, LaDainian Tomlinson, is out for Sunday's game with an ankle injury in last week's win over the Raiders. Tomlinson's replacement will be the versatile Darren Sproles. Last week, the Chargers defense allowed 148 rushing yards, and the Ravens piled up 198 last week on the grund, so both the pass and rush game could beat the Chargers defense up pretty badly. Mainly because of this, I have the Ravens winning, 24-20.
Suggestion: As I said earlier, the Ravens passed many more times than people thought they would and that they did last season. At one point in the game last week, Flacco, probably from fatigue, just looked very off, and was overthrowing a lot. Even though passing a lot meant more yards and more points, I think Flacco needs to be more gradually placed in the role of throwing 40 passes a game.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Chargers
Ravens OT Michael Oher vs. Chargers DE Luis Castillo Edge: Castillo
Ravens TE Todd Heap vs. Chargers LB Shawne Merriman Edge: Merriman
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie Edge: Mason
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Chargers RB Darren Sproles Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Chargers WR Vincent Jackson Edge: Jackson
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Chargers TE Antonio Gates Edge: Suggs

Injury Report
Ravens

Player-Injury-Status
S Tom Zbikowski-Concussion-DBT
TE L.J. Smith-Hamstring-QST
LB Tavares Gooden-Knee-PRB
LB Jarret Johnson-Shoulder-PRB
S Ed Reed-Concussion-PRB
LB Terrell Suggs-Concussion/Chest-PRB

Chargers
Player-Injury-Status
C Nick Hardwick-Ankle-OUT
LB LaDainian Tomlinson-Ankle-OUT
DE Travis Johnson-Groin-OUT
LB Antwan Applewhite-Hamstring-QST
G Louis Vasquez-Knee-QST
DT Jamal Williams-Elbow-QST
T Marcus McNeill-Hand-PRB
P Mike Scifries-Groin-PRB

That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week.

Ravens Report-Week 1 2009

2009-09-12T19:51:00.000-04:00

Hello, and welcome to the 2009-2010 Baltimore Ravens football season, and to my yearly Ravens Report.
Key offseason additons: WR Kelley Washington, C Matt Birk, CB Domonique Foxworth

Key offseason departures: C Jason Brown, LB Bart Scott, CB Chris McAlister, S Jim Leonhard, K Matt Stover, Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan

Draft Picks:
Round 1: OT Michael Oher, Mississippi
Round 2: DE Paul Kruger, Utah
Round 3: CB Lardarius Webb, Nicholls State
Round 5: LB Jason Phillips, Texas Christian
Round 5: TE Davon Drew, East Carolina, cut during Training Camp
Round 6: RB Cedric Peerman, Virginia, cut during Training Camp
The Ravens finished up a perfect preseason last week with a win against the Atlanta Falcons. Some people take a perfect preseason as a means to a great year ahead. But that is not it at all. The Detroit Lions completed a perfect preseason last year, and went on to go 0-16. So don't take this perfect preseason as a blessing.

In Week 1, the Ravens are home at M@T Bank Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have both a new coach and a new quarterback. Their new head coach, Todd Haley, was the offensive coordinator last year for the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. New quarterback Matt Cassel started last year for the Patriots after Tom Brady's season ending injury. But Cassel was injured during the preseason, and is a game-time decision for Sunday afternoon's game. If Cassel cannot play, the quarterback will either be Tyler Thigpen or Brodie Croyle. The Chiefs main playmaker on offense is WR Dwayne Bowe. Bowe is one of the most underrated wide recievers in the NFL. If Bowe had more talent surrounding him, he would no doubt be one of the best WRs in the league. The Chiefs are not expected to be successful at all this season, so the Ravens are favored to win. I have the Ravens winning, 31-13.
Suggestion: Despite losing key defensive personnel during the off-season, the Ravens defense is still one of the top in the NFL. The Ravens will need to show that on Sunday. If the Ravens cannot stop the Chiefs unorganized offense, it could be a long year.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Chiefs
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Chiefs CB Brandon Carr Edge: Mason
Ravens RT Michael Oher vs. Chiefs RE Glenn Dorsey Edge: Dorsey
Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel Edge: McGahee
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe Edge: Bowe
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Chiefs RB Larry Johnson Edge: Lewis
Ravens DE Trevor Pryce vs. Chiefs RG Mike Goff Edge: Pryce

Injury Report
Ravens

Player-Injury-Status
TE L.J. Smith-Hamstring-DBT
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Knee-QST
LB Brandon Ayanbadejo-Foot-PRB
DE Haloti Ngata-Foot-PRB

Chiefs
Player-Injury-Status
QB Matt Cassel-Knee-QST
WR Terrance Copper-Hamstring-QST
CB Brandon Flowers-Shoulder-QST

PRB-Probable
QST-Questionable
DBT-Doubtful

Well that's it for this week's addition of my Ravens Report, see ya next week.

Ravens Report-AFC Championship

2009-01-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report
Last Saturday, the Ravens defeated the Tennessee Titans, 13-10, to advance to the AFC Championship Game. The Titans got on the board first when RB Chris Johnson ran for an 8-yard touchdown. But the Ravens quickly responded when QB Joe Flacco fired a 48-yard touchdown strike to WR Derrick Mason. The game went into halftime tied at 7. After a scoreless third quarter, Ravens K Matt Stover hit a 21-yard field goal to give the Ravens their first lead of the game, 10-7. But the Titans tied the game at 10 when K Rob Bironas hit a 27-yard field goal with 4:26 left in the game. Then, on the Ravens next drive, Matt Stover hit a 43-yard field goal with: 57 seconds left in the game to give the Ravens a 13-10 lead. When the Titans got the ball back, the Ravens forced an incomplete pass on fourth down to give the Ravens the win.
Other Game Notes: The Titans committed 12 penalties, accounting for 89 yards. The Ravens forced three turnovers, and didn’t turn the ball over once. The Titans had more total yards, first downs, and time of possession than the Ravens did. Titans RB Chris Johnson left the game for good after a second quarter injury.
Player of the Game: Ravens K Matt Stover-2 field goals, 1 extra point, the game-winning field goal.
Next Sunday, the Ravens face division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. The winner of this game earns a spot in the Super Bowl against the winner of the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. Last week, the Steelers defeated the San Diego Chargers, 35-24. This is the third time that these teams meet this season, the Steelers won both regular season matchups, by a combined 7 points. Steelers LB James Harrison won the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award for his work this season. Over the past 10 years, these defenses are 1st and 2nd in cumulative total defense. Ravens QB Joe Flacco has not been sacked or intercepted yet this postseason. Flacco is also the first rookie QB to win 2 playoff games. The matchup between these two teams is arguably the biggest and most anticipated game ever played between the Ravens and Steelers. In a hard-hitting and physical game, I have the Steelers winning, 17-14.
Suggestion: The Ravens have not executed very well in the red zone this year. In this game, the Ravens will need to get in the end zone when in the red zone, and not settle for just a field goal.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Steelers
Ravens C Jason Brown vs. Steelers DT Casey Hampton Edge: Hampton
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Steelers CB Ike Taylor Edge: Mason
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Steelers LB James Harrison Edge: Harrison
Ravens RE Trevor Pryce vs. Steelers RT Willie Colon Edge: Pryce
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Steelers WR Hines Ward Edge: Ward
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Edge: Reed
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
LB Antwan Barnes Chest OUT
CB Samari Rolle Thigh DBT
DT Justin Bannan Foot QST
WR Mark Clayton Thigh QST
TE Todd Heap Back QST
LB Jarret Johnson Calf QST
WR Derrick Mason Knee QST
FB Le’Ron McClain Ankle QST
LB Terrell Suggs Shoulder QST
LB Ray Lewis Shoulder PRB
FB Lorenzo Neal Shoulder PRB
S Ed Reed Knee PRB
Steelers
Player Injury Status
C Justin Hartwig Knee PRB
S Troy Palamalu Calf PRB
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!

Ravens Report-Divisonal Playoffs

2009-01-10T14:47:00.001-05:00

Ravens Report
Last week, the Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins, 27-9. This is the first playoff win for the Ravens since 2002. The Dolphins got on the board first, when K Dan Carpenter hit a 19-yard field goal. Then, Ravens K Matt Stover tied the game at 3 on a 23-yard field goal. Then the Ravens took the lead for good when S Ed Reed intercepted Dolphins QB Chad Pennington and ran 64 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. The Ravens had a 13-3 lead at halftime after a 31-yard field goal from Stover. Next, Ravens RB Le’Ron McClain ran for an 8-yard touchdown to make the score 20-3. Then, the Dolphins got back on the board on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to RB Ronnie Brown (the extra point was blocked). To put the ice on the cake, Ravens QB Joe Flacco ran for a five yard touchdown.
Other Game Notes: Ravens S Ed Reed had two interceptions, making his total 11 on the season. The Ravens forced 5 turnovers, which turned into 14 points, while only turning the ball over once.
Player of the Game: Ravens S Ed Reed- 1 tackle, two interceptions, 1 interception for a touchdown
Next Saturday, the Ravens will face the 13-3 Tennessee Titans in Tennessee. The Titans beat the Ravens, 13-10, in Baltimore, back in Week 5. The Titans are the top seed in the AFC. This is a matchup of two of the best defenses in the NFL. The Titans defense ranks 2nd in the NFL in points per game, and the Ravens are 2nd in the NFL in yards per game. Titans QB Kerry Collins was the quarterback for the New York Giants when the Ravens beat the Giants in the Super Bowl, so expect Collins to want some revenge. The Titans will be playing without Pro Bowl C Kevin Mawae, which is big for the Ravens defense. History could be on the Ravens side. Back in the Ravens Super Bowl year, the 6th seeded Ravens beat the 1st seeded Titans, in Tennessee. In a great defensive battle, I have the Titans winning, 23-17.
Suggestion: The Ravens defense needs to stop the Titans rushing attack. Rookie Chris Johnson and LenDale White combine for 137.4 rushing yards a game. If the Ravens defense can’t stop White and Johnson, it will be a long day for the Ravens.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Titans
Ravens C Jason Brown vs. Titans DT Albert Haynesworth Edge: Haynesworth
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Titans CB Cortland Finnegan Edge: Mason
Ravens RB Le’Ron McClain vs. Titans LB Keith Bullock Edge: Bullock
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Titans TE Bo Scaife Edge: Suggs
Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Titans WR Justin Gage Edge: Gage
Ravens DT Trevor Pryce vs. Titans RG Jake Scott Edge: Pryce
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
LB Antwan Barnes Chest OUT
DT Justin Bannan Foot QST
TE Todd Heap Back QST
LB Jarret Johnson Calf QST
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder QST
S Ed Reed Knee/Illness QST
CB Samari Rolle Thigh QST
K Matt Stover Right Ankle QST
CB Fabian Washington Neck QST
Titans
Player Injury Status
DE David Ball Back OUT
C Kevin Mawae Elbow OUT
S Tuff Harris Calf QST
CB Nick Harper Groin PRB
DT Albert Haynesworth Knee PRB
TE Bo Scaife Illness PRB
LB David Thornton Hip PRB
DE Kyle Vanden Bosh Groin PRB
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Titans’s butts!

