New England Gets Their "Fill" of Rice
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 11, 2010 10:18 AM EST
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PrintWhile everyone knows that New England is well known for its seafood and chowder, they seemed to fill up pretty quickly on rice yesterday and probably will be glad not to see it on their "plates" any time in the near future.
Of course the "rice" the New England Patriots had enough of is the Baltimore Ravens second year running back, Ray Rice, who has proved himself one of the league's premier all-purpose RB's this season by adding 1,339 rushing yards and 702 receiving yards for 2,141 all-purpose yards during the regular part of the season.
To that he added 159 rushing yards, including a backbreaking 83 yarder for a score on the game's first play from scrimmage in yesterday's impressive 33-14 Wild Card victory over the Patriots in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Despite being a "diminutive" 5'8" and 210 pounds, he's proven to be extremely difficult to be brought down by the first hit and is also as elusive as any other RB in the league. His 7.2 average per carry proved yesterday that his initial carry was not a fluke and despite the Patriots focus on stopping the Ravens running game, it just was not even able to just slow it down. Willis McGahee added 62 yards and the team finished with 234 yards on 52 attempts and four touchdowns. New England had only given up a total of six rushing TD's all season and the Ravens managed to score three in just the first quarter!
Who cares that Baltimore's Joe Flacco threw the ball only ten times, completing only four for a paltry 34 yards and a 10.0 QB rating? His one long completion for 17 yards to Mark Clayton in the fourth quarter contributed to the Ravens 63% 3rd down efficiency rate and extended the drive for the team's final touchdown. During that drive, Flacco also ran seven yards for a key first down that the Ravens needed to challenge in order to get the correct ball placement and ultimately seal the game away.
Besides, what was even more surprising than Flacco's 10.0 QB rating was the Patriots' Tom Brady's 49.1 rating, which obviously led more to the Ravens success than Flacco's did to hurt it.
Many people have already said that Flacco had better improve on those stats if the Ravens think they have any chance to go into Indianapolis and beat the Colts. However, everyone, including me, would have thought the same thing before this game and look what happened. as long a steams continue to stack the box and stop the Ravens run game, they risk what will happen if the RB gets through the line to the second level, as the Patriots found out big time on the game's first offensive play.
Ray Rice might be small in size compared to the typical bruising back, but he is deceptively strong as well as fast and elusive, and now makes offense game plan for him. But so far, try as they may, he has still gotten his yards behind a great run blocking offensive line that would be happy to rush the ball 50 times per game from here on out.
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Congrats to the Ravens from BTSC
Now that was a beatdown. I probably speak for all Steeler fans when I say what a pleasure it was to watch Belichick implode. Those guys haven’t accomplished anything since their cheating was exposed.
Hopefully Flacco can do more for you guys come Indy, but with Ray Rice playing out of his mind…look out. Good luck.
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
except making it to the SB in 2007
the Pats lost by 3 points in the last 2 minutes, but they made it farther than your Steelers.
Keep the faith!
See below...I'm well aware
I ask again, what do you have to show for it? No one remembers division titles or conference titles. As a matter of fact, people are more inclined to remember Super Bowl losses…so you have that going for you.
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
by count'em_six on Jan 11, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
fans remember
and it certainly matters whether a team makes it to the playoffs or not.
Keep the faith!
Try telling steeler fans that
They think that we are not the better team between Ravens and Steelers this year because we tied with them at 9-7. Well now we are 10-7 and 2 games away from the Superbowl.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I saw that post
You can’t clump all of us together based on one person’s (or maybe a couple)comments. Fact is you guys are in and we aren’t. You took care of enough business to get in..we didn’t. Case closed.
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
by count'em_six on Jan 11, 2010 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
Do you think Palomalu will be back healthy in 2010?
Or go the Bob Sanders’ in and out route. It’s a hard life as an NFL safety.
Keep the faith!
