Stunned after Saturday

[nextgen_RavensFan]

Friends, i love the Ravens as much as anyone on the forum here but after what i saw Saturday we may be 3rd place in our division for a few years to come. Looking at what we have now we cannot outscore either team and their defenses are just aggressive and mean. 

 

We cannot compete in a game against them unless we play the perfect game and they play very badly. It looks like the Bengals are set to make a run for a few years straight unless they self implode like Saturday and the Steelers offense is just WOW and their defense is no slouch either. 

 

Thank goodness for the Wild card slot huh. LOL Seriously though i am very worried after Saturday. How did we fall so far behind so fast ?

[Purple_City39]

I don't get this.  What about that 18-16 score says we can't outscore them when we've scored more in 3 of 4 games against both teams this season?  Keep in mind it took a preseason week 4 type of offense to hold us to 16 against Cincy's #2 scoring defense IN CINCY.  You did say Saturday's game is what made you think this way.

 

The Ravens are 8-3 against the Steelers over the last 5 years, including 4-1 the last two seasons while they've had that same high scoring offense.  The Bengals have our number but not Pittsburgh.

 

We're also one whole season away from going the furthest in the post season out of all AFC North teams and the only reason we are no longer the only AFC North team to win a playoff game since 2010 is because those two played each other and one had to win.  

Edited January 12, 2016 by Purple_City39

[DenverRaven]

We swept the Steelers, and came within a few plays of splitting w/the Bengals. No need to panic. Cinci has been a thorn in the side for years now, and if we can find a way to cover AJ Green more consistently, I'm not scared of the bungles.

[usmccharles]

Haha here we go again, sky is falling.  And last year 3 teams from our division made it, we were one of them, if your over reaction was valid, it still wouldn't be that bad

[gabrielgrissom]

Friends, i love the Ravens as much as anyone on the forum here but after what i saw Saturday we may be 3rd place in our division for a few years to come. Looking at what we have now we cannot outscore either team and their defenses are just aggressive and mean. 

 

We cannot compete in a game against them unless we play the perfect game and they play very badly. It looks like the Bengals are set to make a run for a few years straight unless they self implode like Saturday and the Steelers offense is just WOW and their defense is no slouch either. 

 

Thank goodness for the Wild card slot huh. LOL Seriously though i am very worried after Saturday. How did we fall so far behind so fast ?

Well the thing is I firmly believe we have the steelers number... they are way more talented than us but we have won 8 of our last 11 with them... And with cinci... there is a possibility that both coordinators will leave and will have to start over... PLus a significant number of free agents this offseason... I firmly believe we can compete with these teams in future years

[cobrajet]

I understand the concern, but IMHO if we can get our guys healthy again and have a good draft and possibly a decent free agency we will be just fine. We got many of our young guys some good game experience, which may pay dividends next season.

[Tru11]

the door for cinci is closing and we seem to have the squeelers number.

 

see no reason for panic.

[ratedr]

Get a DC who knows how to scheme against AJ Green and we're golden.

 

PIT hasn't been an issue for us for several years now.

[Willbacker]

Friends, i love the Ravens as much as anyone on the forum here but after what i saw Saturday we may be 3rd place in our division for a few years to come. Looking at what we have now we cannot outscore either team and their defenses are just aggressive and mean. 

 

We cannot compete in a game against them unless we play the perfect game and they play very badly. It looks like the Bengals are set to make a run for a few years straight unless they self implode like Saturday and the Steelers offense is just WOW and their defense is no slouch either. 

 

Thank goodness for the Wild card slot huh. LOL Seriously though i am very worried after Saturday. How did we fall so far behind so fast ?

After watching both coaches lose control of their teams I'm not too particularly worried plus neither team suffered the injuries that we had. The Bengals have a glut of free agents and could lose their OC and the Steelers(just like us) are always tight against the cap.

[edthehead]

The sky is not falling but there is reason for concern,

pitts , I would not go so far to say we have there number, only that we do in fact show up for the game,

     game 1. their kicker could not kick and we played a good game and won.

     game 2. pitts never show up to play us, they came off 2 big wins and over looked us.  

cincy well we can beat them but we usually, always give them the big play.

     here is the problem with cincy, maybe it's the love affair we have with marvin lewis, or their surplus of cap,

2016 estimate 38  BAZILLION dollars, or the shear nastiness they have. if the OC/DC leaves then they will promote from within,

we do not do that, again we do have a really good team, we just need some tweaks.

