We Took A Huge Step Back

[jonnyloback76]

[quote name='bmorefan444' timestamp='1287353403' post='511045']
This week: "Huge step back, we suck!"
Next week: "superbowl, here we come"
[/quote]

Not me. It's been like watching a dog try to walk on ice since game one; even against back-up QBs. It has been about just waiting to see the dog slip and watching to see if Flacco has grown or the secondary is ACTUALLY that good since game one.

All of that was answered today.

[bmorefan444]

Seriously though? A huge step back? We lost by 3 points, 13 minutes into overtime to a very good football team and an extremely good coach that had an extra week to prepare. OH NOOO!

[Vademor]

No need to panic, it was an extremely close game. Yes both the O and D played poorly at the finish, but I don't think it is a HUGE step back.

[robbcs3]

we are going to lose games. Would you rather it be an OT loss to one of the best teams of the last decade in their house, or a blowout loss to a team like the lions? We are a good team that played an pretty good game today, just not good enough.

[bauer77]

[quote name='Bullet Six' timestamp='1287353146' post='511028']
You people just don't get it do you? To be a superbowl contender we HAVE to win these games. If not, we will do the same thing we do in the post season for the past 2 years. You think superbowl teams lose these games? No, they don't, thats why they are SUPERBOWL contenders.

On another note, I think some of this has to do with Cam's play calling. Every time the pressure is on, he clams up and turns into Billick jr. When Flacco was named starting QB in his rookie season, and we had no expectations of the team to do well, is when Cam called his best games. He does great without pressure and expectations.
[/quote]



so basically what you are saying is the superbowl team never loses tough games? i believe the saints lost a couple tough ones at the end last year

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='jonnyloback76' timestamp='1287353653' post='511067']
Not me. It's been like watching a dog try to walk on ice since game one; even against back-up QBs. It has been about just waiting to see the dog slip and watching to see if [b]Flacco has grown or the secondary is ACTUALLY that good since game one.[/b]

[b]All of that was answered today.[/b]
[/quote]

So Joe's good performance today and the secondary giving up plays to a sure-fire Hall of Fame QB mean what exactly?

[K-Dog]

[quote name='bmorefan444' timestamp='1287353742' post='511073']
Seriously though? A huge step back? We lost by 3 points, 13 minutes into overtime to a very good football team and an extremely good coach that had an extra week to prepare. OH NOOO!
[/quote]

you forgot to mention is was an away game.

[bmorefan444]

[quote name='K-Dog' timestamp='1287354173' post='511097']
you forgot to mention is was an away game.
[/quote]

haha thanks for that. Just adds to my point.

[rlh445]

[quote name='robbcs3' timestamp='1287353840' post='511081']
we are going to lose games. Would you rather it be an OT loss to one of the best teams of the last decade in their house, or a blowout loss to a team like the lions? We are a good team that played an pretty good game today, just not good enough.
[/quote]

I'd rather take a blowout loss to the Lions because A) they aren't in our conference and I like them a heck of a lot better then I like the Patriots. Losing to a team like the Patriots in a game like this makes me much sadder then getting blown out by the Lions, or heck the Patriots for that matter. This loss hurts alot because we had them in our sights, they were backpedaling. We weren't just in the game, we were winning by two scores.

And why do people add all these other 'stats' (can't think of another word for it) when talking about this? Who cares if they're 'one of the best teams', who cares if we were in their house (because that crowd today was deathly quiet up until we started to blow it in the fourth quarter), who cares that they were coming off the bye? I'd have rather gotten blown out by the Patriots if we're going to list all these reasons that were 'against' the Ravens. And yet none of those things mattered, all that mattered was that we just plain fell apart with the lead at a critical time. That didn't have anything to do with playing the Patsies in their house, or what their after the bye record was, or anything else except that WE fell apart.

[Bullet Six]

[quote name='bauer77' timestamp='1287353870' post='511083']
so basically what you are saying is the superbowl team never loses tough games? i believe the saints lost a couple tough ones at the end last year
[/quote]

Its not about losing a game. It's about losing a game like this, one that we had SO MANY opportunities to win. Good football teams don't blow this many chances IMO. Not saying we are not good, but we have to improve to be SB contenders.