From myself
I think Troy comes back really strong next year. Sanders has had injuries all over the place. Troy had an injury that is actually rather minor considering some of the MCL and ACL problems these guys go through (Wes Welker, Owen Daniels)
Troy is in my opinion the best athlete in the NFL. Fast and strong and his athleticism allows for him to stay pretty healthy. That was a freak injury he had and you guys sort of rushed it. He may need to switch his play style up a bit and not be as crazy, but he will definitely be a huge impact.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
He was one Steeler that I love to watch
Ed Reed is another. Easy to see why BB is such a fan.
Keep the faith!
The Steelers and Ravens are very similar
Including the safety spot, we both have future HOF safeties.
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:12 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
sorry,couldn't let that pass
I am a huge fan of the Flaccman, but he is definately NOT the best athlete in the NFL. He is no where near as elusive as McNabb,he
s a quarterback. He doesn’t have or need to have the athleticism as a safety,cornerback or wide receiver.He will ,one day, be in the same level as a Manning a Montana and an Elway. Unitas was a great quarterback,but not much of an athlete.He will never be the best athlete in the NFL.Sorry to bust your bubble.
it's better to be feared than to be loved
by purple and black attack on Jan 12, 2010 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
Jeffafa Dun Hamh dot com
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 12, 2010 4:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
QBs don't have to be the best athlete
There have been many QBs who were great athletes but lousy QBs in the NFL. Montana is an example of the oppsosite, he had a good arm but many were stronger, he could scramble if he had to but many had better feet. QBs have to have the knowledge and the capability to lead and Montana, Payton, and Unitas had that, Flacco still needs to develope that and I think he will in time but it will take time because he is one a team of mostly vets. Even though the stats may not show it, he is learning along with the coaching staff to use the weapons he has, sometimes the best play QB can make is not to pass, hand it off or to throw it away; Flacco is learning this.
by Asmodeus1971 on Jan 12, 2010 11:43 PM EST up reply actions
Making the playoffs
…and laying an egg matters squat. My question continues to go unanswered.
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
by count'em_six on Jan 11, 2010 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
What question? What do the Pats have to show for it?
It may not matter to you personally, but like it or not the NFL is a stats-driven league. Teams ARE measured: by regular season wins and losses, division leaders, whether they made the playoffs, which seed they were and which round they made it to. Coaches and players are measured by their stats as well. It would be a short record book if the only stat kept was SB wins (and losses).
The Patriots have another winning season and playoff appearance to show for it. Right now, it’s not much solace for fans but it’s better than not getting in at all.
Keep the faith!
If I was a Patriot fan, I would take stock in the success made despite the injuires
and that they got a load of 1st and 2nd round draft picks. While no draft pick is guaranteed, it ain’t like the Patriots have a history of making lousy picks. Add in the simple fact that Bob Kraft is easily in the top three owners in the league, anyone expecting the Patriots to go deep in a down swing are crazy in my view.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Jan 11, 2010 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
The coaching and scouting staffs have been raided and unstable the past few years
but the head coach and ownership have been constant. A blessing considering the alternative, you’re absolutely right.
Keep the faith!
Ozzie Newsome is definately #1 when it comes to drafting
No matter how bad we bash him for making unexpected picks when we are in need of a player in another position.
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
they have a crap load of picks
they have whiffed a few times in the last few years, they’re down a little but not out.
by Generzal Zod on Jan 11, 2010 11:55 PM EST up reply actions
God damn its good to be a Ravens fan right now!
by StuckInUtah on Jan 11, 2010 11:01 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Yes it is
Recently moved from StL to Virginia Beach and had a tough time living in a town with no NFL team. I took my wife up to Baltimore to see the Ravens beat up on Chicago. I’ve always respected the Ravens – now I’m a full fledged fan – great team, great fans. I always knew the Ravens could go deep into the playoffs if they could show some discipline (no pentalties). I don’t see anyone slowing down the running game and If Flacco throws against the Colts like he did against Chicago the Colts won’t be a problem.
Ugh...
I used to live in Norfolk while in the military. I don’t mean to offend you but I hated living in that area. Between PETA, Trinity University, a seemingly uncountable number of squids, and about 15 different rush hours during the day between the shipyards, I could not count down my days fast enough.
