Next Up: Bengals

[Bravens292]

Caldwell wasn't fired, he was hired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions, so I'm not sure how *more success* would mean he stays on as OC, when he was hired away from us to be a head coach already.

 

I never said he was fired. I meant the Lions would already be in their coaching search with Caldwell not immediately available to them. I'm not familiar with how the interview process works during the postseason but he was not their first choice or primary target so if we made the playoffs, to me Jim is still OC here. I was just bringing up that the cincy loss helped us in the end and how we've struggled in their house recently.

[Bravens292]

But past history has told us that Dalton usually struggled in our home.....except this year. I believe things could change with Flacco in Cincy, but his play is what will matter.

 

Good point. Maybe its Joe's turn to break the trend. I'll add overall Joe hasn't played well against them at home either outside of 2012 so maybe his great week 1 performance is a sign for this game. No drops this time though...

[DomMcRaven]

Good point. Maybe its Joe's turn to break the trend. I'll add overall Joe hasn't played well against them at home either outside of 2012 so maybe his great week 1 performance is a sign for this game. No drops this time though...

I remember there was some stat from PFF that said that Flacco lost 100+ yards in the air through 8 (I believe) drops. That was unbelievable. 

[beanfigger]

Broken record alert. Don't turn it over, a win is guaranteed. I feel good about that, too. In our three even-week games, we have zero turnovers and have allowed zero sacks. Three blowouts.

[ravens rule]

Stick to the run and we win this game. I just feel like this is one of those games where we end up throwing more than we like. 

[Bravens292]

I remember there was some stat from PFF that said that Flacco lost 100+ yards in the air through 8 (I believe) drops. That was unbelievable. 

 

Sounds about right. Steve dropped most of them, mostly due to 1st game nervousness. He has shown no signs of that since so we should be fine.

[Bravens292]

Stick to the run and we win this game. I just feel like this is one of those games where we end up throwing more than we like. 

 

Well he has thrown over 50 against them the last 2 times so not impossible...

[Inqui]

Well he has thrown over 50 against them the last 2 times so not impossible...

Our run game never really got going in the first half this year. And it never really got going at all last year...

[Bravens292]

If we win the next two, then Tennessee isn't out of the question either. Win that and the second half of our season will be about playing for a playoff bye.

But one game at a time.

 

One game at a time is an understatement. These next 2 weeks will feel so long because they will define the rest of the year. 2 out of 3 into the bye is the goal.

 

Our run game never really got going in the first half this year. And it never really got going at all last year...

 

A lot of reasons behind it but wouldn't be surprised if it happened again. Hope that run game shows up this week though. Thats key. The status of Monroe, KO, and Burfict will have an impact on that.

[Inqui]

A lot of reasons behind it but wouldn't be surprised if it happened again. Hope that run game shows up this week though. Thats key. The status of Monroe, KO, and Burfict will have an impact on that.

Their run defence is quietly the third-worst in the league atm, while our rushing has improved hugely since week one. I think we'll be able to get it rolling.

[BmoreBird22]

Caldwell wasn't fired, he was hired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions, so I'm not sure how *more success* would mean he stays on as OC, when he was hired away from us to be a head coach already.

Caldwell got hired on January 13th, so if the Ravens had a good run in the playoffs, the Lions may not wait around for Caldwell and may choose to hire someone else

[jimmypowder]

I really hate the Bengals .They play us like they are playing in the Super Bowl .

 

But when they aren't playing us they drop Waste products after Waste products. 

 

The mark of an undisciplined team. 

[Bravens292]

Their run defence is quietly the third-worst in the league atm, while our rushing has improved hugely since week one. I think we'll be able to get it rolling.

 

Whoa, that bad huh? that is a great stat right there. If i had to guess i'd say our running game is borderline top 5??

[Dewy101]

Caldwell got hired on January 13th, so if the Ravens had a good run in the playoffs, the Lions may not wait around for Caldwell and may choose to hire someone else

Agreed. Teams like 49ers who have gone deep in the playoffs since Harbaugh has been there haven't lost a coordinator. Vic Fangio definitely deserves to be a head coach somewhere in the NFL and he just hasn't been given an opportunity.

[SuggsBarber]

If we win the next two, then Tennessee isn't out of the question either. Win that and the second half of our season will be about playing for a playoff bye.

But one game at a time.

This.I'm not expecting any cakewalk in Cincy no matter how they looked previously. This is a week to week league. At times they have had Joe figured out pretty well.

[Inqui]

Whoa, that bad huh? that is a great stat right there. If i had to guess i'd say our running game is borderline top 5??

Tied for eighth, which isn't incredible but is still pretty handy. Although for what it's worth, I use yards per attempt as I think it's the best test for a straight "my running game vs your DL" and the other measurables are more easily skewed by situational football.

