Yeah I Know A Win Is A Win But..

[PurpleChaos]

If anyone thinks this team is good enough to win a championship you are sadly mistaken LOL Still unable to put teams away on both sides of the ball. Love my team but as if the entire world and league didn't already know once again it was proven that our D is way old and slow. Somewhat alive in the first half of games...running on fumes when it counts. Love ya Ray and Ed but father time has caught up you both. Swallow the pride and call this your farewell tour. It has been a pleasure and a awesome ride watching you guys. The O? At this point I'm still not sure who to beatdown Flacco, Cam or both? If you don't get it after 3/4 of the season will you ever? It was evident that indeed this is a copycat league and people watch film seeing that a safety once again was blowing up our O line. I fully expect a dose of the Houston game times two vs the Saints. A short week and a big loss loom but we'll still get in the playoffs as a wildcard. Prediction...we'll dust up whoever we play first and get a reality check the following weekend . Can you say one and done class?
Ultimately this team needs some rebuilding and soul searching in the off season....if there is football next year.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' timestamp='1292328477' post='574452']
If anyone thinks this team is good enough to win a championship you are sadly mistaken LOL Still unable to put teams away on both sides of the ball. Love my team but as if the entire world and league didn't already know once again it was proven that our D is way old and slow. Somewhat alive in the first half of games...running on fumes when it counts. Love ya Ray and Ed but father time has caught up you both. Swallow the pride and call this your farewell tour. It has been a pleasure and a awesome ride watching you guys. The O? At this point I'm still not sure who to beatdown Flacco, Cam or both? If you don't get it after 3/4 of the season will you ever? It was evident that indeed this is a copycat league and people watch film seeing that a safety once again was blowing up our O line. I fully expect a dose of the Houston game times two vs the Saints. A short week and a big loss loom but we'll still get in the playoffs as a wildcard. Prediction...we'll dust up whoever we play first and get a reality check the following weekend . Can you say one and done class?
Ultimately this team needs some rebuilding and soul searching in the off season....if there is football next year.
[/quote]

I don't think it proves our D is old and slow. I think it proves that we need some more creative play calling on the offensive side so that they aren't out there 20 out of 30 mins. in the 2nd half. We need our OC to stop playing not to lose and dumping it all on the D. Not only that, I think Mattison needs to stop with the 3 man rushes all the time. We were getting good pressure then he goes to that 3 man rush and soft zone D. That is what allowed them to move down the field. Shoot our coverage was like 5-8 yds off their receivers. Wilson got burned a couple of times. Reed missed an assignment. That happens though. As long as it does not happen on a consistent basis, you're alright. These guys are exhausted by the 4th quarter though because Cam does not know how to keep attacking. And, you know, it WAS a defensive play that won the game.

Edit: We do need to fix that O line though. What in the world is going on there? How many times can teams run a safety blitz off the edge untouched for crying out loud?

[PurpleChaos]

Oh and I failed to also mention...
Who can't run on our D anymore?

[bdravens]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' timestamp='1292328477' post='574452']
If anyone thinks this team is good enough to win a championship you are sadly mistaken LOL Still unable to put teams away on both sides of the ball. Love my team but as if the entire world and league didn't already know once again it was proven that our D is way old and slow. Somewhat alive in the first half of games...running on fumes when it counts. Love ya Ray and Ed but father time has caught up you both. Swallow the pride and call this your farewell tour. It has been a pleasure and a awesome ride watching you guys. The O? At this point I'm still not sure who to beatdown Flacco, Cam or both? If you don't get it after 3/4 of the season will you ever? It was evident that indeed this is a copycat league and people watch film seeing that a safety once again was blowing up our O line. I fully expect a dose of the Houston game times two vs the Saints. A short week and a big loss loom but we'll still get in the playoffs as a wildcard. Prediction...we'll dust up whoever we play first and get a reality check the following weekend . Can you say one and done class?
Ultimately this team needs some rebuilding and soul searching in the off season....if there is football next year.
[/quote]
Well, any defense would be tired after being on the field for 40+ plays in one half of a game. Our d showed its age last night, plain and simple. If we can find a way for our offense to extend 2nd half drives, then there's no way we've played our best football yet. Your thread says "A win is a win..". When we get to the playoffs, there will be no if, ands or buts about it, a win is a win, no matter how you play.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' timestamp='1292329280' post='574464']
Oh and I failed to also mention...
Who can't run on our D anymore?
[/quote]

