FlocksGottaFeed

The Realist in me: The Rams are the better team.The Idealist in me: I wish this game was against the Patriots. It would be a better narrative especially if we won. It would be our SB this season.The Dreamer in me: The Rams lose the game based on stupid penalties, terrible officiating, dumb playcalling and poor play.The Passionate Football Historian in me: We play the perfect game - win or lose.The Fan in me: We've got nothing to lose so we win.GO Ravens!!! Get it done.

Player Leadership. Harb was granted his player 'wish-list' which for the most part excluded out-spoken players, overly passionate players and potentially combustable players. The down-side: That's where the future Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and potential HOFers reside. Sometimes to model success you have to acknowledge what worked before although practices, scrimages and the lockerroom got extremely noisey most of the time. Harb is a great coach but, even the great ones had team captains with passionate resolve and were born leaders with an attitude ("...pissed-off for Greatness!!!).

Absolutely agreed! Thank you.

Agreed. I added that 'subjective' point to address the future possibilities on changes to the game. Like the downward trending of baseball and basketball (previous sport leaders) that was manufactored/self-inflicted by their league ownership (more games, more commercialism, more rule changes, etc.) - the NFL will most likely follow the same course of over-saturation and game watered-down game anticipation all the while getting richer.

True the game has risen in popularity, but that speaks more to the cultural shift and population growth than the 'overal' quality of the game. There are more people who have taken interest based on commercialism, gambling, social events (football parties, etc), gaming and more women coming into the fold. This does not necessarily mean that the product has not suffered. It could simply mean that there are just more people interested as a result of the branding, product positioning and population growth. I would submit that there are substantially more people/fans with complaints about the product than in past years (percentage-wise). This is what it has become.

The product that the NFL has become is somewhat lack luster. From the inconsistent officiating, artificial turf fields, some of the contact rules, sky-box millionaire focuses, extreme commercialism and fan apathy it's becoming more and more difficult to be excited about no matter if your team is having a losing or winning season. Luster-wise: As a Ravens fan my excitement and anticipation for the next game has been luke-warm since week 3. However, as a fan of the sport overall, my luster for the game itself has been in decline since the Goodell Era. Football is looking more like the FICA Soccer 'premadonna' Complex. The fans and the overall product are secondary while money is primary at any cost.

In all honesty, this was a game that we deserved to lose more than any other that I can remember in our 20 year history. That's a hard fact for me to admit to, but with a week to prepare, the organization's (coaches, players, GM, Owner, etc.) conviction/committment to excellence in question and the overall 'irrelevance' of the team based on this season thus far according to most NFL fans and insiders this season - it's beyond 'excusable'. Oh, the humanity...! The Hindenburg has exploded and landed on the Titanic. There's no salvaging it. There's only the search and rescue for a few survivors. edit - typo

The optics aren't good. Down right ugly! Why couldn't we get him back or did he have no other options? Not sure, but one thing I'm very sure about is that we hardly ever (maybe never) resign players that have left. Again, I wish Jacoby the best, but not against us or in anyway that may negatively affect the possibility of us making a playoff run or generally...what the hell, I can't wish him the best until we are completely mathematically eliminated for the season along with the Steelers.

Not sure, but one thing I'm very sure about is that we hardly ever (maybe never) resign players that have left. Again, I wish Jacoby the best, but not against us or in anyway that may negatively affect the possibility of us making a playoff run or generally...what the hell, I can't wish him the best until we are completely mathematically eliminated for the season along with the Steelers.

class act. gotta love it.

Just the thought made me smile. Good stuff.

Absolutely...unbelievable. What a crazy season. Well, in the words of the Maximus, "...Whatever comes out of that gate...the only way we survive is if we all stick together." Say it ain't so Jacoby!

Outstanding win, worthy of heart-and-soul of the game and it's true warriors (i.e. SSS). Thanks.

