Bleacher Report - Articles by Dan McGrain

Ravens Must Prove Themselves Again

Dan McGrain — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:49:02 -0400

[Apologies for the long break… they don’t call it the off-season for nothing.]

As the 2009 regular season approaches, Ravens fans have high hopes for what will follow the team’s impressive and surprising 2008 campaign. While a level of confidence and a few fantasies may be warranted, perhaps even needed, there comes a time when the bigger picture has to be brought into focus.

As national polls and predictions begin to surface, Ravens fans are likely to feel disrespected with a bit more frequency.

But what constitutes success following the unexpected glory of last season? Is it even possible for this team to duplicate last season’s success?

Position by position, set by set, the Ravens have plenty of questions to answer this season. There is no single area on this team where an objective eye can say plainly and with certainty that, “this will work better than it did last season.”

Rather, every change the front office made this season was aimed at filling voids, and the success of those moves can only be judged on the field.

Fear not, however. The need to prove something is perhaps an athlete’s greatest motivation. A fan should worry much more about the team that is comfortable with its stature than the team still trying to silence its critics.

(more…)

Loss of Scott Forces Ravens to Rewrite Defensive Playbook

Dan McGrain — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:45:59 -0400

Change is supposed to be a good thing, but it may be hard to convince fans in Baltimore that a minor overhaul of a storied and respected defense will end up helping their football team.

Despite a familiar chorus of criticism directed at the offense, most of the Ravens’ moves this offseason have involved the defense. Unfortunately, not all of the changes were entirely voluntary.

Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan has found a new home, this time in New York as a head coach. Under Ryan, the Ravens defense never finished worse than sixth in the league in yards allowed, and they also consistently ranked near the top of the league in rushing yards allowed as well as turnovers.

And it is not just Ryan who’s gone. He took with him star linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard, who filled in for the injured Dawan Landry for nearly the entire 2008 season.

Top it all off with the fact that three-time Pro Bowl selection Chris McAlister, the team’s lockdown cornerback for the last nine seasons, is gone as well.

For the Ravens, the combination of coordinator and player changes will lead to some pretty glaring differences on the field. Given the team’s depth and breadth of defensive talent, however, you can be sure that Baltimore will again be ranked among the league’s best defenses.

The most significant change resulting from this transition will come in response to the loss of Scott.

In Rex Ryan’s signature “organized chaos” schemes, the Ravens typically ran out of a 3-4 set, with occasional dips into a 46. The ability to shift between the two sets was made easy by the Ravens' depth of talent at defensive end and linebacker; in particular, Pro Bowler Terrell Suggs could line up as an end to anchor a 46, allowing Bart Scott to become the team’s strong side linebacker, or he could stay on his feet and work as an outsider linebacker in a 3-4.

The loss of Scott, however, makes the slide to a 3-4 more difficult for the Ravens, who are now lacking an experienced inside linebacker to play alongside Ray Lewis. Combine this difficulty with the introduction of new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, and the entire defensive playbook is in for a rewrite.

Mattison is an old-fashioned kind of defensive coach. His primary focus is on the line of scrimmage, where his defensive line sets the tone. Mattison’s primary goal is to stop the run, which should fit in well with a Ravens’ unit that prides itself on shutting opposing running backs down.

Early indications are that Mattison is going to shift the Ravens to a 4-3 base defense, with a solid linebacking corps of Lewis, Suggs, and Jarrett Johnson behind a bulky defensive line. Suggs will still see lots of time on the line of scrimmage, though, especially with the Ravens' depth at linebacker and relative lack of pass rushers up front.

The Ravens have a lot of youthful talent at 'backer, including the likes of Antwaan Barnes, Jameel McClain, and Tavares Gooden, not to mention rookie end/linebacker Paul Kruger.

On the defensive line, however, the Ravens have just one established pass-rushing threat in the form of veteran Trevor Pryce. The addition of Kruger will certainly ease some of Pryce’s load, but Suggs will certainly have his chances as well.

Given the depth of the Ravens linebacking corps, a shift from a 3-4 may seem unnecessary. But amidst all the youth, only Gooden has experience playing inside linebacker, and never in a 3-4. The unit would rather have Ray Lewis patrolling the middle of the field with a defensive front eating blockers than risk putting an inexperienced linebacker in his way.

To further help Mattison and this adjustment, the team has used the off months to focus on acquiring speed in the secondary. With the addition of Dominique Foxworth and Chris Carr, the team now has one of the fastest defensive backfields in the league; Fabian Washington and Foxworth may well be the game’s two fastest corners.

The hope is that faster corners can play closer to the line and hold their coverage longer, giving the restructured front seven a little more time to find the quarterback. The formula is simple: Better coverage downfield plus an improved pass rush should lead to more pressure, even after losing Bart.

While the names and faces may be changing slightly, and the schemes in the playbook may be changing a lot, fans should still expect great things from the Ravens defense in 2009. The unit’s goals remain the same: stop the rush, pressure the pass, and force big turnovers.

Ravens Coaches Fit Newsome's Mold

Dan McGrain — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:35:26 -0400

It was a season ago that the Baltimore Ravens dumped nearly their entire coaching staff, ousting Brian Billick and bringing in young gun John Harbaugh. Harbaugh might have been green when it came to leading an NFL team, but he proved his worth last season in taking the Ravens to an AFC Championship Game appearance. This season, the Ravens have said goodbye to the final holdover from the Billick era; Rex Ryan is now in charge of his own team in New York. But take a look at the 2009 Ravens coaching staff, study them a bit, and there is something oddly familiar. We've seen these guys before. That's because Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens general manager, has a pretty good mold for what he wants his coaching staff to look like. He finds coaches that fit his mold, just like players, and just drops them in. If that sounds a little too similar to an old-fashioned sci-fi movie, I apologize. But the system works. So I present to you your 2009 Ravens coaching staff, led by The Mastermind himself, Ozzie Newsome.

Begin Slideshow

Bar Set High For Ravens in 2009

Dan McGrain — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:00:45 -0400

The 2008 Baltimore Ravens made a run last year that exceeded all expectations. And that may be putting it mildly.

Behind a rookie head coach and rookie quarterback, the Ravens surprised the league with an 11-5 season and a January march that was just 10 points shy of the Super Bowl. After such a promising performance, the debate over expectations for 2009 began as soon as the final game ended.

The problem with expectations is that anything less than last year’s success feels like selling the home team short. Anything better sounds a bit too peppy—especially when better means reaching the Super Bowl.

To be fair to the Ravens, a realistic goal for 2009 should be to make the playoffs again, preferably without needing a win in Week 17 to secure the birth. Beyond that, it’s all gravy.

And fans certainly have a number of reasons to believe such a goal is within reach.

Start with experience. Joe Flacco is now a year older and a year wiser. His improvement from Week One to Week 17 last season was exceptional. If he can pick up where he left off, the Ravens offense should continue to improve as well.

Additionally, head coach John Harbaugh now has a year of experience as well. Players and assistant coaches alike should all be on board. No more transition period.

The same goes for offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. His progress with the offense last year was touted by fans and analysts. But it was clear for the first half of the season he was still getting used to the tools he had at his disposal—from Flacco and Troy Smith to Mark Clayton and Willis McGahee.

If all goes well, there is no reason the Ravens offense cannot take a big step forward and become a serious part of why the team is winning games.

But the Ravens have more than just experience playing into their fortunes in 2009. At first glance, the Ravens schedule this season appears easier than in 2008.

While the Ravens were still unlucky enough to draw perennial contenders Indianapolis and New England, their divisional draws are much friendlier. Two powerhouse divisions—the AFC South and NFC North—are out, replaced by a less intimidating foes, the AFC West and NFC North.

Add division rivals Cincinnati and Cleveland to the mix and the Ravens will face six teams (in a total of eight games) who finished with fewer than six wins in 2008.

Such numbers certainly make the playoffs seem well within the realm of possibility—perhaps even probability—for this team. If the Ravens can win the easy games, the fight for the playoffs is halfway won.

Schedules and experience can be misleading, however. Consider what opponents must have been thinking when they saw the Dolphins on their schedule last season. Miami jumped from one win in 2007 to 11 in 2008.

For all the turmoil in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Oakland, and Kansas City last year, at least one of those teams is likely to make an unexpected jump in the standings in 2009. The Ravens can only hope such a jump does not come at their expense.

And as for all the optimism about things to come offensively, fans can toss in their sleep all summer pondering the changes and challenges that will face the Ravens defense this season.

Not only is longtime defensive guru Rex Ryan gone, but the team has parted ways with a number of important pieces from seasons past.

Ryan took a pair of fan favorites with him to New York in linebacker Bart Scott and defensive back Jim Leonhard. The team also parted ways with three-time Pro Bowler Chris McAlister, who spent 10 seasons in Baltimore.

The Ravens and most fans are confident that this defense can continue to dominate as it has in years past. It can be hard to gauge just how much of an impact such losses can have until the team is on the field. Especially for the Ravens, whose offense is still not yet ready to win games on its own, maintaining defensive supremacy is paramount.

In the AFC last season, 10 wins alone was not enough to make the playoffs. The Ravens made it with 11. There is no room for error if this team hopes to find its way to the postseason again.

While fans may be clamoring for this team to take the next step, a more realistic and reachable goal is to have this team find the playoffs once again. From there, anything can happen.

As Offseason Ends, Ravens Still Have Holes To Fill

Dan McGrain — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:50:07 -0400

Coming off a surprising and superb 2008 campaign, expectations for the Baltimore Ravens are high as the 2009 season approaches. But the offseason has not been kind to General Manager Ozzie Newsome and company, who have parted ways with a number of big names. Newsome did his best to fill the team’s biggest holes, but even wizards fall short sometimes.

The good news for Ravens fans is that the core of the team is still intact. For a group that found its way to the AFC Championship, that is not an insignificant statement. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed still lead a strong defensive unit and Joe Flacco and Derrick Mason anchor the offense—hardly a bad place to start on either front.

Unfortunately, the weaknesses threatening a repeat of last year’s playoff run will sound all too familiar. In training camp, the Ravens two weakest positions will line-up face-to-face on every down.

Offensively, the Ravens are still searching for a difference-maker at wide receiver. The team’s struggle to find a franchise quarterback has been well-documented, but after an impressive rookie season, most fans believe they have found their guy in Joe Flacco. Now Flacco just needs someone to throw to.

Veteran Derrick Mason is arguably the best possession receiver in the game today. And tight end Todd Heap is still considered by many to be one of the best tight ends in the game. Yet neither player is capable of shaking a defender and changing a defense’s schemes.

A brief look at last season’s game tapes show just how desperate the Ravens are for a receiver. Many of Flacco’s mistakes were not caused by defensive pressure or a heavy pass rush, but rather by a lack of options downfield. Too often, Flacco had plenty of time, but no one open.

There were plenty of options at receiver this off-season, but the Ravens have yet to make a move for a wide out. They passed on veteran Pro Bowlers Marvin Harrison and Torry Holt and did not take a single receiver on draft day. Rumors continue to swirl about the possibility of a trade for disgruntled Cardinals star Anquan Boldin, but most Ravens fans are not holding their breath.

Newsome, the team’s long-time general manager, says the team does not need an upgrade at receiver. He and the coaching staff are confident that with Joe Flacco, Willis McGahee and a more experienced line, the offense is ready to take off.

They will also point to a number of young receivers drafted in previous years ready to make a difference—from the well-known Demetrius Williams and Mark Clayton, to the lesser known Justin Harper and Marcus Smith.

Newsome may be right. His instincts on players are rarely wrong. But receiver is one position where he has yet to find the answer.

Defense will continue to be the Ravens strong suit, but the unit is far from perfect. The team struggled last year in pass defense, especially on the corners, and Newsome attacked the problem head-on in the off-season.

To be more accurate, Newsome began to deal with the problems in the secondary in 2008. He brought in speedy veterans Fabian Washington and Frank Walker, both who possess impressive physical skills but less than impressive resumes.