[bmorefan444]

[quote name='rlh445' timestamp='1287354437' post='511111']
I'd rather take a blowout loss to the Lions because A) they aren't in our conference and I like them a heck of a lot better then I like the Patriots. Losing to a team like the Patriots in a game like this makes me much sadder then getting blown out by the Lions, or heck the Patriots for that matter. This loss hurts alot because we had them in our sights, they were backpedaling. We weren't just in the game, we were winning by two scores.

And why do people add all these other 'stats' (can't think of another word for it) when talking about this? Who cares if they're 'one of the best teams', who cares if we were in their house (because that crowd today was deathly quiet up until we started to blow it in the fourth quarter), who cares that they were coming off the bye? I'd have rather gotten blown out by the Patriots if we're going to list all these reasons that were 'against' the Ravens. And yet none of those things mattered, all that mattered was that we just plain fell apart with the lead at a critical time. That didn't have anything to do with playing the Patsies in their house, or what their after the bye record was, or anything else except that WE fell apart.
[/quote]

Your right. We didn't do what we were suppose to do in the 4th quarter, but it doesn't mean we took a HUGE STEP BACK. This game could've gone either way. We have a team that can put together an 80 yard drive late in the fourth. Just because they can't do it EVERY WEEK does not give anyone reason to panic.

[ravensdfan]

First, I think Cam is the issue here in this game. You cannot sit on a 10 pt lead against a team like the Patriots. We should have stuck to our initial offensive play calling and not gone all "Oh look! We're winning! Let's not throw the ball downfield again at all the rest of the game!" I've seen Cam do this time and time and time again.


Second, though it feels like it (yep. Feels like it for me too) it is not the end of the world or even the season for the Ravens. We need to remind ourselves that despite how emotional this loss may feel we are still 4-2 coming out of some very tough games on the road. That is not a bad place to be. Add to that our divisional foes must face these same teams this season.

We are 4-2. Just look at the Cowboys and Vikings who are currently fighting it out to see who drops to 1-4 and realize that the winner is happy to be 2-3. Nope. 4-2 is an alright place to be with this tough stretch of our schedule behind us.

[jonnyloback76]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1287353965' post='511087']
So Joe's good today and the secondary giving up plays to a sure-fire Hall of Fame QB mean what exactly?
[/quote]

Who cares if Brady is going into the Hall of Fame or not. That has nothing to do with anything.

Are you addressing how good Brady is capable of playing? Because the Ravens are facing Schaub, Rothelisberger, Brees, Palmer (eh), Ryan, and Henne. I would compare Henne to Orton almost, or capable of similar stats. I kind of wonder how Freeman might do. He's had a couple decent games lately.

Fact is that the Ravens secondary gave up around 300 yards to ORTON and Brady. Then they have the above QBs.

As for Flacco, he could go 42 for 48 with 551 yards in a game. It's when the GAME is on the line that matters. If he comes out with pinpoint precision, like he did today, and he can't maintain it to bring home the W, like today, then the rest of the game doesn't matter IMO. He CAN do it. Just today, late in the game he seemed "pressured" a lot again.

[jonnyloback76]

[quote name='ravensdfan' timestamp='1287355351' post='511151']
First, I think Cam is the issue here in this game. You cannot sit on a 10 pt lead against a team like the Patriots. We should have stuck to our initial offensive play calling and not gone all "Oh look! We're winning! Let's not throw the ball downfield again at all the rest of the game!" I've seen Cam do this time and time and time again.
[/quote]

CAMERON almost always has something to do with it. Obviously the team doesn't care he costs the Ravens games and calls terrible plays, he plays "Football 101" rather then the team they are facing. They're not going to fire him and I've accepted that.

If he plays the Saints and there's 3:48 left, Cameron is going to stand there and call a bunch of runs hoping the Ravens get a first down.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='jonnyloback76' timestamp='1287355637' post='511163']
Who cares if Brady is going into the Hall of Fame or not. That has nothing to do with anything.