Except for the Beirgarden in Portsmouth. It’s on High Street and if you ain’t never been there, you owe it to yourself to go. They got something like over a hundred types of beer available, great food, and an absolutely fantastic, small bar feel to it. I would go there all the time and if I saw maybe one other military person besides me, it was a fluke. I don’t know if its changed since I’ve been there, but my god, that place is heaven on earth. Just a fantastic, little bar. It is seriously the best place I ever drank at outside of Europe.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Jan 11, 2010 5:12 PM EST up reply actions
True dat
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
@count'em_six
@count’em_six ….is that your IQ?
the Pats went 16-0 regular season after the first game of the ‘spy-gate’..which was total BS anyways (check the video out, it couldn’t be used during a game, you couldn’t analyze it quick enough)
the Pats went 11-5 w/o Brady in 2008
and went to playoffs in 2009
That’s doing nothing?
You wouldn’t hate Belichik if he was your coach
The Ravens had a good first quarter, and the Pats made some stupid mistakes.
When the Pats rebuild their defense this year, they are going to be unstoppable.
by PatriotsFanNYC on Jan 11, 2010 11:59 AM EST reply actions
wow
So they won some regular season games and “went to the playoffs”. Good job! What is there to show for it? Nothing. There’s this though:
Ravens had a good first quarter? They shut you down. Brady was rattled early and being the softy he is, never sustained much of anything. It took Kevin Faulk to try to rally the troops. Don’t try to sugar coat your lose…you got pounded.
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
by count'em_six on Jan 11, 2010 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
So I never thought I’d be saying this but, I’m gonna have to agree with the Steelers Fan (boy did that leave a bad taste in my mouth)
by StuckInUtah on Jan 11, 2010 12:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
cheers man
I’d still have a beer with ya…
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
by count'em_six on Jan 11, 2010 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Make it a “dirty 30” and I’ll be there
by StuckInUtah on Jan 11, 2010 1:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
That is a terrific picture
Unlike a lot of Pats fans, I love that photo. It shows toughness and heart, a quality sadly lacking in too many of the Patriots’ players this season.
Sometimes, a player can do everything in his power but still not make the play. Sometimes there’s a bit of luck involved (and David Tyree is the first to admit it.) Rodney Harrison could sleep well after that and hold his head up high because he gave everything he had in those split seconds (Tyree wasn’t even his guy – he was covering for Asante Samuel who left Tyree open to move towards the pile with Eli still “in the grasp”). If the silly football was anywhere but stuck to the side of his helmet, it would have been dislodged.
Keep the faith!
This is definately one of my favorite pictures of all time
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Only a good first quarter?
I guess that is all of the game you watched cause you knew it was over from there. We absolutely dominated you until the time ran out of the 4th quarter. Admit that your team is digressing rapidly. 3 years from now, you most likely won’t have Brady and Moss.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
"Team of the Decade" is done
Once Brady leaves, the Patriots will go through the same decline and rebuilding that every team faces eventually. The Patriots decade is over. Its a new decade.
help me out with these colts fans i cant reply to 4 at once
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2010/1/11/1245687/the-ravens-can-sure-as-hell-run#comments
Ya, some clown over there is like “If you take away Rice’s 83 yard run, he only averaged about 3 yards per carry”. Well here’s another stat, If you take away all of Peyton Manning’s TD passes, you’ll see that he really isn’t that good.
by StuckInUtah on Jan 11, 2010 4:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
ya ive been talking to those clowns for awhile. ive read some obsurd comments over there. ex: “the ravens rush offense was not at all dominant, it was just all your defense” or “the ravens didnt really dominate that game at all, the patriots just played horrible”
Riiiiiiight
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
Haha love it.
"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden
by jackmca on Jan 11, 2010 4:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
That's what she said
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
It took a bad call on a punt to get them in the game at all. I still can’t get over Harbaugh’s poor use of the red flag. That is 3 crucial plays in 2 years he missed. That is inexcusable. Whoever is in the booth taking the initial look at these things for the Ravens should be fired.
D-Will had a chance to shine and dropped the ball again. This guy is so hit and miss. Not sure he will ever get it all together.