Ravens Report-Wild Card Playoffs

2009-01-03T20:15:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-7. With this victory, the Ravens clinch a spot in the playoffs. The Ravens took an early 3-0 lead on a 32-yard field goal by K Matt Stover. Then, the Jaguars took a 7-3 lead on a 23-yard touchdown pass from QB David Garrard to RB Alvin Pearman. Then, the Ravens took a 10-7 lead on a 5-yard touchdown run by RB Le’Ron McClain. Next, the Ravens took a 17-7 lead on a 13-yard touchdown run by RB Willis McGahee. After that, Le’Ron McClain gave the Ravens a 24-7 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run. Matt Stover made it 27-7 on a 41-yard field goal.
Other Game Notes: Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw for a career high 297 yards. Ed Reed intercepted two passes, he had 9 interceptions on the season, leading the NFL.
Player of the Game: Ravens LB Ray Lewis- 5 tackles, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries.
Next Sunday, the Ravens face the 11-5 Miami Dolphins in Miami. The Ravens beat the Dolphins, 27-13, in Miami back in Week 7. The Ravens last postseason win was back in 2002, against the Dolphins. Ravens QB Joe Flacco will have to watch out for Dolphins LB Joey Porter, who was 2nd in the NFL in sacks during the regular season. In a very tough and physical game, I have the Ravens advancing to the AFC Divisional Playoffs with a 34-17 victory over the Dolphins.
Suggestion: The Ravens offensive line must stop the Dolphins blitz lead by LB Joey Porter. Porter, the former Pittsburgh Steeler, lead the AFC in sacks with 18. If Porter can get to Joe Flacco, it could be a long day for the Ravens.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Dolphins

Ravens FB Lorenzo Neal vs. Dolphins LB Joey Porter Edge: Porter

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Dolphins CB Will Allen Edge: Mason

Ravens RT Willie Anderson vs. Dolphins RE Vonnie Holliday Edge: Holliday

Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown Edge: Brown
Ravens LE Justin Bannan vs. Dolphins LT Jake Long Edge: Bannan
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Dolphins WR Ted Ginn, Jr. Edge: Reed
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
DT Justin Bannan Foot QST
LB Antwan Barnes Shoulder QST
G Chris Chester Back QST
WR Mark Clayton Knee QST
TE Todd Heap Back QST
LB Jarret Johnson Calf QST
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder QST
S Ed Reed Thigh QST
RB Ray Rice Lower Leg QST
CB Samari Rolle Ankle/Foot QST
CB Fabian Washington Toe QST
S Tom Zbikowski Thigh PRB

Dolphins

Player Injury Status

TE David Martin Head/Neck QST

DE Randy Starks Ankle QST

AFC Playoff Bracket

#6 Ravens #1 Titans

#3 Dolphins

#5 Colts #2 Steelers

#4 Chargers

AFC Playoff Situations: The Titans and Steelers have a first round bye. After the first
round, the lowest remaining seed plays the Titans, and the other winning team faces the
Steelers.

Ravens Report-End of Regular Season 2008

2008-12-28T09:33:00.000-05:00

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!

Ravens Report- Week 16 2008

2008-12-20T16:19:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 13-9. With this win, the Steelers clinch the AFC North. After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens took a 3-0 lead on a 26-yard field goal from K Matt Stover. Then the Steelers tied the game at three on a 31-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. The Ravens took a 6-3 lead into halftime after a 28-yard field goal from Stover. Stover made it a 9-3 lead on a 28-yard field goal later in the third quarter. Then the Steelers tied the game at six on a 30-yard field goal from Reed. Then, the Steelers started a drive that would either win or lose the game for them. On a third down at the Ravens 4 yard line, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger found WR Santonio Holmes in the end zone for a 4-yard gain that would bring up fourth down and short. The call was reviewed, and called a touchdown. The Ravens drove down the field, but Ravens QB Joe Flacco was intercepted to end the game.
Player of the Game: Steelers WR Hines Ward- 8 catches, 107 yards
Next Saturday night, the Ravens face the 9-5 Dallas Cowboys in the last game ever at Texas Stadium in Dallas. If the Ravens win this game, they clinch a spot in the playoffs. On offense, the Cowboys are led by QB Tony Romo, WR Terrell Owens, and TE Jason Witten. The Cowboys offense is averaging 349 yards per game, which is 8th in the NFL. They will have a tough test on Saturday, as they face the Ravens defense, which only allows 257 yards per game. On defense, they are led by LB DeMarcus Ware (who leads the NFL in sacks with 19), LB Greg Ellis, and CB Adam Jones. The Ravens offense is averaging 23.2 points per game, and the Cowboys defense gives up an average of 20.6 points per game. In a physical game, I predict the Cowboys winning, 31-27.
Suggestion: The Ravens defense must shut down the connection between Romo, Witten, and Owens. Romo and Owens have the ability for a long pass, and if they are unable to complete that pass, the Ravens could take the advantage. Witten is a red zone threat, so expect there to be lots of coverage on him.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Cowboys
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Cowboys CB Terrence Newman Edge: Mason
Ravens LT Jared Gaither vs. Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware Edge: Ware
Ravens RB Le’Ron McClain vs. Cowboys LB Zach Thomas Edge: McClain
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Cowboys WR Terrell Owens Edge: Owens
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Cowboys RB Tashard Choice Edge: Lewis
Ravens LB Jarret Johnson vs. Cowboys TE Jason Witten Edge: Witten
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
WR Marcus Maxwell Hip OUT
S Ed Reed Thigh QST
RB Ray Rice Calf QST
CB Samari Rolle Ankle QST
CB Fabian Washington Thigh QST
T Willie Anderson Ankle PRB
T Jared Gaither Illness PRB
P Sam Koch Knee PRB
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder PRB
K Matt Stover Ankle PRB
LB Terrell Suggs Thigh PRB
T Adam Terry Knee PRB
Cowboys
Player Injury Status
LB Bobby Carpenter Knee/Calf OUT
G Montrae Holland Ankle OUT
CB Alan Ball Ankle DBT
RB Marion Barber Toe QST
WR Miles Austin Knee PRB
S Tra Battle Hamstring PRB
S Keith Davis Knee/Neck PRB
S Ken Hamlin Finger PRB
CB Adam Jones Neck PRB
QB Tony Romo Back PRB
WR Isaiah Stanback Shoulder PRB
WR Roy Williams Foot PRB
TE Jason Witten Ankle PRB
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Cowboy’s butts!

Ravens Report-Week 15 2008

2008-12-13T18:38:00.000-05:00

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!

Ravens Report- Week 14 2008

2008-12-06T16:41:00.000-05:00

Last week, the Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-3, to improve their record to 8-4. The Ravens got on the board first when K Matt Stover hit a 27-yard field goal. The Ravens took a 6-0 lead when Stover hit a 21-yard field goal. Next, Ravens QB Joe Flacco found TE Todd Heap in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown score. Bengals K Shayne Graham hit a 21-yard field goal, and the Ravens went into halftime with a 13-3 lead. Then, the Ravens perfectly executed a reverse in which WR Mark Clayton threw to WR Derrick Mason wide open in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown. To make the score 27-3, Joe Flacco threw to Mark Clayton, who made a beautiful one-handed catch and then ran into the end zone for a 70-yard touchdown. The last score of the game was on a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by SS Jim Leonhard.
Other Game Notes: The Ravens defense forced the Bengals to punt 11 times and only get 6 first downs. This is the first time since 2002 that the Ravens won both games against the Bengals.
Player of the Game: Ravens WR Mark Clayton- 5 catches, 164 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 32 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown.
Next Sunday night, the Ravens take on the 7-5 Washington Redskins in Baltimore on Sunday Night Football. All three matchups between these two teams have ended up being decided by a touchdown or less. Redskins DE Jason Taylor had two sacks in the last time he faced the Ravens, that was last year when Taylor was a Dolphin. The Redskins rushing offense is lead by RB Clinton Portis, and ranks 6th in the NFL. But, Portis has struggled in the past few weeks, and it won’t get any easier facing the Ravens rush defense, which is ranked 3rd in the NFL. The Redskins defense will face a tough test Sunday, as they face the 10th highest scoring offense in the NFL. Plus, the three-headed running attack of Le’Ron McClain, Ray Rice, and Willis McGahee. In a tough and physical game, I predict a 31-21 Ravens victory.
Suggestion: The Ravens need to keep momentum throughout the game to force the Redskins to make mistakes.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Redskins
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Redskins CB Shawn Springs Edge: Mason
Ravens LT Jared Gaither vs. Redskins DE Jason Taylor Edge: Taylor
Ravens RB Le’Ron McClain vs. Redskins LB London Fletcher Edge: McClain
Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Redskins WR Antwan Randle El Edge: Randle El
Ravens DT Haloti Ngata vs. Redskins C Casey Rabach Edge: Ngata
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Redskins RB Clinton Portis Edge: Lewis
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
DL Lamar Divens Shoulder DBT
G David Hale Ankle DBT
T Jared Gaither Shoulder QST
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder QST
S Ed Reed Thigh QST
CB Samari Rolle Thigh QST
LB Nick Greisen Back PRB
WR Marcus Maxwell Hip PRB
RB Willis McGahee Illness PRB
LB Bart Scott Shoulder PRB
CB Fabian Washington Shoulder PRB
Redskins
Player Injury Status
LB Marcus Washington Ankle OUT
DE Andre Carter Foot QST
LB London Fletcher Foot QST
DT Kendrick Golston Ankle QST
DT Cornelius Griffin Shoulder/Abdomen QST
RB Clinton Portis Knee/Back QST
CB Shawn Springs Calf QST
LB Alfred Fincher Non-Injury Related PRB
S LaRon Landry Calf PRB
G Pete Kendall Knee PRB
T Chris Samuels Knee PRB
CB Fred Smoot Non-Injury Related PRB
G Randy Thomas Neck PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L T
Steelers 9 3 0
Ravens 8 4 0
Browns 4 8 0
Bengals 1 10 1
AFC North Outlook: The Ravens are in the same position as last week. The Steelers host the Cowboys. The Browns head to Tennessee to play the Titans. The Bengals visit the Colts in Indianapolis.
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Redskins’s butts!