This offseason, Newsome continued the overhaul. Aging Pro Bowler Chris McAlister is gone after a season of injuries and apparent run-ins with the coaching staff. In his place, the team acquired Dominique Foxworth and Chris Carr from the Falcons and Titans respectively. Both moves continue Newsome’s shift towards speed in the secondary.

It is still unclear whether these moves will solve the Ravens issues at corner. Newsome’s hope is obviously that quicker corners will allow the Ravens to have better success against pass-oriented teams like the Indianapolis Colts, who have dominated the Ravens in years past. But trading in proven talent for underperforming athletes has drawn serious criticism.

The Ravens are banking on the hope that faster defensive backs will result in better coverage at the start of a play, buying a stellar front-seven more time to get pressure on the quarterback. They won’t really know what they have, though, until they get to training camp in July.

Bonus Question!

The Ravens certainly have many more weaknesses than the two mentioned above. But the one that has to be most intriguing for this club in particular is in the kicking game. The Ravens allowed Matt Stover, the only holdover from the team’s days in Cleveland, to enter free agency.

So far, Stover has not signed and the Ravens have yet to fill the void. Steve Hauschka, who handled kick-offs for most of last season, and Graham Gano, and undrafted rookie out of Florida State, will compete for the job. But to put it simply, both are unknown variables.

While Stover struggled with long kicks and kick-offs in previous years, his accuracy on kicks under 45 yards was nearly unmatched. Around Baltimore you will find as many Stover jerseys as you will Ray Lewis’ and Joe Flacco’s.

You can be sure that the starting kicker will be a hot-topic all season long and that whoever gets the job, an early season miss will bring on the choir of doubters around the city.

A Dozen Questions With Terrell Suggs

Dan McGrain — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:12:45 -0400

He's been the motor of the Ravens pass rush since he arrived in the first round of the 2003 draft out of Arizona State. He is Terrell Suggs and here are 12 questions you would have to ask if you caught him for an interview.

First, the fluff:

1. Of the trio of Ravens linebackers that flocked together for the past few years (Suggs, Ray Lewis and Bart Scott), who hits the hardest?

2. You scored two touchdowns last season, the first two of your NFL career. How many more are to come? Does it feel better to run into the endzone or drop a quarterback?

3. What's your favorite Ray Lewis intimidation tactic? What do you do on the line of scrimmage to get in the heads of the offensive lineman?

4. What's the most memorable game of your career? For the team and for yourself.

5. What's it like to know that you have Ed Reed and Ray Lewis at your back on every play? How do they change your game?

And then, the interrogation:

6. You've been a Raven for seven seasons and, thanks to the franchise tag for a second straight year, it will soon be eight. What is the hold-up on getting the long-term deal done?

7. Last year, you fought to have your franchise tag designation as a defensive end instead of a linebacker. Was that about money (a one year difference of $800,000) or do you truly consider yourself an end?

8. John Harbaugh has quickly gained a reputation as a no-nonsense coach, but his approach also appeared to wear thin on some veterans who said he does not show them the respect they deserve. What's your take on Coach Harbaugh's style? What advice did you offer him in his first year on the job?

9. The Ravens said goodbye to a number of major defensive pieces from last year - Chris McAlister and Bart Scott were lifetime Ravens, but also Jim Leonhard and Marques Douglas. Do you think the young guys the team has brought in are ready to fill the void?

10. The Ravens defense has been ferocious for years, but every year we see pass rushers miss big tackles at big moments. Ben Roethlisberger, especially, seems to side-step the big hits with ease. Does this team have a problem with trying too hard to get the "big hit" instead of just making the tackle?

11. The Ravens defense is consistently ranked near the top of the league, but the offense has certainly seen its struggles. How hard has it been to play your game, knowing that the offense may not be able to get it done?

12. Rex Ryan has gone to the Jets and he's taken more than one defensive star with him. The Ravens promoted Greg Mattison to Defensive Coordinator. Can we still expect to see "organized chaos" on every down? Is Mattison up for the job?

AFC Championship: Gone in 15 Yards

Dan McGrain — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:13:31 -0500

Let’s start the way we have to...What a season. What a freaking season. We might not be happy to say it today, but Ravens fans cannot walk away from the run these Ravens made with any regrets.

But that is plenty of sappiness. Real football talk to follow.

The Ravens were simply one-upped tonight. They were in this game until the bitter end—six minutes to play, even—and it is hard to complain about a game that stayed so close for so long. A game that was winnable in so many ways until that six minute mark.

The Blame Game

Darren Stone: 40 Percent. Steep, I know, but deserving. Stone cost the Ravens upwards of 30 yards of field position on the most crucial drive of the game. Instead of starting near their own 45 yard line, the Ravens started all the way at their own 14. And instead of needing to game between 20 and 30 yards to get into field goal range, they suddenly needed more than 50 yards.

It changed everything. All because Stone wanted to get a lick in that didn’t faze his man anyway. When the Ravens hit the field, Flacco and the entire unit were pressured to pass and get big yardage. And that pressure is a big part of why Troy Polamalu wound up in the end zone just minutes later.

Wide Receiving Corps: 25 Percent. The blame here is for a few reasons. First and foremost, for their inability to get open. Flacco was rushed often, sure. But just as often Joe Cool had mountains of time in the pocket and no one to throw to. Good teams, good receivers, can use time to get open.

The Ravens were not able to do that. Part of it should be a credit to the Steelers pass defense. Part of it falls on the Ravens receivers.

But in addition to their inability to get open, the receivers deserve some blame for just being lazy. There were multiple times—multiple—where Ravens runners were taken down by defenders that should have been blocked.

Hines Ward may be hated, but he does his job as a blocker. To Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason: You need to run, and hit your defender. Don’t just assume he is going to let you block him.

Cam Cameron: 25 Percent. Cam has done wonderful things for the Ravens this season. His development of Joe Flacco is just the tip of the iceberg. His play calling in recent games has slipped, however. The Ravens were running plays that took far too long to develop—the kind of plays that never stood a chance against a solid Pittsburgh defense.

Additionally, the run game was effective but too often abandoned. Le’Ron McClain was not busting out as he has in the past, but both Willis McGahee (hoping he is okay) and Ray Rice were having success getting around the corner on the Steelers.

The Ravens needed to use that more. What was most disappointing about Cameron’s play-calling, though, was the timing. The Ravens wasted too many time outs and too much of their game clock waiting for Cam to find his perfect play.

How are Flacco or the offensive line supposed to make adjustments to the defensive scheme with just moments to snap the ball? They simply cannot.

Joe Flacco: 10 Percent. Joe Cool was still Joe Cool. But the game finally caught up to him. His passes actually had more zip than normal, especially downfield, but his accuracy was off. The Steelers were able to confuse Flacco and force misreads and mistakes. Ultimately, Joe made several mistakes that seriously cost the Ravens.

Next up...Mythbusting...

Mythbusting

Myth: Willie Parker would change the game.

Actuality: The Ravens' defense handled Fast Willie and he was never a factor in the game. In fact, as predicted earlier, the Steelers’ desire to put the ball in Parker’s hands may have actually cost them some points.

Sure, they needed to at least pretend like a running team, but using Parker on swings and play-fakes would have been far more dangerous to a battered Ravens defense.

Myth: Flacco’s inexperience would be trounced by Roethlisberger’s veteran guile.

Actuality: I would not say it was Flacco’s inexperience that cost him the game or many plays. The Ravens offense had plenty of issues as a unit and Flacco hardly deserves the blame. Flacco had this team in a position to win with just minutes left.

Roethlisberger, for all his veteran guile, took some costly sacks. Just like Flacco. Neither quarterback won or lost the game for their team.

Myth: You can beat the Ravens deep.

Actuality: Ok, so the Steelers almost got the Ravens here thanks to that guy with the weird name (I know, I know...it’s Lemony Snicket or something). But much like in previous games, the Ravens were hurt most by mid-range passes and missed tackles.

Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington were both benefactors of poor corner coverage on broken plays. But throwing deep was rarely an option for the Steelers and that is a huge part of what kept the Ravens in the game.

nderneath, an offense actually has to execute to score. Over the top, anything can happen - mostly for the Ravens good.

Next up...Gameballs...

Gameballs

Offense: Willis McGahee, RB. Willis had a nice comeback day. While his running was fine (nothing special, but fine) and his scores kept things close, it was his blocking that had me on my feet. I have been on McGahee’s back all season for lack of effort, but today it was all on the field.

Defense: Terrell Suggs, LB. As previously mentioned, Suggs had a great day. A pair of sacks and a ton of effort.

Special Teams: Jim Leonhard. Leonhard’s big punt return set-up the Ravens first scoring drive and changed the game. He dropped an earlier punt but recovered nicely on the play and through the rest of the game.

Other Thoughts

The Ravens' defense was hardly on its best game, but who can blame them. By the middle of the second quarter, the Ravens' defensive secondary was ready to start Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason as necessary.
In the trenches, the Ravens defensive line had their typical success in pressuring Big Ben and flushing him from the pocket. At the same time, they had their typical issue wrapping the massive quarterback up. A number of Ravens missed big tackles. As the Rex Ryan era ends in Baltimore (the move to New York seems imminent now), we might just see a defense more focused on making the play, not creating a highlight.
Want to talk about heart? Let’s talk Terrell Suggs. Two sacks, both meaningful, while playing with a harnessed right arm. Wrapping up instead of going for the big hit paid off. It took Suggs a quarter to figure out how to move and play with the harness, but he did it.
And the Emmy goes to… Mitch Berger. He was on the ground before Tori Smith even hit him. He also deserves kudos for his monster tackle on Jim Leonhard (cut back, Jimmy!). But it was his massive flop that cost the Ravens three points. Walt Anderson and crew did a great job all game, until that moment. At the worst, I expected a five-yard running into the kicker. I was wrong.
Speaking of officials: Thank you for staying out of the way. With the exception of the above roughing call above, they did a fine job. The only other call that almost bothered me was the holding call on Jared Gaither, negating a nice gain. Was it holding? Sure. Had they been calling holding all game? No. Meanwhile, the Santonio Holmes touchdown review was technically correct—but might not have been in the spirit of the rule. That’s a replay world, though.
Sam Koch had a bit of an off day. It took Koch about a half to figure out what he was doing. In the second half, the Ravens were winning the field position battle in part thanks to a rejuvenated offense, but also thanks to Koch’s kicks.

Back later in the week with grades, end of season awards, flash-forward, and overall reviews. Stay tuned.

Eagles-Cardinals: Officials Rearing Heads

Dan McGrain — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:32:17 -0500

A quick take on the kickoff controversy.

First and foremost, when it comes to rules and on-field rulings: never trust Joe Buck.

In case you missed it, it was a bit of a wacky play. The Cardinals, following a score to go up 21-6, pooched the kickoff toward the sideline. The ball appears to hit in bounds at approximately the 28-yard line, bounce and hit an Eagles blocker whose foot is out of bounds, and then stay in bounds to be recovered by the Cardinals.

Now, the officials got it wrong. But unfortunately for Arizona fans, the ball should not have gone to the Cardinals anyway.

Official Walt Anderson, after a lengthy conversation with his crew and later with both coaches, announced that the ball was ruled out of bounds after touching an Eagles player and that, by rule the ball belonged to the Eagles at that mark.

He also said that such a ruling was unable to be challenged after Arizona head coach Ken Wisenhunt dropped his little red hanky.

By the way, if Anderson’s announced version of the events is correct, his ruling is correct. Unfortunately, that’s not how it happened on the field.

Additionally, a flag was on the field that was never mentioned by Anderson. That is likely because Anderson’s ruling is that the player touched the ball before it went out of bounds.

Looking at the replays, the officials got it wrong.

First, the ball does not touch the Eagles blocker until after the Eagles player establishes himself out of bounds. At the point of contact, the ball is then out of bounds and the ball is dead. Additionally, by rule, the kick has gone out of bounds and a flag should be thrown for illegal procedure on the kickoff.

Ravens fans should remember this rule from several years ago. A Matt Stover kick appeared to be headed for the end zone when an opposing player stood out of bounds and reached in to touch the kick, thus establishing the kick as out of bounds.