Clayton got open…twice! You go Mark. The 3 headed monster was fully represented. Kudos to Cam for sticking with what got him there AND not abandoning it during the game. I got a little worried with the jump ball to D-Will that Cam was starting to get a little frisky but he dialed it bakc and kept jamming the run.
Flacco fired a huge pass to Mason on 3rd and 2. That was a dagger in the Pats heart. Great game all around. We dominated.
Amazing wasn't it raven?
Cam actually stuck with what was working. When we got up 24-0, we literally played the rest of the game to not f*** up. We wanted to eat up clock. Even if we went 3 and out, we were still wasting a good 2 min off the clock.
That drive at the end of the 3rd quarter and into the 4th was incredible by Cam. NE squibbed the ball to Zbikowski and he took it to the 50. We had 2:12 left in the 3rd and we ended up scoring our TD with 11:03 left on the clock. 50 yard drive and we made it take over 6 minutes. That is an amazing job by Cam and the Running Backs.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I would have liked to see more passing at situational times
Once it was third and long and Flacco dropped back and threw a short incomplete pass. We were around midfield and ended up punting. To me, if that were Ben Roethlisberger, he would have just tossed it up deep towards the goal line at someone. Complete, PI penlalty or even an INT, is still better than punting. Low risk, high reward.
Same thing for not throwing the Red Flag on that muffed punt, which clearly wasn’t recovered in bounds by NE. Maybe it wasn’t shown on the scoreboard replay, which is a huge indication that it is not good for the home team. Spotters in the boxes see exactly the same replay we did and failed to see what EVERYONE else saw. Harbs deserves to get raked over the coals for that and his excuse might be “hey we won the game” but that is way too many times he didn’t Challenge when it was obvious to us fans.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 11, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
See my comment below
There were “malfunctions” with the video equipment during that play.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Yeah, but
those four completions, specifically the ones t Mason and Clayton for 1st downs, were the definition of making the most out of…
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 12, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
We really can't criticize Flacco's 10.0 QB Rating too much.
Keep in mind, he always starts out cold. It takes him a little while to get into a groove, we just never really needed him to get going. I’m sure if he had gotten some more opportunities to throw the ball, his QB rating would have been fine. We just really did not need his arm in this one.
It is like the coaching staff has said the last two weeks
Flacco played the game they called, complain, bash him, do whatever you want but in truth it shows a quality I like to see in a player; the fact he doesn’t make the game all about him. Sacrafice is a great thing to see in a player and Flacco put himself out in I think two running play during this game to get the max yardage he could get. Some of the best games ever played by a QB if you look at the QBs stats alone you would have thought they had a bad game…
by Asmodeus1971 on Jan 13, 2010 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
The x-factor is
that while Flacco calls the plays they radio into him, what he does after the ball is hiked is on him, not the coaches. Coaches coach and players play. Execution wins games, not playcalling. If those so-called stupid plays called worked as they were drawn up, no one would ever complain about the call. We give way too much credit or blame on the coaches, as it should be on the players to just do it!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 13, 2010 9:56 AM EST up reply actions
Who would have thought he would actually do something right for a change?
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I found it quite eerie
That Clayton made that leaping on almost the exact same spot he dropped it a few months ago.
Don't give up, don't ever give up. - Jim Valvano
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Jan 11, 2010 4:00 PM EST up reply actions
leaping catch
Don't give up, don't ever give up. - Jim Valvano
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Jan 11, 2010 4:00 PM EST up reply actions
He shall be called Frogman.....
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
Feed never made it to the booths.
So unless the Ravens wanted to challenge the play blind, all the while the Pats are racing to hike the ball, the Ravens are shit out of luck. The big question is how far will a home team push the whole home field advantage in reference to questionable “technical issues” until the league has to stand in and enforce something.
Had the Pats come back and won this game, I think this would have definitely resulted in some sort of league policy on video feeds.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Jan 11, 2010 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
I realize that....
the Ravens have stated that there wasn’t a delay, (my previous post should have read “If the feed…”). I was attempting to point out that for a league that is so controlling that it regularly fines plays about their socks, I am just surprise that they don’t have independent league technicians controlling the feed to the coaching booths.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Jan 11, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
Technical diffuculties my butt
We just didn’t want to risk a time-out because we though we might actually need it later
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Almost perfect.