I won't attempt to reason, speculate or justify my thoughts on this game. If the freakish nature of this season or what has transpired thus far doesn't give anyone pause then maybe the mojo has left the building, the lockerroom, the field and the stadium. So I'll just say what I always say as a fan..."We Got This!!! GO Ravens!" Because...the mojo hasn't left me.

I'd agree with this to a point, but I don't think he's "regressed" so much as I think that he has not progressed as much since the low hit injury he suffered 2 seasons ago (during the Lions game). That injury was more psychologically damaging (performance-wise) than many would want to believe although it should be seen as a natural reaction. I don't fault Joe - he's only human. Because of that (although he played-through the rest of the season with a brace and not making the playoffs) it seems his ability to step-up into the pocket when pressure is coming has 'regressed' or maybe has not progressed, somewhat (example: Carson Palmer after he left the Bengals). It takes years to get back on the 'pocket awareness' progressions track. The most evident of this are the increases of 'back-foot' throws down-field. The only thing that speeds-up that full-recovery is 'team success'. Joe never complained about wins even when he didn't light it up, but his game play always elevated when the team had a measure of success. Hopefully as his career continues, he and the Ravens will find that balance that led to his 1st SB. edit - typos

I'll guess again... He's thinking..."This is some some kind of flukey curse or something. Nothings going right. We're losing close games. Everybody is going down with injuries and I don't have a clue to how I can fix it. (Phone rings. He takes call.) "We're still sold-out for this season, right?" "Cool." and cut to next 9 games. It's not over 'til it's over.

Agreed. There hasn't been a single team we've faced that hasn't said, "They're a good team and not to be taken lightly because of their losses..." I doubt any team will this season. Any given Sunday.

Steve Smith Sr recently said, "I was born a Raven..." when asked about his loyalty. That resonated with me, because I know that I was born a Ravens Fan even before the franchise was formed. To explain... I was a die-hard Colts fan at birth. Born and raised in Baltimore, played 7 years of Pop Warner for a team sponsored by Colt players, worked concessions at Memorial Stadium as a teen, had an uncle who worked with Unitas (part-time gig) when he wasn't playing ball, my father was good friends with Big Jim Parker and I house-sat for Lenny Moore once, the Colts were my world. Then it all left in a Mayflower Moving trunk in the middle of the night. What kept me engaged? The Colts Band stayed engaged and the ex-Colts Legends kept the legacy alive although the franchise was gone. Then came the Ravens and the 'true' Colts embraced them. Who was I not to? They were everything that the original Colts were. True to the communities, resilient, committed, imperfectly perfect. Named from Baltimore lure with an attitude to match it. Gotta' love it! Admittedly, names and franchise settlements don't define a team - the heart and soul of the city does. That's why I was born a Ravens Fan before we even got them here, because..." I got (Baltimore) soul and I'm super bad..." Purple and Black4Life! GO Ravens!!!

BIG UPs to JJ for this topic. It's truly connected and revealing. Very cool.

Is it me, but if you can't 'definitively' see if player's knee is down with some of the most accurate million dollar video playback apparatus on the planet - how do you see that his knee is not down with aging eyes from a bad mobile angle in a split-second? You just don't make that call on the field.

Steve Smith Sr is legendary.

Agreed. I've got to add-in the 'good' was how that bold 'legible receiver' play call showed 'swag' and (bad) how it ultimately exposed just how amateur the league's officiating has become. On that play and every other game changing call. The Ugly: Our record doesn't truly reflect the team, but no one could really have a definative explaination why. It is what it is: Just Ugly.

Was glad to see Ray and Boomer stick with us. Givens will probably see more once he's adapted.

Agreed. Truth will set you FREE not Freeney. Freeney had a (1) good sack on a blind spin move that's all. There's so many folks looking for scapegoats right now it's embarrassing. I get it. This season has been beyond belief, but really...a Freeney thread?

Absolutely mind blowing. A game changer.