BigUgly

Would you say this team had more talent or less talent this year versus 2014? I would say the 2014 team had less talent but was more successful because they had a competent OC whose scheme and playcalling enabled the offense to make the Ravens competitive. In both cases, special teams were solid and the Ravens defense had trouble holding a lead.

why? we just had a phenomenal draft, and added 3 good free agent targets (1 of whom was unfortunately injured) - what more do you want ozzie to do? come out and play tight end for the team too? I think Ozzie is younger than Watson, so sure!

Harbaugh is a great coach every day but gameday. He apparently doesn't have the will, experience or ability to step in on offense or defense to make adjustments beyond firing coordinators. He hasn't been helped by the rash of injuries or inability of Ozzie to land playmakers in the draft, but no team is perfect. We have a solid QB, an O-Line and RB tandem built to run the ball, and more receiving talent than this team has ever had, but the scheme and playcalling didn't fit the talent. Similarly on defense, there is a recurring pattern of falling apart in the 4th quarter with the lead. The talent was sufficient for 3 quarters of success, but the scheme failed in the 4th. That's coaching. Overall, this team has been plagued by penalties for several years. That too is coaching, especially when we have drafted a team full of intelligent, high character "football" guys.

That was the best offensive game plan we saw all year, but even that showed some fatal flaws. The entire offensive coaching staff needs to be overhauled, and the new OC empowered to pick his staff. Same for the defense. Pees has been saddled with less that elite talent in the defensive backfield for years, but the pattern of blown leads late in games stretches back to the SB, the divisional round in '14, and this year to the Jets, Stillers (x2) and Eagles games. Scheme plays a part in that, and for that reason, he should go as well. Missed our chance to nab Schwartz last year.

What are we playing for? Good question. Unless you are playing for a shot at the post-season, one should strategically opt for a higher draft pick since the difference between the top and bottom half of the first round can be significant. In fact, given Ozzie's recent track record, a bottom half first rounder is a throw away. Unfortunately, we played our way square into mediocrity. No chance at a true playmaker. Best case, we nab a top interior O-Lineman. That shouldn't be too hard to mess up.

I think the team had enough talent to make the playoffs this year, but have had dreadful coaching on the offensive side of the ball and a D coordinator who somehow always manages to give up the lead in big games. We knew what to expect from the offensive gameplan, but were mildly surprised at the balance and success. The defense letdown is the dagger here. We should've brought Schwartz in last year. In any event, Harbs needs to overhaul coaching on both sides of the ball, or take he and his buddies elsewhere.

A gutsy effort by the team, and a tough loss. No margin for error. Needed a score on the first drive, and on the botched FG. This might have been the best playcalling I've seen on offense all season (save for Miami, which made no adjustments to the abuse). The D kept us in the game with the two turnovers, but that was a 4th qtr collapse on par with the divisional round against the Pats in 2014. Where is the killer instinct?

That one ain't on Flacco. We scored 27 on the Stillers D. We were missing a FG on the first drive, and another on a botched snap, and the Ravens D faded at the end.

This game will come down to penalties, turnovers, and in-game coaching decisions. Basically smarts and discipline, and neither team has a clear advantage going into the game. It will be really interesting to see if this fundamentally flawed Ravens team can elevate its game, and rely on the character of the men drafted by Ozzie and coached by Harbs to find an edge when the pressure is greatest. Go Ravens!

In 2012, the team was on the brink of collapsing; the veteran players saw it and voiced their concerns in the "mutiny". Seems like something similar may be brewing as many vets are questioning the schemes and decisions of the coordinators which, at this point, is Harbs' responsibility. Old slogans out of your Dad's book of game-day speeches aren't enough to fix what has been broken on this team for the past 4 years - it requires a strong and knowledgable coach to take control.

Joe's sack that took us out of FG range and the pick cost us 6 points, and kept Philly in the game. Still unable to establish the run against bad teams, and that defense looked gassed. Something's gotta improve for Christmas (and for the Bengals game).

The D lost 2 corners. Offense couldn't stay on the field long enough to give the d a rest, until later in the 2nd half. Try playing tired. Loose speed, attentiveness, tackling strength and motivation. Morningwig is vanilla. Flacco is a robot, who can't learn during the game. Offense can't make adjustments. THEIR D was down two DBs - a starting corner and a safety - and an all-pro OLB and we still struggled.