Ravens Report-Week 13 2008

2008-11-30T10:44:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report
Last week, the Ravens defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 36-7, to improve their record to 7-4. After a scoreless first quarter, Ravens K Matt Stover hit a 44-yard field goal to give the Ravens a 3-0 lead. Then, Ravens QB Joe Flacco found backup TE Daniel Wilcox in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown. On the Ravens kickoff, Eagles FS Quentin Demps returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown to make the score 10-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Ravens LB Jameel McClain blocked an Eagles punt that went into the back end zone for a safety to make the score 12-7. In the fourth quarter, Matt Stover hit a 42-yard field goal to make the score 15-7. Next, Joe Flacco threw a 59-yard touchdown strike to WR Mark Clayton to make the score 22-7. On the Eagles next drive, QB Kevin Kolb was intercepted by S Ed Reed, who returned it for a 108-yard touchdown. Then, Ravens FB Le’Ron McClain scored on a 1-yard touchdown.
Other Game Notes: Ed Reed’s interception for a touchdown was an NFL record. The Eagles turned the ball over 5 times, that lead to 17 Ravens points. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb was benched at halftime due to his performance. McNabb had turned the ball over 3 times (2 interceptions, 1 fumble).
Player of the Game: Ravens S Ed Reed- 2 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown
Next Sunday, the Ravens face off against the 1-9-1 Cincinnati Bengals. These two teams met back in Week 1, the Ravens won that game, 17-10. The Bengals have defeated the Ravens in three consecutive games when playing in Cincinnati. The Bengals offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL, so expect the Ravens to blitz a lot and force Bengals QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to make stupid throws. For the Ravens, rookie QB Joe Flacco has thrown 7 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions in his last four starts. I have the Ravens winning, 34-13.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Bengals
Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Bengals LB Dhani Jones Edge: McGahee
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Bengals CB Leon Hall Edge: Mason
Ravens C Jason Brown vs. Bengals DT John Thornton Edge: Thornton
Ravens DT Justin Bannan vs. Bengals LT Levi Jones Edge: Jones
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Bengals RB Cedric Benson Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh Edge: Houshmandzadeh

Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
WR Mark Clayton Back QST
WR Terrance Copper Neck QST
G David Hale Ankle QST
CB Samari Rolle Thigh QST
T Adam Terry Head QST
DT Lamar Divens Shoulder PRB
TE Todd Heap Illness PRB
DE Trevor Pryce Head PRB
T Willie Anderson Foot PRB
T Jared Gaither Shoulder PRB
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder PRB
RB Le’Ron McClain Thigh PRB
RB Lorenzo Neal Thigh PRB
Bengals
Player Injury Status
DE Robert Geathers Knee OUT
G Steve Kooistra Knee OUT
QB Carson Palmer Right Elbow OUT
DE Frostee Rucker Hamstring OUT
G Andrew Whitworth Ankle OUT
LB Eric Henderson Neck DBT
CB David Jones Knee DBT
T Levi Jones Back DBT
S Chinedum Ndukwe Foot DBT
DE Antwan Odom Shoulder DBT
G Andrew Crummey Knee PRB
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh Back PRB
LB Rashad Jeanty Shin PRB
WR Jerome Simpson Ankle PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L T
Steelers 8 3 0
Ravens 7 4 0
Browns 4 7 0
Bengals 1 9 1
AFC North Outlook: The Ravens and Steelers would be tied for the division lead if the Ravens win and the Steelers lose. If both teams win, the Steelers maintain sole possession of first place. If the Steelers win and the Ravens lose, the Steelers take a 2 game lead over the Ravens in the division, which could mean the end of the Ravens division chances. The Steelers face the Patriots in New England. The Browns face the Colts at home.
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, and let’s go kick the Bengals’s butts!

Ravens Report- Week 12 2008

2008-11-22T19:58:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens fell to 6-4 after losing to the New York Giants, 30-10. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs gave the Giants a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run on the Giants first drive. Jacobs ran for another 1-yard touchdown later in the quarter (Giants K Lawrence Tynes missed the extra point).In the second quarter, Giants QB Eli Manning threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to TE Darcy Johnson. Ravens K Matt Stover hit a 38-yard field goal late in the second quarter, and the Giants took a 20-3 lead into halftime. Then, Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to FB Le’Ron McClain to make the score 20-10. On the Ravens next drive, a pass from Flacco to WR Derrick Mason was tipped into the hands of CB Aaron Ross, who ran 50 yards into the end zone to make the score 27-10. Lawrence Tynes hit a 19-yard field goal late in the game to seal a Giants victory.
Player of the Game: Giants CB Aaron Ross- 6 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown
Next week, the Ravens take on the 5-4-1 Philadelphia Eagles at home. Last Sunday, the Eagles tied the Cincinnati Bengals 13-13 in the first tie since 2002. These two teams met last on Halloween of 2004 in Philadelphia, the Eagles won, 15-10. Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh spent 10 years as an assistant coach for the Eagles before joining the Ravens. The Eagles defense is known for their ability to blitz, so expect them to take many shots at rookie QB Joe Flacco. The Eagles could be without star RB Brian Westbrook on Sunday, and that would make the Eagles exclusively use their passing game, which is ranked 4th in the NFL. The Ravens pass defense is ranked 8th in the NFL, so the matchup between the Eagles offense and the Ravens defense could decide the winner of this game. One of the focuses for the Ravens defense has to be rookie WR DeSean Jackson, who has a team-high 42 catches for 652 yards and a touchdown. If the Ravens lose this game, their chances for a division title could be gone. This will be an amazingly entertaining game, and I predict a 31-27 Ravens victory.
Suggestion: The Eagles defense has a total of 36 sacks this season, which is second in the NFL to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Eagles will have the advantage on Sunday facing a young Ravens offensive line. The Ravens offensive line will have to perform well and protect Joe Flacco if the Ravens want to win this game.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Eagles
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Eagles CB Asante Samuel Edge: Samuel
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Eagles DE Trent Cole Edge: Cole
Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Eagles LB Omar Gaither Edge: McGahee
Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Eagles WR Reggie Brown Edge: Brown
Ravens DE Trevor Pryce vs. Eagles RT Jon Runyan Edge: Pryce
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Eagles TE L.J. Smith Edge: Lewis
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
WR Terrance Copper Neck OUT
T Willie Anderson Ankle QST
DT Lamar Divens Shoulder QST
T Jared Gaither Shoulder QST
G David Hale Thigh QST
WR Derrick Mason Shoulder QST
S Ed Reed Neck QST
CB Samari Rolle Shoulder QST
TE Daniel Wilcox Thigh PRB
S Tom Zbikowski Thumb/Thigh PRB
Eagles
Player Injury Status
G Shawn Andrews Back OUT
RB Brian Westbrook Knee/Ankle QST
S Sean Considine Rib PRB
S Brian Dawkins Groin PRB
S Quentin Demps Rib PRB
LS Jon Dorenbos Shoulder PRB
T Jon Runyan Knee PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L T
Steelers 8 3 0
Ravens 6 4 0
Browns 4 6 0
Bengals 1 9 1
AFC North Outlook: The Steelers defeated the Bengals 27-10 on Thursday Night Football. The Browns face the Texans at home.
That’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Eagles’s butts!

Ravens Report- Week 11 2008

2008-11-16T10:26:00.000-05:00

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!

Ravens Report- Week 10 2008

2008-11-08T16:19:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens improved their record to 5-3 with a 37-27 victory over the Cleveland Browns. The first score of the game was on a 41-yard field goal from K Matt Stover. Next, the Ravens took a 10-0 lead on a 47 yard pass from Ravens QB Joe Flacco to WR Mark Clayton. Then the Browns got momentum on a 92-yard kick return for a touchdown by KR Joshua Cribbs. The Browns then tied up the game on a 23-yard field goal from K Phil Dawson. The Ravens took the lead back, however, on a 32-yard field goal by Matt Stover. But the Browns tied the game up at 13 on a 54-yard field goal from Dawson going into halftime. The first score of the second half was a 28-yard pass from Browns QB Derek Anderson to WR Braylon Edwards. The Browns then extended their lead to 27-13 on a 7 yard pass from Derek Anderson to RB Jason Wright. Then the Ravens got going. First, Ravens RB Le’Ron McClain made it a one possession game with a 1-yard TD run. Next, Joe Flacco found WR Derrick Mason for a 28-yard touchdown to tie the game up at 27. The Ravens then took the lead on a 22-yard field goal by Stover. The victory was sealed when Ravens LB Terrell Suggs picked off an Anderson pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown (it was Suggs second touchdown of the season).
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice- 21 rushes, 154 rushing yards, 3 catches, 22 receiving yards.
Next week, the Ravens will face the 3-5 Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston. This game was originally supposed to be played in Week 2, but Hurricane Ike damaged the stadium, and it was rescheduled for this week. The Ravens are 2-0 all-time against the Texans. Texans starting QB Matt Schaub is out with an injury, so the Ravens will face one of the most experienced backups in the NFL, Sage Rosenfels. Texans DE Mario Williams is third in the NFL in sacks with 22 since 2007. The Ravens defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 27 games, the longest current streak in the NFL. But they will meet their match on Sunday, facing rookie RB Steve Slaton, who has rushed for 538 yards and 5 touchdowns this season. The Ravens will also have to go up against one of the best pass offenses in the NFL, with WR Andre Johnson leading the way with an NFL high 834 receiving yards. The Ravens pass defense will be without Pro Bowl CB Chris McAlister, so expect the Texans to pass a lot, since the Ravens rush defense is the best in the NFL. I expect a great game, but the Ravens will come out on top, 34-24.
Suggestion: The Ravens will have to find a way to stop the Texans pass offense. Expect S Ed Reed to be around the ball a lot.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Texans
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Texans LB DeMeco Ryans Edge: Ryans
Ravens RT Adam Terry vs. Texans DE Mario Williams Edge: Williams
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Texans CB Fred Bennett Edge: Mason
Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Texans WR Andre Johnson Edge: Johnson
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Texans QB Sage Rosenfels Edge: Lewis
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Texans TE Owen Daniels Edge: Suggs
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
S Dawan Landry Neck OUT
CB Chris McAlister Knee OUT
TE Daniel Wilcox Illness/Thigh DBT
CB Samari Rolle Neck QST
LB Bart Scott Chest QST
T Jared Gaither Neck/Knee PRB
FB Le’Ron McClain Ankle PRB
RB Willis McGahee Ankle PRB
DL Brandon McKinney Shoulder PRB
RB Ray Rice Chest PRB
T Adam Terry Knee PRB
Texans
Player Injury Status
WR Andre Davis Finger OUT
QB Matt Schaub Knee OUT
DT Amobi Okoye Ankle DBT
RB Ahman Green Thigh PRB
LB DeMeco Ryans Shoulder PRB
LB Chaun Thompson Thigh PRB
WR Kevin Walter Unknown PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Steelers 6 2
Ravens 5 3
Browns 3 6
Bengals 1 8
AFC North Outlook: With a Steelers loss and a Ravens win, the Steelers and Ravens would be tied for the division lead. The Steelers face the Colts in Pittsburgh. The Browns lost to the Broncos, 34-30, on Thursday Night Football. The Bengals have their bye week.
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Texans’ butts!

Ravens Report- Week 9 2008

2008-11-01T20:00:00.001-04:00

Ravens Report
Last week, the Ravens defeated the Oakland Raiders, 29-10, to improve their record to 4-3. The Ravens got on the board first on when Ravens LB Jameel McClain sacked Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell in the end zone for a safety that gave the Ravens a 2-0 lead. Then, in the second quarter, Ravens RB Willis McGahee scored on a 1-yard run to make the score 9-0. After that, Ravens QB Joe Flacco found a wide open Demetrius Williams for a 70-yard touchdown to give the Ravens a commanding 16-0 lead. Next, just before halftime, Ravens K Matt Stover sunk a 38-yard field goal to give the Ravens a 19-0 halftime lead. Then the Raiders got on the board with a 22-yard field goal from K Sebastian Janikowski. On an exciting note, with about five minutes left in the third quarter, the Ravens brought in backup QB Troy Smith, who found Joe Flacco for a 40-yard reception for Flacco, the former wide receiver. The next score was on a 30 yard field goal from Matt Stover. Afterwards, JaMarcus Russell found FB Justin Griffith for a 2-yard Raiders touchdown. Then, in the fourth quarter, Joe Flacco ran for a 12-yard touchdown to seal a Ravens victory.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco- 12/24 for 140 passing yards, 1 throwing touchdown, 4 rushes, 23 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 1 reception, 43 receiving yards.
Next week, the Ravens will face the 3-4 Cleveland Browns in Cleveland. If the Browns win, the Ravens and Browns would be tied for second place in the AFC North. These two teams met back in Week 3, in which the Ravens dominated, winning 28-10. But this is a very different Browns team then what it was in Week 3. Since then, they have gone 3-2 and have played better overall. The Ravens will be facing former Ravens RB and current Browns RB Jamal Lewis, who was held to 56 rushing yards in Week 3. I predict the Ravens winning, 27- 16.
Suggestion: Last week against the Raiders, the Ravens were penalized 8 times, costing them 52 yards. The majority of those penalties were called against the offensive line. Head Coach John Harbaugh has to discipline the offensive line and tell them that against better teams, this team cannot afford stupid mistakes like penalties.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Browns
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Browns CB Eric Wright Edge: Mason
Ravens C Jason Brown vs. Browns DT Shaun Rogers Edge: Rogers
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Browns LB Willie McGinest Edge: Flacco
Ravens CB Frank Walker vs. Browns WR Braylon Edwards Edge: Edwards
Ravens DE Trevor Pryce vs. Browns LT Joe Thomas Edge: Pryce
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Browns QB Derek Anderson Edge: Suggs
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
S Dawan Landry Neck OUT
TE Daniel Wilcox Thigh OUT
CB Chris McAlister Knee DBT
CB Samari Rolle Neck DBT
T Jared Gaither Neck QST
RB Willis McGahee Ankle QST
T Adam Terry Knee QST
CB Frank Walker Thigh QST
LB Brandon Ayanbadejo Ankle PRB
WR/KR Yamon Figurs Knee PRB
TE Todd Heap Neck PRB
RB Le’Ron McClain Ankle PRB
S Ed Reed Shoulder/Neck PRB
Browns
Player Injury Status
G Ryan Tucker Knee OUT
RB Lawrence Vickers Ankle DBT
S Mike Adams Hamstring QST
S Sean Jones Knee QST
LB Shantee Orr Foot QST
DT Shaun Smith Hand QST
WR Donte Stallworth Quadricep QST
DE Corey Smith Shoulder QST
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Steelers 5 2
Ravens 4 3
Browns 3 4
Bengals 0 8
AFC North Outlook: If the Ravens beat the Browns, and the Steelers lose to the Redskins, the Ravens and Steelers will be tied for first place in the division. If the Browns and Steelers win, then the Ravens and Browns would be tied for second place, and the Steelers would have lone possession of first place. The winless Bengals face the Jaguars at home.
That’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Browns’s butts!

Ravens Report- Week 8 2008

2008-10-25T21:31:00.000-04:00

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins 27-13 to improve their record to 3-3. After the first quarter, the game was tied at three after a 21-yard field goal by Dolphins K Dan Carpenter and then a 47-yard field goal by Ravens K Matt Stover. Then, Ravens LB Terrell Suggs picked off a pass by Dolphins QB Chad Pennington and ran 44 yards into the end zone to give the Ravens a 10-3 lead. After that, Dan Carpenter made the score 10-6 on a 26-yard field goal. Next, the Ravens took a 17-6 lead on an 11-yard pass from Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco to WR Derrick Mason, for Mason’s first TD catch of the season going into halftime. In the third quarter, Matt Stover hit a 28-yard field goal to make the score 20-6. Then, the Dolphins made the score 20-13 on a 7 yard pass from Chad Pennington to WR Davone Bess. After that, Ravens RB Willis McGahee made the score 27-13 on a 5-yard touchdown run to seal a Ravens victory.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Willis McGahee- 19 rushes, 105 yards, one rushing touchdown, 2 catches, 47 receiving yards
Next Sunday, the Ravens host the 2-4 Oakland Raiders. Last week, the Raiders pulled out a 16-13 victory in overtime against the New York Jets at home. This matchup features two brothers, Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. The Raiders are lead by interim Head Coach Tom Cable, who took over after Raiders owner Al Davis fired former Head Coach Lane Kiffin. The Raiders defense has picked off seven passes so far this year, the same amount of passes that Ravens QB Joe Flacco has thrown so far this season and only two touchdowns. I predict the Ravens winning, 31-7.
Suggestion: The Ravens will have to face a tough QB in JaMarcus Russell and a tough RB in Justin Fargas, if they can stop Fargas and Russell, it will be a long day for the Raiders offense.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Raiders
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Raiders CB DeAngelo Hall Edge: Hall
Ravens C Jason Brown vs. Raiders DT Tommy Kelly Edge: Kelly
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Raiders LB Kirk Morrison Edge: Flacco
Ravens CB Chris McAlister vs. Raiders WR Javon Walker Edge: McAlister
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell Edge: Lewis
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Raiders TE Zach Miller Edge: Suggs
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
S Dawan Landry Neck OUT
CB Samari Rolle Neck/Shoulder OUT
T Adam Terry Knee OUT
WR/KR Yamon Figurs Knee DBT
WR Mark Clayton Thigh QST
WR Derrick Mason Illness QST
CB Chris McAlister Knee QST
S Ed Reed Thigh QST
WR Demetrius Williams Ankle QST
T Jared Gaither Neck PRB
CB Derrick Martin Shoulder PRB
RB Willis McGahee Knee PRB
CB Fabian Washington Back PRB
Raiders
Player Injury Status
LB Jon Alston Foot DBT
DE Derrick Burgess Triceps DBT
RB Darren McFadden Toe QST
WR Andrew Walter Calf QST
DT Gerard Warren Ankle QST
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Steelers 5 1
Ravens 3 3
Browns 2 4
Bengals 0 7
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Raiders’ butts!

