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Joe Flacco completed four out of ten passes for 34 yards and the Ravens turned the ball over twice. You can’t win playoff games with stats like that especially against the Patriots in Foxboro. But the Ravens did and they did it with a punishing running game and a nasty defense. It was total domination. It’s clear to me that the Patriots are a different team when they’re not cheating.
On the first play from scrimmage, Ray Rice broke loose for an 83-yard touchdown run that set the tone for the game. By the end of the first quarter it was 24-0. The Ravens kept their foot on the Patriots throats and never let up. They played fast and physical on both sides of the ball. The running game was unstoppable with Rice, McGahee and McClain combining for 27 points on 52 attempts. The defense was relentless forcing Tom Brady into four turnovers and the offense capitalized scoring 20 points off those mistakes.
I have to give credit where credit is due; Frank Walker – you played a very solid, physical game. Let’s be frank, Frank – until today’s game, you’ve been paid to do card tricks on the team plane.
Hey Ray, pick a card.
Most importantly Frank and the team played smart, committing only three penalties for 15 yards. It’s good to have Ed Reed back doing what Ed does. And how about Ray Lewis? In his words, “You can’t hurt this! I’m a machine, jerk!” He is a machine. The guy is absolutely phenomenal. Ray led the team with 13 tackles and had a huge sack on Brady.
The Ravens know what lies ahead of them and so do the fans. This is the postseason – one bad game and it’s over. In the words of Apollo Creed, “There is no tomorrow!”
Any fighter wearing this outfit deserves to die in the ring.
Next up, our old team. If the same Ravens show up in Indy it could be a long day for Peyton Manning and the Colts. If not, it could be a long offseason.
Kuh Kaw!
- Ryan Sickler, Ravens Blogger
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THE NFL HAS AN IMAGE TO UPHOLD. SO DO I.
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and the Consistent. Where do I start with this Baltimore Ravens team? Let’s get the Consistent out of the way now. Frank Walker – penalty in the 1st quarter. I gotta give it to you, Frank. You are consistently terrible. They say no one person can cost a team the playoffs. Whoever said that never saw you play. Why don’t you go work for the State? You can hold the STOP/SLOW sign at road construction sites. You seem to excel at holding things.
Frank Walker would make the Pro Bowl of holding
Let’s take care of the Ugly next. Jamarcus Russell – you should be ashamed of your diamond earrings. There are more dollars in your ears than Cambodia. It’s absurd. You should be fined 25% of their cost because you’ve done absolutely nothing to earn the money you used to pay for them…except help us get to the playoffs. Thank you but I’m still adding you to my growing Dash of Downs list.
That diamond looks great on you in this economy
On to the Bad. Hiram Eugene – Willis McGahee bitch-slapped you for six. It wasn’t a stiff arm, it wasn’t a shove. It was an old-school, Ike Turner bitch-slap for a touchdown. You stood in the way of the playoffs Hiram and the Ravens were going to the playoffs. It had to be you, Hiram. It had to be you.
Accessorizing was always a strong point for Ike
Which leads me to the Good and right back to Willis McGahee. I think McGahee’s a beast. The dude has 14 touchdowns this year and had one called back last week against Pittsburgh. He ran hard against Oakland and looked fresh. He has all the touchdowns and none of the beating which is nice to see after he ended last season on a stretcher. I’d love for him stay in Baltimore but I think he’s gonna get a bigger payday somewhere else. Maybe New England. Todd Heap – great catch. Caught it, lost it and caught it again. Falling backwards. Great concentration. Cam Cameron – loved the play calling out of our endzone. Flacco to Heap and McGahee to the endzone. Two plays, 95 yards. The Ravens are back in the playoffs. A new season begins.
Next up, the Patriots. Welker’s gone and Brady’s beat up. Do what you gotta do Tom just don’t throw it anywhere near #41.
Kuh Kaw!
- Ryan Sickler, Ravens Blogger
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11 penalties for 113 yards, two touchdowns called back and Derrick Mason dropped an easy one in the endzone. The Ravens cost themselves 21 points, the game and possibly the playoffs. Keep this in mind – the Steelers rushed for a total of 48 yards. The Ravens’ penalties more than doubled that. You’re welcome Pittsburgh.
The Ravens are by far the most undisciplined team in the league and it’s always the same guys committing the same dumb penalties. Frank Walker waited until the last play to get flagged or we might have been able to score again. Frank Walker isn’t the only guy to blame in this game (see Suggs, Washington and Mason) but week after week I write about Walker doing something stupid. Why is he still on the team? We could play better with 10 guys. Frank Walker reminds me of a former undisciplined Baltimore athlete – Alan Wiggins. Remember when Alan played for the Baltimore Orioles? Alan Wiggins was so undisciplined that he was picked off with the “hidden ball trick” – twice in the same season!
Cocaine makes me focus. RIP, Alan.
John Harbaugh needs to quit preaching about “Mighty Men”. How about disciplined men? How about guys that don’t block in the back or hold or take cheap shots out of bounds that cost the team points, games and possibly the playoffs? The truth is the Ravens are a good team but the difference between good and great is leadership, focus and discipline and the Ravens have none of it. They better get it together or their season is over on Sunday.
Next up, the Raiders. They say if we win, we’re in but it won’t be easy. Here we go again…again.
Kuh Kaw!
- Ryan Sickler, Ravens Blogger
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THE NFL HAS AN IMAGE TO UPHOLD. SO DO I.