So, what’s the point? Well, apologies to the Cardinals, but its actually the Eagles that got the raw deal. The Eagles should have been given the ball 12 yards further up field.

Walt Anderson did get one thing right: once the ball is established as out of bounds, whether its by going out itself or by touching a player, the play is dead. There is no way the ball should have been awarded to the Cardinals.

…Get it?

Baltimore Ravens: Third Time Through, Still No Respect

Dan McGrain — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:37:35 -0500

David Steele wrote a column today saying that the Ravens may have finally lost their underdog status, the status that has defined this team for its entire existence. But less than 24 hours after learning that the Ravens division rival Pittsburgh Steelers will be the foe in the AFC Championship, I have yet to see the tide change much for the Ravens in the national media—or at least with ESPN.

In John Clayton’s early analysis of the matchup, the focus is almost entirely on the Steelers. His questions are fair; the answers are loaded. According to Clayton, the Steelers have more to prove, the Steelers have the difference maker in Willie Parker, the Steelers have the edge in the series—and we’re not just talking records—and his bottom line: You have to put your money on the Steelers.

In his early analysis, ESPN’s AFC North blogger James Walker is heavy on Steelers talk as well. Walker has done a fabulous job all season and it’s nice of both teams to repay him with such success in the postseason. But still, the talk is leaning slightly to the Steelers.

But perhaps most disrespectful to the Ravens has to be the analysis in last night’s SportsCenter Special Report with analysts Merril Hoge and Cris Carter. Cris Carter who has gone a pathetic 1-7 in his postseason picks so far this year (his only correct pick was the Steelers last night).

Steele might be right. The tide might be turning for the Ravens. But the early analysis is all Steelers and its getting to be frustrating. I don’t want or need or expect the Ravens to be favored. I don’t even want the experts to be picking the Ravens: I like my inferiority complex just the size it is.

But it would be nice if, based on their comments, we could walk away with at least the notion that some of these guys have watched the Ravens play more than once.

Let me poke a few holes while I have the chance.

From John Clayton: Willie Parker will be the difference maker.

Willie Parker looked great last night—against the Chargers. Those Chargers of the league’s 25th-ranked overall defense and 11th-ranked rush defense. Cris Carter adds that the Ravens struggled against Chris Johnson in Tennessee, so watch out for Willie Parker.

But Parker isn’t quite as fast as Johnson, and the Steelers line isn’t quite a nimble as the Titans.

If we really want to get into the nitty-gritty of it all, let me bring it up this way: In six career games against the Ravens, Parker has averaged just 43 yards a game. In his last four games against the Ravens, Parker has not even topped 43 yards a game.

In fact, his only games with more than 50 yards against the Ravens were both in 2005, when he was splitting carries with soon to be Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis.

Also from Clayton: The Steelers won’t be surprised by anything the Ravens do on Sunday.

These I hate. Are we supposed to expect that the Ravens will be surprised by anything the Steelers do, though? The teams are familiar with each other. Beyond familiar. How Clayton can so easily report that the Steelers are therefore at an advantage is beyond me.

If anything, I would say that the familiarity favors Joe Flacco more than anyone else. Even a Steelers linebacker, in Clayton’s article, is quoted as saying that Flacco gets better every game, every week.

And from Walker: Roethlisberger made the important plays in the early season match-ups, Flacco didn’t.

Perhaps Walker should review his own blog, or even Clayton’s article. Flacco, for all his early mistakes, engineered a beautiful drive against the Steelers in the first matchup to tie the game with just minutes remaining.

Remember that? It was eerily similar, in fact, to Big Ben’s drive against the Ravens in Week 15. Head-to-head, I’d say that Flacco and Ben have both had their drives.

Ben certainly has the edge in many ways in these match-ups, but to say that Flacco hasn’t been able to make the plays when they count is somewhat absurd. The whole Ravens offense failed five weeks ago, not just Flacco.

I won’t even bother with Cris Carter.

Ravens-Titans: Rope-a-Dope?

Dan McGrain — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:16:51 -0500

Waking up this morning, I still am not quite sure what I saw yesterday afternoon. Well, I know what I saw, but I still have not been able to fully comprehend it. I suppose all that matters is that the Ravens have at least one more game on their schedule for now.

In shuffling through the piles on on-line jargon about the Ravens-Titans game, however, one thing kept coming up. The repeated mentions of how these defensive battles are so much like boxing matches—how many times have you heard “knock-down, drag-out fight of a football game” in the last 24 hours?

So it got me thinking. If last night’s game were a boxing match, which would it be? The answer is all too obvious: Foreman and Ali’s classic "Rumble in the Jungle," where Ali unveils his classic Rope-a-Dope scheme.

It doesn’t fit perfectly, I know, but it still fits.
For the entire game, the Ravens were on the ropes—and I mean that as literally as possible when talking football. Tennessee’s underneath passing game had the Ravens defense on the field for more than 10 minutes in the second quarter alone. Before his injury, Chris Johnson was cutting through the Ravens like Walter Payton through anybody.

And in terms of an offense for the Ravens, we can say simply, "what offense?" The Ravens running game was practically non-existent and the passing game was hardly better.

The Ravens were toast. They were out-planned, out-played, and out-manned. As much as I hate hearing it from the big media sources as a reason the Ravens are in trouble, this is certainly one game where the Ravens' brutal 17-straight weeks of football was clearly slowing them down.

And yet, every time the Ravens looked like they were about to go down—every time it seemed like the brutal assault from the Titans was just too much to take—the Ravens would fire back. Perhaps only with a punch or two—a forced turnover or a solid punt return—but they would fire back.

Somehow in the end, the Ravens were able to stand up, put together a pair of scoring drives, and stop the Titans when it mattered most. And so the Ravens, battered and bruised, are left standing.

Beat up but not yet beat down.

In football terms, the Ravens were completely outplayed and outmatched. They were on the receiving end of a few friendly calls and a few magical plays. You won’t hear any argument about that. But that’s how football is sometimes.

The Ravens have been on the wrong side of this kind of game plenty of times in recent memory—twice this season, even. It is certainly not the kind of performance that should be flaunted.
Offensively and defensively, this team is far from perfect. We all know that. We can admit that. There is no shame in saying that. There is no shame in saying we slipped away with one. LenDale White may be right; the Titans may win that game nine times out of 10.

But if he wants to play a series, he can go play baseball.

Perfection is overrated. Just ask last year’s Patriots. Perfect all the way to the Super Bowl, only to lose in the biggest game of the year.

So much for 18-0.

Excuse the sappy romanticism and the Billick-ism, but football is as much about toughness and resiliency as it is about specific skills. And in those terms, in terms of intangibles, you will not find a team that can compete with the Ravens this season.

**Quick Bonus Thoughts**

Jim Leonhard: My postseason awards are waiting for the Ravens' season to end. Jim Leonhard continues to make a strong argument that he deserves all of them—MVP, Unsung Hero, Best New Raven—his tackling is precise, he is always around the play, his blitzing is phenomenal, and his value as a returner is unmatched. And did anyone else pick up that bit from last week’s game?

Leonhard learned the Ravens' entire defensive scheme in a week. One week. That's seven days if you're counting.

Running Game: Hard to be happy with the way it performed yesterday. Running up the gut on the Titans line clearly wasn’t working. Still not sure why the Ravens never tried to get outside with either Willis or Ray Rice, who was in on a few plays but never got a carry. I think it could have really helped the offense find its feet.

And for all that has been said (including by me), it sure is nice to have Willis McGahee on this team in a playoff run. His blocking could still use some work, though.

The Officials: With the exception of the delay-of-game call, there should be no complaining about the officials. They did a pretty solid job both ways. The Titans were called for some personal fouls, but the Ravens were called for their fair share of penalties to help the Titans.

Defensive holding may only be five yards, but it's still a first down. The Ravens gave the Titans two on their first scoring drive.

And as for the delay of game? How ironic that just last week the same thing happened with the Dolphins and Phil Simms, in all his wisdom, was able to explain that when the clock hits zero, the ref has to see it, then see the ball unsnapped—so there’s always a second or two delay.

All I can say is "phew."

The Gameplan: Weak. Defensively you could tell that even Ray did not like what the Ravens were calling in the first half. He was on the bench with Rex Ryan more than once shaking his head and clearly saying the plan wasn’t working.

By the second half, the defense had made some quality adjustments. Offensively, the gameplan was classic Cam Cameron in a big game—the same Cameron we’ve seen against every other good team this season. The Ravens almost had to overcome his game plan.

It’s not a matter of stretching the field and going deep. It’s a matter of opening the field up—find the 5, 10, or 15-yard passes, the outside runs.

Luckily, in a rematch with the Steelers or a game against a weaker San Diego unit, I think the Ravens will find their offensive footing.

NFL Week 15 Power Rankings

Dan McGrain — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:22:27 -0500

Not too much moving and shaking this week in the Power Rankings. The Giants' loss to the Eagles cost them the top spot, but nothing more. And down the rankings, it all shakes out as expected with three teams falling out of the top 10 thanks to losses—including the New York Jets, who just two weeks ago were sitting pretty in the division lead and at No. 2 in the rankings.

The newcomers are a trio of 8-5 teams, not far ahead of the 8-5 bunch unseen behind them. The Dolphins, Cardinals, and Vikings are all welcomed to the top 10 courtesy of their positions as division leaders.

For the Dolphins and Vikings, it is their first trip into the top 10 this season and with how things have been going, it may be a short stay.

Fallen Off

New York Jets (7): Losers of two straight and now stuck in a three way tied for their division lead.

Dallas Cowboys (9): Because Tony Romo still cannot win the big game.

Atlanta Falcons (10): The rule in the NFC South this year is that the home team always wins.

The top 10 are after the jump…

Rank	Team	LW	2008 Record	Ups and Downs
1	Titans	2	12-1	The Titans are right where they want to be: locked into a playoff spot, and almost locked into a bye and at least one home game in the playoffs. They could rest up and not think twice. Which may not be a bad idea with the Steelers and Colts coming to town in the coming weeks.
2	Giants	1	11-2	Bad News: Losing at home to the Eagles. Worse News: Finishing with three more games against opponents with at least eight wins. Worst News: Brandon Jacobs might be hurt. Good News: You’re already in the playoffs.
3	Steelers	4	10-3	They won precisely the way the Steelers win. It was far from pretty, but you could see it coming the whole game. The Steelers mantra should be “Keep it close… then make it crazy.”
4	Panthers	6	10-3	They destroyed the Bucs vaunted defense and never let Jeff Garcia find a rhythm. Pardon the cliché, but it was most certainly a statement game for the Panthers. But they still face three teams with winning records to end the season.
5	Colts	5	9-4	Anyone that was worried about this team after its 3-4 start never bothered to look down the road. Week 17’s matchup with the Titans will be meaningless for both teams.
6	Buccaneers	3	9-4	Unfortunately for the Bucs, they go to Atlanta next week and in the NFC South, home is sacred this season. But the Bucs still have two passable games and should finish with 11 wins.
7	Ravens	8	9-4	The offense looked a little funky (and not in a good way), but the defense looked as good as ever. This week’s battle against the Steelers will determine the division and perhaps playoff hopes for both teams.
8	Dolphins	–	8-5	They have won six out of seven, are tied for the division lead, and have the easiest of the three schedules remaining: 49ers, Chiefs, Jets.
9	Cardinals	–	8-5	Thanks to those pesky 49ers, it still is not official. But the Cardinals are just about a lock for the league’s third playoff spot already. Finishing against Seattle in three weeks should be a cakewalk.
10	Vikings	–	8-5	The winners of three straight, the Vikes have a one-game lead for first in the NFC North. Trouble is, they face three teams at 8-5 or better (including the 11-2 Giants) in their final three games.

Ravens-Redskins: Grading the Ravens

Dan McGrain — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:42:52 -0500

Quarterback: B-

Joe Flacco had trouble finding open receivers and hitting targets against a zone defense, but he still kept his cool and controlled the game. He made only one major mistake, which certainly hurt, but otherwise he was fine. His completion percentage was down, but many of his incompletions were hitting receivers in the hands, so how much blame can we really assign?