Are you addressing how good Brady is capable of playing? Because the Ravens are facing Schaub, Rothelisberger, Brees, Palmer (eh), Ryan, and Henne. I would compare Henne to Orton almost, or capable of similar stata. I kind of wonder how Freeman might do. He's had a couple decent games lately.

Fact is that the Ravens secondary gave up around 300 yards to ORTON and Brady. Then they have the above QBs.

As for Flacco, he could go 42 for 48 with 551 yards in a game. It's when the GAME is on the line that matters. If he comes out with pinpoint precision, like he did today, and he can't maintain it to bring home the W, like today, then the rest of the game doesn't matter IMO. He CAN do it. Just today, late in the game he seemed "pressured" a lot again.
[/quote]

I think his future HOF-status means he's a good QB as evidenced by some of the plays he made today. So it is relevant.

Around 40 yards of Orton's 300 yards come in the last minute when the game was clearly over. Brady getting 300 yards means squat to me because he's a damn good QB, the Ravens' pass rush isn't very consistent and the secondary is playing without it's best player.

To your final paragraph, Joe maintained "pinpoint precision" all game today. Honestly, how many times did he drop back and either throw a dump-off to Rice because no one was open or have to roll left to try and extend the play?

[MsMarvel73]

[quote name='J-man' timestamp='1287352143' post='510962']
This is why I'm done with this board, seriously, we lose, its a "huge step back," when we win, then we are the best team in the league. I'm done.
[/quote]

I feel the same way sometimes but I'm not going to leave my friends.

[SnOoPy]

Tough lost. But C'mon a huge step back? No way. we're 4-2 and they're so many game to be played left. Yeah we could of won this game but oh well. On to the next game. Every game won't be pretty. This L will only make our team better. Now we get Ed Reed back! Now our Ravens have that nasty taste in their mouth. I feel sorry for the Bills..

[bmorefan444]

The Tom Brady Xfinity ad at the top of my screen isn't helping.

[Ravens549]

Way too much reliance upon Rice. Why do we have all these big name receivers. plus, play McGahee more!

[Runnin Raven]

Not a huge step back but the offense's continuous disappearing acts and LeRon's unforgiveable penalty reminded me of uglier days. Still, it was NE in Foxborough, with 2 weeks to prepare. We had the game to win, even in overtime, and just plain failed. I do find it hard to believe that NONE of our big-name wideouts couldn't get open - Joe had some time to throw but turned into captain checkdown again.

Disappointed, but it was a game we could/should have won. Team needs to hopefully brush BUF aside and get healthy over the bye.

[bmorefan444]

Poor Buffalo. They are coming into our town to face an angry team.

[jonnyloback76]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1287356089' post='511191']
I think his future HOF-status means he's a good QB as evidenced by some of the plays he made today. So it is relevant.

Around 40 yards of Orton's 300 yards come in the last minute when the game was clearly over. Brady getting 300 yards means squat to me because he's a damn good QB, the Ravens' pass rush isn't very consistent and the secondary is playing without it's best player.

To your final paragraph, Joe maintained "pinpoint precision" all game today. Honestly, how many times did he drop back and either throw a dump-off to Rice because no one was open or have to roll left to try and extend the play?
[/quote]

So because Henne or Freeman haven't reached the stats that Brady has, that has an impact on a game? Brady has experience. You seem like you might be forgetting Orton? Orton did the same thing and he doesn't have the "history" that Brady has yeah?

I don't understand your second paragraph. Did the Ravens allow the yards or not? Are we not counting yards in the final minute of a game this year?

It was Joe's "head motions" for lack of a better term. It's like he was trying to "press" the game or something. Like the composure he had during the first three quarters wasn't there. It has more to do with CAMERON then it does Flacco though. Joe wanted to "go for it" that one time and he didn't look thrilled with several of the play calls. His OC shouldn't put him in that position. Cameron coached Brees and Rivers and I'm REALLY not going into that again. LOL.

This team should be putting up more then 20 points a game, the RAVENS squad.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

Joe Flacco played extremely well the majority of the game. It's not his fault the D gave up 23 points.

The Ravens just have to play consistently on both sides of the ball. I'm proud of our team despite a few problems I had with them.

