Playoff Bound & Proud of It!

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 4, 2010 10:22 AM EST

Not only did the Baltimore Ravens control their own playoff destiny but they also controlled a couple of other teams' destiny as well. The Ravens 21-13 win at the Oakland Raiders secured a Wild Card berth and effectively knocked the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the post season at the same time Regardless of what happened this season with all our frustrations, that combination tasted a s sweet as anything you could wish for.

Now as the AFC's 6th seed, the Ravens get the opportunity to exact revenge on the New England Patriots when we travel up to Foxboro for the Wild Card playoff round game on Sunday at 1pm. After all this team endured all season long, the fact that the team persevered and survived to fight another day makes me proud to have stood by this team through thick and thin, as critical as I and other Ravens fans have been along the way However, as we wrote about last week, this trip to the post season has indeed been earned while other teams can just sit on their sofas and their fans can whine and complain all they want.

A lot of things went right yesterday in the Ravens victory that saw them finish with a 9-7 record. While it certainly was not the AFC North title they were seeking, it was better than the oddsmakers had us doing, as they had the total wins for the team in Las Vegas at 8.5 and even the reliable source, Football Outsiders, had us having a disappointing season and not making the playoffs. Whether or not you want to term the season "disappointing," they are still in the playoff mix and we all saw along with the rest of the league, what this team can do once they get into the dance.

It was great to see the Ravens get back to basics, relying on the running game to support the air attack. Behaind Willis McGahee's career best 167 yards and Ray Rice's 70 yards, the Ravens rolled up their second best game total of 240 rushing yards against one of the NFL's weakest run defenses. While QB Joe Flacco's stats weren't anything to write home about, they were enough to join in the win and without the mistakes that plagued the team in so many of their disappointing losses, they can stick with any team in this league, as they have already shown. Being flagged five times for 37 yards means this team has the ability to win without giving games away with those ill-timed yellow flags being thrown all over the field at critical times. Creating turnovers and playing solid in the secondary gave our pass rush time to get to the QB and vice versa.

While in no way am I saying that the Raiders can come close to mimicking the New England Patriots, this was a good game to show we belonged in the dance as the Raiders had won games there over tough playoff teams this season (Cincinnati, Philadelphia), plus won on the road in Pittsburgh. Now we can go up to Foxboro and prove that early season close contest was not a fluke and not make the same mistakes. If so, this team has every chance to pull the upset and you can be sure the Patriots were not rooting for the tough and physical Ravens to be their opponents after limping out of Houston yesterday losing, injured and already battered.

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Congrats

Good luck in the playoffs gang. Looking forward to our great rivalry picking up again next year.

Bad Andy, Good Pizza.

by count'em_six on Jan 4, 2010 10:42 AM EST reply actions

Going to my first away playoff game Sunday… god we better win or I’ll kill myself.

by ATXRaven on Jan 4, 2010 10:59 AM EST reply actions

Sweet

Rock the purple!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 4, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

Flacco still worries me

You know every week I keep hoping to see Joe Flacco take over as a leader of this team and I am just not seeing it. I am not saying he should be replaced but COME ON JOE! Let’s see you anticipate a rush. Let’s see you roll out and make a toss. I am concerned that he is less effective than ever right now as we go into the play-offs. What were there 4 throws to Wide Receivers in the entire game?? 100 yards passing???? Yes this has me worried especially since we have nothing but the best teams to play now.

Way to go Willis! Fresh legs are a big plus at this time of year. I am sure he is also showing off for prospective teams for next year as he really should be starting somewhere. I like having him on the team but he can’t be happy as a back up.

Can’’t we stop any 15 yard passes??? Seemed they just could pass at will. I saw a few nice knock downs but not many. At least we pressured the QB a little. Parmele is a nice surprise on returns! Well done!

by Rayfan1 on Jan 4, 2010 11:34 AM EST reply actions

Though thankfully Cam did rely on the running game the whole day and we didn’t see 40 pass attempts by Joe for a change…. def. would not be in the playoffs if that was the case.

by ATXRaven on Jan 4, 2010 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Joe Robot needs some neck oil so he can see the obvious blitzes and check out of them OR signle rice to be ready for a quick dump. I don’t think Flacco is calling anything at the line and the play sent in is the play called. Can’t compete like that when all the top QB’s are changing plays at every LB move. Come Joe get it together! The team carried your ass through the playoffs last year and now you need to pay that back!!