 

Yeah, I was surprised by that stat too. A Bengals blog has been concerned about it for a few weeks now, and the Bengals don't even have the excuse of a strong schedule, given their recent opponents include a Panthers side with Cam Newton as the only RB, and Trent Richardson.

[Bravens292]

Caldwell got hired on January 13th, so if the Ravens had a good run in the playoffs, the Lions may not wait around for Caldwell and may choose to hire someone else

 

Yes, thats where i was gettin at. If we went to the playoffs, most likely we would still be stuck with him. If we made the SB (near impossible but just hypothetical), is Caldwell really a guy you want to wait til february for? The Lions would've had to keep that in mind if we were in it.

[GrimCoconut]

I don't think you change your coverage regardless of Green playing or not. Put Jimmy on Sanu to eliminate him from the game. Put Brooks and Franks on Green or whoever the other guy is. Use Hill on Gresham with Daryl Smith and put Mosley on Gio. Webb covers Hawkins and you're pretty much set, with Hill possibly moving over to help cover Hawkins if Webb is shaky.

I feel pretty good about this one. I think we'll take it.

[jimmypowder]

Their run defence is quietly the third-worst in the league atm, while our rushing has improved hugely since week one. I think we'll be able to get it rolling.

Yeah i hear ya but the Bengals always seem to be able to limit our run game.

 

I'm beginning to hate the Bengals almost as much as the Steelers. Haha

[757RavensFan]

I don't think you change your coverage regardless of Green playing or not. Put Jimmy on Sanu to eliminate him from the game. Put Brooks and Franks on Green or whoever the other guy is. Use Hill on Gresham with Daryl Smith and put Mosley on Gio. Webb covers Hawkins and you're pretty much set, with Hill possibly moving over to help cover Hawkins if Webb is shaky.

I feel pretty good about this one. I think we'll take it.

 

Is Webb inactive vs Cinci??  LOL

[GrimCoconut]

Is Webb inactive vs Cinci?? LOL

I don't follow. What are you talking about?

[Militant X 1]

As long as our Ravens keep playing consistently on the road and on both sides of the ball like they've been doing we'll be fine!

 

Ravens 24

Bengals 10

 

Go Ravens!!

[757RavensFan]

I don't follow. What are you talking about?

 

Disregard, couldn't see that you had Webb listed while viewing from my phone. 

[reed20]

And also: one of the losses was a meaningless game where we already had the division locked up, where he played a few snaps then Tyrod came in and we lost. Not Joe's fault,

Another, last year, Flacco was injured and unable to be effective in the last two games of the season. An injury causing him to be unable to stand in the pocket and deliver makes me not blame him for the loss or a bad performance.

Finally, this year, Flacco delivered the ball well and the receivers had an absolutely atrocious game, according to PFF dropping 8 passes for over 120 yards in the air alone. Not even remotely Flacco's fault.

Put it all together and the only truly bad game I can remember against the Bengals was the 2009 game in CIN where he threw 4 INTs. Oh well.

Exactly. Bungals ain't nothin'.

[ravens rule]

Well he has thrown over 50 against them the last 2 times so not impossible...

Exactly cincy usually take away our running game. They are not a great team we are CLEARLY a better team but if we can't run the ball (even a little bit) we are in trouble. I know our passing game is pretty good but on the road we gotta control this game man.We are at our absolute best when we have a good pass run ratio.

[ellicottraven]

Ravens win in another blowout - 33-6

[Bravens292]

Exactly cincy usually take away our running game. They are not a great team we are CLEARLY a better team but if we can't run the ball (even a little bit) we are in trouble. I know our passing game is pretty good but on the road we gotta control this game man.We are at our absolute best when we have a good pass run ratio.

 

I think we can get away with that at home sometimes (2011 vs ARIZ) but i don't ever remember a time when thats happened on the road and we still won. With the running game we have this year, if Flacco throws even more than 40 times, chances are we're in deep trouble. His highest besides week 1 was 38 and we lost that one too. All other games, Joe has thrown less than 31 and we've won them all.

[jazz1988]

I don't think you change your coverage regardless of Green playing or not. Put Jimmy on Sanu to eliminate him from the game. Put Brooks and Franks on Green or whoever the other guy is. Use Hill on Gresham with Daryl Smith and put Mosley on Gio. Webb covers Hawkins and you're pretty much set, with Hill possibly moving over to help cover Hawkins if Webb is shaky.

I feel pretty good about this one. I think we'll take it.

 

They no longer have Andrew Hawkins . Hawkins is a  Cleveland Brown.

[GrimCoconut]

They no longer have Andrew Hawkins . Hawkins is a Cleveland Brown.

You're 100% right and what's worse is I knew that and still put him there lol.

I meant to say Tate or Wright.

[jazz1988]

You're 100% right and what's worse is I knew that and still put him there lol.

I meant to say Tate or Wright.

 

lol it's cool but i'm glad they don't have Hawkins .