Ravens Loss Might Lead to Better Things
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 8, 2009 10:12 AM EDT
28 comments
While I'd still rather be 4-0 than 3-1 heading into the showdown at M&T Bank Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals, the loss to the New England Patriots may have helped this team as much as it hurt them. The fans are still talking about the dropped balls, the refs and the other mistakes that led to the last second loss, but the players have moved on to the task at hand. The Ravens are an angry bunch, tired of hearing the press and fans moan about the "what-ifs" and are planning to take out their frustrations on a surprising 3-1 Bengals, who sit atop the AFC North standings alongside of the Ravens. Although this game may pit the two teams tied for the division lead, most Baltimore fans do not see this as too close of a game, and neither do the oddsmakers, establishing the Ravens as an 8.5 point favorite Sunday.
(More on "Ravens Loss Might Lead to Better Things" after the 'Jump')
The public is amazed at the good start from Cincinnati and even talk about how the Bengals are only one big, bad play in the opening game against the Denver Broncos from standing at 4-0 going into this game. But then again, what about the other games that last minute or even overtime scores has just barely kept Cincinnati from starting off the 2009 season winless? The 31-24 win over Green Bay had the Pack on the Bengals 10 yard line as time expired. The 23-20 win over Pittsburgh came in the final seconds as did the OT victory at Cleveland by the same score.
So what could have been a 4-0 start could just as easily have been an 0-4 start. Games that close on a consistent basis are either one of two things: a team that plays just good enough to win or a team that is just not as good as its record reflects. Cincy fans will bet on the former while Ravens fans will hope for the latter.
However, after the PAtriots loss, the Ravens want to show that they are for real and their offensive explosion in 2009 should not be combined with a defensive implosion. Giving up big stats to both the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots can be chalked up to playing against two very good passing offenses, both of whom realized that they cannot run against the Ravens defense so they went to the air game early and often, with great success. Not too many teams possess their passing attacks, so the Ravens feel they can match up pretty well with most of their opponents.
The team will be ready for the Bengals and will want to prove to themselves, their fans and the league that we are the best team in the AFC North and ready for a run at the division title and beyond. The progress of the passing attack should continue this weekend and the return to dominance by the defense is fresh on the minds of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and company. If I'm the Cincinnati Bengals, facing an angry Ravens team is not something I would be looking forward to.
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Angry? An understatement!
Our men in Purple should be an angry, fired-up bunch come Sunday! I expect some real hostility being released on Palmer and Co. come kick off! Go Ravens!
by Smiley4660 on Oct 8, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bronco fan here. I thought Ravan fans might identify with this...
Broncos’ Dumervil flagged for roughing Tom Brady 3 days before game
Posted Thu Oct 8th by Kyle
Elvis Dumervil (2007 photo)
Denver Broncos outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil was flagged for roughing New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady Thursday, three full days before the two were set to face one another on the football field.
"I saw Dumervil chasing and sacking me in my dreams," Brady stated simply. "So I called coach (Bill Belichick), he called the NFL officials office, and they took care of it from there."
NFL Head of Officiating Mike Pereira confirmed the penalty, citing the NFL’s publicly concerted efforts to protect the league’s signal callers and the quality of the game.
"We don’t want our star players to suffer," Pereira said. "Let’s face it, this is a quarterback’s game, and whether it’s season-ending knee surgery or scream-inducing night terrors, our quarterbacks need to be protected."
"I really don’t see what the big deal is," Brady added.
Dumervil, tied for the league lead in sacks, is expected to be fined up to $15,000 for his perceived actions. Fearing further league punishment, Dumervil declined to comment.
by phondonkey on Oct 8, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That was great.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Oct 8, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hilarious - Great Story!
I said in an earlier post that they should just give him a yellow flag to throw whenever he feels he needs to.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 8, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
amazing. hilarious. genius
in a related story, everyone needs to go see “Zombieland.” Ok, that wasn’t related at all, but go see it. It’s awesome.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 8, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The NFL Decided NOT to Fine Ray and Ed
because their review made them feel so bad for us that they couldn’t seem to bring themselves to pile on with a fine as well. Says something about the calls, eh?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 8, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
they new they were rong.
Did you see mike perrara? He came up with the most bs excuse ever for why they made the call. He knows he is a btch.
Votees are atartin to pick up. Raves be winning throw.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Oct 8, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dont you have an archery exam to study for?
by raven on Oct 8, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No sir
Just enjoying the free natty and smirnoff. Typical thirsday
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Oct 8, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah i can tell by the spelling
Votees are atartin to pick up. Raves be winning throw.
the meaning of that sentence is completely lost on me…
Why did i register for an 8am class on a FRIDAY!?!??!
