Stars of the Game (AFCCG Edition)

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Here we go again!

Great all around effort. Can't single one guy out for playing badly, but can point out a million guys for playing great. Here it goes:

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]-Joe Flacco - As Sarah Ellison said, that was a BIG BOY game from Joe. He is elite and is now going to the super bowl.[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]-Anquan Boldin - Joe threw it up to him and he went up and got it.......two HUGE touchdowns and a few huge catches to move the chains [/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]-Bernard Pollard - Aside from forcing the fumble, he was ALL OVER the place. Awesome job by 31[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]-Haloti Ngata - After being quiet a lot this year, he was back to his elite form tonight. He causes a lot of chaos, even in the screen game lol[/font][/color]
-Danell Ellerbe - Still Defensive MVP for us IMO
-Dennis Pitta - Another great game from the "white TE"
-Coaching staff - After looking kind of rough in the first half, they made great adjustments, put up a 21-0 run, and we're on our way to NO.
-OL - Besides a few plays, they protected Joe really well and got some nice push in the run game.
-Ray Lewis - self explanatory
-DB's - Even tho they gave up some plays, they helped shut down NE in the 2nd half.
-Pernell Mcphee - Pretty much forced the first INT. He was solid all night long.
-The RB's - Both made some HUGE plays in both the run and pass game.
-Torrey Smith - Did a great job going up and getting some balls over the middle.
-Cary Williams - Mostly solid, we knew Brady was going to call his number a lot. Game sealing pick as well.

[msufan]

Bias but I feel McPhee needs more love him tipping the ball killed any chance of a comeback.

[omar586]

Great team performance cross the board

[K-Dog]

the whole team AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!

Even the guys who squirt water into the players mouths. They did a stellar job as well.

EVERY ONE !!!!!!!!

[bMore Heathen]

I was talking with my buddies and I think that slow first half might have been intentional, to limit half time adjustments. Think about it, if we go spread in the first half, the Pats go in and see what we're doing and come up with a plan to stop it.
They can't adjust to it if they haven't seen it yet...

[K-Dog]

[quote name='bMore Heathen' timestamp='1358741297' post='1322996']
I was talking with my buddies and I think that slow first half might have been intentional, to limit half time adjustments. Think about it, if we go spread in the first half, the Pats go in and see what we're doing and come up with a plan to stop it.
They can't adjust to it if they haven't seen it yet...
[/quote]

I would not doubt that...

[ghost1986]

[quote name='msufan' timestamp='1358741140' post='1322981']
Bias but I feel McPhee needs more love him tipping the ball killed any chance of a comeback.
[/quote]
Definitely. And it wasn't just the one time. He tipped it again afterwards. The whole team has stepped up. I cant stand that ESPN chef commercial. The Rondo one is better. Our whole team stepped up

[hawkprey]

Flacco was the biggest star today. Not that it was an overwhelming performance. Looked like the wind made it tough.

But the run game couldn't get much going. The receivers were getting crushed on their routes and dropping passes. Caldwell put the ball in Joe's hands after a frustrating run-first 1st half and he gave us two long TD drives that gave the D a chance to attack Brady.

The O-line was good, but the Pats don't offer that much in pass protection and the run blocking was meh.

Everyone on the D made plays, but no one really took the spotlight. It's gotta be the QB.

[ghost1986]

[quote name='bMore Heathen' timestamp='1358741297' post='1322996']
I was talking with my buddies and I think that slow first half might have been intentional, to limit half time adjustments. Think about it, if we go spread in the first half, the Pats go in and see what we're doing and come up with a plan to stop it.
They can't adjust to it if they haven't seen it yet...
[/quote]
I saw someone else say this and that's not a bad assumption. You know what impresses me about Caldwell? He understands the definition of "adjustment" I wouldn't say he's a long term guy, but unfortunately, Norv went to the Browns as their OC.

[PuRock]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1358742060' post='1323051']
[b]Flacco was the biggest star today[/b]. Not that it was an overwhelming performance. Looked like the wind made it tough.

[/quote]

Agreed if I had to pick one. Its Joe. Last week I picked the O-Line. But it wasn't until we unleashed Joe that we won the game. O-line was solid. But Joe made some throws. Even when his guys were dropping balls. He continued to have faith.

[D_UP]

The team! Go Ravens

[PuRock]

[quote name='D_UP' timestamp='1358742155' post='1323062']
The team! Go Ravens
[/quote]

There really weren't any guys that had a sub-par game. Everybody seemed to play at a high level and worked as a team. Makes me sooooo proud.

[GrimCoconut]

Joe Flacco was the star of the game. He put the team on his back.

[bMore Heathen]

How about some love for Big Mac!!!!! Lost in the shuffle, the guy has been a wall on Flacco's blind side, and a big reason the passing game has flourished. Michael Oher has proven his a RT only so I think we may have to give him at least a 1 year deal to keep him next year.

[Girl_20]

Totally agree!! Mckinney and Oher have stepped it up for the playoff's!! and this year in general I'v always said that Oher is much better on the right side rather than on the blind side!

[Purple Nurple]

Yeah. He's been solid. I think there's an option on his contract to hire him next year. I hope he gets his bonuses.

Somebody will clarify soon, lol.

[flaccopoe]

McKinnie's done splendidly in his transition! They should make a documentary about the change and call it [i]The Blind Side PArt II[/i]! If there'a a better RT, then I think BAL must go for him.

[BloodRaven]

He's solid in pass pro, there were one or two times he got beat and used his length to come back and stop the sack. The one sack he gave up was more Flacco's fault.

His run blocking is hit and miss, sometimes he hustles hard and other times he lets gets tired. He has the same problem as Osemele and loses balance when he misses targets.

[Corvus_corax]

The improved play of the O-Line has been vital for us. Bryant McKinnie has been a big part of that. He'll have his hands full in the Superbowl with Aldon Smith lining up opposite him.

[Corvus_corax]

There were lots of great performances tonight but if I had to single out 3 people I would give praise to..........

Joe Flacco - Outstanding second half performance.
Anquan Boldin - 2 TD's. What more do you want?
Bernard Pollard - He was a human wrecking ball in this game.

[BenMir]

I know the whole Oline did good but KO is a rookie and he basically shut down Wilfork and really, as we saw last year, big Vinny is a game wrecker.

[JayDaRavensFan]

Gotta mention Jim Caldwell for making the necessary changes and letting Joe go play ball when needed to because the traditional attack wasnt getting it done. Still ended up with 120 rushing yards i believe and won time of possession.

[NaveSenrag]

[quote name='BenMir' timestamp='1358766938' post='1323714']
I know the whole Oline did good but KO is a rookie and he basically shut down Wilfork and really, as we saw last year, big Vinny is a game wrecker.
[/quote]
Only time I heard Wilcock's name was when the commentators were talking about not saying his name. The Pats D-line was pretty quiet the whole game. They were killer against inside runners, but they only got to Joe 2 and a half times in the whole game.

[Ravenslifer]

Jim Caldwell's adjustments were huge. Bernard Pierce was an absolute beast, and I'm very proud of Ray Rice - all over he was having a miserable day, but he made a couple of huge plays when we needed him to, and I feel like over the years, when he's had an off day, it's been a serious off day - he would do nothing. But today, in spite of the fact that he's never played particularly well against the Patriots save the one playoff game, he stuck to his guns and had some key moments. Of course, Rice's lack of production at times was also due to Cam, who would just stop running the ball - I notice one huge difference between Cam and Jim is that Jim definitely seems to trust his players to make plays a lot more than Cam ever did, and I think it's paying huge dividends.

[TZMou]

We'd have won a lot more games this season had he been able to play.

[Ravenslifer]

Once again, he underscores the importance of finding a long-term solution at left tackle.

[jdynamite]

Bernard Pierce needs big props, he ran great all game, showed great instincts and vision when to bounce outside, toughness gaining every inch possible on each touch he received.

McPhee had a few big tips, McPhee, Suggs, Ellerbe, Kruger all were getting pressure to disrupt Brady's timing although they didn't finish with the sacks we would all like.

Boldin has been Huge, he has talked the talk and walked the walk all postseason.

Caldwell- for adjusting his playcalling in the 2nd half, mixing up the first down calls more the first half was nearly all first down runs for minimal yards. Attacking the middle of field more than ever before, lining Boldin up in the slot more.

Flacco- I said in the game thread, I don't think I've ever had the chance to be so complimentary of Flacco with little negative to say, even when we had a quick three and out and patriots came close to sack Flacco held on to the ball with two hands stepped up got rid of the ball rather than a disastrous turnover.

Ellerbe- doesn't get nearly enough credit for his quickness on field and versatility.

Cary Williams - had a few good moments as well.

[Gashman]

Joe Cool Cucumber was the man!

[a20havoc]

[quote name='msufan' timestamp='1358741140' post='1322981']
Bias but I feel McPhee needs more love him tipping the ball killed any chance of a comeback.
[/quote]

I know, right? The funny thing is that when they practiced for the Texans the Patriots had tennis rackets out to swat at Brady's passes, a la JJ Watt. It worked for them twice, but obviously they threw the rackets into the shed last week. hahahahaha losers.