Next up: Houston

[RobFuseRaven]

Wow. How about that honest press conference by Doss? He basically said that cutting him lit a fire under him because he didn't think he could be cut since he was a 4th round draft pick. He also said he did some off the field stuff he shouldn't have and that he wasn't approaching it professionally. Humbled.

[Puntit]

Wow. How about that honest press conference by Doss? He basically said that cutting him lit a fire under him because he didn't think he could be cut since he was a 4th round draft pick. He also said he did some off the field stuff he shouldn't have and that he wasn't approaching it professionally. Humbled.

Yep. Makes you think maybe we should have lit a fire under him a year or two ago.

[MrPlankton]

i think Flacco did okay considering how JJ Watt had his way with the Ravens' O-line last year. Plus having Reed on the field makes going downfield difficult.

[Richmond_Raven]

Wheres-that-Texans-troll :th_327321_Spy_23x22:

[redravenfan]

Agree to disagree.   Before last year almost every playoff game Baltimore has won has centered around Raven's defense putting Flacco in some serious favorable situations.  That includes against Houston and Kansas City. 

 

Moot point though....last year's run was amazing.  At Denver, at NE, and then facing SF's defense...     We shall see this year though....  

yeah dude we continue to own you like any year . so you keep your elite qb and we will keep ours .

[redravenfan]

Wheres-that-Texans-troll :th_327321_Spy_23x22:

 they wont come back.

[jaege]

Wheres-that-Texans-troll :th_327321_Spy_23x22:

Watch out. The mods don't like you to use those naughty words like troll and doo doo head.

[Puntit]

i think Flacco did okay considering how JJ Watt had his way with the Ravens' O-line last year. Plus having Reed on the field makes going downfield difficult.

Not Flacco's best day and another slow start, but he did just enough to win. He connected with Torrey enough to move the chains. Pierce didn't get a lot of yards, but ate up a ton of the clock time which helped preserve the lead. (At any rate this performance should quiet down the trolls suggesting its time to unload Rice). Tucker was solid this week. And the defense hasn't let anyone into the endzone in 2 weeks which is pretty remarkable.  Basically a grind it out kind of win against a team a lot of people favored going into the game. Should help our "power rankings" this week.

[Fred Sanford]

They're tearing Kubiak and Schaub to shreds on their forum, apparently not a new issue.

 

Vonta won't be on the cover of SI for it but he had a great game, picked up some key first downs and did what he could to help the run game.

 

Flacco's touch on the short swing passes to the flat was off like always but otherwise he was good.  No big mistakes, nice throws to Torrey and Clark. 

 

O-line continues to be horrendous run blocking, too many guys pulling this way and that while other team D just busts in and blows everything up. Not too shabby pass-blocking considering the competition.

 

Receivers were fairly underwhelming, some good plays here and there but we need more.

 

D-line might've got exposed if the Texans ran 25 and 12 times with Tate and Foster.  Pressure good in patches but need it to be more consistent.

 

Bynes was bad, Daryl Smith was a lion, Upshaw lost contain a couple times but had a good game, Suggs too but had a very good game, Dumervil seems to have adopted the Trevor Pryce curse of being held around the neck 20x a game with no call.  Both Jimmy and Webb didn't seem to have great individual games, and Martin had Jimmy for a long TD if he caught it, but the overall numbers for Schaub looked good for us.  Corey Graham didn't give up anything notable and tackled well like usual when not facing guys named Wes Welker.

 

Game balls for Art Jones, Ihedigbo, and Doss.  Tandon went untouched other than Lechler's silly backhand slap, and the blocking was good, but he broke like 4 ankles simultaneously with his stutter steps to the sideline.  A little silly on the celebration, guys have hurt themselves doing that kind of stuff.  Glad to see him doing well, haven't given up on him as a receiver either despite a lot of hiccups.  Dallas Clark seems like he's going to have a couple messups each game but makes plays if you keep going to him.

[flynismo]

Doesn't need a good defense to win? Really? If the defense cannot give the offense the ball, that team is sure to lose no matter who the QB. That's an extreme point, but I get concerned when I see someone down play the importance of a position or in this case, half the team. In truth, every position can have a game changing impact with the right player in place, but they need others around them to help make it happen; including the QB.

That is truth, no QB can be great without an equally great supporting cast.

But I think that was more a reference towards people who think Flacco rides the coattails of Rice and the defense.