Ravens Report- Week 7 2008

2008-10-19T10:28:00.001-04:00

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens suffered an embarrassing loss at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, 31-3. The Colts got on the board first on a 67-yard pass from QB Peyton Manning to WR Marvin Harrison. Then, Manning found WR Reggie Wayne for a 22-yard touchdown to make the score 14-0. Then, Colts K Adam Vinateiri hit a 37-yard field goal and the Colts had a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Colts lead the Ravens 24-0 at halftime after a 5-yard pass from Manning to Harrison. Then, in the third quarter, Colts RB Dominic Rhodes ran 1-yard into the end zone to make the score 31-0. The Ravens only score was a 37-yard field goal from K Matt Stover.
Player of the Game: Colts QB Peyton Manning- 19/28 for 271 yards and 3 TDs
Goat of the Game: Ravens FB Le’Ron McClain- 2 rushes, -2 yards
Next Sunday the Ravens head to Miami for the second consecutive year to face the 2-3 Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins went 1-15 last year, their only win coming against the Ravens in Week 15. The Dolphins offense is lead by RB Ronnie Brown, who leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns with seven, and has a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games. The Dolphins defense is lead by LB Joey Porter, a former Steeler who has a history of rough goings with the Ravens. Ravens QB Joe Flacco was intercepted three times last week to a less than stellar Colts defense, if the Dolphins blitz a lot on Sunday, expect Flacco to make more mistakes. This will be an exciting low-scoring game, and I have the Ravens winning, 13-10.
Suggestion: The Ravens defense needs to shutdown Ronnie Brown. If they can stop Brown, they have a great chance of getting into the head of QB Chad Pennington, forcing him to make mistakes.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Dolphins
Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Dolphins LB Joey Porter Edge: Porter
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Dolphins CB Will Allan Edge: Mason
Ravens RT Willie Anderson vs. Dolphins RE Vonnie Holliday Edge: Anderson
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown Edge: Brown
Ravens LB Bart Scott vs. Dolphins QB Chad Pennington Edge: Scott
Ravens DE Trevor Pryce vs. Dolphins LT Jake Long Edge: Pryce
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
WR/KR Yamon Figurs Knee OUT
S Dawan Landry Neck OUT
CB Samari Rolle Neck/Shoulder OUT
T Adam Terry Knee OUT
S Ed Reed Hamstring QST
WR Demetrius Williams Ankle QST
DT Lamar Divens Illness PRB
T Jared Gaither Neck PRB
CB Fabian Washington Shoulder PRB
S Tom Zbikowski Shoulder PRB
Dolphins
Player Injury Status
RB Casey Cramer Ankle OUT
CB Will Allan Knee PRB

AFC North Standings
Team W L
Steelers 4 1
Ravens 2 3
Browns 2 3
Bengals 0 6
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Dolphins’ butts!

Ravens Report- Week 6 2008

2008-10-12T13:28:00.000-04:00

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens lost to the undefeated Tennessee Titans, 13-10. Ravens K Matt Stover hit a 38-yard field goal to give the Ravens an early 3-0 lead. Then, Titans K Rob Bironas hit a 35-yard field goal to tie the game up at three and head into halftime. Then, the Ravens took a 10-3 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by FB Le’Ron McClain. Then, in the 4th quarter, Rob Bironas hit a 26 yard field goal to make the score 10-6 with about thirteen minutes left in the fourth quarter. Then, with four minutes left in the fourth, Titans QB Kerry Collins hit TE Alge Crumpler in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown to give the Titans a 13-10 lead. Then, Ravens QB Joe Flacco got intercepted to give the Titans the win.
Player of the Game: Titans TE Bo Scaife- 7 catches, 72 yards
Next Sunday, the Ravens head to Indianapolis to face the 2-2 Colts. Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy has never lost to the Ravens. The Colts offense hasn’t done well so far this season, with star QB Peyton Manning the 20th rated passer in the league, and RB Joseph Addai is averaging just 54 yards per game. They will have a tough time today as they face the best ranked defense in the NFL. The Colts type of defense includes few blitzes, which works well with Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco. I have the Colts winning, 21-13.
Suggestion: So far this season, the Ravens have been a first half team. They have played great in the first half, then they’d fall apart in the second. The Ravens need to be on their game in both halves.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Colts
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Colts CB Tim Jennings Edge: Mason
Ravens LT Jared Gaither vs. Colts LE Raheem Brock Edge: Brock
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Colts LB Gary Brackett Edge: Brackett
Ravens CB Chris McAlister vs. Colts WR Reggie Wayne Edge: Wayne
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Colts RB Joseph Addai Edge: Lewis
Ravens LE Trevor Pryce vs. Colts LT Tony Ugoh Edge: Pryce
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
S Dawan Landry Neck OUT
CB Samari Rolle Neck/Shoulder OUT
CB Fabian Washington Shoulder OUT
DT Kelly Gregg Knee IR (Out for Season)
T Adam Terry Knee DBT
T Jared Gaither Knee QST
LB Tavares Gooden Hip QST
LB Ray Lewis Knee QST
S Tom Zbikowski Shoulder QST
LB Antwan Barnes Knee PRB
RB Willis McGahee Knee PRB
S Ed Reed Thigh PRB
Colts
Player Injury Status
WR Roy Hall Knee OUT
CB Kelvin Hayden Knee OUT
S Bob Sanders Knee OUT
DE Dwight Freeney Hamstring QST
WR Anthony Gonzalez Concussion QST
CB Marlin Jackson Ankle QST
CB Tim Jennings Not Injury Related PRB
DE Robert Mathis Not Injury Related PRB
G Jamey Richard Shoulder PRB
LB Clint Session Calf PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Steelers 4 1
Ravens 2 2
Browns 1 3
Bengals 0 5
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Colts’ butts!

Ravens Report- Week 5 2008

2008-10-05T08:35:00.001-04:00

Ravens Report
Last Monday night, the Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-20, in overtime. The first points of the game were put up with a 49-yard field goal from Steelers K Jeff Reed. Then, Ravens K Matt Stover hit two field goals to give the Ravens a 6-3 lead. Then, Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw his first career touchdown, a 4-yard pass to backup TE Daniel Wilcox to give the Ravens a 13-3 lead at halftime. Then, after a 15-yard penalty on Ravens LB Jarret Johnson, the Steelers got the momentum. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to WR Santonio Holmes to make the score 13-10. On the Ravens’ next possession, Joe Flacco fumbled, and Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley picked it up and ran 7 yards into the end zone for a touchdown to give the Steelers a 17-13 lead. After a 19-yard field goal from Jeff Reed, Ravens FB Le’Ron McClain ran 2 yards into the end zone to tie the game up and head into overtime. In overtime, Steelers K Jeff Reed hit a 46-yard field goal to win the game for the Steelers.
Player of the Game: Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley- 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery
Next Sunday, the Ravens play the undefeated Tennessee Titans at home. Before the NFL split up the divisions, these two teams were intense rivals. Former Titans WR and current Raven Derrick Mason will be facing his old team. The Ravens lead the all-time series 8-7, and they’ve won six out of the last eight meetings with the Titans. The Titans defense has been amazing this season, giving up an average of 11.5 points per game, they are tied for the lead in sacks, and have a league-leading 13 takeaways. But the Ravens have the third ranked rushing game in the NFL, and FB Le’Ron McClain leads the team with 215 yards. Plus, the Ravens defense is possibly the best in the league, only giving up an average of 186 yards per game. Expect this to be a great game, but I have the Titans winning, 27-17.
Suggestion: I think the Ravens should blitz, blitz, blitz. They have to stop RB duo Chris Johnson and LenDale White, who have combined for 7 rushing touchdowns this season.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Titans
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Titans CB Cortland Finnegan Edge: Mason
Ravens RG Marshal Yanda vs. Titans DT Albert Haynesworth Edge: Haynesworth
Ravens FB Le’Ron McClain vs. Titans LB Keith Bullock Edge: Bullock
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Titans RBs Chris Johnson and LenDale White Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Chris McAlister vs. Titans WR Justin McCareins Edge: McAlister
Ravens DT Justin Bannan vs. Titans C Kevin Mawae Edge: Mawae
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
DT Kelly Gregg Knee OUT
S Dawan Landry Neck OUT
CB Samari Rolle Neck OUT
CB Derrick Martin Shoulder DBT
LB Antwan Barnes Shoulder QST
RB Willis McGahee Chest QST
WR/KR Yamon Figurs Hamstring PRB
LB Tavares Gooden Hip PRB
LB Nick Greisen Thigh PRB
Titans
Player Injury Status
CB Reynaldo Hill Hamstring OUT
WR Justin Gage Knee DBT
P Craig Hentrich Back QST
RB LenDale White Shoulder PRB
QB Vince Young Knee PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Steelers 3 1
Ravens 2 1
Browns 1 3
Bengals 0 4
Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Titans’ butts!

Ravens Report- Week 4 2008

2008-09-28T13:04:00.001-04:00

Ravens Report
Last Sunday, the Ravens defeated the Browns, 28-10. After a scoreless 1st quarter, the Browns got on the board first, with a 19-yard touchdown pass from QB Derek Anderson to RB Jerome Harrison. Then, the Ravens tied up the game on a 5-yard TD run from RB Willis McGahee. Then, Browns K Phil Dawson hit a 39-yard field goal, and the Browns led the Ravens, 10-7, at halftime. Then, the Ravens caught fire. First, FB Le’Ron McClain ran for a 1-yard TD to give the Ravens a 14-10 lead. Then, Ravens S Ed Reed picked off a Derek Anderson pass and ran 32 yards into the end zone, and eventually, into the tunnel, giving the Ravens a 21-10 lead. Then, Le’Ron McClain got the Ravens back on the board with another 1-yard touchdown run. On a sad note, in the 2nd quarter, Ravens S Dawan Landry collided with Browns RB Jamal Lewis, he was transported to a hospital, and was released. Also, Ravens QB Joe Flacco was picked off twice.
Player of the Game: Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs- 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Goat of the Game: Browns QB Derek Anderson- 14/37, 125 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions
The Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh to face their biggest rival on Monday Night Football. The Ravens have never beaten the Steelers on primetime. When these two teams met on Monday Night last year, the Steelers won, 38-7. The winner of this game takes the outright lead in the AFC North. Ravens QB Joe Flacco is the first rookie QB to start 2-0 since 1970. This will be the first time Flacco faces one of the top defenses in the NFL, which he’ll have to do Monday night. The Steelers defense is ranked 2nd in the NFL, but the Ravens are ranked first. Also, the Eagles defense sacked Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger 8 times last week, and he’s on pace to be sacked 64 times this season! The Ravens might have an advantage because the Steelers will be without Pro Bowl RB Willie Parker (rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall will start), and Pro Bowl DT Casey Hampton. I have the Ravens staying undefeated with a 17-13 victory.
Suggestion: The Ravens defensive line will have to take advantage of a struggling Steelers offensive line and get to QB Ben Roethlisberger to stop their passing game.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Steelers
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Steelers S Troy Polamalu Edge: Polamalu
Ravens QB Joe Flacco vs. Steelers LB James Harrison Edge: Harrison
Ravens RT Adam Terry vs. Steelers DT Nick Eason Edge: Terry
Ravens DE Trevor Pryce vs. Steelers RT Willie Colon Edge: Pryce
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Edge: Lewis
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall Edge: Suggs
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
S Dawan Landry Neck OUT
DT Kelly Gregg Knee OUT
CB Samari Rolle Shoulder/Neck OUT
QB Troy Smith Illness OUT
WR Yamon Figurs Hamstring QST
LB Nick Greisen Thigh QST
T Adam Terry Ankle QST
LB Tavares Gooden Hip PRB
LB Ray Lewis Foot PRB
RB Le’Ron McClain Migraine PRB
RB Willis McGahee Eye PRB
CB Fabian Washington Neck PRB
TE Daniel Wilcox Shoulder PRB
Steelers
Player Injury Status
DT Casey Hampton Groin OUT
DE Brett Keisel Calf OUT
RB Willie Parker Knee OUT
LB Donovan Woods Hamstring DBT
CB William Gay Ankle PRB
S Troy Polamalu Quad PRB
CB Deshea Townsend Heel PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Ravens 2 0
Steelers 2 1
Browns 0 3
Bengals 0 3
That’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see you next week, let’s go kick the Steelers’ butts!