We've been on average holding runners at under 4 yds a carry for I think 4 yrs running now. Coming into this game we were at 4.03 yds a carry. Foster (who is an excellent RB) had a 100 yd game but 20 carries. Works out to 5 yds a carry. Pretty sure if you check out his other games you'll find his average yds per carry much higher. I didn't think they did a bad job containing Foster given his talent.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' timestamp='1292328477' post='574452']
If anyone thinks this team is good enough to win a championship you are sadly mistaken LOL
[/quote]
I guess I'm mistaken, then. But I'd like to think people around here know that I know football, and I've watched enough football to know that championship teams are never perfect and rarely dominant. Sure, it's easy for us to judge when we're afar, but ask fans of any of the Super Bowl-winning teams' fanbase how their team was doing the year they won the championship and most of them will say that their teams had problems of their own. The 2008 Steelers were a flawed team. The 2007 Giants were a flawed team. The 2006 Colts, 2005 Steelers, 2001 Patriots, and so on and so forth. Parity in the NFL has made it so that the Super Bowl Champion is no longer the clear-and-away best team in the league. It's not like in decades past, where there were no such arguments because the distinction between bad teams and good teams was so defined. This speaks not to the dilution of quality, but rather, an improved collection of talent in the NFL.

My point is, the Super Bowl Champion is the team that wins the right games at the right time. It doesn't matter how they win, it doesn't matter by how much they win, and it certainly doesn't matter how the wins look -- winning is winning, and while winning pretty or compiling win streaks is nice, it doesn't always result in a championship.

Last night's game against the Texans was gut-check time in the 4th quarter. The Ravens responded in overtime. That's all the proof I need that the team is certainly capable.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

It comes down to the offensive line, if they had managed to hold off the blitzes that the Texans threw at us on almost every play in the second half then we wouldn't be sitting here complaining.

Inability to run the ball.
Inability to stop safety blitzes.

Therefore an inability to move the ball.

I'm not feeling good about the OL, it seems like they have become increasingly worse all year. However, on the basis of last night, I would say that one good 60 minutes from them and we will have looked good all over the ball.

I refuse to blame the D in any way for the 21 unanswered points that they scored, could you see how tired they were? They had something like 51 third quarter plays to our 7. That's unacceptable from an offensive view, and I can hardly blame the D for letting up on average something like 5 yards per play because they were out there for about 22-23 minutes in the second half.

[rlh445]

Whatever. The whole point of the saying, 'A win is a win' is that there can't be a 'but' right after you say it. A win....is a win. We made the plays we had to when it counted, and that has to count for something.

[steeler hater]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1292331446' post='574487']
It comes down to the offensive line, if they had managed to hold off the blitzes that the Texans threw at us on almost every play in the second half then we wouldn't be sitting here complaining.

Inability to run the ball.
Inability to stop safety blitzes.

Therefore an inability to move the ball.

I'm not feeling good about the OL, it seems like they have become increasingly worse all year. However, on the basis of last night, I would say that one good 60 minutes from them and we will have looked good all over the ball.

I refuse to blame the D in any way for the 21 unanswered points that they scored, could you see how tired they were? They had something like 51 third quarter plays to our 7. That's unacceptable from an offensive view, and I can hardly blame the D for letting up on average something like 5 yards per play because they were out there for about 22-23 minutes in the second half.
[/quote]
Yeah, no way you can blame the defense for giving up 500 yards to Houston. Right. Don't you realize that the Texans had drives of 7 and 5 minutes in the third quarter, both resulting in fg's? When was the offense supposed to do anything? They were on the field once. We gave up an easy score at the end of the first half. Were the guys gassed, then? Please. How about the defense taking it upon themselves to force a three-and-out when needed? That might let them catch their breath.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1292331446' post='574487']
I refuse to blame the D in any way for the 21 unanswered points that they scored, could you see how tired they were? They had something like 51 third quarter plays to our 7. That's unacceptable from an offensive view, and I can hardly blame the D for letting up on average something like 5 yards per play because they were out there for about 22-23 minutes in the second half.
[/quote]
Though the offense deserves blame for not maintaining control of the clock and the ball to give the defense rest, there were several opportunities for the defense to end drives on 3rd down and once or twice on 4th down. The blame should be shared here, especially since there was a lot of prevent defense being played after gaining such a big lead.

