Next up: Steelers

[jaege]

I didn't see any indication today that we're, 'hungry' at all or that we're winning, unless the team is awful and even then there's no guarantee.  I'm not sure how, 'real,' your assessment is.

 

 

Yep. The team I saw playing the Bengals looked stuffed with a huge Thanksgiving dinner, fat, and slow. Wasn't any hunger on our side of the field.

[Edgar]

Jimmy Smith's strained foot could actually be an issue for weeks.  Will Hill needs to get all of the starting reps in practice this week.  If this game doesn't register as a Stafe of Emergency for players and coaches alike, then there's no passion or pride w/in the organization.  I don't mind losing when a team puts forth its best effort and your opponent just happens to be better than you.

It's games, like yesterday that frustrate the heck out of me.  A half butt effort almost won that game a full effort would have been a blow out. 

Was will Hill even on the field yesterday?- why not?

[757RavensFan]

Was will Hill even on the field yesterday?- why not?

 

Will Hill (#33) was on the field for a few snaps.  Not as many as he should have.  Considering that J. Smith went out

early, there's no excuse for why Will Hill didn't play much. 

[GrimCoconut]

The division is still within our grasp, even if we lose Sunday. I'm not sure if anyone has seen schedules for the Steelers and Bengals, but they have some tough schedules to end the year. I think ours is rather favorable comparatively speaking.

We could see a Bengals losing streak starting November 6, when the Bengals play the Browns at home I'm Cincinnati. With how the Browns have played and the tough attitude of the AFC North, that will be a grueling matchup. The Bengals then go on the dreaded three-games away series starting with the Saints then Houston then Tampa to finally having a home game against the Steelers to going away again on the road this time to Cleveland and finally going against the Broncos at home and ending their season in Pittsburgh. That's a really demanding end to their schedule.

The Steelers have an easier schedule but have two weeks of back to back road games with one week separating them. The Steelers also play the Falcons in Atlanta, where they typically do well.

The season isn't lost. We control our own destiny. It would be best to beat the Steelers but even if we lose we can still make it.

[BmoreBird22]

Will Hill (#33) was on the field for a few snaps.  Not as many as he should have.  Considering that J. Smith went out

early, there's no excuse for why Will Hill didn't play much.

As far as snaps go, it was 66, 55, 33, 12, 5 for Elam, Stewart, Brooks, Hill, and Trawick respectively

[baroquenspirit]

Ravens Board: "We're 5-3! The sky is falling!"

Steelers Board: "We're 5-3! Superbowl here we come!"

I have no idea what board you are reading. Sure, we were rightfully ecstatic yesterday, thats reflective of the kind of offense we have been waiting for (not 51 but putting up some points.) ….but we have watched the inconsistency of this team all year…no savvy Steeler fan is claiming super bowl. I have followed the Ravens game thread off and on for several years…sometimes you guys go from the super bowl to the worst team in history on back to back plays and 25 times throughout one game. 

[baroquenspirit]

I agree with you pal!  But the Germans did no such thing.  Asides from that everything else you said is legit

Oh my word...

[baroquenspirit]

Ben played an awesome game today!  I love the way that dude plays man!

 

@Mili

He was definitely in the zone. I only remember him missing on one pass all day. That was truly an all time QB performance…40 of 49. I will say this…the colts do not quit and Andrew Luck is one heck of a QB…we had great pressure on him all day and he still threw for 400 yards and 3 TDs. The INTs hurt him, but he was under serious duress the whole game. 

[Dewy101]

I don't think there's a single team whose receiver position(including TEs) besides Oakland is as bad as ours.

[757RavensFan]

As far as snaps go, it was 66, 55, 33, 12, 5 for Elam, Stewart, Brooks, Hill, and Trawick respectively

 

12 snaps for Hill, that's 10 less than last week!!!  That's absolutely absurd!!

[ravensdfan]

I have no idea what board you are reading. Sure, we were rightfully ecstatic yesterday, thats reflective of the kind of offense we have been waiting for (not 51 but putting up some points.) ….but we have watched the inconsistency of this team all year…no savvy Steeler fan is claiming super bowl. I have followed the Ravens game thread off and on for several years…sometimes you guys go from the super bowl to the worst team in history on back to back plays and 25 times throughout one game. 

 

I could be mistaken, but I think his intent was to make fun of our fans and their "doom & gloom" after a loss. Not to make fun of your fan base.