Ravens Report- Week 2 2008

2008-09-20T16:08:00.000-04:00

Ravens Report
In their previous game, the Ravens beat the Cincinnati Bengals 17-10 to improve their record to 1-0. The first points were put up when the Ravens perfectly executed a double reverse run, that ended up in a Mark Clayton 39-yard run for a touchdown. After a 21-yard field goal from Ravens K Matt Stover and a 43-yard field goal from Bengals K Shayne Graham, the Ravens leaded the Bengals 10-3 at halftime. Then, the Ravens got back on the board when rookie QB Joe Flacco ran 38 yards into the end zone to give the Ravens a 17-3 lead to end the third quarter. Then, the Bengals got the momentum. Joe Flacco fumbled, and Bengals CB Jonathan Joseph recovered the fumble and ran 65 yards into the end zone to make the score 17-10. But the Ravens defense held the Bengals to nothing the rest of the game and the Ravens ended up with the victory.
Player of the Game: Ravens LB Jarret Johnson- 5 tackles, 1 sack
Goat of the Game: Bengals QB Carson Palmer- 9/24, 94 yards
The Ravens-Texans game was postponed until Nov. 9 due to Hurricane Ike.
Next Sunday, the Ravens will face the Cleveland Browns at home. The last time these two teams met, the Browns came away with a 33-30 victory in overtime. The Browns are 0-2 so far this season, losing to the Cowboys and Steelers. Browns star WR Braylon Edwards could miss Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, which would help the Ravens out a lot, but even if he does play, has not been able to catch the ball yet this season. Also, the Ravens defense will be going up against former Ravens RB Jamal Lewis, who has averaged just three yards per carry so far this season. Ravens RB Willis McGahee is expected to start Sunday, after missing the game against the Bengals due to an injury. Last season, McGahee averaged six yards per carry against the Browns, and rushed for over 100 yards in both games. I predict the Ravens will come away with a 27-13 win.
Suggestion: Browns QB Derek Anderson has struggled so far this year, so the Ravens should take advantage of that and get to him so prevent him from throwing.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Browns
Ravens KR Yamon Figurs vs. Browns KR Joshua Cribbs Edge: Cribbs
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Browns CB Kamerion Wimbley Edge: Mason
Ravens TE Todd Heap vs. Browns LB Willie McGinest Edge: McGinest
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Browns RB Jamal Lewis Edge: R. Lewis
Ravens LB Jarret Johnson vs. Browns QB Derek Anderson Edge: Johnson
Ravens DE Trevor Pryce vs. Browns LT Joe Thomas Edge: Thomas
Injury Report
Ravens
Player Injury Status
DT Kelly Gregg Knee OUT
QB Troy Smith Illness OUT
CB Fabian Washington Neck DBT
LB Nick Greisen Leg QST
LB Brandon Ayanbadejo Calf PRB
WR Yamon Figurs Hamstring PRB
CB Corey Ivy Ankle PRB
CB Derrick Martin Shoulder PRB
TE Todd Heap Wrist PRB
T Marshal Yanda Knee PRB
WR Demetrius Williams Hamstring PRB
Browns
Player Injury Status
S Sean Jones Knee OUT
TE Martin Rucker Knee OUT
LB Kris Griffin Calf DBT
WR Braylon Edwards Shoulder QST
WR Donte Stallworth Quad QST
LB Willie McGinest Hamstring QST
G Eric Steinbach Shoulder QST
WR Joshua Cribbs Shoulder PRB
RB Jamal Lewis Ankle PRB
DT Shaun Smith Hand PRB
G Ryan Tucker Hip PRB
AFC North Standings
Team W L
Ravens 1 0
Steelers 2 0
Browns 0 2
Bengals 0 2

That’s it for this week’s edition of my Ravens Report, see ya next week, let’s go kick the Bengals’ butts!

Ravens Report Week 1 2008-09

2008-09-05T20:42:00.000-04:00

Ravens Report

Hello and welcome to the 2008-09 Baltimore Ravens football season and especially my Ravens Report.

The Ravens lost to the Atlanta Falcons 10-9 at home to end their preseason with a record of 1-3. Ravens 1^st round draft pick Joe Flacco looked solid, completing eight of thirteen for seventy-two yards in the first half. Then, his backup, Casey Bramlet came in. Bramlet completed seven of twenty-one passes for one hundred yards and two interceptions. On the Falcons side of the ball, rookie Matt Ryan didn’t play much, but did solid. For the Ravens, the only thing this game really decided was if Joe Flacco was ready to start Week 1. Kyle Boller is out for the entire year and was placed on the Injured Reserve, and Troy Smith is currently ill. That leaves Flacco and Bramlet, two inexperienced quarterbacks trying to win a starting job. Well, Flacco won it.

In Week 1, the Ravens take on the Cincinnati Bengals at M@T Bank Stadium in downtown Baltimore. These two teams met last year in Week 1 in Cincinnati, the Bengals won, 27-20. Both these teams are trying to recover from a disappointing season last year. This year the Ravens are lead by new Head Coach John Harbaugh, new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. Bengals star Wide Receiver Chad Johnson legally changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco last week, which both the Bengals and the NFL approved. This will be a great game, between two teams yearning for a better year than last year. I have the Ravens edging out a 21-20 victory in front of their home crowd.

Suggestion: For the Ravens to win this game, I think their offensive line has to step up. Earlier today the Ravens signed veteran 4-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman and former Bengal Willie Anderson. This veteran addition will boost the confidence and knowledge of the rest of the young offensive line, giving the Ravens a better chance to win Sunday afternoon.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Bengals:

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Bengals CB Jonathan Joseph Edge: Mason

Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Bengals LB Dhani Jones Edge: McGahee

Ravens LT Jared Gaither vs. Bengals LE Robert Geathers Edge: Geathers

Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Bengals RB Chris Perry Edge: Lewis

Ravens LB Bart Scott vs. Bengals QB Carson Palmer Edge: Palmer

Ravens CB Chris McAlister vs. Bengals WR Chad Ocho Cinco Edge: Ocho Cinco

Injury Report

Ravens

Player Injury Status

QB Troy Smith Illness OUT

DT Kelly Gregg Knee DBT

S Ed Reed Neck QST

T Oniel Cousins Back PRB

TE Todd Heap Knee PRB

RB Willis McGahee Knee PRB

G Marshal Yanda Thumb PRB

Bengals

Player Injury Status

FB Jeremi Johnson Knee OUT

S Chinedum Ndukwe Knee OUT

DT Pat Sims Toe OUT

WR Andre Caldwell Toe DBT

DE Jonathan Fanine Illness PRB

WR T.J. Houshmanzadeh Hamstring PRB

LB Brandon Johnson Hamstring PRB

WR Chad Ocho Cinco Shoulder PRB

DE Antwan Odom Foot PRB

QB Carson Palmer Unknown PRB

DT John Thornton Knee PRB

HB Kenny Watson Hamstring PRB

Ravens 2008 Draft Picks and their Universities:

Round 1: QB Joe Flacco (Delaware)

Round 2: RB Ray Rice (Rutgers)

Round 3: LB Tavares Gooden (Miami FL)

Round 3: Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame)

Round 3: OT Oniel Cousins (UTEP)

Round 4: WR Marcus Smith (New Mexico)

Round 4: OT Dave Hale (Weber State)

Round 6: S Haruki Nakamura (Cincinnati)

Round 7: WR Justin Harper (Virginia Tech)

Round 7: RB Allen Patrick (Oklahoma)

Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see ya next week and let’s go kick the Bengals’ butts!
PRB- Probable
QST-Questionable
DBT- Doubtful

Ravens Report-End of Year

2008-01-10T20:21:00.001-05:00

Ravens Report

The Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Baltimore, 27-21. The Ravens got on the board first with a 2-yard touchdown run by RB Musa Smith. After a field goal by Ravens K Matt Stover, Ravens RB Cory Ross ran for a 32-yard touchdown to make the score 17-0. Then the Steelers got on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Najeh Davenport. After a Stover field goal, Ravens rookie QB Troy Smith found WR Devard Darling in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown to make the score 27-7 at the end of three quarters. The Steelers got all the 4^th quarter points, first with a 59-yard pass from QB Charlie Batch to WR Santonio Holmes, then Batch found WR Cedrick Wilson for a 7-yard touchdown to end the game.