This was almost the perfect game for the Ravens. It wasn’t perfect but definitely good enough to put a whoopin on the pats. Only thing I can criticize ( I wouldnt even call it criticizing, just highlighting of mistakes) is Joe Flaccos throws, I guess hes hurt a little bit but he threw a floater to Heap that was intercepted, overthrew Clayton, and almost overthrew Clayton again, kudos to Mark for leaping and snaggin the ball for 17 yards. The only good throw I think was the strike to Mason on 3rd & 2. Another highlight is the non-challenged punt, the guy clearly didn’t have possession evidenced by how he didnt even tuck in the ball and then it came out after he hit the ground. Harbaugh said in press-conference that they didnt have any video at the time so he didnt have any information so I guess I cant knock him for that, but gotta make sure we have the video the next time, the guys upstairs need to get that TiVo up and running. Cam had great playcalling this game, the deep throw on 3rd & 2 (dont quote me on that, but it was 3rd and short), was a great call after running it all game, I just dont like when we do it on our first or second drive when the run is working for us. Other then that it was a great day and Im proud of the Ravens for fighting this season and not giving up like some of us fans (me included), you know Ray Lewis is special when he can bring thousands of fans back together and lift up the fans, team, city of baltimore, and state of Maryland…enjoy this win people this week, and lets go slay another monster in Indianapolis.
by ShaneOmacDaddy on Jan 11, 2010 12:44 PM EST reply actions
Everyone remember Harbaugh not challenging the punt that NE recovered?
Well a source of mine from the pressbox emailed me this morning and told me that there were “malfunctions” with the video in the room right when the play occurred. They also did not show it on the jumbo-tron. Some home field advantage they tried to give them yesterday.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Probably not
It was just a coincidence I guess. But a close friend of my family who works with the Ravens in the press box told me yesterday that the videos cut out around the time of that play.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Really?
Remember ’07?
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
No video malfunction according to Peter King
Re the Ravens’ failure to challenge a punting play in the second quarter at New England: A major gaffe by the Ravens. On the New England punt, the ball hit Baltimore’s Tom Zbikowski in the back and was recovered by Patriot Kyle Arrington as he slid out of bounds. The rules for possession call for Arrington to maintain possession as he falls to the ground, and every replay showed the ball coming dislodged as Arrington slid.
I spoke with Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, who told me the coaches upstairs are responsible for telling him whether to throw his challenge flag (most teams handle it this way) and they never saw the replay we saw at home. "Our coaches upstairs told me they saw the punt hit Zibby a couple of times on replay but they never saw enough to alert me to make a challenge,‘’ Harbaugh said. "I’m disappointed, but in the heat of battle, sometimes that happens.’’
Keep the faith!
still...
where were the guys near the play to come tell Harbaugh he didn’t have possession? The timeout to be lost from challenging certainly meant nothing in the first half. Granted they would have lost a challenge opportunity which would have been used on McGahee’s goal-line rush, (which did break the plane, no matter though). But since it didn’t get overturned anyway, the use of the challenge on the punt play would have been used more effectively anyway.
by wild.twins.ravens.win on Jan 11, 2010 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
The original comment insinuated that the Patriots caused a malfunction
An unsubstantiated claim.
Keep the faith!
Maybe the sideline judge and the on-field umpire could have made the right call
Afterall, isn’t that what they’re paid to do? You know, officiate the game? One of them had to have been in position to make the correct (re: obvious) call! What a bunch of crap in zebra stripes that group was…
Harbaugh screwed up by having idiots in the booth again this year. 3 times he has misses huge calls when the replays are obvious. not buying his lame excuse.
by raven on Jan 12, 2010 8:58 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
As far as the refs and players on the field
You have to think they were seeing it real time at real speed, we were seeing it on video with pause, multiple angels of view and slow motion so yes it was obvious; not so obvious though when you are looking down on a player and seeing his back not the ball under him… As far as in the booth, somebody clearly dropped the ball, hopefully that will be dealt with.
by Asmodeus1971 on Jan 13, 2010 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
Your Ravens sure hit the Patriots hard Sunday
and exposed a lot of holes. I’m hoping the brass uses it as a chance to clean house a bit, get rid of the soft riff-raff and draft well in April.