Running backs: B

It is a tale of three backs. Willis McGahee deserves a D for lack of concentration and rust leading to bad numbers and a pair of fumbles. Ray Rice played well when he had the opportunity, but injury kept him from being a real factor. Le’Ron McClain’s efforts deserve an A. He ran for a touchdown and helped to eat up more than seven minutes of clock in the final quarter.

Wide Receivers: C

Rarely open, rarely able to catch. A few moments saved this unit from complete failure, including TE Todd Heap’s big fourth down catch and Derrick Mason’s touchdown reception. For most of the game, the Ravens receivers were invisible in the cloud of Redskins DBs.

Offensive Line: B+

The Ravens offensive line did a fine job of keeping pressure off Flacco for most of the game and certainly dominated the running game. They had a little bit of help, though—namely an extra tackle in on numerous plays and heavy use of unbalanced formations. Regardless, the unit redeemed themselves following last week’s weak performance.

Defensive Line: A+

The Ravens defensive line owned the game. Nothing was more satisfying than seeing Terrell Suggs sack Jason Campbell just moments after Chris Samuel left the field due to injury and was replaced by a back-up. At one moment, Suggs even pointed to the new guy while looking at the Ravens bench, appearing to say “This guy is blocking me?” Similar to last week, Jason Campbell had trouble getting any passes off without interference and the ‘Skins running game had no where to go.

Linebackers: A

Ray Lewis totaled 13 tackles, Jarrett Johnson had a solid day, Bart Scott had one of his best games of the season, and Terrell Suggs was on fire (as previously mentioned). Somehow, though, the linebacking unit is not starring in this show the way it once did…

Defensive Backs: A

The Ravens secondary handled Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El without blinking. Once the weakest piece of the Ravens defense, the secondary has turned a corner in recent weeks. Ed Reed is playing at his best, but his success is due in large part to the solid play of Samari Rolle and Fabian Washington on the corners. With few exceptions, the Ravens had the passing game completely locked down.

Special Teams: C+

Matt Stover hit his kicks. Steve Hauschka was just okay—hindered a bit by the wind. Sam Koch had some very solid punts. Penalties and poor choices on kick and punt returns, however, continue to be the Ravens MO on special teams.

Coaching: B

Offensively, the Ravens should have been able to do more. The Redskins have a solid defense, but there were plenty of opportunities and the Ravens continued to miss on them. Low marks for not fixing the special teams yet, too. But otherwise? High marks for winning a night game for the first time in years and for keeping this defense as focused as ever.

Ravens 24, Redskins 10: Quick Thoughts

Dan McGrain — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:24:59 -0500

Let’s dig right in…

First, no need to talk around it: Ed Reed deserves serious consideration for NFL player of the year. We’ve heard the talk about Albert Haynesworth since Week One, and more recently we have heard about James Harrison and Joey Porter. But with two interceptions tonight, a forced and recovered fumble, and another touchdown, Reed has planted himself firmly in the hunt for the award. His five interceptions put him in second in the league; his three defensive touchdowns tie him for first. He single-handedly changes games and makes offenses rethink everything they are doing.
Reed is the single-most feared defensive player in the league. Hands down. No questions asked. In Baltimore, even, he is feared for the erratic way he handles the ball when he gets it. It is the fear he puts into opposing quarterbacks and coaches, though, that makes him so much fun to watch. His performance tonight won the Ravens this game.
Yes, Ed Reed deserved two bullets (now three) all to himself.
As for the rest of the defense? The line got plenty of rush and the blitzing packages worked wonders. Terrell Suggs had one of the best games of his season—he too deserves some player of the year consideration. The entire unit clicked.
In other news...the Ravens book-ended this game, playing well at the start and at the finish, but the middle has to raise some concerns. Between the weather and a tough opposing defense, maybe the offense is just fine. But for the majority of three quarters, the Ravens offense looked defunct—not quite as sharp as we would all like with the Steelers coming to town.
Dear Willis McGahee, I am sure there will be plenty of excuses for your play in the week to come—by fans and coaches alike—but it must be said: what a sad performance. For starters, when you start dropping pitches and passes, maybe it is time to remove the dark visor...it’s not like you are playing at night time in December. But additionally, your vision and ability were both lacking tonight. This is not what was expected after that extra rest you were given last week that caused so much controversy.
Take a note from Le’Ron McClain when you get a chance (or was the blocked by the visor, too?). McClain again put this offense on his back when it mattered most. On the Ravens final scoring drive, McClain carried the ball eight times and helped to eat up more than seven minutes of game time. In fact, mid-drive, multiple Steelers fans in the area were unhappily noting how much the drive reminded them of Jerome Bettis when he played. Seeing that from an opponent has to be frightening.
Also regarding the running game, the Ravens introduced and frequently used the super unbalanced line. They took unbalanced to a whole new level. The Ravens not only shifted RT Willie Anderson to the left side, but they would bring in third tackle Adam Terry, and send him to the left as well. The result? A line that looked like this: T-T-T-G-C-G-TE. It had to be intimidating for the Redskins and it was entertaining to watch, but the results were not exactly stellar. The most fun thing about the formation was watching the Ravens call plays to the weak side after spending so much time inflating the strong side… but hey, that’s misdirection, I suppose.
Otherwise, the Ravens offensive effort was mostly lame. Literally, lame. As in “pulling up lame.” The Ravens receivers were again the biggest disappointment, unable to find any open space in the Redskins zone secondary. John Madden continually noted that the Ravens had to have some plays to cut the zone and they were just not being called. I always though, however, that any play could work against a zone if you have a receiver or two that knows how to find the gap. Apparently, the Ravens do not have any of those receivers. Perhaps it was a mix of confusion and unfamiliarity from Joe Flacco, but I think it was a problem of the entire unit. As for Flacco? He was fine, but did little worth mentioning.
Now would be a good time to get in a solid word for Lorenzo Neal. The Ravens were beyond wise in grabbing Neal when they had the chance and it has paid off as well as any investment in recent franchise history. John Madden and Al Michaels were not shy about sharing Neal’s impact on this offense. On the obvious side, adding a fullback has allowed the Ravens to move McClain to tailback when necessary. And that has become necessary more than ever anticipated. But additionally, Neal’s ability, experience and knowledge are all unmatched when it comes to fullbacks. He has transformed this offense, in both its play and its mentality, as much as anyone else. He is certainly an unsung hero that deserves a few more nods from fans and analysts alike.
Overall: The Ravens effort was commendable and it is hard to complain about the result. Discussions about being unable to beat good teams should be fading by now. Next week, expect much more of the same against the Steelers. Offensive mistakes against the Steelers, however, are far more costly. At least the offense had its down day now. The Ravens are ready for Pittsburgh to come to town next weekend and really pound away in the stretch run.
Gameballs: Ed Reed, Ed Reed, Ed Reed, and Le’Ron McClain.

Bonus Note! Kudos to the fans at the stadium today. While the Washington presence was notable, the Ravens fans sounded on top of their game. I was disappointed in the lack of mention by Madden and Michaels.

By my count, the crowd was responsible for numerous penalties and timeouts. M&T Bank is underrated as far as stadiums in this league go. It is top notch both as a facility and in atmosphere. Not many places get as loud when it is 20 degrees outside...the studios will pick up on it one of these days.

Week 14 Power Rankings

Dan McGrain — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:58:08 -0500

No time to mince words, just be blunt: It was a rough week for the Top 10. Three of last week’s top 10 lost, and three more snuck away with wins in the most absurd of ways.

The Patriots and Cardinals fell out of the rankings this week. The Patriots lost to the Steelers by a wide margin at home. In a sentence, they offense got shut down and the defense failed to show up. It was almost expected though; defense has been the Patriots’ problem all season long.

For the Cardinals, they just got outplayed by the Eagles. In the process, they lost yet another chance to clinch their division. Though, I must admit, it would be kind of fun to see a team get into the playoffs at 7-9.

The two new arrivals this week, taking over the spots of the Pats and Cards, are the Cowboys and Falcons. Both teams have won eight games and are fighting for the second wild card position in the NFC. Unfortunately, both will likely end the season with better records than the winners of the NFC North and NF C West.

The full list is after the jump…

Rank	Team	LW	2008 Record	Ups and Downs
1	Giants	1	11-1	Just doing their thing, grinding out wins, even with star receivers on the shelf due (in part) to accidental gun shot wounds. Four words, people: Only in New York.
2	Titans	3	11-1	Not sure that beating up on the Lions on Thanksgiving day counts as a memorable or impressive feat – especially not when Kerry Collins manages just 125 yards passing – but it still counts as a win.
3	Buccaneers	4	9-3	We were all wrong. The Saints defense finally did show up on Sunday – allowing just 254 yards to the Bucs – and yet the Bucs pulled out the win. Credit the Bucs for winning the defensive battle and picking Drew Brees three times.
4	Steelers	5	9-3	Still not as high on this team as everyone else, but you have to give credit where credit is due: they dominated the Patriots. Surprise! When the Pats cannot score, their defense is not enough to keep them in games for long.
5	Colts	6	8-4	Talk about ugly. Peyton throws two picks. The offense scores just three points and totals just over 200 yards. And somehow, somehow, this team is saved by a fourth quarter fumble recovery and score. The Pats loss gives the Colts a little more cushion, though.
6	Panthers	7	9-3	Another game where it is hard to figure out just how the winning team pulled it off. Managing just 22 minutes of possession, out-earned by 140 yards, and just plain beat up. But the Panthers are still the owners of a playoff-spot in the NFC.
7	Jets	2	8-4	Hard to see how this team, coming off two of the biggest wins in the franchise’s recent history, could drop a home game to the Broncos. But they did. Shame on Eric Mangini for not eating more clock with Thomas Jones and keeping the Jets worthless defense off the field.
8	Ravens	10	8-4	It’s pretty simple: this team doesn’t lose the games it is supposed to win. In fact, they make sure trap games are nothing close to traps. The offense continues to improve and expand its repertoire, which the team will need in the coming weeks.
9	Cowboys	–	8-4	The ‘Boys have quietly won three straight games to put them back in midst of the playoff hunt, while many others have faded away. A brutal three games ahead against solid defenses may send the Cowboys quietly back again.
10	Falcons	–	8-4	The Falcons are the league’s Rodney Dangerfield this season (I am not finishing the joke, you know how it ends). They have beaten the Packers, Bears, Saints and Panthers. At this point, it would be more fun to see them in the playoffs than the Cardinals, Cowboys or any NFC North team… combined.

Ravens 34, Bengals 3: Grading the Ravens

Dan McGrain — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:37:22 -0500

Quarterback: B+

Flacco had his best statistical game of the season. He threw for 280 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and had several successful rush attempts as well. But even so, Joltin’ Joe left something to be desired.

While the heavy pass rush was hardly his fault, Flacco was not at his in terms of decision-making. He seemed just a second behind at times, leading to incomplete passes and scrambling throw-aways.

Running backs: B+

Le’Ron McClain topped 80 yards for the second straight game and pancaked the Bengals defense. His quick feet continue to impress, especially given his size and look - he looks like a fullback because he is a fullback.

Ray Rice saw limited playing time and limited success. Willis McGahee did not play, which has to leave us all wondering what’s going on. Regardless, the running game was successful, but not perfect.

Wide Receivers: A

Last week it was the defensive backs who got an A for perhaps the first time in our report card’s history… The only thing less likely? Giving an A to the receiving corps, and yet, here we are. Derrick Mason was his usual steady self.

Todd Heap found his way into the mix, including a touchdown reception. And then Mark Clayton showed up. Clayton proved that with a good quarterback, receivers do not need to be wide open. They are receivers for a reason—they can catch. (more…)

Offensive Line: C+

The Ravens offensive line is still struggling with youth and injuries, but it is holding its own. In both run and pass protection, the offensive line had troubles. The problems were more noticeable in pass protection as Joe Flacco found himself flushed out of the pocket or hit just about every time he dropped back to throw.