Let’s be honest, the Ravens’ shot at making the playoffs is slowly slipping away from them. Week after week, penalty after penalty (see Frank Walker) the feeling I get in my stomach isn’t a good one. I imagine it’s the same feeling the candidates running against Marion Barry had when they slowly saw their shot at being Mayor of D.C. slip away from them – and I’m talking about the election Barry won AFTER he got busted smoking crack.
Guess which hand I have the crack in?
This team should be 9-3. At worst, 8-4. But they aren’t. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. The Packers beat them up and down. Even after a terrible start, the Birds pulled within three points and then let the game slip away. They were out played, out coached and out classed (again, see Frank Walker).
There are a lot of problems with this Ravens team. With the exception of Derrick Mason, we have average receivers. We have a young offensive line that plays poorly at crucial times. A running game that was dominant last season has become one -dimensional. The D line is aging and our special teams unit is below average. And let’s not forget that we have the worst cornerbacks in the NFL. How in the hell did we get three on the field at the same time?
Bottom line? (Thank you Ray Lewis). We’re still in this – mathematically. Our chances of making the playoffs aren’t great but they’re better than Tiger Woods’ chances of not having multiple STD’s.
Bitches love them some Tiger!
Next up, Detroit.
Kuh Kaw!
- Ryan Sickler, Ravens Blogger
CLICK HERE FOR MY OFFICIAL NFL RAVENS BLOG
MY UNEDITED BLOG IS BELOW.
THE NFL HAS AN IMAGE TO UPHOLD. SO DO I.
Simply put, this was ugly. From the game to the barking fans, there was nothing pretty about this one.
The Browns name seems to fit now more than ever. They’re certainly leaving their “mark” all over the NFL this season. Week by week, city by city, they are stinking it up. I’ve seen better special-ed football teams. And the faith I had in Ravens kicker, Steve Hauschka is gone. Just like the faith I used to have that Whitney Houston would get her shit together.
I’m every woman…on crack
My sources tell me that Hauschka kicked his way off the Ravens last night and most likely out of the NFL. He missed another easy field goal and had an extra point blocked. I’m not gonna sit here and pity a kicker but the irony in the NFL is, well, ironic. Brady Quinn still has his job today after a miserable season. Derek Anderson still has his job after a miserable season. And, for some reason, Frank Walker still has his job after a miserable career. It doesn’t work that way for a kicker. You make em? You stay. You miss em? You’re giving back-alley hand jobs for a nickel.
Hauschka doesn’t have the mental toughness to kick out of this rut. He’s replacing one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history on a team that was a game away from the Super Bowl last year. Three points is huge in the NFL. Hell, three inches is huge in the NFL, which is the same thing I tell my girlfriend when we’re gettin busy but she ain’t buyin it. Just ask the Patriots what a difference a few inches makes after Belichick’s bonehead call cost them a game.
The one bright spot was Lardarius Webb. The dude was all over the field on defense and special teams. Ozzie may have found another gem. The verdict is still out on Lardarius and the Ravens and the next two weeks are gonna show us who this team really is.
Next up, Indianapolis. If Peyton Manning doesn’t rip our secondary apart, I have a weird feeling Matt Stover is gonna trot out on the field at the end of the game and attempt to do what he did for us all those years.
Kuh Kaw!
- Ryan Sickler, Ravens Blogger
CLICK HERE FOR MY OFFICIAL NFL RAVENS BLOG
MY UNEDITED BLOG IS BELOW.
THE NFL HAS AN IMAGE TO UPHOLD. SO DO I.
44 yards out. For the win. In a dome. Perfect conditions. Wide left. I have two words for you. MATT STOVER. Now, I don’t want to put ALL the blame on Steve Hauschka because, frankly, Frank Walker deserves MOST of it. I have faith that Steve Hauschka will make game winning kicks. But Frank Walker? Frank Walker sucks! Plain and simple. I don’t even know how to be nice about it. If he were a little kid in a Pop Warner game, I wouldn’t know how to sugar coat it (honesty is a character flaw). I’d have to tell the kid, “Hey. I know you’re hurting…and you should be. You stunk it up out there today.” Walker should’ve been benched after the Bengals game for his sorry play. And he should be cut after his “performance” against the Minnesota Vikings. Frank Walker couldn’t cover a book! Right now, I could put on a Ravens uniform, in the shape I’m in, and do the same job Frank Walker does. How do you cause pass interference the way he does and STILL let the guy catch the damn ball?? I’m telling you. I can do that. I can hold jerseys and ride a guy’s back like a pack mule. And I don’t make the money Frank Walker makes. If you were paying me to make mistakes, like we pay Frank, I’d be rich!
My sources tell me this guy is still available. Cut Frank Walker, sign this dude and let him do his thang!
*Quick thought: This guy is smiling and having a good time in his adidas. What’s wrong with the lady in pink? Look at her mug. You can’t be happy for him? I hate haters.
3-3 is not where I’d thought we’d be going into the bye week. The pass defense is a mess! Any QB in the league can pass on us. Kyle Boller would look like Johnny Unitas against this defense.
I’m working on being positive (It’s a new year’s resolution that’s still hanging around) and I have faith in the Birds. Our offense looks great and I know John Harbaugh, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will get this thing figured out. It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. I just wish Frank Walker would run his ass off of our team.
Next up, the undefeated Broncos. Stay positive, Ryan…
Kuh Kaw!
- Ryan Sickler, Ravens Blogger
