[News] Game Recap: Bengals 23, Ravens 16

[Xander410]

Is Torrey Smith a one-trick-pony? ..it's a valid question-other than the post route, how does he create space? I saw him standing still during multiple plays where Joe was struggling to find an open receiver.

[Xander410]

and it's not only Torrey that looks sluggish. What's with Jones? The best players were not on the field. Aiken and Butler should have been playing.

[blkninj01]

Yeah, Flacco made 2 really bad plays during this game but those dropped passes were very costly. Most of those dropped balls were potential huge plays that would have made the game look a lot different. Jacoby Jones drop was for almost a guaranteed touchdown. He was in the middle of the field all alone with nobody behind him. T. Smith dropped the ball that would have had us in the red zone. Yes it was a difficult catch to make, but it hit both of his hands and a NFL number 1 receiver is suppose to catch those ball. All of the other drops were sure first downs that would have put us closer to at least field gold range. The Bengals would have been pretty much spanked if those passes would have been caught. Playing as bad as we all agree that we did, and we should have at least tied that game to send us into overtime.

[blkninj01]

Xander: I know exactly what you are talking about. I watched T. Smith one time standing in the middle of the field with a defender standing right next to him. Flacco was running looking for an open receiver and Smith never moved. I jumped up and blew a fuse big time.

[stixfix69]

Bottom line, this offense better learn how to play 2 halves of football and not one....Blaming Chykie is just stupid....

[TheConquerorWorm]

Boldin would not have never dropped that pass that Jones dropped.

 

Neither would Jerry Rice, what's your point? 

[MrPlankton]

Where

was

the

pass

rush

?

[drillem]

You gotta a qb that looked great with Q and no so much without him. That should be a clue. Dip into the early draft selections and pick an elite receiver. Duh!!!!!!!!!!!

[riseNConquer81]

Harbagh benched pierce for 1 fumble but why in the first didn't he put other receivers in the game game to catch the damm ball or put some pass rushers in the game who could actually get to the QB bench dummerville and give simon a chance

Both Smiths, Jones, Brown, Aiken, Pitta, and Daniels all saw targets. Thompson and Campanaro werent active. what are you talking about?

[riseNConquer81]

anybody still confused on why the rest of the nation doesnt quite "respect" us yet?

[partmachine]

Everyone had a part in this loss. EVERYONE. From Joe's bad throws and mistakes, to the entire receiving corps. for dropping the ball and not fighting, to Pierce taking style steps instead of running straight ahead, to a poor 1st half game plan by the coaches. And that's just the offense. Defensively I was so bored. I see our guys fighting but they only win snaps by chance. Rarely have we made a splashy play from scheme, for the last 3 years. I'm not jumping ship by any means and I can't stand when everyone else complains but this taste in my mouth is disgusting. Very happy about the short wait to get it out. Fix it and destroy Pittsburgh.

[JamesA119]

"You gotta a qb that looked great with Q and no so much without him. That should be a clue. Dip into the early draft selections and pick an elite receiver. Duh!!!!!!!!!!!"

Ozzie has always been leery about using a high draft pick on a WR because it is so hit or miss. However I believe that there have been some potentially great WR that have come through our organization but were not developed. I think that's why we've never had a great WR from the draft. I would say that the blame is on the coaching staff.

[Bruce_Almty]

It's only 1 game. Not the end of the season.

[TheRavengers]

He did make a bone head move at the end of the half...but Flacco for the most part was hitting the receivers. I guess hitting them in the hands is a bad place GO RAVENS!

Barring that waste of 8 seconds before half, he did okay all things considered. Not the QBs job to catch the ball, Steve Smith should know that more than anyone.

[cobrajet]

As much as I like to blame a lot of guys for their mistakes. Jacoby for his big drops and return gaffes, Pierce's fumble ,Tucker's miss, but that stuff happens. However, that play at the end was a major mistake by Joe. He had one shot for the end zone with 8 seconds, more than enough time, but screwed it up big time. That cost us three points, and a tie at the end to send it to OT, because we would have not have went for two. It cost us a regulation win.

[Zeus]

Where

was

the

pass

rush

?

Dean Pees doesn't believe in it. When was the last time Suggs and Dumervil brought the heat?

[Zeus]

As much as I like to blame a lot of guys for their mistakes.

Jacoby for his big drops and return gaffes

Pierce's fumble

Tucker's miss

That stuff happens, however that play at the end was a major mistake by Joe. He had one shot for the end zone with 8 seconds, more than enough time, but screwed it up big time. That cost us three points, and a tie at the end to send it to OT, because with three more points I doubt they would have went for two because we certainly would not have.

Let's not forget all the dropped passes and the vanilla play calls by Pees

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I always am going to be a Ravens fan... Right now we Ravens fans (you and I) are not too happy. The offense only played 1 1/2 quarters the defense played pretty good most of the day. I did like what I saw from the offense once they finally woke up late in the 3rd quarter. I just hope the first couple of quarters can be chalked up to butterflys or too much nervous nerves. Just get it taken care of before next Thursday.