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' timestamp='1292328477' post='574452']
If anyone thinks this team is good enough to win a championship you are sadly mistaken LOL Still unable to put teams away on both sides of the ball. Love my team but as if the entire world and league didn't already know once again it was proven that our D is way old and slow. Somewhat alive in the first half of games...running on fumes when it counts. Love ya Ray and Ed but father time has caught up you both. Swallow the pride and call this your farewell tour. It has been a pleasure and a awesome ride watching you guys. The O? At this point I'm still not sure who to beatdown Flacco, Cam or both? If you don't get it after 3/4 of the season will you ever? It was evident that indeed this is a copycat league and people watch film seeing that a safety once again was blowing up our O line. I fully expect a dose of the Houston game times two vs the Saints. A short week and a big loss loom but we'll still get in the playoffs as a wildcard. Prediction...we'll dust up whoever we play first and get a reality check the following weekend . Can you say one and done class?
Ultimately this team needs some rebuilding and soul searching in the off season....if there is football next year.
[/quote]
Every D looks old and slow when there Offense goes 3 and out and doesn't give them a break

[FazerOnStun]

well the way i look at it is 5th seed goes to play kansas city or jacksonville, and weve proven we can limit big name backs. and matt cassell isnt that great so thats a win... and then we take the trip up to new england which is red hot right now. but we def know how to smack them in the mouth. so despite the heart attacks the ravens have given us, I feel good man lol

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='FazerOnStun' timestamp='1292333829' post='574524']
well the way i look at it is 5th seed goes to play kansas city or jacksonville, and weve proven we can limit big name backs. and matt cassell isnt that great so thats a win... and then we take the trip up to new england which is red hot right now. but we def know how to smack them in the mouth. so despite the heart attacks the ravens have given us, I feel good man lol
[/quote]
As many dramatic games as the team has given us, you deserve to feel good about this team because, looking at the potential playoff field, the Ravens in the past two years have either played all of them close or beaten them. Though we, as fans, would love to see domination, that's not likely with all of the close games that every team has played this year. Also, playoff blowouts are relatively rare, even though one seems to happen every year.

If there's anything to take comfort in, it's that, win or lose, there'll at least be a quality game. It may not be pretty, but it's Ravens football.

[Spuds]

Well is wasn't pretty and sometimes ugly but we pulled another one out. This team has all the players to be champions and now it is time for the coaching staff to step up to the plate. We did get our special teams working finally with good punts and kick-offs. Our D played good but where was the blitzing. What, a three man rush, "come on" look at the other teams around the league they stack the line and blitz when needed. And what about the offensive pay calling? We were going to have that killer instinct and close games. Can we not ever finish a team off and give the D a rest! Who says that we need to run through the middle on most run plays. What happened to those short over the middle passes. We did not even use Dickson or Pita like we did last week. Does our coaches have brain fade. Don't fix it if it's not broke. If it works then stick with it. We need to pass to Housh more and where was Stallworth last night. Come on use the tools that we have. The season only gets longer now.

[beach08]

What's our chances of a HOME playoff game being the 5th seed, or all Road???

[1/28/01]

[quote name='beach08' timestamp='1292335791' post='574593']
What's our chances of a HOME playoff game being the 5th seed, or all Road???
[/quote]
No way we have a home playoff game as the 5th seed....we would need to take the division.

We'd have to play the 6th seed in the AFC Championship game in order to have a home game.

[757RavensFan]

If you told me an hour before the game that the Ravens would would score 3 offensive TDs, 1 Special Team TD and a TD by the def, I would have done a back flip.

However, scoring 3 off TDs in the 1st half, a kickoff return in the first 15 seconds of the 2nd half and a INT for a TD in OT tells a totally different story.

Like many have stated, a win is a win but I don't feel good about this one. Ironically, I feel worse than I did after we lost to the Steelers last week. Hard to explain.

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' timestamp='1292328477' post='574452']
If anyone thinks this team is good enough to win a championship you are sadly mistaken LOL Still unable to put teams away on both sides of the ball. Love my team but as if the entire world and league didn't already know once again it was proven that our D is way old and slow. Somewhat alive in the first half of games...running on fumes when it counts. Love ya Ray and Ed but father time has caught up you both. Swallow the pride and call this your farewell tour. It has been a pleasure and a awesome ride watching you guys. The O? At this point I'm still not sure who to beatdown Flacco, Cam or both? If you don't get it after 3/4 of the season will you ever? It was evident that indeed this is a copycat league and people watch film seeing that a safety once again was blowing up our O line. I fully expect a dose of the Houston game times two vs the Saints. A short week and a big loss loom but we'll still get in the playoffs as a wildcard. Prediction...we'll dust up whoever we play first and get a reality check the following weekend . Can you say one and done class?
Ultimately this team needs some rebuilding and soul searching in the off season....if there is football next year

Ed and Ray are you kidding me? Im fans of these guys sure, but did you pay attention to some of the poorest play coming from Jarrett Johnson, Nakumura, Kelley Gregg, Paul Kruger, Tavares Gooden. But Jarret by far the worst. He has been bad all season. Where is Ellerbe?

