Giants looking bad to start this one!

40 minutes ago, Drew P said:

His absence wont help but a big plus will be if Alex is a go and Vlad is on the bench

It will be interesting to see what the plan with Lewis is.  Assuming Yanda's shoulder isn't healthy enough to go back to RG, the question is whether it makes sense to put Lewis at RG.  My understanding is that Lewis hasn't played that position since high school, so that would be VERY tough to have your first game at RG since HS at Heinz Field...But I do think Vlad is our weakest link....I guess it depends on what is going on in practice, which us fans don't get to see (and even the media sees very little)

3 minutes ago, trevorsteadman said:

Huge concern because the Steelers are better than the Eagles at every position on the offensive side of the ball. 

I agree that the Steelers are better than the Eagles at every position on the offensive side of the ball

BUT

I am not sounding the alarm on the Ravens #2 ranked run defense after 1 sub-par game (out of 14)

That's all I'm saying.  Obviously, this is an extremely tough game (especially since it appears we will be without Jimmy), but I have confidence in our run defense based on body of work this season.  Pass defense---that's where I'm scared. 

5 minutes ago, cobrajet said:

I was hoping to hear that Jimmy was a least a limited participant. I guess that was just wishful thinking on my part. I assume now that Sunday is probably out of the question.

I agree to, but I have a feeling Jimmy is out for the regular season.  No, I don't have any inside information on this...just a gut feeling.  They said it was a "significant ankle injury"  Opinions seem to guess that it was a high ankle sprain.  When Lewis was diagnosed with high ankle sprain, they said it was a 6 week injury.  First round of playoffs (if we make it) is right at 4 weeks.  I realistically think this is the earliest possible time we could see Jimmy play. 

AGAIN-I repeat--This is MY GUT FEELING, not a medical opinion because I have no clue the severity of the injury or even exactly what the injury is.

6 hours ago, allblackraven said:

Correa might have been inactive for that game, I can't remember.

Correa was inactive, and so was Ducasse.  So, I guess those 2 have never played in this rivalry.

http://www.nfl.com/inactives?week=9

10 hours ago, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

Um NO.

Why you ask? 

Because we dont coach like a Raven, therefore we dont play like Ravens. 

Coach Harbs says we are a gritty hard nosed smart football team that grinds it out.

Yet, we have failed to grind out a running game all year. Even when we should be running, Coach Bystander/Harbaugh just watches the horrible pass play calls leading to picks, or incompletes, meanwhile you have talented backs able to get the job done running the ball.

Then, on the other side of the ball, your front seven is getting gashed on the ground, and you Coach Bystander, let it continue with zero adjustments.

BOTTOM LINE: You WONT Run the ball, and Cant stop the run. Not the team you proclaim what playing like a Raven should be. 

How about coach like a Raven instead of being a Bystander.

I get your point of saying that we WONT run the ball...not going to argue with that point...we are 28th in rushing:  http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&offensiveStatisticCategory=RUSHING&conference=ALL&role=TM&season=2016&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=RUSHING_YARDS_PER_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-n=1

But, saying we can't stop the run is a HUGE over-reaction to 1 bad game by this rushing defense...we are still #2 against the run:  http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&defensiveStatisticCategory=RUSHING&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=2016&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=RUSHING_YARDS_PER_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=1&d-447263-n=1

15 hours ago, sami said:

I just checked and its not listed on NBC on Sunday. It IS on the NFL network like you said.

Looks like it's on NFL Network nationally and NBC locally...here's a post from @Moderator 3

• Tuesday at 07:48 AM
• 87 replies
• 1

2 minutes ago, ibleedpurpleandblack said:

Hey Ravens wouldn't it be nice to have the W against the Raiders and the Jets right about now - two teams we should have beat!!!! Always making it harder on themselves by committing stupid mistakes.

Woulda coulda shoulda.  We also could have lost a few of the games we won.  Bottom line...the division title is right in front of us for the taking.  Go out and win the next 2 games and we win the division!  Doesn't do any good to look back and play the woulda coulda shoulda game.  Go Ravens!!!!