[jaege]

With gambling, some of my family were high rollers. I would gamble more, but don't have the large base of money to bet with.

Uh...okay. Good for you. I guess. And you are telling me this, why? Do your family "high roll" with fantasy football? In the gambling world that is somewhere between slot machines and bingo.

[baltravens]

Uh...okay. Good for you. I guess. And you are telling me this, why? Do your family "high roll" with fantasy football? In the gambling world that is somewhere between slot machines and bingo.

 

Fantasy football is over for me, I stick with NFL, some MLB, Olympics, World Cup, and Tiger Woods. ...not close with extended family all over the US. I rarely watch the college kids, too, just into the big boys (NFL).

Hurray, we played strong today! Later.

[PuRock]

Not too shabby, the Ravens now have a better record than the Packers, Giants, and 49ers.  We got through one of our toughest stretches against Houston & Denver.  Many on here had us at 1-2 or 0-3 at this point.  

 

Plus, this team can only get better.  Our defense will gel more with chemistry, our offense with some experience.  

[BMORElegacy]

Nitrofish... WHERE ARE YOUUUUUUU??????

[beanfigger]

Nitrofish... WHERE ARE YOUUUUUUU??????

 

He's trying to find Nemo, or his team's offense.  One of the two.

[PuRock]

Those are the facts, and while you may not like it, Schaub is a top 10 QB, and insulting him with fallacy does not change the facts. Schaub sure threw pretty well against the Ravens last year if I remember correctly. Must have been a fluke.

 

Must have been.  Schaub's INT was the changing point in this game. 

 

A win here and everything will seem right. A win here and my pre-season projection of 2-3 after five games is likely in error.  A win here and the Raven's are likely a playoff team.

 

Well, we won here and we beat the Browns.  You sticking to it?  A playoff team?  

 

The improvements on Defense that we got by letting Boldin go are starting to pay off and its only going to get better.  We'll still have some growing pains on O.  But this isn't a bad football team by any stretch of the imagination.  

[StingerNLG]

So I saw this today as a great team win.   And it was a team win on multiple fronts.    All three phases of the football scored today which is always good.    But special teams picked it up when they had early problems.    Defense, like a good pitcher in baseball, kept the game close while the Offense was trying to get it's feet under them.    James Ihedigbo was easily the best safety on the field today, no offense to Ed Reed.    But while Ed Reed looked like a 36 year old guy trying to play centerfield, Ihedigbo was all over the field making tackles and keeping the Texans in front of him.   He didn't take any chances, but played a completely sound fundamental game.   

 

And how poetic was it that on the day they put Ray Lewis in the Ring of Honor, his replacement on the field gets a pick-six while Ray was standing on the sidelines?    It was a perfect moment.  

 

The Offense noticeably stepped it up in the second half and even old man Dallas Clark was converting first downs.  Pass protection was ok, but they only allowed one sack on Flacco (though Flacco got out of some pressure situations himself too).   Torrey Smith is just becoming such a good #1 receiver, and it's fun to watch him out there.    I do want to see Marlon Brown though try to work through man-to-man coverage, because he was blocked out all game long.

 

I have a giant concern with the running game though, so I hope Ray Rice is able to get back out there next week against the Bills.   And now with Droughn having a high ankle sprain, that leaves Pierce as our only healthy RB?   Not good.   And why can't our gigantic OL run block?   Is Gino Gradkowski just not as good as we thought?

 

All in all, you cannot call 30-9 an ugly win or a "I'll take it" win.   I'm happy with this game, and it was not even close to what I expected.   This defense is scary, and they came together QUICK after that Denver game.    I think we go into Buffalo next week and take care of business.

[Purple Nurple]

Great point about the Smith pick 6

[GrimCoconut]

I have a giant concern with the running game though, so I hope Ray Rice is able to get back out there next week against the Bills.   And now with Droughn having a high ankle sprain, that leaves Pearce as our only healthy RB?   Not good.   And why can't our gigantic OL run block?   Is Gino Gradkowski just not as good as we thought?

Not to second guess you, but is this confirmed that he has a high ankle sprain? I'd like a source or something on that. This is the first I've heard of it. That's ridiculous if it's true. 