[PuRock]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' timestamp='1292328477' post='574452']
If anyone thinks this team is good enough to win a championship you are sadly mistaken LOL Still unable to put teams away on both sides of the ball. Love my team but as if the entire world and league didn't already know once again it was proven that our D is way old and slow. Somewhat alive in the first half of games...running on fumes when it counts. Love ya Ray and Ed but father time has caught up you both. Swallow the pride and call this your farewell tour. It has been a pleasure and a awesome ride watching you guys. The O? At this point I'm still not sure who to beatdown Flacco, Cam or both? If you don't get it after 3/4 of the season will you ever? It was evident that indeed this is a copycat league and people watch film seeing that a safety once again was blowing up our O line. I fully expect a dose of the Houston game times two vs the Saints. A short week and a big loss loom but we'll still get in the playoffs as a wildcard. Prediction...we'll dust up whoever we play first and get a reality check the following weekend . Can you say one and done class?
Ultimately this team needs some rebuilding and soul searching in the off season....if there is football next year.
[/quote]

I don't know about you. But I was taught to fight until the end. We have a 2 game lead on the 7th and 8th spots. Get to the dance and who knows, you might get lucky.

But now is not the time to give up.

[PuRock]

[quote name='beach08' timestamp='1292335791' post='574593']
What's our chances of a HOME playoff game being the 5th seed, or all Road???
[/quote]

Arizona did a few years back when it was 5th vs. 6th seed. But the NFC was really bad. The chances of us getting a home game I give a slim 10%.

[bmorefan444]

The second half disgusted me. Our offense hung the D out to dry. There is no reason we should be shut down in the second half of every game. What is it? 28 points in one half doesn't matter if you can't keep your offense on the field. I think we had 10 offensive snaps the entire second half. That is unacceptable, especially against one of the leagues worst defenses.
Our defense was tired bc they couldn't get a break, but they made Matt Schuab look like Jesus. I can't wait for Brees to come to town...

Im happy we won, but I wish we could've put that game away much earlier.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='steeler hater' timestamp='1292332592' post='574500']
Yeah, no way you can blame the defense for giving up 500 yards to Houston. Right. Don't you realize that the Texans had drives of 7 and 5 minutes in the third quarter, both resulting in fg's? When was the offense supposed to do anything? They were on the field once. We gave up an easy score at the end of the first half. Were the guys gassed, then? Please. How about the defense taking it upon themselves to force a three-and-out when needed? That might let them catch their breath.
[/quote]

Ok, to say that I don't blame the defense at all was a little extreme, but the majority has to go on the offense. We knew coming into this game that Houston was the most explosive offense that we had faced in a while, and that we would need a good game from Flacco and co. to win. We [i]just[/i] scraped a win after another terrible second half from the offense, where they did next to nothing with the chances that they did get on the ball.

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1292338510' post='574680']
Ok, to say that I don't blame the defense at all was a little extreme, but the majority has to go on the offense. We knew coming into this game that Houston was the most explosive offense that we had faced in a while, and that we would need a good game from Flacco and co. to win. We [i]just[/i] scraped a win after another terrible second half from the offense, where they did next to nothing with the chances that they did get on the ball.
[/quote]

You know it happens every week so I don't know why people are all mad and shocked. At this point in the season, nothing is going to change with the play calling so never feel safe with a lead. I can only look at the positives from now on because I want a SB this year for Ray and Ed, but Cameron has to go next year so we can seek that consistency this offense sorely needs

[theFRANCHISE]

The second half was bad, but I'm not freaking out over it. When you're able to find a way to win the game and you can still mathematically afford to lose two more games before the end of the season with 3 left to play, panic isn't really necessary. Of the Texans' 7 losses entering this game, 5 of them were decided by 10 points or less. The Texans were a desperate team playing at home in front of a raucous crowd. They had more to lose than the Ravens. I almost expected it to be close, although the early lead definitely made me doubt myself.

The Ravens aren't flashy, but they're getting the job done.