Congrats on the win and on staying alive. The Colts won’t roll over quite so easy, but it was certainly a close regular season game and it could go either way.
Keep the faith!
Colts will rape us
Rape us harder than Rufflesburger did to McNaulty. Man, I hate playing Manning. He can make guys with the last name Santi dominate your defense.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
STFU!
They haven’t played a meaningful game all out for a month now. They will be off and we are playing our best ball of the season.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 11, 2010 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, you know it's bad whn Santa claus attacks you
Because Peyton Manning told him to.
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
No excuse for Harbs
Especially when everyone knows that if the home team doesn’t show a play on the video board, it is ALWAYS because it will not help them to show it to the visitors (us).
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 11, 2010 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
Peter King goes out on a limb
“Rice continued to prove he belongs in the discussion when you’re talking about the top 10 backs in the game.”
Wow, Ray belongs in the discussion of the top 10. Good insight there.
Lol
So he just got in the top 10? I can’t name 5 backs better than Rice this season.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Let's see....
MJD (perhaps), AP (not lately), Chris Johnson (uhh,…yes), DeAngelo Williams (arguably),…Frank Gore (ummm, no), Thomas Jones (nope), Cedric Benson (ha!), LT/Sproles (Rice is one for the price of both).
So Rice is indeed in the top five and even the top three (Johnson, MJD), as AP has just not delivered the last half of the season plus the fumblitis issues.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 11, 2010 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
I agree completely
But just wait until philidelphia’s new running back breaks out. He will be one of the best in the game.
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Congratulations on the victory, Ravens Nation.
It was a solid beat down. Good luck going forward.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jan 11, 2010 1:30 PM EST reply actions
Thanks and
hope you’re still saying the same thing this time next week….and the week after,…..and two weeks after that! Oh darn, our guys will just have to miss the Pro Bowl!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 11, 2010 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
DONT FIELD PUNT
Okay, we are up 24. The sun is in our returners eyes. The sun had bothered NE the whole 1st quarter. The only way NE gets back in the game is ST’s and turnovers. The sun was setting quickly and would be a non-factor within minutes. That muffed punt return should never of been attempted. Everyone should have pulled forward and let it bounce. The negatives outweighed the positives there. NE could not move the ball at all. Bad call on Harbs here…and his red flag screw ups that go back to Pitt. (Mason’s huge TD that never was). Someone in the booth for the Ravens has to have a TV to watch. Get a battery powered one so it can’t be messed with. Anything. So much money, time and effort in these games and Harbaugh lets the dumbest things screw us up. Wake up man.
If we lost the game
that punt no-challenge and the obvious 2 pt. conversion tat was good would be a huge problem with me. Learn, Harbs, learn!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 12, 2010 10:40 AM EST up reply actions
Time to beat down the ponys
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
The pun in your title and the opening of your article...
Is pretty bad. However, I will forgive you this once for the majestic tarring and feathering of Brady and the Pats your team delivered yesterday. It gave me warm fuzzies. I don’t think the “Indy professional football team” is going to lay down quite so easily, though.
Prepare to meet thy Beatdown!
by peytonsurdaddy on Jan 11, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
im not expecting an easy game
But u won the last one 17 to 15 so its not gonna be easy for y’all either. Should be close again
"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden
by jackmca on Jan 11, 2010 4:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ravens win 24 to 21
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 6:44 PM EST up reply actions
Keep dreaming...
You’ll be lucky to see 13 points.
by peytonsurdaddy on Jan 11, 2010 8:48 PM EST up reply actions
I was thinking the same thing Bruce
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Lets make it a trend...
Hopefully Mattison and company can figure out Indy’s O line the way they did with NE. Looking at Indy’s overall performance numbers, other than passing they are pretty pedestrian. The X factor over there is obviously Peyton, and while he is formidable, he’s also human. Get him rattled and he’ll make mistakes just like anyone else would. I am loving the resurgence of the smashmouth Ravens ball. Come on Ravens, make it hurt soooo Good!