Steelers TE Ladarius Green is in concussion protocol and "iffy" if he is able to play Sunday.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18319411/ladarius-green-pittsburgh-steelers-protocol-status-iffy

23 minutes ago, omar586 said:

oh, didn't know oak had the tiebreaker, interesting, bills will win then, so i guess we have a chance, we just need to take care business.

Yeah, definitely a lot of things to watch.  I'm also hoping the Chiefs beat the Broncos this week...because if they don't, Raiders will have division locked up and if NE beats Miami (1:00 game--which if they don't, we're done anyway), Oakland may rest their starters (Carr is banged up)  Bottom line is we can hope and pray all these things happen, but if we win our next 2, we are in (and have a home game in playoffs)!

Just now, omar586 said:

i say no, b/c we lose 1 game out 2, and dolphins win out, pats will lose on purpose vs dolphins to eliminate us, they would rahter see phins then us in playoffs

If Dolphins beat the Bills on Saturday, it doesn't matter (for us) the result of the NE-Miami game.  The NE-Miami game I think depends on if NE is still playing for homefield.  Raiders have the tiebreak, so if Raiders win in Week 16, Patriots have to win in Week 17 to keep #1 seed (unless Oakland loses--but they play the 4:00 game that final Sunday)

31 minutes ago, January J said:

The wildcard is what I'm confused about. The LFW article the other day stated we also needed Houston and Tennessee to BOTH finish 1-1? confused me BC 1 of them will win the division and they play each other week 17 which is a guaranteed loss. Were they wrong or am I missing something?

I think the LFW article is wrong.  According to nflplayoffpredictor.com, they are wrong.  The only way the Texans/Titans could mess us up is if they both win Week 16, then TIE on Week 17 to both finish 9-6-1--which of course ties are extremely unlikely.

13 hours ago, Deflated Football said:

Pees and Marty* 

Marty I think is definitely gone after this season. Don't see use parting ways with Pees though.  We are a top-notch defense when our #1 corner is healthy.  In reality, I think we need 1 more "solid" corner behind Jimmy and Tavon....Not out of the question at all to find that in the draft (or possibly free agency) 

Only way I see Pees gone is if 1) he gets a head coaching job somewhere OR 2) The front office decides to fire Harbaugh--which I don't think will happen and I think it'd be a big mistake if they did!

11 hours ago, baroquenspirit said:

Someone slapped Andy Dalton at halftime and reminded him that he was Andy Dalton. 

Hopefully someone slaps him again before Week 17!

3 hours ago, allblackraven said:

How exactly would that be a shock? We beat them 5 times out of last 6 games. Even 5-11 Ravens beat them twice last year.

Won't shock Ravens fans or the most knowledgeable fans...but will shock the media and the casual fans that marvel over Big Ben and the Steelers.

30 minutes ago, Minionhunter said:

And they are making us do color rush on a non-Thursday game so the steelers can wear all black and we wear all white. Terrible decision.

Is it a "color rush" or is the black the Steelers alternate jersey? (like our black jersey)  I would think if it was a true "color rush" game, then we'd be wearing our all purple "color rush" uniform we wore vs. the Browns.

22 minutes ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

This game, ending as close as it did, is totally on me. It was a poor choice of pool pics and I should have vetoed the pic when I realized it wasn't getting any likes (outside of one person that tried to help my self esteem). Although the pool pic did expand my win streak to 4-0, it is an empty victory for me letting all of you down. 

I"ll take an ugly win any day.  4-0 is 4-0 no matter how ugly the games are!  As far as I'm concerned, keep posting them! 

I am 1-2 (win vs. Browns. losses @ Dallas and NE) when I post the pool pics, so you won't see me posting any more pool pics this season!

17 minutes ago, hereweare said:

Why would we need two Miami losses? I'm confused on how this is working. If 3 or more teams are tied at 9-7. ( Ravens, Broncos, Miami, and/or Texans)
it goes a) division, b )  common games, and c) conference.

b ) common games are cincy, pats. everyone is W/L  
Ravens a) 5-1  c) 8-4
Broncos a) 2-4 c) 6-6
Texans a) 5-1 c) 7-5
Dolphins a) 4-2 c) 7-5

So at 9-7 Ravens are in, no??