by raven on Jan 4, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

Once Joe gets the play

I think he is locked onto his #1 read, or else he dumps it down to Rice. Nothing else gets read, seen or considered. I actually think both the team and Flacco might be better without Rice. Don’t get me wrong, but think about it. If we had McGahee all season, he’d still have gotten 1000 yards and Flacco couldn’t rely on Rice so much and would be forced to spread the ball around. Sort of feel the same way if Mason had retired, as Joe might have looked elsewhere now and then.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 8:59 AM EST up reply actions

Again, in the Red Zone

I saw him with wide open space, but still throw the ball when nobody was open. He’s fast enough that he could have gotten the TD himself on a run, but he was too chicken to try for it.

by Psychropod on Jan 5, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

also

if he had just stopped and lofted it a bit earlier and softer, he would have had a wde open Td as well.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Heavenly Father,

please keep our dear QB from getting spooked. If he can just keep his composure, we may actually beat the Patriots in New England. Amen and thank you.

Your dear and humble servant,

Psychro

by Psychropod on Jan 5, 2010 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

Congrats Ravens fans

on making the dance this year. I am sure you are happy as hell the team you love the most will not be there to ruin your chances this year, not it is up the the officiating crew – lol. (jk)

i was at the Texans and Patriot’s game yesterday and i was pretty impressed with the Pat’s. Not sure what Belli Cheat was thinking pulling Brady twice and putting him back in the lineup. Welker’s knee injury was a gruesome as i’ve seen in person or on tv. Their #11 who replaced him is no slouch, he played well in Welker’s absence earlier in the year and yesterday down the stretch.

Anyway, good luck in NE, tough place to play.

Prediction: Pats 31 – Ravens 20

See you next year when we rekindle the rivalry.

"Coach Mike Tomlin promised that his Steelers would unleash hell, not look like it." Ed Bouchette PPG

by WARDANE33 on Jan 4, 2010 12:00 PM EST reply actions

Call me crazy....

but I think we have a really good shot at sneaking out of New England with a victory. Call it a “gut feeling”, more than the usual optimism. 2010=The Year of the Raven

by StuckInUtah on Jan 4, 2010 1:47 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Hey, less penalties and

poor mistakes (opening kickoff fumble, Flacco Red Zone INT) and Clayton’s drop unnecessary because we kick the FG on 4th down instead of going for it and we win.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

Flacco isn’t still on the travel team is he?
As stated above, our 3rd and longs on D need work. they end up looking at each other as receivers simply run to an open. Hmmm, think Clayton can run to an open spot.

Good season. Best we could have hoped for. Now we need to slip by the injured Pats and hope they don’t blitz Joe Robot and stack the box. Which they will.

No PF’s Sunday!! Wow. Foxworth is officially the worst tackler in footbal. He never hits anyone but just swings on them and almost flys off. He makes Carr look like a bruiser. Anyways, it comes down to Flacco vs. Brady because there will be 8 in the box Sunday. We have 2 downs to get it right because anything over 3rd and 4 will have Flacco flabergasted and eating turf. Cam just needs to avoid 3rd downs all together. It might be a good down to throw a deep INT in place of a punt.

by raven on Jan 4, 2010 1:58 PM EST reply actions

We have proven that 8 in the box

doesn’t stop us and only open bigger holes to daylight one the RB gets through the first line of defense. Do that NE and you will be burned by the run and Flacco’s arm. Some say they will do what Oakland and GB did and that was take Mason out of the game, but they don’t have that type of CB to do that to D-Mase.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 9:02 AM EST up reply actions

Okay some positive for once. McGahee just upped his free agent value. McClaine made a huge catch. Yanda was a brawler. Cousins didn’t play. The O line is totally a run line. But, it doesn’t help that Flacco backs out of his protections and doesn’t step up in the pocket to buy more time. He instead runs like a Big Bird with correctional shoes. Birk had his best game.

Harbaugh pulled Walker after his penalty. Poor Walker, he gets a lecture after a bogus call. Harbaugh was actually very active getting after guys when they screwed up. He must read my blogs. Cam called a good game and grew some nads when backed up to his end zone hitting Heap with a 20 yarder. The tight pass to Clayton on 3rd and 6 was sweet as I expected him to run and punt.

I am totally stoked for the game Sunday but some of that excitement is squashed by Flaccos pocket sense.

by raven on Jan 4, 2010 2:06 PM EST reply actions

True dat about the o-line is a run line!

They gouge open holes for running game but seem to collapse way too early on passing downs, don’t they?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

Raven, I told you so!