There is no way Peyton is human
He can complete apass to a dog
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Lateral Movement
I believe the key to getting to Manning is to blitz him up the middle. Unlike R-berger or even Brady (but not the Brady that played last weekend), Manning does not do well when he has to move laterally. The motorcycle jockey up in P-burgh loves to move around, eat a sandwich, shake off a 150 pound safety coming on a blitz, “date” a chick and extend the play to complete a pass. Manning cannot do that. I think if we can force Manning to move sideways, he will make mistakes and good things will happen for us.
Payton’s greatness is his vision, quick release (I think only Marino had a quicker release) and decision making (again probably only behind Montana or Unitas). If we can get him moving sideways, out of the pocket, hit him a few times, even if we do not sack him, we might get some picks and I like our chances.
Invasion???!!
HEY REXX CAN WE INVADE STAMPEDE NOW? CAN WE ? CAN WE?
Relax
Invade all you want, but let’s keep it clean this week.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
What the hell?
I thought you were a damn moderater. Damnit, I am tired of you shitting all over the damn rules. Damn………
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 6:43 PM EST up reply actions
The call on the punt....
If the way they explained is correct and the player has to maintain control of the ball all the way through the play then the question is not why didn’t Harbaugh challenge. The question is how in the hell did the refs miss the call. The ball was clearly loose on the ground and the refs from the other side of the field should have seen it. Why didn’t the refs huddle and discuss it? This is supposed to be an all star ref crew? This is the same as a player catching a touchdown hitting the ground, the ball rolling free and the ref stares at it and calls it a touchdown. There should be a league investigation into how a ref that incompetent is allowed to call an NFL game. Nobody is asking how a ref can blow that obvious of a call. The league needs to scrap the challenge system and put an official upstairs to get every possible call right.
by Monkey C on Jan 11, 2010 3:14 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I don't like that idea....
I am really getting sick of how college football seems to review every goddamn play. The shear number of calls that get booth reviews even when there is no controversy is frustrating to no end. I much prefer the pro system.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Jan 11, 2010 8:00 PM EST up reply actions
maybe review each play? stop the game after every play and make sure no one was holding etc… games would be 8 hours. every play would be a celebration!
After losing your time outs
make each wrong challenge a personal foul 15 yard penalty. See how many challenges go away.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 12, 2010 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
But in college...
a challenge isn’t initiated by the coaches at all, its completely handled above. Because of this, every freaking play that is remotely close (often times there isn’t a question at all), its challenged and the game slows down too much. College uses replay far too much.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Jan 12, 2010 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
Getting the play right
should be the goal, not artificially speeding up the game by ignoring mistakes.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 13, 2010 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
I think a legit argument can be made that right now, Ray Rice is the best back in the playoffs.
Don't give up, don't ever give up. - Jim Valvano
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Jan 11, 2010 4:01 PM EST reply actions
For as good as Rice, McGahee gets the call inside the 5. If Rice is to becompared with the other greats he needs to prove he can bang in the rock.
Deon Sanders said he reminded him of Emmit Smith
Wow….. What an amazing compliment, from one of Emmit’s own teammates. I think we got ourselves an HOF player on our team.
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 6:47 PM EST up reply actions
F*ck the bull-$hit
I believe Baltimore goes into indy and get off to a hot start just like we did in New England. I’m Expecting Joe Flacco to come out throwing on our 1st drive. Play action bomb baby! After the way we ran it on N.E., Indy will be expecting the same thing. I also expect them to load up the box with 8-9 defenders, so look for alot of draws and play action to free up the run. Ravens win 24-17.
FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
We need to carry the momentum from Sunday into Saturday if we want any chance of winning.
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 11, 2010 10:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
We might have to do it without Flacco altogether. I would run the 3 backs until the Colts are beat down and tired. I would not let Flacco throw anything in the flats. Either he drills a Mason short slant OR he goes very deep. I don’t trust his timing on down and outs. They are INTS waiting to happen. Always have been.