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 8, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At the bars now.
And I still blog tha betdow
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Oct 8, 2009 11:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
I love you man
that’s loyalty,…or loser-ness. Put down the cell MaLoR and check out the Terp coeds there!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 10, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
continued…
and 2nd games against Pitt. last year? we were all over them the 3rd time.
by raven on Oct 8, 2009 10:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the above sentence was meant to follow this-
are we mad like after the 2007 NE? We made Miami pay for that! Are we mad like 1st……(above).
My Tandy has a bug. I was downloading Brady fashion pictures.
by raven on Oct 8, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hat the hell is a tandee
I got an extra laptop for sell. Want it?
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Oct 8, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn MaLoR is sippin hard
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
by jackmca on Oct 8, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
F U C K FUCK THE BENGALS
WE PLAYING FOR FIRST SO SORRY WE TAKING THAT SHIT. BENGALS AINT GOT SHIT ON US
by ryantz on Oct 9, 2009 2:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cleasn it up, ryantz
and find a better way to show your passion in words! Please? Thanks.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 10, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We Bengals fans feel the same way
We love it that we are such underdogs and hope the Ravens feel the same way. I have stated before that we are not quite to your level yet and I do think you will win. I will just say that the Packers thought “It’s the Bengals. This game is in the bag”. The Steelers thought " Man we have the Bengals number. We will walk all over them as usual". Now I sense from the Raven fans that “These Bengals were just lucky. All we have to do is play in a rage and beat the crap out of them. No problem.” Hey, we Bengals fans are still thinking we will lose this game. The odds are in your favor. But the more lightly you take us. The less respect you have for us. The madder your team is. All of shifts the odd toward us.
Don’t misunderstand me, you have a great team. Your D is still very good and your offense makes you, IMO, the best team or at least one of the top 3 teams in the NFL. You guys have a right to feel confident. You probably win, but whatever the score we will play very hard from the first snap to the last. We are not going to lay down just because you are the better team. We are only playing at about 75% of our ability as people who are new to the team, rookies and guys playing in a new position (11 out of our 22 starters)get comfortable. Win or lose on Sunday, blowout or not, we will be in the mix the whole season. We are pretty angry too. We have skilled players too. We have guys who will hit you in the mouth too.
All that being said I am looking forward to an exciting game and whatever the score hope that there are no injuries that put anyone on the bench for the following week. Who ever wins I will be back Monday to discuss the game. If we win I will not gloat and if we lose, even big, I will come back and face the music. I will say that guys like ryantz will make a victory sooo sweet.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
by JUNGLEJOHN on Oct 9, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Now I sense from the Raven fans that "These Bengals were just lucky. All we have to do is play in a rage and beat the crap out of them. No problem."
The perceived (correct or not) fan attitude doesn’t mean diddly. Comments from the Ravens players don’t indicate they are playing “in a rage” to compensate for last week. They seem to know it is back to business.
by drj on Oct 9, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the problem is
the Packers weren’t used to the type of hard knocks (get it?) we play with in the AFC North. No road game in the NFL is easy and the Steelers feel asleeep on that. However, a favorite losing on the road is easier to see coming that an underdogs winning on the road.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 10, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We are all greiving here in Cincy
Your chances just improved. The wife of our Defensive Coordinator passed away today. She was a wonderful lady whom I have had the honor to meet. She will be sorely missed by the players as well as the people who knew her. I would very much doubt that his head will be in the game even if he is there which I would bet he won’t be. I know I wouldn’t. Somehow this game does not matter as much as it did earlier.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
by JUNGLEJOHN on Oct 9, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hard Knocks....
her bringing in cookies for the guys cause she felt her husband was being too tough on them. I couldn’t even imagine watching a football game in his situation let alone trying to coach. It puts things in perspective I guess. As fired up as us fans get…its just a game.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Oct 9, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it is just a game UNTIL you play the steelers…
by raven on Oct 10, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
LAST WEEKS GAME WAS A FLUKE IN THAT OFFICIALS ARE MORONS AND TOM BRADY IS A BIG PUSSY!!
THIS WEEK WE ARE OUT TO KILL F—- THE BENGALS THE CROWS WILL PICK THE BENGALS EYES OUT HA HA !
by BOOTY MONSTER on Oct 11, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
STEELERS ARE A JOKE NEXT TIME THEY’LL CHOKE IN B-MORE
OUR OFFICIALS CAN PLAY THAT CHEAT SHIT TOO!
by BOOTY MONSTER on Oct 11, 2009 10:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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