[baroquenspirit]

I could be mistaken, but I think his intent was to make fun of our fans and their "doom & gloom" after a loss. Not to make fun of your fan base.

Could be…i know the "Ravens Week" thread in the fever forums is cautiously optimistic but everyone is gearing up for a hard fought, close nail biter. Most people think we have a chance at the division if we get this game…thats about as far as the optimism goes. 

[DWplayer]

some one give this guy check plus.

I did. And its funny because its true. All the bandwagon jumpers are suddenly back on board after just one game. This season though it seems even tougher than seasons past to predict anything. How do you explain losing to Tampa Bay and getting blown out by Cleveland by three touchdowns, and then come out and ring up 51 points against a first place Colts team after they had just won 5 straight? 

[RavensPunkXVX]

As far as snaps go, it was 66, 55, 33, 12, 5 for Elam, Stewart, Brooks, Hill, and Trawick respectively

 

How does Elam get 66..

[Static]

Expect Big Ben to  light us up. I believe Bell gets held in check. Ultimately its a shootout. 

[baroquenspirit]

I did. And its funny because its true. All the bandwagon jumpers are suddenly back on board after just one game. This season though it seems even tougher than seasons past to predict anything. How do you explain losing to Tampa Bay and getting blown out by Cleveland by three touchdowns, and then come out and ring up 51 points against a first place Colts team after they had just won 5 straight? 

Ive been coming in here for several years…win or lose…which steeler posters are you referring too? 

[frozen joe flacco fan]

I don't know but for a flag that 99% of the time is considered incidental contact with 2 guys fighting for the ball - we would have won.

 

Guess we did stack up alright just fell a bit short.

We lost!

[DWplayer]

Ive been coming in here for several years…win or lose…which steeler posters are you referring too? 

I'm not referring to posters. Just listening to sports talk callers. A couple weeks ago everyone's calling for Haley's head, now he's brilliant. It's typical, and certainly not unique to Pittsburgh. My point was I sure as heck didn't see yesterdays game playing out the way it did. One dominant performance and everyone's back on board again.

[BmoreBird22]

12 snaps for Hill, that's 10 less than last week!!!  That's absolutely absurd!!

I agree

[BmoreBird22]

How does Elam get 66..

He's a stellar rover. Very strong in the screen and run game, something the Bengals like to utilize

[FoxRox75]

We will be in danger zone if we lose next Sunday to the Steelers; 2-3 in the division is not very good. The Browns game at M&T Bank Stadium will obviously be a must-win at that point just to be even in the division. Whoever loses next Sunday's game will be dealt a significant blow, seeing as we've already been swept by Cincinnati, but Pittsburgh could potentially be swept by us. Either way I'm calling a 3-7 point game. Our team should not be worse than 10-6 this season, and I think it's fair to call it a failure of a season if we don't reach the playoffs.

[jdynamite]

Well I know we won't be blowing the steelers out twice in one season. And there is no way that offense is going to click like that on us. We definitely need Jimmy Smith available for the sake of our secondary.

I'm predicting a close game. 26-21 4 FGs from Tucker

[Static]

Jimmy's out, offense will destroy itself, and secondary just doesn't have the personnel at this point,.

[FoxRox75]

If we can play a mistake-free game (meaning no fumbles or picks) and cause a couple turnovers, then things will be a whole lot easier. After winning a couple, Steelers are due for a letdown - hopefully it's against us. I will not be a happy camper if they beat us to the playoffs. 

[AsianRice]

Steelers' offensive strat for Sunday night football:

 

1) Need a first down? find Dominique Franks

2) Need a 7? find Dominique Franks

3) Rinse and repeat.

[DomMcRaven]

Jimmy's out, offense will destroy itself, and secondary just doesn't have the personnel at this point,.

We're screwed. 

[Static]

Big Ben might break the TD record. 

[Inqui]

Jimmy's out, offense will destroy itself, and secondary just doesn't have the personnel at this point,.

Blow up the season, trade our older guys to the Broncos or Patriots so they can win a last ring, target Marcus Mariota in the draft and wait another 11 years for our third Lombardi.

[gabefergy]

It will be close I would think. Without Jimmy I have little faith we can stop their offense, but I also have little faith their defense will stop our offense. If we dont make the stupid mistakes i think we will win.

[HoldingCall]

Jimmy's out, offense will destroy itself, and secondary just doesn't have the personnel at this point,.

The O-Line has to keep pressure on Ben, or else.