Dolphins are 9-5 right now...so they have to lose twice to fall to 9-7.

--Basically, after head to head, it goes to conference record, which the Ravens beat all other AFC teams because 3 of their losses are to NFC teams (Redskins, Giants, Cowboys)

http://www.nfl.com/standings/tiebreakingprocedures

TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)

1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.
2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in conference games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

When the first Wild-Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second Wild-Card, i.e., eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. In situations where three or more teams from the same division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent applications of the tie breaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild-Card berth.

"The Ravens could win a wild-card spot … by finishing 1-1 AND the Dolphins losing out AND the Texans, Broncos and Titans finishing 1-1. A single win by the Dolphins would prevent a wild-card spot for Baltimore."

This should read Texans OR Titans finishing at 1-1 (which is all but guaranteed because they play each other in Week 17)  If one of the teams wins both games, they are 10-6, but would win the division.  Ravens have tiebreak over all AFC playoff contenders.  So, the only way Texans and Titans get in over Ravens if Ravens finish 9-7 is if both Houston and Tennessee win in Week 16 and Houston-Tennessee TIE in Week 17. 

-So, in reality, we need to losses by Dolphins (@ Bills, vs. Patriots) --It would help if Raiders beat the Colts next week, so then the Patriots would have to win WEek 17 to ensure home field advantage.  If Raiders lose to Colts, Patriots might rest their starters.  Also, another thing that bears watching (also involving the Raiders)  If Patriots win out--Raiders might rest starters in Week 17 vs. Broncos (Patriots play at 1:00, Raiders play at 4:00 in week 17)  So--the best bet for a Broncos loss may be Week 16 at KC.

---LOTS of Ifs and things that would have to go right to get wildcard--hopefully the Ravens take care of business @ Pitt and @ Cincy!

5 minutes ago, trevorsteadman said:

Ravens defense goes from #1 in the league in games Jimmy Smith is in to #27 the ones he is not in. I'm afraid of a blow out if the Ravens don't have him and to be honest it doesn't sound good if he hasn't started practicing and the team hasn't announced further news on his injury. Lardarius Green is going to be a problem for the team... Taking away Weddle or Webb every play to cover him. Which is going to open up Antonio Brown more often than not on 1 on 1 coverage against Shareece Wright or Tavon Young. 

Jimmy Smith is the player the team could least afford to lose. Especially against a top 3 receiver in the NFL that is on the same team as a top 3 running back in the NFL. 

On paper, it looks like we have no chance.  And I'm sure all the media will point that out over and over again all week. This is where the Ravens shock the world and take down the Steelers in there house!  What a beautiful Christmas present that would be!

21 hours ago, Sherly_Tebow said:

Yea. We gotta root for the raiders too. Hopefully they can force the Pats into a week 17 game where a win clinches 1 seed, they don't rest their starters. Plus, the Raiders game would be at 4:05, and the Pats would be at 1.

- I'm not worried about Broncos losing 2 of 3

- Need the Dolphins to lose next 2

- If Dolphins win any of their next 2, the Ravens must win out.

Excellent point.  For our Wildcard hopes, next week we have to really root for the Bills to beat the Dolphins (obviously) AND the Raiders to beat the Colts (Or Patriots lose to Jets...hahahahahaha)  If those 2 things happen, I like our chances for the Patriots to beat the Dolphins in Week 17 if they are playing for home field advantage.  Hopefully, the Chiefs beat the Broncos on Christmas becasue the downside of the Raiders playing the 4:00 game on Week 17 is that if the Patriots win, they will have nothing to play for, so we can't count on them beating the Broncos.

It's kind of a catch-22 as to who to root for...because the ideal scenario for the Ravens is to beat Steelers and Bengals and win the divsion.  If that happens, I would much rather Miami as the 6th seed and Baltimore's first opponent.  But, obviously, if we drop one of those 2 games (which unfortunately is probably likely--especially if Jimmy is out which I suspect he will be), then we have to hope for the Dolphins (and Broncos) to lose to get the wildcard.

Nice start defense and offense!!!

West!!!!!

Let's punch it in here offense!!!