Defensive Line: A+

The Ravens front four had an outstanding game. Haloti Ngata and Trevor Pryce were all over QBs Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jordan Palmer. For most of the game, Fitzpatrick could not even get a throw off without being knocked in the arm or having the ball deflected at the line of scrimmage. Amazingly, none of those tipped passes found their way into the hands of a Ravens defender.

Linebackers: B+

The Ravens linebacking crew was just fine. Each player in the unit was mentioned at one time or another for making plays. Suggs, Scott and Lewis consistently found their way into the Bengals backfield. It may not go down as the most memorable game by any of these players, but they were all solid.

Defensive Backs: A-

The unit was certainly helped by the efforts of the front-seven. Offenses have trouble completing passes when they cannot even get the ball past the line of scrimmage. Even so, the Ravens secondary had a great game. With the exception of TJ Houshmandzadej's big reception in the first half, the entire unit had Houshmandzadej and Ocho Cinco shut down all game. Bottom line: no pass interference or holding penalties, but lots and lots of shutdown coverage. Jim Leonhard snuck in the team's only interception and returned for a touchdown as well, which never hurts.

Special Teams: B

They are showing improvement, at least. Sam Koch had one of the best days of his career. Matt Stover hit all of his kicks. Steven Hauschka did a fine job on kickoffs, but the coverage unit still showed some weakness. Yamon Figurs continues to be the ultimate weak link.

Coaching: A

Hard to find any fault with John Harbaugh, Rex Ryan or Cam Cameron this week. To reuse what has already been said often: this could have been a trap game for the Ravens, but it was never even close. The coaching staff had the entire team ready and it showed. The Ravens took their lead and ran away with this game. OK, you want a fault? Cam Cameron still needs to find a way to get Troy Smith on the field without using a timeout to announce it.

Ravens Knockout Bengals: Quick Thoughts

Dan McGrain — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:55:18 -0500

If you want to talk about one-sided games, the Ravens-Bengals match-up today is a perfect place to start. The Ravens came out strong and never let the question of the “trap game” enter the picture. With the exception of one, late first half drive, the Bengals never even came close to changing the feel or tempo of the game.

Here are a few points to consider as we enjoy our celebration…

The Ravens defense was at its very best once again. Jim Leonhard’s fourth quarter interception, the only forced turnover in the game, was a nice surprise to round things out. But the Ravens defense was strong all game long.

While they were not creating turnovers or racking up a ton of sacks, the pressure on quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was evident all game. Fitzpatrick completed just two passes through the first 25 minutes of the game, with most of the incomplete attempts being knocked down and swatted by Ravens defenders at all levels.
Le’Ron McClain was glad to take advantage of a battered Bengals defensive front. The best part about watching McClain is how happy he looks going up the middle and dishing out as many hits as he takes.

In my mind, McClain looks more and more like Jerome Bettis every week he gets to carry the ball. That’s not a bad thing. The biggest McClain worry, however, has to be the sudden development of some slick fingers. Rain contributed, but Le’Ron lost the ball a number of times today and that cannot happen against better opponents.
Joe Flacco had perhaps his best game of his short career. Flacco, despite being sacked multiple times and feeling the pressure on a regular basis, was able to really show off his arm strength and his touch. Flacco had two touchdowns and nearly 300 yards passing while completing nearly 70% of his passes.

Quite the day for the young gun, who mixed short and long throws together nicely. Flacco even found Todd Heap a few times, including one pass for a touchdown.
No, I did not forget about Mark Clayton. Clayton had his second huge game of the season, but this game was certainly his biggest ever. Clayton not only corralled a few big catches, but threw for a touchdown as well. It was his one-handed 70-yard reception, though, that we will be watching and talking about for weeks. Cheers all around to Mr Clayton.
Defensively, the Ravens effort was strong all game long. The unit appeared to lose focus in the winding moments of the first half, but still only allowed a field goal. There was no singular stand-out, but a few players deserve mention.

Fabian Washington had Chad Johnson locked down most of the game. Bart Scott scored big in protecting the run. Jarrett Johnson and Haloti Ngata both had great games pressuring the entire Bengals line. And of course Jim Leonhard deserves a sentence all to himself for doing his best Ed Reed impersonation - it was spot on.
The only downside for the Ravens today? Their offensive line struggled to protect Flacco throughout the game. Again, against stronger opponents, such mistakes will not be tolerable. Flacco survived on his own wits, but not by much.

The other down side? The Browns were unable to upset the Colts, leaving the Ravens in a tight playoff battle. Perhaps the Pats can help the Ravens, though.
Gameballs: Mark Clayton and Jim Leonhard.

More to come this week as there is plenty to discuss from Frank Walker’s benching to Willis McGahee’s disappearance… and yes, we can even talk special teams and coaching…

NFL Power Rankings (Week 13)

Dan McGrain — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:21:45 -0500

Just a quick peek at the rankings right now, the rest will follow tomorrow…

The Giants hold onto the top spot in the rankings for the second straight week, but the Titans loss to the Jets cost them the number two position.

The Jets, on a five-game winning streak, have taken that spot from the Titans, along with their hopes of staying undefeated.

Moving through the Top 10, you will not find too many changes. The Panthers' loss to their division-rival Falcons cost them a few spots, but most of the other leaders won this week.

The biggest change in our Top 10 this week: The Redskins, despite a close win over the Seahawks, have fallen from the number nine position. Replacing them in the rankings are the Ravens, who beat up on the Eagles on Sunday.

The AFC is slowly but surely asserting its dominance in the rankings, it appears…

Rank	Team	LW	2008 Record	Ups and Downs
1	Giants	1	10-1	They can beat up good defenses. They can out-gun good offenses. What more do they need?
2	Jets	4	8-3	Brett Favre is getting all the glory, but it was Thomas Jones who did all the dirty work.
3	Titans	2	10-1	The Jets were the first true offensive threat they faced all season, and the Titans stumbled. Bad news ahead: they still have to face a re-energized Colts team in the coming weeks.
4	Buccaneers	5	8-3	Slow and steady wins the race. Is there a more apt description of Jeff Garcia and this offense?
5	Steelers	7	8-3	Talk about a tough final run: New England, Baltimore and Tennessee…all on the road.
6	Colts	8	7-4	Riding a four-game winning streak already and their next three opponents have a combined five wins. 10-4, here they come.
7	Panthers	3	8-3	Not only did the loss cost them control of the division, it made them a target. The Falcons are now just a game behind and the Saints just two.
8	Patriots	10	7-4	I continue to stand by my assertion: this team has a problem on defense. What happens when Cassel and the offense get shut down? Can the Pats stop anyone from scoring?
9	Cardinals	6	7-4	No shame in falling to the Giants. Everyone’s doing it, you know. It would have been nice to see them clinch the division though. Maybe, Thursday.
10	Ravens	11	7-4	Over their last four games, including the Giants' loss, the Ravens have a plus-11 turnover differential. Their defense + and offense that holds onto the ball = serious success.

Ravens-Eagles: Ravens Bounce Eagles and Donovan McNabb: Quick Thoughts

Dan McGrain — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:34:17 -0500

Well, that went from one of the most dreadfully boring games of football to an entertaining home team blowout in no time. Here’s a few thoughts running across my head as the game winds down…

Talk about rebounding. The Ravens defense had perhaps its most dominating effort in recent years. They totaled five turnovers (four interceptions and a fumble), a defensive touchdown, a safety, and several sacks. Not only did the Ravens completely shut down Brian Westbrook and the Eagles running game, but they beat up on both Donovan McNabb and replacement Kevin Kolb.
The Ed Reed antics with the football get old fast—there is no need to pitch the ball at the five or six-yard line—but it is hard to deny that Reed is the game’s most exciting and explosive defensive player. His two interceptions, one for a touchdown and another close, illustrated that.
A note to Andy Reid: I really do not believe that Donovan McNabb is your problem. The problem is your play-calling. Last week against the Bengals, in a 13-13 tie, the Eagles ran 58 passes to just 18 rushes. 18 rushes against one of the league’s worst defenses and with one of the league’s best running threats. Even John Runyan on your offensive line said that if the run is not established quickly, then Reid abandons it altogether. That is not West Coast. That is stupid. You might not be able to run on the Ravens, but you cannot let them drop seven and read your quarterback every down either.
It has been a long time since the Ravens' defensive backs have performed as well as they did today. Credit Rex Ryan with a great game plan, but also credit the entire unit. Ed Reed, as mentioned, was certainly on his game. So were Fabian Washington and Samari Rolle, who both had interceptions, and Jim Leonhard who was strong in run protection. It was nice to see our defensive backs jumping routes for once. Not one of the Ravens’ interceptions was the result of a bobble or a tip, they were all clean and pretty.
For Joe Flacco it was the tale of two halves. The first half was rough for the Ravens offense all-around, but especially for Flacco. In the second half we finally saw Joe Flacco break out a bit. The late touchdown to Mark Clayton was the perfect example of what the Ravens should have done in the passing game all game: wait for the safeties to blitz and then expose the weakness over the middle.
The offensive line for the Ravens gets mixed reviews for its play. Penalties and confusion still hurt the unit in the first half. But for how beat up they were, and for how strong the Eagles pass rush is, it is hard to hold much against them. Flacco did a lot of the work himself in avoiding the pass rushes, but the line deserves some credit.
Extra credit to the McClains (Le’Ron and Jameel, no relation). Le’Ron led the Ravens in rushing and finally found the end zone on the team’s last drive. He was strong all game long and really kept the Eagles honest. He exploited their small, fast, pass-oriented line and the threat of the run gave Flacco a little bit of room to work. Jameel recorded his second safety of the season, this time on a blocked punt.
Special teams again proved to be this team’s biggest weakness. No shame in Steven Hauschka’s missed kick, but sloppy play on kick offs, punts and all returns kept the Eagles closer than they should have been.
Almost forgot to mention Jarrett Johnson. In case anyone is wondering why Bart Scott is the odd-man-out at linebacker come season’s end, Jarrett Johnson is the answer. Scott’s had a fine year, but he is a product of the system. Jarrett Johnson is a part of the system, along side Lewis, Suggs and others, that is going to make any interior linebacker look solid.
Game Balls: Le’Ron McClain and Ed Reed.

What’s your take?

Ravens-Eagles: Key Match-ups

Dan McGrain — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:30:17 -0500

The Ravens are looking to rebound from a devastating loss last week to the Giants. Their playoff hopes are still alive, but the outcome of Sunday's game against the 5-4-1 Eagles could determine whether those playoff hopes remain realistic.

The Eagles, like the Ravens, have had many ups and downs this season. And of course, let's not forget where John Harbaugh established himself as a premier special teams coach.

Here are two key match-ups to keep an eye on as the Eagles come to town.

Eagles Offense vs. Ravens Defense: RB Brian Westbrook vs. Ravens Front Seven

It is not often the Ravens worry about an opponent's running game. Over the last 30 games, nearly two full seasons, the Ravens defense has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher. The pride this unit takes in its ability to stop the run is almost mythical at this point.

But last week things changed. The Ravens may not have allowed a 100-yard rusher against the Giants, but they almost allowed two. Giants starter Brandon Jacobs left the game at the half, having already totaled more than 70 yards. And in the second half, the Ravens gave up more than 90 yards to third-stringer Ahmad Bradshaw. And that does not include the 41 yards they allowed to Derrick Ward. The trio of New York running backs steamrolled the Ravens - almost literally at points, putting lineman and linebackers on the ground on every play.

That pounding is certainly changing the way we look at upcoming games.

This week, the unit faces one of the most versatile and established running backs in the game today: Brian Westbrook. Along side LaDainian Tomlinson and Reggie Bush, Westbrook is one of only three running backs that can really claim to be a threat to the defense. He can run and catch the ball, can run between the tackles, around the tackles, and past any linebacker you put in front of him.

This is another daunting task for the Ravens defense. And most weeks it would be easy to say that the Ravens would shut a player like Westbrook down. They excel at stopping all kinds of backs - even the most versatile of them.

But again, this is not just any week for the Ravens. This is the week after they got handled by the best team in the league. Maybe the revenge theme will play to the Ravens advantage, but maybe not. This team is beat up.

