Ravens Remain Penalty-Free In Victory

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 16, 2012 10:01 AM EST

The Baltimore Ravens picked a fine time for their only penalty-free game of the season in their 20-13 win over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the 2012 NFL playoffs. Zero transgressions that normally draw the ire of the guys in the zebra stripes means that there were no positive plays that were called back on all three sides of the ball.

Offensively, defensively and on Special Teams, the Ravens did not commit a foul, at least not in the eyes of the guys whose opinions matter the most. The Texans only drew three penalties themselves, but for the only time in 2011-12, Baltimore played a perfect game within the rules and under the watchful eyes of the men who are entrusted in representing the league's rule books.

Many times throughout the season, the Ravens have had big plays negated by the throwing of the yellow flags. For example, in the second game with the Pittsburgh Steelers, RB Ray Rice took the game's opening handoff for a long TD run, only to have a "phantom" holding penalty by rookie WR Torrey Smith negate it and bring it back, taking a sure seven points off the board.

Not seeing RT Michael Oher have a false start, QB Joe Flacco unable to get the play off in time, or one of our defensive backs "accidentally" make contact beyond the permitted five yards, was an unusual sight, and should not be taken for granted knowing all too well what penalties have done to many a game in the Ravens season.

The players and coaching staff deserves a ton of congratulations for maintaining the poise of playing in such a pressure-packed environment that come along with a post season berth and one should know without a doubt that along with the rest of the factors that went into the Ravens victory, the lack of a single penalty was a huge contribution to this win.

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If you look up the stats we've given up an ungodly amount of penalty yards.

The referee team was definitely laxer on penalties than most, and for a gritty defensive game in the playoffs that is exactly what we wanted. Ignore a few minor holding or personal foul calls and let the game work itself out.

by Roa on Jan 16, 2012 10:11 AM EST reply actions

This was one of the bright spots of the game and hopefully can continue onto next week although I’m sure we will get some going against Mrs. Brady.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 16, 2012 10:14 AM EST reply actions

Having no penalties is quite amazing. I agree! But also not registering a single sack is difficult to believe as well…

Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend.
--Jules Renard (1864 - 1910)

by IndridCold on Jan 16, 2012 10:20 AM EST via Android app reply actions

We only rushed four pretty much all game

and they kept 5-6 or more into block every time, so we dropped 7 into coverage. Besides, pressure leads to INTs while sacks never do.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 16, 2012 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

You’re absolutely right. I just love the excitement of a sack! laugh…Oh well. Whatever it takes huh?

Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend.
--Jules Renard (1864 - 1910)

by IndridCold on Jan 16, 2012 10:29 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

…and that will be extremely important against Brady.

Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend.
--Jules Renard (1864 - 1910)

by IndridCold on Jan 16, 2012 10:33 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

I agree

I was also amazed that we did not get any sacks. I was even mored amazed with the outstanding play by the secondary getting 3 ints with very little pressure on the QB.

This could be our year!

RavensBlogger.com

Follow @RavensBlogger

by RavensBlogger on Jan 16, 2012 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

first play we should blitz Pollard since I’m sure Brady loves him so much lol

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 16, 2012 10:38 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

haha well played

daytime commentator. night time ninja.

by El.Dude on Jan 16, 2012 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

zero penalties is a thing of beauty

I loved seeing Anquan with all the intensity and not being penalized for it. He probably wont get away with that in NE because well you cant look at those guys the wrong way ha.

My favorite part of yeasterday (besides WINNING) was that the Texans did a really good job at shutting down Ray Rice, they planned for it and executed well. But unlink the 09 Colts playoff loss and many others, we were able to keep our composure and pull out the win even with our best player being stopped.

Scott Hines

by shines on Jan 16, 2012 11:31 AM EST reply actions

I can’t see the Patriots running the ball as effectively as the Texans did yesterday…I just don’t envision that happening.

Be modest! It is the kind of pride least likely to offend.
--Jules Renard (1864 - 1910)

by IndridCold on Jan 16, 2012 11:58 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

Congratulations on the win yesterday. The Texans are a pretty damn good team.

You should have an easier time Offensivly next week but your D will have its hands full. I will be rooting for you guys to keep the AFCN in SB contention. Again, good game and best of luck Sunday. I hope Boldin can cool off a bit. I know he was being manhandled all day but his temper could have cost you. As the opponents get tougher the margin of error gets thinner and thinner. From here on out everything needs to click without a hitch. As I have said before, if I didn’t have this terminal Bengal fandom afliction I would probably be a Ravens fan – but alas, you can’t be both – not in this division.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 16, 2012 12:16 PM EST reply actions

Thanks JJ

and it was interesting to see how good a team in another division can be if they “model” themselves after an AFC North team (well, three out of four of us) in having a great defense and a solid run game.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 16, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

You are very kind, but frankly to include our Defense to either Baltomore's or Pittsburgh's is kind of a stretch

They play well for 40 – 40 minutes or so but unfortunately the game is 60 minutes long. We have done better than i expected but in the end it was the same ole Bengals, as Ray Lewis always says. Everyone on CJ is frothing at the mouth in the face of a strong draft potential but I have been a Bengals fan far too long to make any sort of positive assumptions. It seems like when their shoulders are up against it we continue to fold like a cheap lawn chair. Well, maybe I will feel better down the road, but then I have been saying that to myself for a long time as well.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 16, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

No penalties is quite amazing

Normally it seems refs toss yellow just based on Ravens tough physical reputation

I commend that crew of referees and want to see them do more games

Very nice win against a very good Texans team

My best memory is Ray carrying Ed off the field at the end – that sums up Ravens team spirit

Ray also had nice things to say about Foster and the Texans and priorities in general after the game – great example of good sportsmanship

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Jan 16, 2012 1:00 PM EST reply actions

Ray and Arian Foster are fans of each other

they signed their game jerseys and exchanged them after the game.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 16, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

do anyone else miss........

Willis mag. He complimented ray rice better then ricky williams

by vazfynst1 on Jan 16, 2012 2:58 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Willis has ball security issues

and costs a lot more than Ricky. I’d take Ricky right now.

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by organizedchaos52 on Jan 16, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

After A Sample

Of 16 regular season games and the playoffs, gotta go with OC52 and Ricky. For Ricky’s role in our offense, I thought he had a decent game yesterday.

"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."

For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind

by vlad755 on Jan 16, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions