Who Believes In Intangibles?

[Pitts200]

I hear people talking about the previous year, the previous week, the previous quarter, the previous drive, the previous snap. But is there really such a thing as "momentum" in the NFL?

Reading all forums, people can say, "Oh the Steelers have the momentum because they beat the Pats" or "Joe has momentum because of the mean 2nd half comeback he lead".

On the other hand, people can also say, "Oh the Steelers are due for a letdown after all the emotion they played with to beat their archrival Pats" and this contradicts the idea of momentum.

Look at the Saints, after they stomped the Colts, you'd figure they would have all the "momentum" in the world but look at what the Rams did to them.

My point is, you can say someone has momentum if they play awesome the prior week but then you have an equal amount of people who will say that they are due for a mental letdown after playing so awesome the previous week.

Now don't get me wrong, I believe in momentum within a singular game and from quarter to quarter no doubt. But I believe that when the game is over all momentum that was gained or lost within the game becomes wiped clean.

What do you guys think?

[beasy2487]

I'd say mental toughness governs the game-to-game aspect while momentum lives and dies within the games themselves.

Neither will affect this game though, given the familiarity of the teams and the stakes of the game, though.

[AsianRice]

I think we're looking forward for sweeping the Steelers......

[berad]

Momentum is real. Personally, I think it's much more noticeable / real in a single game context, though. Teams can "get hot" and start rolling off points when they get it.

I don't think it's really much of a week-to-week thing. Winning games convincingly can boost the energy of a team, no doubt, but can you sustain that energy for the better part of a year while traveling to every corner of the country - with all the offseason and postseason?

[CapoRocky]

Don't underestimate the Steelers. They just didn't have the momentum when we played them the first time. Now, they have won 4 straight and are looking more challenging. Still, we are due to break out of our offensive slump. Flacco showed flashes of brilliance at times this season. The first Steelers', the Rams', and the 2nd half of the Cards' game. I think that we can win this Sunday if we don't make too many mistakes. I never take conference games lightly. The Bengals and the Browns are coming up twice.

[Bltravens]

Week to week I dont really believe in it. Each week is a brand new team with brand new challenges and completely different game plans.

[K-Dog]

Yeah momentum (both ways) is legit. No question.

If your team is doing good, the crowd is encouraging the players, and they get all happy and excited and get that swagger. Confidence. Once the confidence goes up, the mental awareness increases, the play is improved.

OR

your team cant get out of its own way. They get frustrated and discouraged. They get down on them selves, their confidence goes out the window. They start grasping at any thing to get back on top.

Then there is momentum shifters.
Turn overs are the biggest. Linking together a hand full of good plays. Or a good stop on defense.

yeah its legit.

[Crabcakes&Football]

[quote name='Pitts200' timestamp='1320101259' post='848501']
I hear people talking about the previous year, the previous week, the previous quarter, the previous drive, the previous snap. But is there really such a thing as "momentum" in the NFL?

Reading all forums, people can say, "Oh the Steelers have the momentum because they beat the Pats" or "Joe has momentum because of the mean 2nd half comeback he lead".

On the other hand, people can also say, "Oh the Steelers are due for a letdown after all the emotion they played with to beat their archrival Pats" and this contradicts the idea of momentum.

Look at the Saints, after they stomped the Colts, you'd figure they would have all the "momentum" in the world but look at what the Rams did to them.

My point is, you can say someone has momentum if they play awesome the prior week but then you have an equal amount of people who will say that they are due for a mental letdown after playing so awesome the previous week.

Now don't get me wrong, I believe in momentum within a singular game and from quarter to quarter no doubt. But I believe that when the game is over all momentum that was gained or lost within the game becomes wiped clean.

What do you guys think?
[/quote]

It's a Ravens-Steelers game. Momentum, wins/losses, whatever else it doesn't matter, both teams are gonna be ready to play and hard.

[flaccopoe]

Teams play one game at a time. How well you performed in the past doesn't dictate how you'll perform in the future.

[flaccopoe]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1320113016' post='848702']
Teams play one game at a time. How well you performed in the past doesn't dictate how you'll perform in the future. Just look at the Lions, Bills and 49ers.
[/quote]

[BenDufusberger]

As far as the upcoming game goes , I think the [u]within-game [/u]momentum is very important. If one team jumps to , say , a 10-point early lead , that'll be tough to overcome. I wouldn't count on the Ravens pulling out a big comeback like they did against the Cards.

[Alexir]

[quote name='Pitts200' timestamp='1320101259' post='848501']
I hear people talking about the previous year, the previous week, the previous quarter, the previous drive, the previous snap. But is there really such a thing as "momentum" in the NFL?

Reading all forums, people can say, "Oh the Steelers have the momentum because they beat the Pats" or "Joe has momentum because of the mean 2nd half comeback he lead".

On the other hand, people can also say, "Oh the Steelers are due for a letdown after all the emotion they played with to beat their archrival Pats" and this contradicts the idea of momentum.

Look at the Saints, after they stomped the Colts, you'd figure they would have all the "momentum" in the world but look at what the Rams did to them.

My point is, you can say someone has momentum if they play awesome the prior week but then you have an equal amount of people who will say that they are due for a mental letdown after playing so awesome the previous week.

Now don't get me wrong, I believe in momentum within a singular game and from quarter to quarter no doubt. But I believe that when the game is over all momentum that was gained or lost within the game becomes wiped clean.

What do you guys think?
[/quote]

I think we beat you guys week 1 and then we lost to the titans a week later.
I think we beat the Texans (another favorite in the AFC) and we lost to the Jaguars a week later.

I definitely don't believe in momentum from game to game but agree with momentum throughout a game.

[BmoreRavens732]

Yeah idk about week to week but def in game momentum...it's obvious every game

[bpytnjr58]

What happened in week one is out the window....This game will be much closer but just as bruising as any other Steelers/Ravens battle.

[chesapeakeaviator]

There is such a thing as being "on." The O is clicking, guys have mastered what they do, you're in a stretch where your QB is getting more time, having more patience as a whole, and what have you. Look at the Chiefs defense right now vs. the first three weeks of the year for an example of that.

In-game momentum is what it's all about in the NFL, and there's perhaps no rivalry right now in the league where that's more important than this one. Two disciplined, patient, complex offenses playing chess against each other (a la Indy-NE of years past) you won't find here. Two insane defenses jacked to the max, making destructive play after destructive play... that's Ravens-Steelers.

That's how it was meant to be enjoyed.