This game will have to be won with running, great blocking, D-pressure, and Ed Reed INTs. I am positive the Colts receivers will not run away from us. Our DB’s have plenty of speed. With Ed Reed backing that up it will be another long day for Manning. I do worry about Landry and his slower reactions. He has become more of a LB than a S or DB. He can hit but he gets beat. Zibby has more speed.
Landry is tearing it up though
5 ints so far this season including the playoffs. I think Landry is better right now.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
He isn't playing sacared anymore
In the begining of the season, he looked as if he didn’t wanna hit anyone or get into collisions. Now, he is playing like a pro bowler. Hope he keeps it going
FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Landry a good pass catcher and tackler
but covering one-on-one he is pretty poor from what I’ve seen all season.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 12, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
Isn't that why he's a strong safety?
He should’nt have to cover one on one that often, he should be more concerned with zone and coming up to blow up running backs and wr’s after catching short passes.
They say the empty can rattles the most...
Not totally true
The SS covers theextra reciver, such as the TE or slot guy if we are not in nickel or dime packages, as well if teams go four or five wide, whcih the Pats and Colts do. Ed is the “free” safety" which gives him the luxury of sitting backand going wherever he wants to blow up plays.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 12, 2010 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
…Momentum is huge
I just wish Harbaugh was smart enough to pull some players when the game was decided. Heap, Rice, Flacco and others should not of been in the game with 5+ left. Heap got hurt.
Anyone see Rice's interview at Baltimoresun.com?
Pretty good quote in there. When asked what he was thinking during his 83 yard run: “If I get to the one I’m comin out. So I better get into the end zone. I’m just bein honest!” He had the reporters in the room laughin their asses off.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-fox-rice0111-video,0,1321262.tivideo
Man I love that kid...
True story, I was down in the city for some fan event thing prior to the start of this season. Me and my buddy were walking between bars, plastered. It was crowded as hell and next thing I know, I lost him. So for about ten minutes, I’m walking around the only place that isn’t completely packed with people. Turns out that as when I was outside trying to get from place to place, I had held a door open for this short guy and his friends as they were heading into what seemed like the only bar not overflowing with people. As they had the right idea to get away from the crowd, I figured "I’m following these cats. Turns out, I had opened the door for ray rice and accidentally joined his posse, allowing me past security to a bar that they had emptied out for the most part for a couple of the players. I was still completely clueless about all of this until I left about 20 minutes later and found my buddy in the crowd and he explained that I was towering over Ray Rice and was following and talking to him and his friends. Now in my defense, I was utterly plastered and could have talked to my mother that night and not realized it. The Ray and his friends were really nice and I literally had no clue that he was…well an NFL star. Completely down to earth.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Jan 12, 2010 3:27 PM EST up reply actions
I think he said “you know” over 50 times in that interview.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
It was you know the chance you know of a lifetime
you know? And you know, we played strong and you know, we won, you know?
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 12, 2010 7:06 PM EST up reply actions
Where have you been all year
It’s always been a purchasable jersey
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 12, 2010 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
Raymell “Ray” Rice (born January 22, 1987 in New Rochelle, New York) is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers.
Don’t see so much about Dirty Jersey in there.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Jets
ugg. i hope the ravens beat the colts and the jets beat the chargers so the ravens D pounds Sanchez
Nah,
I want to go to SD for the AFC Championship Game. Warmer.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jan 13, 2010 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
We will destroy them again
The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.
by Zachary Beard on Jan 13, 2010 8:56 PM EST up reply actions
i love how everybody is saying that the ravens only won cuz the pats just plain sucked, meaning they gave the game away to the ravens. there was even a show in nfl network where they talked about what went wrong with the pats lol. before the game, people were like “oh its brady and BB and its at foxborough…theres no chance theyre gonna lose”, and then when they lost they said that they are not the same old pats…..the ravens won cuz they were the better team. they were very disciplined and they have talent….theres also an article by Clark Judge from cbs sports RIGHT AFTER the pats game and he talked about how awful flacco was. the ravens just DESTROYED the mighty pats and u cant wait for like a day before bashing flacco. let us enjoy our victory for a few hours….i hate the MEDIA.
oh well, its always been like that for us ravens fans. we won the game and thats all that matters. i just really had to get it out of my system :P
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