Luckily, for the Ravens, Westbrook is pretty beat up as well. Nagging injuries have kept Westbrook out of two games and limited in most of his others. He is going to play on Sunday, but he has already missed practices this week to make sure he is ready to go.

Even in limited time, however, Westbrook has raked up more than 700 yards from scrimmage, averaging 4.1 yard per rush and 6.8 per reception. And he has found the endzone eight times already.

The first thing the Ravens need to do on Sunday is shut down Brian Westbrook. They need to reassert their dominance in the running game. They need to be so physical, so overpowering, that there is no doubt who is going to win the battle on the ground. If they do it well enough, Westbrook might just be pulled off the field early (it has happened before this season for the Eagles).

The importance of shutting down the run game early cannot be understated. Not only will it give life to this defense, but it will certainly define the rest of the match-up between the Eagles offense and Ravens defense. Without the threat of Westbrook's wild ways, the Ravens will be able to put more pressure on Donovan McNabb (who is now as much of a pocket passer as Peyton Manning) and drop more men into coverage against the Eagles receivers.

What else is new? Putting pressure on the running game forces an opponent to throw the ball. Who knew, right? Well, the Eagles passing game might not be bad (McNabb is fourth in the league with 2700 yards passing), but it is not amazing. And without having to worry about star running backs, the Eagles passing game is more than manageable.

Ravens Offense vs. Eagles Defense: Ravens OL vs. Eagles DL

In a sentence: This one might get ugly.

The Ravens offensive line, young as it may be, has done a fantastic job so far this year. The Ravens running game has been impressive - succeeding with any combination of Le'Ron McClain, Ray Rice and Willis McGahee getting the carries. And in the passing game, Joe Flacco has been sacked just 18 times this year, and just six times in his last four games.

Last week, the Ravens faced one of the league's top defensive fronts. The Giants were top-five - not only in rush defense, but also in pressuring opponents quarterbacks. While the Ravens failed to establish their running game, they did a fine job of keeping pressure off Joe Flacco more times than not. In fact, the Giants, now fourth in the league in sacks, managed just one on Flacco.

If the Giants pass rush looked scary, the Eagles are going to be downright terrifying. The Eagles are tied for the league-lead with the Pittsburgh Steelers with 36 sacks. And a trio of Eagles defensive lineman (Darren Howard, Trent Cole and Jugua Parker) have nearly as many sacks (19) as the entire Ravens defense (20).

Those numbers will not make any offense feel good. But, the Ravens have to be especially worried.

The Ravens offensive line came into the season labeled young, inexperienced, and downright weak. They enter Sunday having changed most of that perception, but injuries to multiple starters are creating questions again.

Tackles Willie Anderson and Adam Terry have taken turns on the right side of the line, both showing up on the injury report multiple times this season. Similarly, guard Marshal Yanda has struggled with leg issues. Now, it appears that starting left tackle Jared Gaither will be unavailable on Sunday. That leaves only two of the Ravens offensive lineman uninjured so far this year: center Jason Brown and guard Ben Grubbs.

The starting line we see Sunday is likely to be a mix-mash of new signees and back-ups. But do not expect the Eagles to feel bad for the Ravens and let up. They feast defensively on weak lines and hurried quarterbacks.

To avoid disaster, the Ravens are going to have to establish their running game early and keep the Eagles defense on their heels on passing plays. Obvious passing downs are going to mean big trouble for Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense.

The Eagles rush defense is not weak (they rank in the league's top ten), but they still allow nearly 100 yards per game on the ground. That is the Ravens best hope and has to their first line of attack. Use the Eagles own game-plan against them: run straight past the rushing lineman, and use quick screens and flats to avoid the pass rush.

Bottom line: If the Ravens let the Eagles pass rush become a factor, there is little hope. If they can succeed on the ground and limit the slow the Eagles pass rush before it gets started, the Ravens will find themselves not only on top of the scoreboard, but also owning the game clock.

[Bonus observation that just did not fit anywhere else: the Ravens line has struggled with penalties this year. New faces and new names do not bode well for stopping false starts, but finally coming home does. Joe Flacco has to help his line and keep them organized. The Ravens cannot afford to be set back by false starts and illegal line formations.]

NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

Dan McGrain — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:10:20 -0500

This is a year of division greatness and division lameness.

The Great: The AFC East, where, even on a four-game losing streak, the Bills are sill 5-5. The NFC East, where, thanks to a tie, every team is over the .500 mark and the Giants are 9-1. The NFC South, where the Falcons, Saints, Panthers and Bucs have been taking turns beating up on every other division out there.

The Lame: The AFC West, where the division leader couldn’t even handle the lowly Browns last week. The NFC West, where the Cardinals have as many wins as the other three teams combined.

The other three? Just what you’d expect. A little good. A little bad. Lots of fun to watch.

Rank	Team	LW	2008 Record	Ups and Downs
1	Giants	2	9-1	Their running game destroyed the Ravens' No. 1 ranked defense. Game over.
2	Titans	1	10-0	Kerry Collins has now won two games for the Titans. But the struggles the Titans have had on the ground in recent weeks have to be worrisome.
3	Panthers	3	8-2	The Panthers haven’t exactly been playing their strongest football of late, but at least they are winning games and clinging to a one-game lead in their division.
4	Jets	7	7-3	They let Matt Cassel throw for 400 yards and still beat the Patriots. The lack of defense is scary, but letting Brett Favre chuck the ball at will is scarier.
5	Buccaneers	5	7-3	You are unlikely to find anyone claiming that Bucs football is fun to watch. But they are getting their wins even when Jeff Garcia has no one to throw to.
6	Cardinals	10	7-3	Kurt Warner for MVP? How about Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin? Can we give a joint award?
7	Steelers	12	7-3	Classic Steelers football: They put their noses down and snuck past a worthy foe. The game plan looks like it might fail them more often as the season ends and the playoffs approach.
8	Colts	11	6-4	Fact: The game was far closer than it should have been. Perception: They won, they won, they won, and now they are “on a roll!”
9	Redskins	6	6-4	The Redskins are starting to put the ball in Jason Campbell’s hands too often. With a backfield that includes Portis, Betts and Alexander, there’s no reason to fall short of 20 carries (as a team) in any game. Shame on you, Jim Zorn.
10	Patriots	8	6-4	I return to a comment from their loss to Miami many weeks ago: This team’s problem is its defense, not Matt Cassel. Injuries are mounting and the Dolphins come to town next week.

The rest of the rankings are below… (more…)

Apocalypse in Baltimore?

Dan McGrain — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:20:46 -0500

I’ve got to take a moment to comment, briefly, on something that’s been bugging me in the 24 hours since the Ravens loss to the Giants. This is an out-of-the-norm post for this blog.

Already today I’ve been greeted by numerous articles from local and national media outlets proclaiming “what do the Ravens do now?” and “what does this loss mean for the Ravens?”

It’s as if the Ravens season has ended with their loss to the Giants. It’s as if all chances of making the playoffs have been squashed out.

But guess what? The loss wasn’t that surprising.

Even on Ravens-oriented sites, the Ravens were considered underdogs. ExtremeRavens has been experiencing server issues, so chat leading up to the game here was not possible.

But I can bet you that if it were, you wouldn’t find anyone calling the game a cakewalk, a sure win, or anything else along those lines. In fact, for the first time all season, I even picked against the Ravens (that’s another story).

Look at the national and local media for a moment. The Baltimore Sun’s eight sports writers all picked the Giants. Every single analyst on ESPN (both on the Web site and on Sunday Countdown) picked the Giants. Bill Simmons picked the Ravens...with the spread. He did not pick them flat out.

I do not remember reading a single national voice that thought the Ravens would win on Sunday. Not one.

So why is this loss the end of the world?

It’s something that bothers me every year, in every sport. The No. 25 ranked team plays the No. 4 ranked team in College Basketball and loses. And suddenly that No. 25 ranked team is out of the rankings. But isn’t that what was expected?

Dear Baltimore Fans...Dear Football Writers...Dear Everyone...

The Ravens lost on Sunday. But somehow, they are still 6-4. They are still in the playoff hunt. In fact, the NFL believes so firmly that the Ravens still have a chance, they are going to let the Ravens play out the rest of the season. How merciful of them.

With every loss to a good opponent, the Ravens are learning. They are not a perfect team, but they are not an awful team either. Lucky for the Ravens, they have faced the two toughest teams in the league right now (the Giants and Titans), and they won’t have to face either again, unless they the playoffs become a reality.

So rather than spending this week doing our best impersonations of Chicken Little, why don’t we all settle back and actually discuss what this team can do and what they need to do as the season enters its final stretch?

The sky is not falling; the season is not over. This team lost a game it was supposed to lose. It may not have been pretty, but to spin the old cliche, pretty doesn’t show up in the standings.

The players are going to get over it. The coaches are going to get over it. You didn’t see this team carry that loss against Indianapolis around for very long, did you? So let’s do our best to get over it ourselves, as fans and writers.

I’ll start: Joe Flacco has pretty well learned how to avoid making mistakes. He is a legitimate threat when he has the ball, both with his arm and his legs. He’s learned how to avoid sacks, make plays, and he is what brings our offense to life.

Now we need everyone else on the offense to learn the same. They don’t have to make huge plays or become game-changers. But they do have to learn how to avoid mistakes themselves, especially against good opponents.

Your turn.

Ravens-Giants: Grading the Ravens

Dan McGrain — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:15:09 -0500

The loss was bad, so how’s the report card?

Quarterback: B-

Joe Flacco avoided the pass rush all day, made a few impressive runs, and even made a few nice passes. His arm wasn’t quite as sharp was it could have been, though, with many of this throws landing behind their intended targets.

The windy conditions seemed to limit Flacco and the entire offensive scheme; the Ravens never even tried to stretch the field. Flacco had two interceptions on the day, though he only deserves credit for one.

Running Backs: D+

How bad was the Ravens rushing attack? Joe Flacco’s 57 yard performance led the team. Similar to in Indianapolis, the Ravens running backs tried to run around the defense, instead of through it.

Willis McGahee was limited by injury again. Ray Rice stepped in and did a fair job, but even he looked scattered. The Ravens couldn’t get anything started on the ground—not that they could be expected to match the Giants 200+ yard performance.

Wide Receivers: D

Derrick Mason had seven catches and 80 yards, but attempt at impersonating David Tyree may have cost the Ravens the game. Mark Clayton and Yamon Figurs were non-factors. Todd Heap made three catches for a total of 17 yards. This group continues to take the life out of the Ravens offense with dropped passes and poor routes.

Offensive Line: C-

The front five of the Ravens had their ups and downs, as did most units. In the passing game, they kept the rush off of Flacco for most of the game, allowing only one sack. That’s not to say Flacco never felt the pressure, but the line helped him manage it well. In the running game, the offensive line looked lost. No sealed corners. No running lanes.

And worse? The unit was charged with five false starts.

Defensive Line: D+

The Ravens' defensive line was handled all day by the Giants front-five. They occasionally got pressure on Manning, but were pushed aside and pancaked time and time again in the running game.

Linebackers: D

Outside of Ray Lewis’ interception, the unit failed miserably. Lewis was mentioned more for missing tackles and overpursuing than he was for making tackles. Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott were never mentioned. Jarrett Johnson’s offsides penalty negated an interception by Fabian Washington. The unit was out of position and looked out of place.

Defensive Backs: C

The Ravens secondary normally takes the brunt of the criticism in bad losses, but not today. The Ravens secondary was far from stellar, but at least they showed up. Eli Manning and his receiving corps didn’t beat the Ravens today.

Jim Leonhard deserves some credit for a game well-played and being the only Raven man enough to take on Brandon Jacobs face-to-face.

Special Teams: D+

Kick returns by Yamon Figurs were surprisingly strong, but hardly enough to save face for a bad season. Matt Stover had a kick blocked. Sam Koch was bothered by the wind. The unit didn’t necessarily hurt the Ravens effort, but they sure didn’t help either.

Coaching: C-

The coaching in this one is hard to read. To start with, the Ravens looked outmatched. That simply shouldn’t happen. The Giants knew every scheme Rex Ryan had and they came prepared. Offensively, Cam Cameron shut the Ravens down himself. At the same time, however, adjustments were clearly made at halftime and the Ravens looked like a new team.