So frustrating that the Ravens offense couldn't adjust to what the Pats were doing. They were rushing 3-4 and dropping 7-8, but we made no attempt to run the ball or try more extended routes and verticals to find holes in the zone or stretch the zone. If the O-line can't give Joe time with that rush, I question the scheme and coaching more so than the talent (which has largely proven itself previously).

Well, at least this should seal the fate of Martyball. I only hope they toss Castillo with him; the O-line looks confused at times, has poor technique and gets flagged way too often. The new OC needs to be able to install a complete system. This Kubiak-Trestman-Marty hybrid is a mess that the Pats D totally exploited.

This offense made no adjustments all game against a defense that was rushing three, and keeping linebackers and DBs close to the line to guard against the short passing attack. No threat of a running game, and only a few vertical passes down the field. Too many penalties, and the O-Line gave up too much pressure up the middle. Their technique is poor, and they get flagged for it. Hester? He was ridiculous. Ridiculously bad. The Ravens were the ones who got punched in the mouth and were outcoached. This game was not as close as the final score indicated. The defense can keep us in games, but they can't be on the field as much as they were. Ravens need to win out to seal up a playoff spot. Let's go!

Offense has been exposed, and the D is getting gassed from being on the field all day. Oh well, maybe Hue will get fired...

Steve Smith is the only WR we have that can run a route, get open, and catch the ball. As for the rest, the whole offensive scheme has been exposed by the Pats and their superior coaching.

If the Ravens smack the Pats in the mouth on both sides of the ball (which I think they can do) and do so without killer penalties and turnovers (not as confident), they should win this game.

This might be the worst Pats offense, talent-wise, that the Ravens have ever faced and they do so with perhaps the 3rd-best defense in the Ravens' vaunted history. Conversely, the Ravens offense is as talented as it has ever been, but has underperformed for the bulk of the season for various reasons (injuries, play calling, etc.). They face one of the better Pats defenses since Dean Pees last coached that unit. So over all, a fairly even matchup save for coaching (advantage Pats) and special teams (advantage Ravens). I see the Ravens making far more untimely penalties than the Pats, and losing the turnover battle, but still eking out a close victory.

I believe we can shut down their running game, but they will stay committed enough to set up play action and 1-3 step drops from Brady. I doubt we'll be given much time for Suggs and Doom to lay hands on Brady before he has passes out to receivers running slants and comebacks before they hit their breaks. Really have to disrupt his throwing lanes with long arms and some mixed coverages. I really think we have a good shot here. Go Ravens!

Wow! Joe's footwork was good, getting rid of the ball quickly, and amazingly taking advantage of the middle of the field. Would like to have seen more of a commitment to the run, but you obviously can't argue with the results! A great statement win in December. Let's keep the momentum rolling all the way to the playoffs!

Going to be some tough decisions this offseason. Juice, Wagner, Orr, Guy, Williams, Aiken and West are all free agents. I wouldn't be surprised if most were allowed to walk, though I think Wagner, Orr and Aiken may be priorities (Williams could be replaced by Pierce, Guy by Evans, and the rest by draftees or other free agents). Ozzie does like his comp picks!

I think our Defense can neutralize Ajayi so l one as they aren't on the field all day. That means the offense will have to establish some semblance of a running game, convert those 3rd downs, and avoid turnovers. I'd like to see more of the offense we ran in the first series in each of the last two games, with Joe under center as it gives the O-Line a chance to get in a groove and gives Joe more options in the passing game. The timing seems off on the running plays from the 'gun, as the back gets to the hole just as it closes. If we beat the Phins, and sweep the Stillers and Bengals, we should win the division. Entirely possible if the offense continues to improve.

Special teams and bend-but-dont-break defense secured the win. I'll take it! Why couldn't we sustain the first series offensive scheme and momentum?

So if the Ravens have the ultimate coaching staff (both in terms of pedigree and numbers), hand-picked by Harbs and handsomely compensated by Bisciotti, and we have drafted intelligent, high-character players with high football IQs, how can we consistently have penalty issues? There has to be a root cause. I think its a mix of poor schemes that put under-talented players in difficult positions to succeed. On the OL, only Yanda seems able to cope with a mish-mash of zone blocking and power blocking, Joe can't progress through a West Coast interpretation of Kubiak's offense, and the defensive secondary tries to cover big #1 receivers after allowing them 10 yard cushions.