Next up: Steelers

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Watching the Redskins last night and jimmy haslat showing blitz, and being aggressive against the best offensive line in the NFL. And it worked.

I'd rate the Redskins defensive backfield much better than ours with or without Jimmy Smith. Pees has a real dilemma now. He needs to blitz to bring more pressure but when he does our D-backs have to cover the backs of the blitzing LBs. The safety blitz he called for Darian Stewart was the dumbest call I've seen him make and it backfired bigtime with Sanu catching a long pass to set up their

game-winning TD. Why blitz a safety when your defensive backfield is so bad? That being said, I think Coach Pees has done a pretty good job with the cards he's been dealt. Pittsburgh had good results

selling out and rushing seven on Indy. It worked because their D-backs were playing tight on the Indy receivers. Our D-backs simply are not good enough to do that, especially now w/o Jimmy back there.

It could be a long night in "The City of Steel." Our only hope is to keep our defense off the field

as much as possible.

[ravensdfan]

My confidence level is an 8. No idea why. 

[Militant X 1]

Ask me my confidence next week after we play steelers..... That will be my real answer then. Right now I'm still pissed about the bengals game. I went to the beach after the loss and had some coronas, and that didn't make me feel better.lol

 

You and me both!

 

@Mili

[Tank 92]

Every one keeps saying we gotta pressure Ben.

I am not saying that is wrong but I am saying that is a tall order.

Suggs is quoted as saying "Taking down Ben is like taking down an oak tree"

The guy is super tough to take down and is a master at extending plays. If you send "too much pressure" he is sure to find the weak spot and take advantage of it.

ben schmen. Upshaw will plow him again and make him remember week 2. We ain't ascared of no ben!

[magicmerlin77]

Now that all of the delusional pessimists that are under the impression that we're losing the rest of our games are done posting we can get to the realists.

We're a better football team. We're hungrier. We're winning.

I agree

[Edgar]

pretty nervous about this one. I have the feeling that Flacco will have to play great, be a difference maker- the best player on the field for us to win.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Every one keeps saying we gotta pressure Ben.

I am not saying that is wrong but I am saying that is a tall order.

Suggs is quoted as saying "Taking down Ben is like taking down an oak tree"

The guy is super tough to take down and is a master at extending plays. If you send "too much pressure" he is sure to find the weak spot and take advantage of it.

We've done it before plenty of times. Our guys will get it done. They HAVE to. If we lose, we might sit at bottom of the barrel next week @afcn

[ravensdan]

The ravens match up much better with the steelers than the bengals. It is always a tall order winning a division road game. The match ups all favor the ravens. Ben likes to hold the ball allowing the pass rush to get there. Also bells hesitation style running plays in to the ravens hands as well. The backs that have had success hit the hole hard and fast right off the snap. They will make some big plays but they have been poor in the red zone another strength of the ravens.

On offense the ravens should be able to run and pass with ease.

Ravens 34 steelers 23

[Drew P]

pretty nervous about this one. I have the feeling that Flacco will have to play great, be a difference maker- the best player on the field for us to win.

 

I have to disagree and say that running the ball and dominating the TOP is the key.

[K-Dog]

We've done it before plenty of times.

Not with this line up.

[Sami84]

its simple really

 

do not play matt elam

 

get will hill on miller and pray webb turns into 2011 webb at least for 1 night vs brown

 

also the pass rush will have to go insane..this game is on them..if they sack the crap out of ben then its over.

[jazz1988]

its simple really

 

do not play matt elam

 

get will hill on miller and pray webb turns into 2011 webb at least for 1 night vs brown

 

also the pass rush will have to go insane..this game is on them..if they sack the crap out of ben then its over.

 

It's really not that simple at all. The secondary issue is beyound Elam play so far in my opinion.

[allblackraven]

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Tomlin. The level of my confidence just went up heaps. I think nameless, gray faces stomp the ketchup field.

 

9

[Cillmatic]

My confidence levels at 3. I have no idea how we can win this. Our offense isn't good enough for a shootout and our defense isn't good enough to stop a good QB. Jimmy WAS the defense.

[Bruce_Almty]

It's a divisional game Cillmatic. Throw the records and stats out the window and take solace from the Redskin W in Dallas. Anything can and will happen in a rivalry game.

Go Ravens

[ratedr]

This is a must win game that I unfortunately do not see us winning. We'll somehow keep it close before the secondary gives up a big play late and we'll lose by a TD. Will Hill will once again inexplicably get the fewest snaps at safety while Stewart is in lala land and Elam is tackling air.

 

Cleveland faces the Bucs and Cincy takes on the Jags next week. So basically a loss puts us in last place. First to last in two weeks is a tough break, but that's what I see happening.

[ravensdfan]

This is a must win game that I unfortunately do not see us winning. We'll somehow keep it close before the secondary gives up a big play late and we'll lose by a TD. Will Hill will once again inexplicably get the fewest snaps at safety while Stewart is in lala land and Elam is tackling air.