Player of the Game: Ravens DB David Pittman, 7 tackles, 2 INTs

Ravens Final Schedule Results

Week 1: at Bengals L 27-20

Week 2: vs. Jets W 20-13

Week 3: vs. Cardinals W 26-23

Week 4: at Browns L 27-13

Week 5: at 49ers W 9-7

Week 6: vs. Rams W 22-3

Week 7: at Bills L 19-14

BYE

Week 9: at Steelers L 38-7

Week 10: vs. Bengals L 21-7

Week 11: vs. Browns L 33-30 (OT)

Week 12: at Chargers L 32-14

Week 13: vs. Patriots L 27-24

Week 14: vs. Colts L 44-20

Week 15: at Dolphins L 22-16 (OT)

Week 16: at Seattle L 27-6

Week 17: vs. Steelers W 27-21

Final Record: 5-11

At Home: 4-4

On the Road: 1-7

News: The Baltimore Ravens fired Head Coach Brian Billick. Billick spent 8 years as Ravens Head Coach, going 85-67. He won the Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2000, led them to the playoffs in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006.

Well, that’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see you next year!

Ravens Report-Week 17

2007-12-29T16:50:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report

The Ravens lost in Seattle to the Seahawks, 27-6. The Ravens are now 4-11, losing the past nine games in a row. After a scoreless first quarter, the Seahawks got on the board first with a 21-yard pass from QB Matt Hasselback to WR Nate Burleson. To make the score 14-0, Seahawks LB Leroy Hill returned a Mike Anderson fumble 20 yards for a touchdown. Then Hasselbeck found RB Shaun Alexander for a 14-yard touchdown. Seahawks K Josh Brown hit two field goals in the third quarter to make the score 27-0. For the Ravens only points of the night, QB Troy Smith found WR Derrick Mason for a 79-yard touchdown.

Player of the Game: Seahawks QB Matt Hasselback, 18-27 for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

Next Sunday the Ravens close out the season at home against arch rival Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first meeting between these two teams, the Steelers won 38-7. The Steelers lost star RB Willie Parker last week, which means the Steelers are forced to start Najeh Davenport. The Ravens 22^nd ranked pass defense should have lots of trouble against the Steelers, who are third in scoring through the air. The Steelers will be sitting starting QB Ben Roethlisberger (I don’t care if I spelled it wrong). In a total blowout, I have the Steelers winning 45-7.

Suggestion: The Ravens need to establish a running game with Mike Anderson and Musa Smith after the loss of Willis McGahee last week. If they can’t get the running game going against the Steelers, the Ravens will have absolutely no chance of winning.

Key Matchups for Steelers vs. Ravens

Ravens LB Bart Scott vs. RB Najeh Davenport Edge: Scott

Ravens CB Corey Ivey vs. WR Heinz Ward Edge: Ward

Ravens S Ed Reed vs. QB Charlie Batch Edge: Reed

Ravens C Mike Flynn vs. Steelers NT Casey Hampton Edge: Hampton

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Steelers CB Deshea Townsend Edge: Mason

Ravens WR Mark Clayton vs. Steelers CB Ike Taylor Edge: Clayton

Injury Report

Ravens

Player Injury Status

QB Kyle Boller- Head- OUT

TE Todd Heap- Thigh- OUT

RB Willis McGahee- Chest- OUT

S Gerome Sapp- Thigh- OUT

TE Quinn Sypniewski- Head- OUT

WR Demetrius Williams- Ankle- OUT

TE Daniel Wilcox- Thigh- OUT

RB Mike Anderson- Thigh- QST

WR Mark Clayton- Back- QST

LB Ray Lewis- Back- QST

LB Edgar Jones- Foot- PRB

T Jonathan Ogden- Thigh- PRB

Steelers

Player Injury Status

LB Clint Kriewaldt- Neck- OUT

T Marvel Smith- Back- OUT

S Troy Polamalu- Knee- DBT

QB Ben Roethlisberger- Ankle- QST

CB Allen Rossum- Hamstring- QST

LB Andre Frazier- Groin- PRB

WR Willie Reid- Shoulder- PRB

Team- W L GB

Steelers- 11- 5- Clinched Division

Browns- 9- 6- 1.0

Bengals- 6- 9- 4.5

Ravens- 4- 11- 6.5

AFC North Outlook: The Steelers have clinched the division title. The Bengals play the Dolphins in Miami and the Browns play the 49ers in Cleveland.

That’s week version of my Raven’s report. Let’s go kick the Steelers’ butts!

Ravens Report-Week 16

2007-12-23T16:23:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report

The Ravens lost to the now 1-13 Miami Dolphins, 22-16 in overtime. Ravens K Matt Stover hit two field goals early in the game to make the score 6-0. To get the Dolphins on the board, K Jay Feely hit a 23-yard field goal. Then Ravens QB Kyle “Butterfingers” Boller threw a 17-yard pass to WR Derrick Mason to make the score 13-3. For the only points of the third quarter, Dolphins RB Samkon Gado ran for a 7-yard touchdown. Jay Feely hit two field goals to give the Dolphins a 16-13 lead with 1:56 left in regulation. Then, Matt Stover hit an 18-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. In overtime, Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon found WR Greg Camarillo for a 64-yard touchdown to give the Dolphins their first win of the season.

Player of the Game: Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon, 23-39 for 315 yards and a touchdown

Next Sunday the Ravens head to Seattle to face the 9-5 Seahawks. Ravens rookie QB Troy Smith will make his first career start. Seattle’s explosive offense includes QB Matt Hasselbeck, RB Shaun Alexander, and WR’s Bobby Engram and Deion Branch. Their defense includes LB Lofa Tatupu, DE Patrick Kerney, and CB Marcus Trufant. The Ravens’ success on offense depends on RB Willis McGahee. I have the Ravens losing to the Seahawks 38-10.

Suggestion: With Troy Smith starting, head coach Brian Billick has to make sure that Smith doesn’t lose his confidence if the Ravens lose to the Seahawks.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Seahawks

Ravens CB Corey Ivy vs. Seahawks WR Bobby Engram Edge: Engram

Ravens LB Bart Scott vs. Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander Edge: Alexander

Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselback Edge: Hasselback

Ravens LG Jason Brown vs. Seahawks DE Patrick Kerney Edge: Kerney

Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Seahawks LB Lofa Tatupu Edge: McGahee

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant Edge: Mason

Injury Report

Ravens

Player- Injury- Status

QB Kyle Boller- Head- OUT

CB Samari Rolle- Shoulder- OUT (IR)

WR Demetrius Williams- Ankle- OUT

TE Todd Heap- Thigh- DBT

TE Daniel Wilcox- Thigh- DBT

LB Ray Lewis- Hand/Back- QST

LB Gary Stills- Knee- QST

LB Terrell Suggs- Thigh- QST

C Mike Flynn- Foot- PRB

FB Le’Ron McClain- Back- PRB

S Gerome Sapp- Thigh- PRB

T Adam Terry- Ankle- PRB

Seahawks

Player- Injury- Status

DT Rocky Bernard- Groin- QST

WR D.J. Hackett- Ankle- QST

CB Josh Wilson- Quad- QST

RB Shaun Alexander- Wrist- PRB

S Mike Green- Knee- PRB

T Walter Jones- Shoulder- PRB

AFC North Standings

Team W L GB

Steelers- 10- 5- 0.0

Browns- 9- 5- 1.5

Bengals- 5- 9- 4.5

Ravens- 4- 10- 5.5

AFC North Outlook: The Ravens and Bengals have both been eliminated from playoff contention. If the Browns lose, the Steelers win the division. The Steelers beat the Rams on Thursday Night Football and the Browns play the Bengals in Cincinnati.

That’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, see you next week, let’s go kick the Seahawks butts!

Ravens Report-Week 15

2007-12-16T12:45:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report

The Ravens lost to the Colts on Sunday Night Football, 44-20. The Colts got on the board first with a 34-yard touchdown pass from QB Peyton Manning to WR Reggie Wayne. Then, the Colts got back on the board with a one-yard touchdown run from RB Joseph Addai. To make the score 21-0, Peyton Manning threw a 19-yard pass to Addai. Then the punt from Ravens Punter Sam Koch was blocked by Michael Coe and went back into the end zone for a safety to make the score 23-0 at the end of one quarter. Joseph Addai then got his 3^rd touchdown of the night on an 11-yard touchdown run. Then, on the kickoff, Ravens KR Yamon Figurs returned the kick 94 yards back for a touchdown to get the Ravens on the board. Then, late in the second quarter, Manning threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to rookie WR Anthony Gonzalez. For the only points in the third quarter, Manning found Gonzalez again, this time a 40-yard touchdown pass. The Ravens then got back on the board with a 4-yard touchdown pass from QB Kyle “Butterfingers” Boller (the two-point conversion failed). After that Ravens drive, they brought in rookie QB Troy Smith. For the last points of the game, Smith ran for a 6-yard touchdown.

Player of the Game: WR Anthony Gonzalez, 6 catches for 134 yards and 2 TD’s (40 and 57 yards).

Next Sunday, the Ravens head to Miami to face the 0-13 Miami Dolphins. In this game, the Ravens are trying to snap a 7 game losing streak. The Dolphins have the worst rush defense in the NFL, therefore, Ravens RB Willis McGahee should have a monster game. Due to a solid pass defense, the Dolphins should take advantage of Ravens QB Kyle “Butterfingers” Boller, who threw 3 interceptions against the Colts last week. The Ravens defensive line, lead by Kelly Gregg, should feast on a horrible Dolphins offensive line, who have allowed 10 sacks in the past 3 games. Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon will replace rookie QB John Beck. I am predicting the Ravens to win, 20-7.

Suggestion: Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick should start QB Troy Smith to try and increase his self-esteem and get the team their first win since Week 6 against the Rams.

Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Dolphins

Ravens CB Corey Ivy vs. Dolphins WR Ted Ginn, Jr. Edge: Ivy

Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Dolphins RB Samkon Gado Edge: Lewis

Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon Edge: Reed

Ravens LT Jonathan Ogden vs. Dolphins DE Jason Taylor Edge: Taylor

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Dolphins CB Michael Lehan Edge: Mason

Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Dolphins LB Joey Porter Edge: McGahee

Injury Report

Ravens

Player Injury Status

WR Demetrius Williams Ankle OUT

TE Todd Heap Thigh QST

CB Samari Rolle Shoulder DBT

DT Justin Bannan Knee QST

DT Haloti Ngata Knee QST

S Gerome Sapp Thigh DBT

C Mike Flynn Foot PRB

DT Kelly Gregg Thigh PRB

RB Willis McGahee Foot PRB

T Jonathan Ogden Thigh PRB

S Ed Reed Hip PRB

T Adam Terry Ankle PRB

TE Daniel Wilcox Toe/Ankle QST

LB Ray Lewis Back QST

LB Terrell Suggs Illness QST

Dolphins

Player Injury Status

RB Jesse Chatman Ankle QST

RB Patrick Cobbs Hip QST

LB Channing Crowder Foot/Knee OUT

DT Vonnie Holliday Ankle PRB

CB Michael Lehan Groin PRB

DE Matt Roth Groin QST

WR Marty Booker Knee PRB

DT Keith Traylor Personal

T Vernon Carey Back PRB

LB Joey Porter Shoulder PRB

AFC North Standings

Team W L GB

Steelers 9 4 0.0

Browns 8 5 1.0

Bengals 5 8 4.0

Ravens 4 9 5.0

AFC North Outlook: The Ravens and Bengals have both been eliminated from Playoff contention. The 49ers beat the Bengals on Saturday Night Football. The Browns play the Bills in Cleveland and the Steelers play the Jaguars in Pittsburgh.

That’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, I’m Max Buchdahl, see you next week and let’s go kick the Dolphins’ butts!

Ravens Report-Week 14

2007-12-09T14:20:00.000-05:00

The Ravens lost to the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, 27-24. The first points of the game were on a 21-yard field goal from Pats K Stephen Gostkowski. The Ravens then got the lead on a 4-yard touchdown pass from QB Kyle Boller to WR Derrick Mason. After a field goal from Ravens K Matt Stover, Pats FB Heath Evans ran for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game up at halftime. The Ravens then got the lead back on a 17-yard run by from RB Willis McGahee. The Pats then tied it up at 17 on a 4-yard pass from QB Tom Brady to WR Randy Moss. The Ravens then got the lead back with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Boller to backup TE Daniel Wilcox to make the score 24-17. The Pats then made it a 4 point game on a 38-yard field goal. Then the game got interesting. On a fourth and one that would have ended the game, Tom Brady tried to run for a first down but was stopped. As the Ravens started to celebrate, they found out that Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan had called a timeout just before the snap. This gave the Patriots another chance to get a first down and try to take the lead. The second time around, the Ravens were not able to stop them. The Patriots got a first down. Later on in the drive, there was another fourth down and a chance for the Ravens to finally end the game and give the Pats their first loss of the season. The pass was incomplete, but the referee called a holding penalty and the Pats got another first down. Ravens LB Bart Scott was so angry, he threw the flag into the stands. This resulted in a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Then Tom Brady found WR Jabar Gaffney in the back of the endzone to give the Pats the lead, 27-24. Due to all the penalties, Pats K Stephen Gostkowski kicked the Ravens 35 yard line and the ball went out of the endzone. With just a few seconds left on the clock, Kyle Boller chucked up a Hail Mary pass toward the endzone, which was caught by WR Mark Clayton. Unfortunately, he was tacked at the 2 yard line to end the game.

Next Sunday night, the Ravens face the 10-2 Indianapolis Colts. In last year’s divisional playoffs, the Colts beat the Ravens 15-6 in Baltimore. The Ravens fans will be especially loud due to the fact that former Colts owner Bob Irsay moved the then Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis in 1984. The Colts are led by star QB Peyton Manning. The other offensive threats for the Colts include RB Joseph Addai, WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark. On the Defensive side of the ball, the Colts are led by S Bob Sanders. After the Ravens close loss to the Pats last week, the Ravens and their fans are very hyped about Sunday night’s game in Baltimore. Even though the fans are hyped, I predict the Colts winning, 34-21.

Suggestion: The Ravens need to play with the same intensity as they did last Monday night to have any chance at beating the Colts. If they have any emotional letdown, the Colts will take advantage.

Key Matchups for Colts vs. Ravens

Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Colts RB Joseph Addai Edge: Addai

Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Colts QB Peyton Manning Edge: Manning

Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Colts WR Reggie Wayne Edge: Wayne

Ravens QB Kyle Boller vs. Colts S Bob Sanders Edge: Sanders

Ravens LT Jonathan Ogden vs. Colts LE Robert Mathis Edge: Ogden

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Colts CB Kelvin Hayden Edge: Mason

Injury Report

Ravens

Player- Injury- Status

DT Justin Bannan- Knee- OUT

CB Chris McAlister- Knee- QST

WR Demetrius Williams- Ankle- OUT

FB Justin Green- Thigh- PRB

TE Todd Heap- Thigh- QST

CB Samari Rolle- Shoulder- QST

S Gerome Sapp- Thigh- QST

RB Cory Ross- Head- PRB

LB Bart Scott- Hand- PRB

LB Gary Stills- Knee- PRB

TE Daniel Wilcox- Hip- PRB

FB La’Ron McClain- Illness- PRB

Colts

Player- Injury- Status

LB Gary Brackett- Hip- QST

DT Raheem Brock- Rib- OUT

T Ryan Diem- Knee- QST

T Charlie Johnson- TEAM DECISION

RB Kenton Keith- Illness- PRB

DE Robert Mathis- TEAM DECISION

WR Marvin Harrison- Knee- QST

DB Tim Jennings- TEAM DECISION

DB Bob Sanders- TEAM DECISION

AFC North Standings

Team- W- L- GB

Steelers- 9- 3- 0.0

Browns- 7- 5- 2.0

Ravens- 4- 8- 5.0

Bengals- 4- 8- 5.0

AFC North Outlook: The Bengals and Ravens have both been eliminated from Division contention. The Browns play the 3-9 Jets in New York. The Steelers play the 12-0 Patriots in New England and the Bengals play the 3-9 Rams in Cincinnati.

That’s it for this week’s of my Ravens Report. See you next week, let’s go kick the Colts’ butts!

Ravens Report-Week 13

2007-12-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

Ravens Report

The Ravens lost to the Chargers, 32-14 to make their record 4-7. After a field goal from Chargers K Nate Kaeding, Ravens RB Willis McGahee ran in a 1-yard touchdown to give the Ravens the lead. Then, Chargers QB Phillip Rivers threw a 35-yard touchdown to TE Antonio Gates to give the Chargers the lead back, but the snap for the extra point was mishandled by the holder, so now the score is 9-7. After Kaeding hit another field goal, Phillip Rivers found WR Chris Chambers in the back of the end zone to make the score, 19-7. Kaeding then hit another field goal. After that, TE Antonio Gates then caught his second touchdown of the game, this one 25 yards to make it 29-7. Ravens QB Kyle Boller then threw a 13-yard touchdown to FB La’Ron McClain to make the score 29-14, this was McClain’s first career touchdown. Nate Kaeding put the last points on the board a 41-yard field goal to make the final score, 32-14.

Player of the Game: Chargers TE Antonio Gates, 6 catches, 105 yards, 2 touchdowns (25 yards and 35 yards).

Next week the Ravens play the best team in the NFL, the New England Patriots. This game is in Baltimore on Monday Night Football. Ravens fans are awaiting the return of LB Adalius Thomas, who spent 7 years with the Ravens and had a breakout year last year before signing on with the Pats. The Pats are an undefeated 11-0 so far this year and have already won their division. Ravens RB Willis McGahee has had a rushing TD in 6 straight games now. That streak will have to continue because McGahee is the one explosive player on the Ravens offense, very close to WR Derrick Mason. The Pats defense should eat up on Ravens backup QB Kyle “Butterfingers” Boller. They have 31 sacks this year, that’s second in the AFC. The Pats offense is lead by QB Tom Brady, who has thrown for 39 touchdowns and only four interceptions this season. The reason he’s so good, he’s got guys like WR Randy Moss and WR Wes Welker, who have a combined 23 touchdown catches. The Ravens will not have a chance in this game, I’m picking the Pats to win, 45-17.

Suggestion: The Ravens need to throw to more Wide Receivers. It seems like they only pass to Derrick Mason, they have to get guys like Devard Darling and Mark Clayton in the game, too.

Key Matchups for Patriots vs. Ravens

Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Patriots QB Tom Brady Edge: Brady

Ravens CB Samari Rolle vs. Patriots WR Randy Moss Edge: Moss

Ravens CB Corey Ivy vs. Patriots WR Wes Welker Edge: Welker

Ravens QB Kyle Boller vs. Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi Edge: Bruschi

Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Patriots LB Adalius Thomas Edge: McGahee

Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Patriots CB Asante Samuel Edge: Samuel

Injury Report

Ravens

Player- Injury- Status

QB Steve McNair- Left Shoulder- OUT

WR Demetrius Williams- Ankle- OUT

T Jared Gaither- Illness- PRB

DT Justin Bannan- Ankle- PRB

TE Todd Heap- Thigh- QST

OLB Jarret Johnson- Thumb- PRB

CB Chris McAlister- Knee- QST

RB Willis McGahee- Ankle- PRB

OLB Gary Stills- Knee- PRB

TE Daniel Wilcox- Foot- PRB

S Gerome Sapp- Thigh- QST

Patriots

Player- Injury- Status

LB Rosevelt Colvin- Unknown- OUT

RB Kevin Faulk- Thigh- Unknown

QB Tom Brady- Right Shoulder- PRB

CB Randall Gay- Back- Unknown

G Stephen Neal- Shoulder- Unknown

WR Wes Welker- TEAM DECISION

S Eugene Wilson- Groin- Unknown

AFC North Standings

Team- W- L- GB

Steelers 8- 3- 0.0

Browns 7- 4- 1.0

Ravens 4- 7- 4.0

Bengals 4- 7- 4.0

AFC North Outlook: The Browns keep inching in on the Steelers and are only one game back. As for the Ravens, they have almost no chance at coming back. The Steelers play the Bengals in Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football and the Browns play the Cardinals in Arizona.

That’s it for this week’s version of my Ravens Report, let’s go kick New England’s butts!