[jagans]

Why the LOL Purple? Our team, to a man, appeared to be in [i][u][b]horrible physical condition[/b][/u][/i] last night. They are really out of shape. Where was the penetration on defense? I hate to say it but I think Big Ray is tired and hurt. He seems to be showing up late on every play anymore after significant yardage has been gained. I love the guy, but you gotta know when to fold em like the song says. I just hope he goes out in style, not like Willie Mays, or Brett Favre.

[Whitty Hutton]

The defense was on the field for about 70 plays after half-time. This aint Madden, and The Incredible Hulk would probably be gassed running around that much. And they have to do it every game becuase the offense is going back to Boller era efficiency. And add to the fact that Harbaugh works the team like dogs in practice as well. They're playing in pads on Wednesdays. At this ppoint in the season, yeah being tired is understandable

[Displaced Fan]

I am still sick about last Thursday so I'll tell you where to start Cam Cameron,he is one step above Ted Marchibroda in originality. Joe Flaco,sure he throws a pretty ball but I don't think he reads a defense till after the ball is snapped.Sure would explain alot when I see other quarterbacks with a little sense of urgency. I live in Steeler country so our losses to them are very hard to take especially when we do it to ourselves. You mean to tell me with all the Ravens staff up in booths on the sideline no one saw Polamalu uncovered. I am 190 miles away watching it on tv and knew what was coming,Flaco is 5ft away from Polamalu and not only doesnt call out protection, worse turns his back on him to throw a swing pass. Last night again their safety spent more time in our backfield than Rice. And finally the defensive coordinator,He has taken an aggressive defense and turned into a generic no surprises unexciting squad. if it wasnt for their individual talents we would be a joke.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='Displaced Fan' timestamp='1292341388' post='574804']
I am still sick about last Thursday so I'll tell you where to start Cam Cameron,he is one step above Ted Marchibroda in originality. Joe Flaco,sure he throws a pretty ball but I don't think he reads a defense till after the ball is snapped.Sure would explain alot when I see other quarterbacks with a little sense of urgency. I live in Steeler country so our losses to them are very hard to take especially when we do it to ourselves. You mean to tell me with all the Ravens staff up in booths on the sideline no one saw Polamalu uncovered. I am 190 miles away watching it on tv and knew what was coming,Flaco is 5ft away from Polamalu and not only doesnt call out protection, worse turns his back on him to throw a swing pass. Last night again their safety spent more time in our backfield than Rice. And finally the defensive coordinator,He has taken an aggressive defense and turned into a generic no surprises unexciting squad. if it wasnt for their individual talents we would be a joke.
[/quote]

*yawn* This place sounds like a broken record.

I'm sorry, but the Steelers stack the line sometimes, so it's hard to see where EVERY defender is all the time. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Joe just couldn't see Troy behind all the other Steelers who were blitzing.

[Displaced Fan]

[quote name='bmorefan444' timestamp='1292338341' post='574674']
The second half disgusted me. Our offense hung the D out to dry. There is no reason we should be shut down in the second half of every game. What is it? 28 points in one half doesn't matter if you can't keep your offense on the field. I think we had 10 offensive snaps the entire second half. That is unacceptable, especially against one of the leagues worst defenses.
Our defense was tired bc they couldn't get a break, but they made Matt Schuab look like Jesus. I can't wait for Brees to come to town...

Im happy we won, but I wish we could've put that game away much earlier.
[/quote]
I agree, if our defense is on the field any where near as long against Saints its going to be ugly. rush 3 aginst Brees all nite and he will put up 40pts. Just like Thurs. game we dominated 1st half but left them hanging around and did nothing in the second half

[ninpiggy]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1292330751' post='574476']
I guess I'm mistaken, then. But I'd like to think people around here know that I know football, and I've watched enough football to know that championship teams are never perfect and rarely dominant. Sure, it's easy for us to judge when we're afar, but ask fans of any of the Super Bowl-winning teams' fanbase how their team was doing the year they won the championship and most of them will say that their teams had problems of their own. The 2008 Steelers were a flawed team. The 2007 Giants were a flawed team. The 2006 Colts, 2005 Steelers, 2001 Patriots, and so on and so forth. Parity in the NFL has made it so that the Super Bowl Champion is no longer the clear-and-away best team in the league. It's not like in decades past, where there were no such arguments because the distinction between bad teams and good teams was so defined. This speaks not to the dilution of quality, but rather, an improved collection of talent in the NFL.

My point is, the Super Bowl Champion is the team that wins the right games at the right time [/quote]

Beautifully stated, thank you.