Tank 92

and Yanda.

Think he had back issues keep him out last year as well.

RR, Pitta and Matt Birk all top 10. Others like Flacco, Boldin and McKinnie had great post seasons as individuals and contributed big time with "star like" performances. Don't think you could say it was game planning that put them over the top.

I loved Ray as a player, but for me his ego is too big for him to ever become an effective coach. It seems that anything he does or says has to circle back to him. No matter how much football knowledge he has, that personna would never work on a coaching staff.

Not sure if I've read anything questioning Jimmy's abilities in coverage. But stating the obvious, you can't cover anyone standing on the sideline in street clothes.

Yeah, kickers are a dime a dozen you know. Should have just let him walk and picked up another guy in the 5th or 6th round next year. And the kicker really isn't all that important anyway.

Dwight Freeney and Courtney Upshaw! lol Don't know much about them, but they seemed to get good pressure on Rogers while working against that top notch O line.

You really can't use past tournament history to make any sort of assumptions about this game. It seems pretty basic. If the Falcons can get pressure on brady which it seems they are well equipped to do, and Ryan shows up, I think they win and it won't be close.

Good read that points out the importance of continuity. http://www.espn.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/33436/continuity-is-key-joe-flacco-has-had-more-coordinators-than-any-nfl-qb-since-2012

While Jimmy is a talented player, his importance to the performance of the D was amplified by the lack of quality depth at CB. There simply wasn't anyone to step up and fill the gap created by his absence. They thought Wright was that guy but we know how that worked out. I think you're right that they plan for a complementary player to play beside him, but also plan for depth to step up when Smith goes down. The fall off just can't be as great as it was and I don't think they will ignore what that meant last year. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. But as you point out, they kicked the can down the road with him and that huge 2017 cap number somewhat limits the options. Don't want to ignore Tavon in these scenarios either. While it seems that his size limits him a bit, I think he will be more than capable to fill in the #2 role in the future. His limitations were exposed last year, but another year's experience and better play from his counterpart on the outside should do wonders for his performance. I'm sure the plan is for him to play the slot, but you have to think he will improve with time and be an option on the outside as well.

Problem is we don't really have a #1 CB that can be depended upon. I hate to be pessimistic but it seems it's not a matter of whether Smith will miss more games but when and how many. If I'm the Ravens' FO I'm working off of lessons learned and planning for his replacement. The immediate underlying issue is Jimmy's huge cap number for 2017 that kind of ties their hands. Do they restructure again with the hopes that he is going to have a reversal of fortune at some point? IDK

With the quality of pitching in the post season I think you have to be able to play small ball to win a championship.

Thinking the love affair with the long ball may be waning. lol

Three or four of those would be great!

ahhh.......I see said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw. Makes sense.

While it's tough for a guard, I think Yanda is pretty much a HOF lock. Yeah it would be awesome to have KO on the other side, but I think it would be/have been better to have an Alex Mack next to him.

Don't you think a part of this is a function of receivers not getting YAC? Seems Pittta was sliding, falling on pretty much every ball he caught. While I recall Wallace sometimes running downfield, can't remember Smitty getting much. Don't get me wrong, I know Joe was part of the problem, but seems it was exasperated by lack of YAC. I know I must be missing something here, but don't see why team average yardage of pass doesn't equal team average yards of reception. Also interesting that opponents average was 6.8 yds(?). http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/bal/baltimore-ravens

No matter who you feel is better Ryan or Flacco, the fact is that the Falcons have put together a highly effective mix of skill position players around Matt which has helped to raise his level of play and to produce some gaudy numbers. To state the obvious, it ain't just him that has improved. But the proven formula for consistent offensive(and defensive for that matter) success remains in building an effective line. For me signing Mack as the anchor of an already solid group is what has put them over the top.

here, here! screw 'em both.....scum bags.

It's not just for PI.

Serious question. Have you ever seen a call like that go against brady/pats?

lol, not what I was saying at all. Just seem they get unlikely breaks.....penalties, non fumbles, opponents dropped tds, missed fgs, tuck rule, etc., etc., etc..

Patsies seem to always get these strange, lucky breaks. Is Bell out or will he come back?

point remains. If he had the Ravens' O line, run game and receivers he would not be in the discussion for the MVP or heading to the SB.