If not for a few mistakes specific to the players, not the coaches, I believe this team would have made things far more interesting. The biggest questions, though, have to be for John Harbaugh, who conceded defeat and truly shut the offense down in the fourth quarter. Running the ball is for eating clock, not saving it.

Giants Handle Ravens: Quick Thoughts

Dan McGrain — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:45:56 -0500

Anyone that saw the game doesn’t need to be told that the Ravens got it handed to them today. The Giants won in convincing fashion, moving the ball often and with ease, and shutting down the Ravens offense for most of the day.

That said, here are my quick thoughts on the game...and this will be very quick. Like most of us, I need to go drown my sorrows a bit.

First, kudos to Joe Flacco. The line in this game is going to be that Flacco threw two interceptions, one returned for a crushing touchdown right as it appeared the Ravens were about to come to life.

If Flacco doesn’t throw that pick, it’s hard to see the Ravens not scoring to make it 20-13, at the least. But Flacco was better than those two picks. His legs were clearly working, as he ran for 50 yards to lead the team.

His brain was working, too. Sacked just once, Flacco was masterful at avoiding the rush and moving from target to target. It was a shame, however, that his arm wasn’t as up to the task as the rest of him.

Building on the kudos for the Ravens, a few pats on the back for the Ravens OL. Allowing just one sack to one of the league’s fiercest pass rushing attack is no small feat. Their issues with in providing run-blocking were unwelcome, however.

Mini-note: I’m still not sure why the Ravens did not go for it on fourth and short in the fourth quarter of this game. That was a flat-out quitters punt by John Harbaugh.

It’s tough to talk about the Ravens defensive effort. We can really split the game into its two halves.

In the first half, the Ravens were just plain beat. The Giants were well-prepared and appeared to know every play the Ravens had in Rex Ryan’s encyclopedia-sized playbook. Eli Manning had time, the runners had holes, and the receivers had our defensive backs just plain fooled.

But in the second half, similar to a few other games this year, the Ravens defense came to life. Pressure on Manning was better, though the Ravens managed just one sack. And the running lanes were shut down.

Despite a staggering 200-plus yard rushing total by the Giants as a team, the Ravens were able to hold on to their streak of games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. And if you remove Bradshaw’s 70+ yard carry and Jacobs 30+ yard carry, suddenly the Ravens rushing defense looked respectable.

Unfortunately, we can’t remove those kinds of plays looking back.

All-in-all, the Ravens came out weak and it cost them. There’s nothing else to say. This wasn’t the most physical game we’ve ever seen; the physicality hardly lived up to expectations. The Ravens just missed opportunity after opportunity and they paid for it. Teams like the Browns and Dolphins might let you get away with a few mistakes, but not a team like the Giants.

That said, however, it would be a waste to throw this game at the wayside as we continue. The Ravens should walk away with a number of valuable lessons. Despite the score, in the second half, the Ravens looked like a football team capable of playing with the big boys. They just need to start limiting mistakes and finding ways to win, not just be competitive.

Ravens-Giants: Key Matchups

Dan McGrain — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:05:31 -0500

The Ravens are on a roll as they head into New York for an important game against the Giants. The Ravens have won their last four games, including three on the road, as they face the team with the NFC's best record.

For the Giants, the game could all but secure their playoff spot in the NFC East. For the Ravens, the game will determine whether their playoff hopes deserve to stay alive.

Both teams bring strong defenses and young quarterbacks into the game. Here are two key matchups that may just decide the outcome on Sunday.

Giants Offense vs. Ravens Defense: QB Eli Manning vs. Ravens LBs

Quarterbacks against linebackers sounds like an odd matchup. It is. But read on to find out why this matchup might just be so important to the Ravens' defensive effort against the Giants.

Entering this week, the Giants have the league's best rushing attack. They average 169 yards per game on the ground, 10 more per game than the second-ranked Atlanta Falcons.

They use Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward to bulldoze over their opponents. And the constant threat of the run is what gives Eli Manning and his receiving crew room to work.

Luckily for the Ravens, they bring in the games best rushing defense, allowing just 64 yards per game on the ground. But the unstoppable force against the immovable object cliché is not the story in this game. In fact, I think the Ravens will be able to lock-up Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward pretty handily.

The story is what happens after the Ravens defense closes up on the Giants rushing attack? How do the Giants respond? And how do the Ravens react to that response?

Let's start with this: The Giants will respond by going to the air. But They are not a pass-happy team, and they don't want to be (Eli has not reached 200 yards passing in his last five games). But if they have to start throwing the ball, they will.

And then? Well, unfortunately for the Ravens, the "and then" is that their defensive backs will find themselves facing one of the best trios of receivers in the leagues: Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, and Steve Smith. Three guys that know how to run, know how to catch, and know how to run after they catch.

Trust me, the Ravens won't be blessed by any Braylon Edwards moments with this trio.

So, when the Ravens realize they can't stop the Giants' receiving corps (hopefully they have already realized that), they will find they are left with just one option: stop Eli Manning.

The Giants still treat Manning like a bit of a baby in quarterback world. He is protected by their running game, a strong offensive line, spread formations, good receivers, and (most importantly) a scheme that focuses on play-action passes. The threat of the run is what gives Eli room to work in the passing game.

And so it will come down to the Ravens' linebackers, not the defensive line nor the backs, to rein in Eli Manning. Ray Lewis and Co. are fully capable of out-smarting Eli Manning (maybe not Peyton, though), and they will have to.

Here's your gameplan, Ravens: Let the defensive line contain the run. It can. It will. Put your backs in coverage and leave them there. And tell your linebackers to control Eli Manning.

Put Ray Lewis and Jarrett Johnson in his passing lanes all day. Send Terrell Suggs, Bart Scott and Antwaan Barnes to blitz, blitz and blitz again. And most importantly, on every single down: Ignore the play-action.

Ravens Offense vs. Giants Defense: Coordinator Cam Cameron vs. Giants LBs

Linebackers are featuring pretty prominently in the matchups this week.

The Giants defense is stout, through and through. That's why they rank third in the league in overall defense, directly behind your Baltimore Ravens. They are strong against the run. They are strong against the pass. They are just plain strong.

Go look through their game logs this year. You'll see. You won't find one opponent with an outstanding offensive performance to build on. In fact, the Giants' only loss (to the Cleveland Browns five weeks ago) was more due to a great offensive failure than any defensive problems.

If you had to pick a weakness in the unit, though, it would be at linebacker. Again, this is not to say the Giants' linebackers are weak, simply that they are the weakest part of the unit.

The unit features two respected veterans in Antonio Pierce and Danny Clark. Both are good at stepping up, filling gaps and making tackles, but they are not game-changers. In their 17 years combined in the league, Pierce and Clark have just 13 sacks and nine interceptions.

The third member of the Giants LB crew has been in-flux ever since Gerris Wilkinson injured his ankle four weeks ago. Original replacement Bryan Kehl, a rookie from Brigham Young, has since been spelled by veteran Chase Blackburn. Neither option is particularly heart-stopping, if you ask Giants fans.

For the Ravens to have success on Sunday, they are going to have exploit the Giants shortcomings at linebacker. There may be no way to stop their defensive line from punishing our front five, and there may be no way to teach our receivers to beat their secondary.

But we can get past their linebackers.

Cam Cameron has excelled this season in finding and exploiting weaknesses in opposing defenses. His playbook is a wonderful mix of simple, hard-nosed football and head-spinning misdirection.

Like with Manning, Cameron protects his young quarterback with a multitude of play-fakes. But Cameron has also been a master at using deception to create plays for all of his weapons.

In the last few weeks we have seen not only the emergence of the passing game behind Joe Flacco, but also Troy Smith, Mark Clayton, Yamon Figurs, and Todd Heap.

In order to be successful on Sunday, the Ravens will have to continue to use all their weapons. In the running game, Cameron will have to find ways to draw the Giants linebackers out of position, opening up gaps and the outside run.

In the passing game, the Ravens need to work over the middle and continue to use TE Todd Heap to draw the linebackers out of position.

In simplest terms: Todd Heap, Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, Le'Ron McClain. They can all beat the Giants' linebackers. But the trick is for Cam Cameron to get them around the defensive line to really exploit that matchup.

This article will also be featured on One Winning Drive.

Week 11 Power Rankings

Dan McGrain — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:02:06 -0500

Here’s a peak at our Power Rankings for this week.

Behind a surprising offense and a four-game win streak (second only to the undefeated Titans), the Ravens have moved all the way to fourth in the poll this week.

The Jets have found their way into the Top 10 for the first time this week. Their blowout of the Rams coupled with the Patriots victory over the Bills took the Jets into a tie for the lead of the AFC East. The Patriots, though, are lurking right behind them.

Finally, the Falcons found their way back into the mix this week. At 6-3, they are tied for second in their division with the Buccaneers. Matt Ryan is finding his groove and the Falcons look nothing like the team we expected to see this year…

Rank	Team	LW	2008 Record	Ups and Downs
1	Titans	1	9-0	They just keep sneaking by, sneaking by. Impressed that they were able to win on the arm of Kerry Collins, but still waiting for them to stand up to a real offensive threat.
2	Giants	2	8-1	We know this much: They can win any way they want. Lots of points? Lots of defense? On their kicker’s leg? Yes, yes and yes.
3	Panthers	3	7-2	Ugly wins are still wins. Jake Delhomme, however, continues to rise in our sister poll of overrated quarterbacks.
4	Ravens	7	6-3	For the first time in team history, the Ravens have scored more than 27 points in four straight games. Additionally, they are allowing just 15 points per game during their win streak. And did we mention the plus-six turnover margin in that span as well?
5	Buccaneers	5	6-3	Mmmmmm...bye week. And two winnable games upcoming to really set up the rest of the playoff run.
6	Redskins	6	6-3	The possibility of not having Clinton Portis against the Cowboys almost cost them a spot in these rankings. Almost.
7	Jets	14	6-3	Following in the Ravens footsteps, the Jets have won three straight and reclaimed a share of their division lead. If not for that embarrassing loss to the Raiders in Week Seven, we’d be talking about a seven win team on a five game streak.
8	Patriots	11	6-3	They are winning again, and the 20-10 victory over the Bills all but ends Buffalo’s hope for this season. What the Pats should be concerned with now: their division rival Jets have scored 70 more points already this season.
9	Falcons	13	6-3	They finally beat a division opponent in the Saints and they did so with serious conviction. Better news? They get to play the Saints again in just four weeks.
10	Cardinals	10	6-3	Kurt Warner doesn’t sound like a football player in his post-game speeches. He sounds like the kind of guy that’s been nominated for eight Oscars but never won… and never will. But he plays like a Hall of Famer.

Read our complete rankings from this week here.

Ravens-Texans: Grading the Ravens

Dan McGrain — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:50:31 -0500

Quarterback: A
For weeks, Joe Flacco has managed the offense, and that trend continued against the Texans. The rookie protected the ball, while still taking plenty of shots down the field. All told, Flacco turned in a solid performance with a 118.9 passer rating that included 185 yards and two touchdowns.

Flacco is beginning to come into his own at a very important time for the Ravens. Troy Smith also continues to contribute to the team, as he threw for a touchdown.

Offensive line: B-
For the most part, the offensive line protected their quarterback. Although the unit allowed three sacks, they did a great job at opening up running lanes to help sustain drives. The Texans’ defensive star, Mario Williams, was held in check throughout the game. Penalties continue to plague the line.

Wide receivers: B
Last week, the offense welcomed Mark Clayton to the 2008 season. This week, it was Todd Heap’s turn to be reintroduced to the offense. Heap turned in a two touchdown performance. Yamon Figurs was serviceable in place of Derrick Mason, who suffered a dislocated shoulder early in the game. Despite the injury, Mason caught three passes for 41 yards.

Running backs: B+
Willis McGahee returned to the field after watching rookie Ray Rice trample the Browns last week. McGahee racked up two touchdowns of his own; his best performance of the season.