[StingerNLG]

Not to second guess you, but is this confirmed that he has a high ankle sprain? I'd like a source or something on that. This is the first I've heard of it. That's ridiculous if it's true.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-terrence-cody-limps-into-locker-room-with-apparent-left-knee-sprain-doubtful-to-return-20130922,0,6859756.story

Harbaugh also confirmed that in the postgame. Yeah it is unbelievable.

[Ravenslifer]

I really like what I saw out of Dallas Clark today - I'm hoping that as he and Joe get more comfortable he can be a bigger part of the offense.  And if Doss is going to be on this team, I'd like him to get some more meaningful snaps as a receiver - I think what will help him most is getting some receptions and being able to get into a rhythm with Joe.

[busterblue52]

For everyone who hates on Rice I honestly think we need him if we wanna compete for a ring again. He's too important in the passing game and the running game despite what people think.

[Richmond_Raven]

For everyone who hates on Rice I honestly think we need him if we wanna compete for a ring again. He's too important in the passing game and the running game despite what people think.

This

[GrimCoconut]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-terrence-cody-limps-into-locker-room-with-apparent-left-knee-sprain-doubtful-to-return-20130922,0,6859756.story

Harbaugh also confirmed that in the postgame. Yeah it is unbelievable.

Wow. That's just unbelievable. I can't believe all these injuries. I wonder who's on the market right now. We might benefit from cutting him and looking elsewhere.

[redravenfan]

what about Berry or Allen@ running back if they are still available . unless rice is ready to return next week . Just imagine how much better we can be if the injury bug leaves us alone and we get guys back .

[ravensdan]

I really like what I saw out of Dallas Clark today - I'm hoping that as he and Joe get more comfortable he can be a bigger part of the offense. And if Doss is going to be on this team, I'd like him to get some more meaningfuil snaps as a receiver - I think what will help him most is getting some receptions and being able to get into a rhythm with Joe.

I disagree with putting doss out at receiver more. Our main guys need to stay on the field and get as many reps with joe as possible, also keeping the substitutions down to speed up the offense. Doss can be the reserve kr/pr and come in as a fourth or fifth wr when jones returns.

[ravensdan]

what about Berry or Allen@ running back if they are still available . unless rice is ready to return next week . Just imagine how much better we can be if the injury bug leaves us alone and we get guys back .

I agree. I would expect us to sign one of these two. I think they are both better than droughn anyway.

[Puntit]

I agree. I would expect us to sign one of these two. I think they are both better than droughn anyway.

I agree we will probably sign one of those until our injured players can get back on the field, if for no other reason than they already know the plays. but don't kid yourself that its an upgrade. Neither of these guys has ever shown as much as Draughn, who actually had the opportunity to log a couple hundred yards in carries last year, plus had experience returning. Ozzie didn't pick this guy up over these others by accident. He was the best free agent available at the time. But Draughn's hurt so that's all moot.

[Poes Crows]

Must have been.  Schaub's INT was the changing point in this game. 

 

 

Well, we won here and we beat the Browns.  You sticking to it?  A playoff team?  

 

The improvements on Defense that we got by letting Boldin go are starting to pay off and its only going to get better.  We'll still have some growing pains on O.  But this isn't a bad football team by any stretch of the imagination.  

I did not expect the Ravens to beat Houston Sunday.  Really didn't. That victory stirred memories from over a decade ago.  The Defense was very good.  That Houston team found a way to score against other teams, but the Raven's throttled them. There's still issues to overcome. The Raven's were stingy in allowing yards, but were out-gained. The offense has issues, but the pressure the Raven's bring is hiding weaknesses in the secondary.  Congratulations, it was a great win and a win to build upon.

[Militant X 1]

Since Schaub has only been in 2 post season games it is kind of a silly question, but 50/50 ain't bad. Yea we all know that Schaub has only played against Indy, Jax & Tenn against since coming to the Texans, right? I guess the same could be said about playing the Bungles and the Browns all these years eh?

Those are the facts, and while you may not like it, Schaub is a top 10 QB, and insulting him with fallacy does not change the facts. Schaub sure threw pretty well against the Ravens last year if I remember correctly. Must have been a fluke.

The Texans beating the Ravens by 30 points last season was the fluke!

 

Team meetings: Ravens 8 wins Texans 1 win

 

Yesterday's game: Ravens 30, Texans 9  (no TD's) LOL!!!!!!

 

and yet, you Texans fans "think" that playing the Ravens is a rivalry?  now...

 

 

~Mili