 

Cleveland faces the Bucs and Cincy takes on the Jags next week. So basically a loss puts us in last place. First to last in two weeks is a tough break, but that's what I see happening.

 

As always, your optimistic view is appreciated

 

Just bustin' your chops.

 

This is the team we pummeled earlier this year. Same guys. Their secondary has not improved. It is the same one. Their O line has not improved, it is the same one we abused. Difference? We're not at Home. If Pees goes into cocoon mode, then I agree, we lose. If he calls the same game he did against them when they played at the Bank, we win.

[GrimCoconut]

I'm a pretty optimistic person but this is going to be a true challenge to sweep the Steelers, which is what we will have to do to win this game. They're a very tough team to sweep. 

[DomMcRaven]

I'm a pretty optimistic person but this is going to be a true challenge to sweep the Steelers, which is what we will have to do to win this game. They're a very tough team to sweep. 

Especially with our secondary woes growing bigger. I'd give this team major props if our defense can keep us in the game like they've done in every game so far and we come out of Heinz Field with that victory.

[FoxRox75]

If we come out of Heinz Field with a victory on Sunday, I'll be extremely ecstatic. For some reason my confidence is going up slowly every day, and I think part of it is realizing both teams have a fair chance in these rivalry games. The last 5 of 7 games have been decided by 2-3 points, and the two times they weren't we blew them out at M&T Bank Stadium. We just saw the Redskins beat the Cowboys on the road; anything can happen in a rivalry game. I'm not saying we're going to win for certain, but I do feel a little better about it as time progresses.

[K-Dog]

I wonder how this thread would read if Pitts-burgh didnt have that ONE really good game....

[Gtown Purple]

No turnovers on offense and get turnovers on defense. That's why we won so easily the first time. The bengals capitalized on 2 dumb interceptions, thats why they beat us. we need to stop beating ourselves. Joe needs to stop making dumb throws to Torrey. Most of his ints this year come when going his way.

[Bryden88]

Even if we lose, we control our own destiny.

 

Worst case on Sunday and we lose, Say it's one of those ridiculously close games. Maybe the offense is flawless but its the defense that lapses for once.

 

We beat the Titans, Saints, Chargers, Dolphins, and Jaguars. We're suddenly 10-4. We drop to the Texans, and sweep the Browns.

 

We sweep one rival.

We split with another.

We get swept by the third.

 

11-5. 11-5 is a good record. Odds are, with that record, we're in the playoffs. The Chargers are a team that could very well slide. The Texans probably aren't making it in. I think that's something we can count on.

 

Whereas, say we beat the Steelers, we have the very real possibility of going 12-4.

 

I'm still maintaining we fall to the Texans because JJ Watt.

[1/28/01]

I wonder how this thread would read if Pitts-burgh didnt have that ONE really good game....

Since we've had MANY down games, the same. Plus its the Steelers and its IN Pittsburgh.

[redrum52]

Even if we lose, we control our own destiny.

Worst case on Sunday and we lose, Say it's one of those ridiculously close games. Maybe the offense is flawless but its the defense that lapses for once.

We beat the Titans, Saints, Chargers, Dolphins, and Jaguars. We're suddenly 10-4. We drop to the Texans, and sweep the Browns.

We sweep one rival.

We split with another.

We get swept by the third.

11-5. 11-5 is a good record. Odds are, with that record, we're in the playoffs. The Chargers are a team that could very well slide. The Texans probably aren't making it in. I think that's something we can count on.

Whereas, say we beat the Steelers, we have the very real possibility of going 12-4.

I'm still maintaining we fall to the Texans because JJ Watt.

I think the Texans defense will give us fits and don't think the away game @ Saints or the home against Chargers will be easy.

[Bryden88]

The Saints have been pretty bad this year. They beat Green Bay because it's Green Bay. They're in the same conference and play each other probably like how we play New England.

 

We'll have memories of the winning the Super Bowl when we face the Saints.

 

The Chargers might not be easy, but I don't see us dropping any other home game.

[allblackraven]

I think the Texans defense will give us fits and don't think the away game @ Saints or the home against Chargers will be easy.

Watt and Clowney will be a handful but their secondary is bad. I like that matchup for our OC.

[PurpleCity5]

This is a terrible match-up for Baltimore's secondary. Seriously, the safeties have been completely under performing and Baltimore's arguably best defender will be out of this game. Ben-Antonio Brown will beat this secondary down if they don't improve. Honestly, I'm totally undivided on who'll win but my heart says Baltimore. Let's go BIRDS!     

[jimmypowder]

My confidence levels at 3. I have no idea how we can win this. Our offense isn't good enough for a shootout and our defense isn't good enough to stop a good QB. Jimmy WAS the defense.

Well I woulnt go that far , but he has become a shutdown corner and by far the best player in the secondary .
If Big Ben gets time , we will lose this game as he's on a roll .
We will have to blitz irregardless of who we have in secondary for this game.

[757RavensFan]

Note to Kubes/Harbaugh, if you must go for it on 4th and goal from the 1, can you please spread them out so the defense doesn't automatically have everyone over the ball making it nearly impossible to run it in?