O ye of little faith. Both of have a lot of work to do the meet in our hoped for game but I am still hopeful. Good luck against the Pats. I think you can take them and don’t put too much stock in our game last night I think we can take the Jets at home in a game that matters if Chad can play close to 100%. We always play our best when people think we can’t do it. Our fuel is emotion and we will give everyone the best we got the rest of the way. I only hope it is enough to make some noise. Ravens Bengals AFC championship game in Cincy. I kinda like the sound of that. Tell you what – you root for us and I will root for you.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 4, 2010 2:10 PM EST reply actions

JJ, they way you looked last Sunday night..

…plus the lackluster finish in December would make me think you guys could easily be one and done Saturday afternoon.

Losing to the Jets is one thing but getting whitewashed like that even with starters sitting gives them enough confidence to go there and win. I hate the Jets but will be picking them over you, although rooting for the Bengals.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

I don't know this to be true but.....

It is possible that we were just setting them up. I expect them to come in here expecting an easy victory. We saw just about everything and they saw nothing. Do you really think that that game was representative of our team? You guys played us. You should know better. Will we win Saturday? Hell I don’t know and neither does anyone else. I have said many times here that I don’t think we are good enough to go deep and I still don’t. We are still a year away from real contention IMO. But we are division champs for a reason the same way you guys and the Steelers were. We will see what we will see on Saturday. This Bengals team CAN beat or lose to anyone. It all depends on how a pretty young team responds. So far we have responded well to adversity. I kinda like our chances this weekend. I like yours too.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 5, 2010 9:57 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah but...

37-0? Ouch, goes a long way to giving hope to a team and a closer game might have made the difference. At the same time, I’m just sore that NY pretty much made the playoffs by two teams laying down for them the last two weeks in games they never would have won both, much less one, if they payed for real!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

x2.

The Bengals got a pretty big ass-whupping Sunday night. I find it hard to believe any team wants to lose that badly going into the playoffs.

And I was also a little mad about it, because I totally thought the Bengals were gonna kill the Jets. That messed up our seeding — ALTHOUGH I can’t think of a better time to play the Patriots, after their embarrassing loss to Houston and very painful injury to Wes Welker…

by Psychropod on Jan 5, 2010 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

Psych I too think it got a bit out of hand.

When you take a fall you need to be careful that it is a TKO or decision not a full Knockout. We paid a big price but I hope we learned what we needed to learn, hid what we needed to hide and set them up to be a bit over confident. The Jets are a good team and any body can win any game in the playoffs. It is all about how you execute on that given day. I will say that the Jets backed into the playoff for a reason. They lost a lot of games. I won’t say I am confident in the win but I do expect to give them a very good game and come out on top.

What do you guys think about your prospects with the Pats?

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 5, 2010 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

The problem I have , JJ

is that the Bengals have not played well as of late and to go into the post season as average as they have played and then lay down or just lay an egg is okay for a team like the Colts, but certainly not the Bengals.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

I have to agree on this one.

The Bengals’ MO should be to just play to win, period. Personally, I’d rather have the Broncos in the playoffs than the Jets, seeing as Ryan has some of our people and would love to prove a point against us. Of course, the only way he can do that is by getting to the AFC Championship game, but even so…

by Psychropod on Jan 5, 2010 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

and we all know the Broncos will fold

but they already did their annual December swoon! Pathetic!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 5, 2010 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

No argument from me here Bruce.

To misuse and over rated analogy. The Bengals are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get. It can be very good or very bad not only game to game but series to series within a game. Carson will go 3 and out 3-4 times and then drive the team 98 yards completing 9 of 9 passes to 4-5 different receivers on the next one. Totally inept to unstoppable in the same game. Hell I can’t figure it out. All I know is going from 4-11-1 to 10-6, sweeping the division and taking a division title has been fun and it just may not be over yet. The Cherry on top of the cake is that the Steelers fans are on their board whining and crying at home while their team watches the playoffs from their couch for once. Win or lose it is all good the rest of the way. Good luck against the Pats. Kick their butts. Unless we get the dream game between us for the AFC title I will be rooting for you guys.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 6, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

BungleJohn in the house

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jan 6, 2010 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

I think our chances are very good,

if we keep the ball on the ground and minimize the turnovers and penalties. Penalties will be important in this game, because you know Brady will be squealing for them every time.

by Psychropod on Jan 5, 2010 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

Yea Brady is a real diva. Good - but a diva just the same.

As for me I hope you wrinkle his skirt.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 6, 2010 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

No way man! You guys thumped us twice. We lost 3 in a row to the Steelers last year. To do that again would pretty much stink! BUT, if i ain’t us, I would really love to see you crush the Packers in the SB.

by raven on Jan 4, 2010 2:18 PM EST reply actions