Week 11: Cleveland Browns At Baltimore Ravens

[theFRANCHISE]

(Apologizing in advance for the double-posts that'll probably happen all day)

Right now, special teams units are warming up. Sam Koch looks sharp as always, nailing 50+ yarders with ease, and Matt Stover looks just about as automatic as you can get. The usual suspects of Yamon Figurs, Cory Ross, and today's starting RCB Corey Ivy are out fielding kicks, and seem to have a grasp of the mechanics behind signaling fair catches (lol).

Meanwhile, I see Troy Smith and Kyle Boller have just stepped on the field with Rick Neuheisel, and are warming up on the sideline with NFL Films cameras surrounding them.

Only an hour until kickoff!

[McBoller]

here we go again...

..let's hope not though.

[Raven07]

have faith! lol we'll pull through, is it raining at the stadium??? how does Troy Look warming up??? how does Boller Look?

[theFRANCHISE]

Alright, so I just got back from the sideline, and let me say that...I can't even begin to describe how I felt.

It was...Wow.

Just...Wow.

I was literally only a few feet away from Chris McAlister, Bart Scott, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Mark Clayton, and then Haloti Ngata and Trevor Pryce were stretching RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. Corey Ivy was exchanging pleasantries with Gerome Sapp (inactive for today's game), and was interacting with a little girl right next to me.

Chris McAlister looked like he was healthy, but he threw his helmet off in disgust after doing some drills, which had me concerned.

Troy Smith looked as sharp as a backup QB can be, but Kyle Boller definitely looked like a leader.

For the record...Phil Collins blaring over the PA system while the players are warming up is unlike anything else I've ever seen. And when the drums kicked in, they all charged off the field in unison like synchronized swimmers and went off to do their position drills.

Mark Clayton was sharp catching passes, and Quinn Sypniewski looks like he'll do fine in Todd Heap's place. (Heap, BTW, was only a few feet to my right, but I didn't notice until it was too late since he was in sweats...and I THINK that was Steve McNair right next to him, but I'm not sure).

Right now, the Marching Ravens are on the field doing their thing, and it's only 15 minutes until kickoff.

Stay with me all day, folks. I got plenty more for y'all in store, and consider me here on behalf of you guys.

[Quick note: the rain seems to be holding up, but the wind was brisk and might play a role in special teams today. Still, no worries on my part, Stover and Koch looked sharp in their respective roles during warm-ups. And no, there were no dropped balls that I remember from the returners.]

[theFRANCHISE]

Sit tight, pre-game intros are starting!

[EDIT]- Well, this is new...the team came out as a SINGLE UNIT!

The fireworks and pyro and smoke was AMAZING.

The generals were in the midst of their troops, and the players were all united.

It was a symbol of the entire team getting behind each others' backs and represents the new attitude and approach that this team needs to take for the rest of the season, as each game is now do-or-die.

A Ravens win would keep Baltimore's post-season hopes VERY MUCH ALIVE.

Meanwhile, a Ravens loss would severely diminish Baltimore's chances of securing a wildcard berth down the stretch.

[theFRANCHISE]

Cleveland has won the coin toss and has elected to receive.

Baltimore's captains were OLB Jarret Johnson (#95), C Mike Flynn (#62), and LB/special teams gunner Gary Stills (#56).

Kickoff is almost under way.

Let's see how the special teams unit holds up against Joshua Cribbs, one of the league's most dynamic returners today.

[theFRANCHISE]

For the record...it's really, really, REALLY hard for me to NOT react as any fan normally would in a situation like this...

It's...uhh...kinda hard, needless to say, to stay quiet in this library-like atmosphere of the press box, when there's just SO MUCH excitement going on in the stands and on the field.

[Cartoon_Cartooon]

FIRST DOWN !?? we let them get a first down??? EHHHHHH!!!!!

[theFRANCHISE]

FUMBLE RECOVERED BY BALTIMORE!...

...and then a punch in the head of Joe Thomas by Haloti Ngata.

I'll admit, that WAS kinda blatant. Almost ejection-worthy.

BUT...won't complain. I'll be honest.

[Marcus]

Why Ngata?

[ragnorok99]

Stupid move by Ngata.

[theFRANCHISE]

It's an emotional game...granted, a punch is uncalled for (and the Cleveland press members are angry, obviously), but it is what it is.

The refs will officiate as they see fit. I won't argue against them if they kick Ngata out, but at the same time, I won't be mad if they keep him in the game, for obvious reasons.

[MKdave]

is steve mcnair in?

CBS was saying he was throwing on 3rd.

[ragnorok99]

It's Boller.

[theFRANCHISE]

I'll admit, that first offensive drive by the Ravens came and went a little too quickly.

I literally missed the first few plays because it went by so fast.

Then again, it's pretty much a daze being up here, watching the game from this perspective, so that could also be a factor, as well.

[ragnorok99]

Had Boller thrown that ball a little higher, Clayton may have been able to turn it upfield.

Hopefully Boller will calm down on the next series.

[Cartoon_Cartooon]

PUNT?!?!?!?! we cant punt against this team!!!!! come on kyle boller make a better pass clayton was wide open!!!

[theFRANCHISE]

OMG...that hit by Ed Reed on Derek Anderson after that botched handoff was just...WOW.

I was THIS CLOSE to losing it.

[ragnorok99]

Grrrr.

[theFRANCHISE]

I must say, the crowd's definitely in this game.

For a second there, I was worried by the empty seats I saw, but they filled up QUICKLY.

I can definitely feel the crowd's presence, even here in the press box, and they're doing a good job of keeping Cleveland disoriented.

Meanwhile, Cleveland just punted, and there was a fumble on the play by either Figurs or Ross (couldn't tell, I keep missing the replay), and now Cleveland has the ball in Baltimore territory.

[Cartoon_Cartooon]

cory ross CORY ROSS!!!!! what the heck is he still doing on this damn team.....all he does is FUMBLE!!!!

[theFRANCHISE]

Calm down now, it's still early in the game.

Just wait and see what happens.

[theFRANCHISE]

THE FIELD GOAL IS NO GOOD!

[ragnorok99]

Man I love this defense.

[MKdave]

that wasn't much more than a chip shot, we got off lucky there.

I say we, i mean cory ross.

[theFRANCHISE]

...well...you can't say that Baltimore's not taking shots down the field early.

And the consolation prize is, it's almost as if Baltimore has just punted, since the Cleveland offense is starting on the 20-yard line.

Better than, say, a fumble in Baltimore territory.

Again, don't panic.

[McBoller]

not panicking...also not seeing anything worth rooting for...

[Cartoon_Cartooon]

INTERCEPTION ....KYLE BOLLER!?!?! EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[Marcus]

Atleast we threw it deep. Clayton needs to learn how to fight for the ball.

[theFRANCHISE]

That spiked ball by Jamal Lewis...definitely a slap in the face.