Cheer up guys. ED'S BACK!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='jonnyloback76' timestamp='1287357169' post='511242']
So because Henne or Freeman haven't reached the stats that Brady has, that has an impact on a game? Brady has experience. But you seem like you might be forgetting Orton. Orton did the same thing and he doesn't have the "history" that Brady has yeah?

I don't understand your second paragraph. Did the Ravens allow the yards or not? Are we not counting yards in the final minute of a game this year?

It was Joe's "head motions" for lack of a better term. It's like he was trying to "press" the game or something. Like the composure he had during the first three quarters wasn't there. It has more to do with CAMERON then it does Flacco though. Joe wanted to "go for it" that one time and he didn't look thrilled with several of the play calls. His OC shouldn't put him in that position. Cameron coached Brees and Rivers and I'm REALLY not going into that again. LOL.

This team should be putting up more then 20 points a game, the RAVENS squad.
[/quote]

Do either Henne or Freeman have the experience Brady or Orton have? Are either of the former QBs as good as the latter? You brought up them up as if they were QBs that will carve the Ravens up through the air.

No one denied the Ravens gave up those yards. But good secondaries and good defenses have given up 300 yards before. It isn't a number that indicates the Ravens' secondary is overrated or whatever you trying to insinuate.

I agree that Came should put for faith in Joe and of the offense on that 4th and short situation in the 4th quarter and that they be putting up more than 20 points a game.

[Milton145]

Ravens just got to find a way to beat good teams. It's what we have struggled with the past few years. It's great that we can dominate mediocre teams like we should, but those elite teams we have trouble against and we will never make the Superbowl if we can't win against good teams consistently.

Yeah we beat Jets. No problem there.

Yeah we beat Steelers who didn't have their starting QB who more than likely would have put up more than 14 points on us.

The feeling of this loss isn't going to go away from me until we beat an elite team with no questions asked. I didn't buy into all the "Cam sucks at play calling stuff" but after seeing the play calling in OT, I'll admit he was FAR to conservative.

[poedacrow]

The Ravens are 4-2 after a brutal road trip and having lost to NE in Foxboro...in Overtime by three points..yup a huge Step Back...we are surely done for....

[Romo Ravens]

I can't believe we lost when we had a 10 point lead to start the fourth. Cameron's conservative play calling has me fuming at the moment, and it will last at least until next week.

On top of that, we lost to a Moss-less Patriots team with a horrible run defense and a young secondary, and Ray only averaged less than four yards per carry. It's evident that the Patriots went into the bye week focusing on stopping our running attack, so Flacco airs it out and does well, but our defense couldn't stop them when it mattered the most? Why do we have to be so sporadic? Why couldn't we stop over the hill Branch? We can't we ever contain a white RB lol?

But the good news is, we have the Bills at home next week. Perhaps we'll have an Ed Reed and Donte' Stallworth sighting, and Rice can get his feet back against a bad defense. But still, I was looking forward to 5-1 man, this loss really hurts...

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Some of this play calling has me baffled.

[b]Why we perserve with runs against stacked boxes is beyond me[/b]. Spread the defence out for goodness sake, its not rocket science. We're bottling ourselves up whilst enabling defenders to double cover on our receivers.

Also the number of sideline routes is becoming ridiculous. Where are the post patterns? You don't need to double team receivers who are breaking to the outside and aren't a threat of beating you over the top after making their first move.

Wake up Cameron & co.

The vanilla play calling on both sides of the ball is largely responsible for this loss.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='poedacrow' timestamp='1287358268' post='511287']
The Ravens are 4-2 after a brutal road trip and having lost to NE in Foxboro...in Overtime by three points..yup a huge Step Back...we are surely done for....
[/quote]
I didn't say we were done for but for some reason, you think I did.

[Jabara]

The Ravens just looked really tired in the 4th quarter, as if all these road games are catching up to them, especially after the Pats bye week, who were able to remain fresh all game.
I'm not exactly sure how it's done, but we need to be able to put teams away, we had our chances, we just need to finish. Harbs actually mentioned that a few weeks ago so I imagine they are working on that.
Cam baffles me, sometimes in a good way, but today was in a bad way.
We left that win on the field, now we need to be consistent for 60 minutes.