Defensive Line: A
Haloti Ngata showed sheer dominance throughout the game. From snagging an interception in the red zone, forcing an interception, and nearly blocking a punt, Ngata is having a Pro-Bowl year. The unit also held the Texans’ red zone offense in check, limiting them to just three points from inside the five-yard line.

Linebackers: A
Middle linebacker Ray Lewis hauled in two interceptions that looked like they were intended for him anyway. Lewis finished the game with eight tackles. The unit helped ensure that the running game was taken away from Houston, while limiting the short yardage passes of Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels. Terrell Suggs was able to pressure Rosenfels throughout the game and managed a safety early in the game.

Defensive Backs: B-
The secondary did a decent job of containing Texans receiver Andre Johnson, limiting him to 66 yards and no touchdowns. Samari Rolle returned to the field and hauled in an interception of his own. The unit was exploited a couple of times in the game. One of those miscues resulted in a Houston touchdown. Against a better quarterback, the secondary might have had big problems.

Special teams: B
Steve Hauschka announced his arrival to the Ravens squad by sinking a field goal from 54 yards, while punter Sam Koch held the Texans in check. The kickoff coverage was much improved this week. Matt Stover missed a 50-yard field goal, but that is quite a stretch for him anyway.

Coaching: B+
The Ravens clearly executed the game plan they wanted. The offense continues to field a balance attack to keep opposing defenses honest. The defense continues to dominate opposing offenses, while the Ravens offense sustains drives, eating up the clock and actually scoring.

Why was Stover sent out to kick a field goal from midfield when Hauschka already proved he could kick it from further?

Game Reaction: Texans Fans

Dan McGrain — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:53:41 -0500

The Baltimore Ravens soundly thumped the Houston Texans, 41-13 on Sunday. Understandably upset, Texan fans are placing the blame at the feet of their quarterback, Sage Rosenfels, who threw four interceptions.

The Houston fanbase is overwhelmingly blaming the officiating as well. Here’s a snippet of some of the reactions of Texans fans over at the Texans’ official message board, HoustonTexans.com; Yahoo’s message board; and our Fan2Fan Alliance site, TexansTalk.com.

This is a poorly called game today….call after call against the Texans when they have the Ravens stopped. No call on grounding by Flacco (sic)two unbelievably bad PI calls…The Texans (sic) are not doing themselves favors and the refs aren’t (sic) helping them at all. How can you go from the least penalized team to have 12 by the 4th quarter…. [ticking] me off.
spurstexansastros, TexansTalk.com

Wost officiating I have EVER soon, this was one of the main reasons we lost. It was PATHETIC!
imatexan, TexansTalk.com

Let’s trade for Troy Smith (sic). He can run. And is accurate. Heisman winner. Nah, let’s pick up a washed up FA never was.
blake1776, HoustonTexans.com

Did anyone notice we gave up 40+ points? TO THE RAVENS!? The GM would be an ***** to draft anything not related to defense. If Schaub wasn’t taken out by cheap shots, we would probably rank fairly high in most offensive statistics at the end of the season. We need to improve the defense badly. That HAS to be the #1 priority going into this off season.
Schaub2Andre4TD, HoustonTexans.com

I watched in amazement as we would either throw three and out, or throw a pick, EVERY series! @#$%in’ RUN the ball on first down, at least. Their run defense can’t possibly be THAT scary, challenge them. That was pathetic play calling. PATHETIC!
moondog.1369, Yahoo! Message Board

Ravens-Texans: Baltimore Dominates Houston

Dan McGrain — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:27:35 -0500

The Ravens dominated the Texans today, 41-13, for their fourth straight win and third straight win on the road. That should be the first thought: three road wins? We haven’t seen a team in Baltimore that can win on the road since 2000.

Joe Flacco made great progress as a QB today. With his favorite target going down early he was forced to find other options in the passing game, which lead to Todd Heap finally looking like his old self.

Joe stretched the defense with multiple deep throws, one resulting is a TD to WR Yamon Figurs (Congrats to Yamon on his first career receiving TD). Joe has now thrown six TD passes in his last four games with no turnovers.

Willis McGahee looked healthy and ran hard the entire game. He went over the 100 yard mark for the second time this season and added two TD runs. And I must add, his new touchdown dance is hilarious.

The Ravens defense was solid through most of the game. The air defense still has some leaks, but they overcame the injuries and picked off Sage Rosenfels four times. Ray Lewis had two interceptions thanks to the great play of NT Haloti Ngata.

The return of Samari Rolle was immediately apparent. When Frank Walker, a fomer starter, can be your nickel back, you’ve got some depth. Walker may not be a star, but being able to use him to help Fabian Washington and Rolle is a great advantage to this Ravens defense.

Ngata is probably the Ravens best defensive player right now, which takes some courage to say after Ray Lewis had two interceptions in a game. Haloti came up big when he picked off Sage Rosenfels at the goalline, which ended a potentially game-changing drive by Houston. Haloti has two interceptions this season (three for his career) which is more than all-pro safety Ed Reed!

Ngata has disrupted the QB more times this season than I can count, which has lead to turnovers and missed opportunities for opposing offense. We’ve heard all season about Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Rogers, but there’s no #92 I’d want more on my team right now than Ngata.

If anyone remembers seeing new kicker Steven Hauschka in college with NC State, you know the kind of leg he has. I’m going to steal a line I heard on the postgame radio show today, but bringing in Hauschka is bigger than just getting a new leg; it proves that John Harbaugh is learning and, more importantly, willing to learn.

Poor special teams play (bad kick offs, bad coverage, refusing to try long field goals) already cost this team a few games (Pittsburgh, Tennessee) and almost cost them a win last week (Cleveland). Kudos to John for making a move.

And let’s just make an overall comment here: The Ravens have now scored 27, 29, 37, and 41 points in their last four games.

A lot of help is coming from this defense, but let’s also give credit to an offense that is able to take advantage of a short field and take the points it is given. When was the last time you remember the Ravens scoring more than 25 points in four straight games? Or averaging 33 points-per-game in a stretch like that?

We’re going to have to go look that up, but I can’t remember anytime. Even with those scores, this team is only averaging 21 points-per-game on the season, which tells you just how poor this offense was for those first five games.

Now that the Ravens have both pieces clicking, it’s time for the rest of the league to watch out.

Fantasy Five: Week 10

Dan McGrain — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:07:23 -0500

Five quick facts and ideas to take into consideration as you set your lineup and check the waiver wire this week.

The Jaguars Can’t Run

For the last two years, the Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew running tandem in Jacksonville was one of the most heralded in fantasy land. Taylor ran for over 1,000 yards in 2006 and 2007, scoring five touchdowns each season. Jones-Drew averaged over 800 yards and 11 touchdowns in those two years as Taylor’s accomplice. This year, the story has changed.

No one’s sure why, but the entire system in Jacksonville has fallen off. At this point, it’s officially time to stop waiting for things to straighten out. Taylor is not worth owning anymore; you can find plenty of replacements on your waiver wire. Jones-Drew is worth holding on to, but only as a third running back. His complementary receiving stats are all that make him interesting at this point.

Bench Peyton Manning

...at least for this week. Manning has been exceptionally inconsistent this season, thanks in large part to a faltering running game in Indianapolis. While Manning broke out a bit against the Patriots defense last week, it would not be the first time this season he’s shown signs of life. Manning beat up the Ravens in Week Six, before returning to his pick-happy ways against Green Bay the next week.

Here’s what you need to know: Manning is facing the league’s top defense this week in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are the league’s best passing defenders as well, allowing just 164 yards per game through the air, while totaling eight interceptions and 32 sacks. Further, seven of Manning’s nine interceptions this season have come on the road. Look for alternatives.

Quarterback Alternatives

Matt Ryan and Chad Pennington. Yup, that Chad Pennington. In Miami this year, Pennington has shown that he’s still a viable starting quarterback in the NFL, if not every week on your fantasy roster. He is certainly worth spot-starting, though.

Pennington is sixth in the league with a passer rating over 95, he’s seventh with 1,991 passing yards, and fourth with just four interceptions thrown. You may not find him scoring at will, but he’ll give you points, and you don’t have to worry especially about him losing you any.

Matt Ryan is the up-and-comer of the season. His season-long numbers aren’t flashy, but taking a closer look reveals that he’s making serious progress. In his first four games this season, Ryan was averaging well under 200 yards per game and managed just two touchdowns (equaled by two interceptions).

Since then, in his last four games, Ryan is averaging nearly 250 yards per game and has thrown seven touchdowns (compared to just three interceptions). The Falcons are giving Ryan the ball, and he’s making the most of it, especially with a strong running game at this side.

And in case you were wondering...Those stats over the last four games came against the Bears, Packers, Eagles, and Raiders. With the exception of the Raiders, those are not exactly the league’s scrubs.

Steve Smith is a Beast, Torry Holt is…

Despite his suspension to start the season, Steve Smith is still finding himself among the league’s leaders and, in all honesty, outside of the boys in Arizona (Fitzgerald and Boldin), he’s the only wide receiver I would ever trust to bring me fantasy numbers on a regular basis.

These days, even Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are at the mercy of their quarterbacks, and the results aren’t always pretty. It’s one of the reasons I can’t stand wide receivers in fantasy football.

That said, here’s a prediction: Torry Holt’s second-half numbers will destroy his first-half numbers. First, yes, I know, that won’t exactly be hard. 32 receptions for 380-some yards and two touchdowns, those aren’t lofty goals for one of the league’s best receivers.

But, as Jim Haslett works with the Rams, Holt will find the ball more. In the second half of last week’s loss to the Cardinals, Holt actually got some recognition. No guarantees it will continue, of course. But if you’ve held on to him this long, what’s another few weeks to see if the really Torry Holt shows up. My bet is he will.

The Return of Marion Barber

And this year his name is LenDale white. White leads the league with 10 rushing touchdowns this season. More impressive, however, is that he has managed just 98 carries. So, in essence, White scores once every 10 times he touches the ball. He’s also scored in every game but two so far this season, putting himself right at the top of the league again.

50 yards per game and a touchdown averages 11 fantasy points to you every game. He still might not be the a one or two back, but he’s definitely needs to be in your lineup every week. You knew that.

Ravens-Browns: Grading the Baltimore Ravens

Dan McGrain — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:51:53 -0500

Quarterback: B+
Joe Flacco continued his solid play against the Browns. He remained cool, calm, and collected, even after the Ravens fell behind by two touchdowns. He showed nice touch on his throws and made some spectacular passes into tight coverage.

There is still a bit of a learning curve (intentional grounding penalties being one of them), but the rookie continues to make positive strides.

Offensive line: A
This unit was solid throughout the game. Flacco was well-protected throughout the game and had plenty of time to make his reads downfield. The line opened up holes for the most part but softened up when it counted most.

Wide receivers: B+
Welcome to the offense, Mark Clayton. The wide receiver notched his first touchdown in two seasons. Derrick Mason continues to be Flacco’s favorite receiver, snagging nine passes for 136 yards.

Running backs: A
Ray Rice continued to dominate among Baltimore’s running corps for the second week in a row. The rookie averaged just over seven yards per carry and created running lanes of his own. Le’Ron McClain was solid in his performance and added a touchdown that was set up by a beautiful Rice run.

Defense: B-
The defense did a solid job of stopping the run but struggled a bit against the pass. If the Browns hadn’t insisted on running the ball against the best defense capable of stopping the run, Fabian Washington and Frank Walker would have been in for a long and brutal day.

If Braylon Edwards doesn’t drop that very catchable ball from Derek Anderson, the outcome of the game might have been different. Bart Scott led the team in tackles (10), and Terrell Suggs snagged a key interception and returned it for a touchdown that sealed the victory for the Ravens.

Special teams: C+

The Ravens were helped immensely by the Browns’ ineptness, which set up great field position for the Ravens for much of the first half. The special-teams coverage continues to have ups and downs. In this game, they had both, and sometimes at the same time.

For instance, Matt Stover kicks off a 62-yarder, which is pretty good for a 40-something. The bad news is that the Browns’ Josh Cribbs returned it 92 yards for a touchdown.