[steelraven]

Flacco has been in the league for 6 years now and you would think after all the criticism he took last season he would play a lot better and make better decisions. After a while you can't keep blaming the offensive coordinators.

[RavensBaltimore]

It's not what did, but what he didn't do. He didn't throw the ball away when he should have. Also, he didn't read the blitz.

If any NFL qb throws 62 passes, you'd be able to cherry pick a few mistakes.  Overall, he played well enough to put up a lot of points and win if there weren't so many drops.  That pass to Jacoby while getting smashed by Burfict was amazing, but it went right through his arms. Torrey had a perfectly thrown deep pass go through his palms. Steve Smith dropped 4 1st down passes.  Owen Daniels dropped a 1st down pass. There were a couple plays where the receiver slipped or stumbled. In almost every drive when the offense was struggling, there was a perfectly thrown pass that bounced off a receiver's hands.

[Ravens07]

I've been saying it for a while now. We need a new defensive coordinator. We played great red area defense, but since he got here that's the only area we've played well in. We need to play suffocating defense with the personnel we have. Instead, we play 10 yards off the line and watch them screen every play. I hope things improve, but I don't know. I used to trust this defense to hold a lead.

[Popeye the sailor man]

Was Joe Flacoo upset you bet he was, lets give him something to be mad about, put Tyrod Taylor out under center next week, Steelraven Exactly. The day we handed Joe Flacco that big paycheck was the day he crash or was that a wedding present

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Flacco has been in the league for 6 years now and you would think after all the criticism he took last season he would play a lot better and make better decisions. After a while you can't keep blaming the offensive coordinators.

True I agree and I blame Flacco for the mess-up right before the half that cost us 3 points. The INT was also his fault. The dropped passes that hit the guys in the hands  I blame the WR / TE for those just like last year. The erratic passes I blame Flacco. Flacco is good he deserves some of the blame but not all of it.

[Ravens07]

Flacco has been in the league for 6 years now and you would think after all the criticism he took last season he would play a lot better and make better decisions. After a while you can't keep blaming the offensive coordinators.

 

Compare Brady's and Flacco's stats for today and apply your statement to Brady (only 15th year instead of 7th).  How many dropped passes and misrun routes were seen today? The first half was ugly for everyone, including Joe. Guys stepped up and there was 300 yards passing in the second.

[law215]

I've been saying it for a while now. We need a new defensive coordinator. We played great red area defense, but since he got here that's the only area we've played well in. We need to play suffocating defense with the personnel we have. Instead, we play 10 yards off the line and watch them screen every play. I hope things improve, but I don't know. I used to trust this defense to hold a lead.

Bend but don't break only works if offense is scoring. We give away yards on first down playing off the ball. 2-5, 2-4,2-2, almost the entire 1st half.Bengals could have went for big plays, but why risk it  when your oppent can't move the ball and is considers it a victory to yield only 3 points. What happen to that playmaking defense I got used to? 

[PurplePlague52]

Let's not forget its only week 1 guys..Everyone played inconsistent today but one of the big things I noticed was where was our pass rush..Seemed like Dalton had all day to throw and wasn't getting pressured at all.. Lets regroup and make some adjustments and beat the Squeelers Thursday

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I am just curious what do you think the last 6 years would have been like if Boller was the QB under center? Today stunk and hurt but try to keep it real.

[cobrajet]

Let's not forget all the dropped passes and the vanilla play calls by Pees

Yeah we had a lot of drops that is for sure. I am not as angry about the vanilla play calling as much as I am with Pees not making adjustments for Bernard swinging out and being wide open. Bernard was not covered very well at all and those passes to him on several third and longs kept a lot of drives alive, which lead to several FGs. Pees should have made adjustments to get him covered, so yes, he gets some blame today. You take away one of those FG's and this game would have went into OT.

[ravenstime]

If my memory serves me well, wasn't it A.J. Green that got deep for that 'Hail Marry' TD last year that almost cost us that particular game? Too slow a start and cold receivers = a bad day at the office for the RAVENS! And wasn't it slightly more imbalanced on passing plays for this 'Run first', play action pass second offense? A lot of questions linger after this lackluster performance today! We need to heat up and really quick, too. It's only 4 days till Pitt. comes to town, let's be ready for the Steelers!

[H8R]

If my memory serves me well, wasn't it A.J. Green that got deep for that 'Hail Marry' TD last year that almost cost us that particular game? Too slow a start and cold receivers = a bad day at the office for the RAVENS! And wasn't it slightly more imbalanced on passing plays for this 'Run first', play action pass second offense? A lot of questions linger after this lackluster performance today! We need to heat up and really quick, too. It's only 4 days till Pitt. comes to town, let's be ready for the Steelers!

Sad part is... There wasn't a whole lot of play action ..