     DC , who is not afraid to come out the booth and get in the players face when they mess up,

     almost every team in our div/conf/league has a bona fide 1 WR ,if they are competing or they have an out of the world QB (except KC)

     we need some tweaks on defense ( we need a nasty dog) 

DO anybody have a link to cincy message board wanted to see what they are saying about their total meltdown.

[Winchester]

Friends, i love the Ravens as much as anyone on the forum here but after what i saw Saturday we may be 3rd place in our division for a few years to come. Looking at what we have now we cannot outscore either team and their defenses are just aggressive and mean. 

 

We cannot compete in a game against them unless we play the perfect game and they play very badly. It looks like the Bengals are set to make a run for a few years straight unless they self implode like Saturday and the Steelers offense is just WOW and their defense is no slouch either. 

 

Thank goodness for the Wild card slot huh. LOL Seriously though i am very worried after Saturday. How did we fall so far behind so fast ?

The ravens Offensive line dominated cinci and Pittsburgh at times!! Jensen beat up Atkins and stonewalled Tuitt!! If ravens fronted legit playmakers the offense would of put up a considerable lead by halftime. Next year with Campanaro, Perriman, Tread and an in shape and faster Maxx and a dominating OLine the ravens will drop 30+ points on cinci and Pittsburgh and sweep the division.

[GrimCoconut]

I think this loss could mentally wound the Bengals. Furthermore, they're finally about to experience turnover and have quite a number of free agents.

We'll see if they continue their dominance. I think they're very beatable. Cover Green and have a legit #1 WR and they'll be exposed.

[RavensPunkXVX]

How did Saturdays game out of all games, make you feel that way? We're a good safety and good corner away from competing with those offenses. Not to mention we handled the Steelers offense in the last game.

Gotta find a way to cover Green and all will be fine.

[Alexir]

If the Steelers are so good, why did we sweep them? We will be fine. We just need to learn to finish games...and you know, not lead league in IR....don't know if you can coach on that though...

[elemento]

Stop it brah

 

We just beat the Steelers with a 3rd string team and a 3rd string QB. when they're fighting for a playoff spot and the Ravens were done for the year. 

 

The Ravens can beat any team in NFL if healthy, including our division rivals. 

[RLewis52]

We have the Steelers number, and as long as Marvin is coaching the Bengals, they will only live up to being a good regular season team time and time again. They are nothing to fear in a playoff game. They might win the division sure, but it we catch them in a playoff game, odds are in our favor. After what they have shown, I doubt anyone would take them as a winning pick

[Inqui]

I think this loss could mentally wound the Bengals. Furthermore, they're finally about to experience turnover and have quite a number of free agents.

We'll see if they continue their dominance. I think they're very beatable. Cover Green and have a legit #1 WR and they'll be exposed.

I already mentioned the ESPN doco The Four Falls of Buffalo with you, but Troy Aikman was saying that at halftime of their fourth Super Bowl, the players were incredibly flat despite how well they played. Instead of cheering and talking themselves up like they had in the past, no one said anything as they walked into the sheds. He said once he saw that all he had to do was punch them in the mouth in the second half and they'd implode. Which they did.

Point is that the Bengals are in a very similar situation now, and failing repeatedly at one particular hurdle takes a toll on the players. I kinda hope we make the playoffs next year and face them. Have a chance to put the final nail in ourselves.

[allblackraven]

Bengals free agents this year:

 

1. Leon Hall         CB
2. Andre Smith         RT
3. Reggie Nelson         FS
4. Vincent Rey         ILB
5. Adam Jones         CB
6. Emmanuel Lamur         OLB
7. Wallace Gilberry     DE
8. Mohamed Sanu         WR
9. George Iloka         SS
10. Eric Winston         RT
11. Brandon Thompson     DT
12. Marvin Jones         WR
13. Brandon Tate         WR
14. Pat Sims         DT

 

Spotrac lists them all as UFA's (I'm not sure that's the case). That's a lot of good defense coming off the books at the same time and every receiving weapon apart from Green and Eifert.

 

With Dalton injury (maybe) and slack coaching by Marvin, they may have just missed their window before it closed.

[edthehead]

Bengals free agents this year:

 

1. Leon Hall         CB
2. Andre Smith         RT
3. Reggie Nelson         FS
4. Vincent Rey         ILB
5. Adam Jones         CB
6. Emmanuel Lamur         OLB
7. Wallace Gilberry     DE
8. Mohamed Sanu         WR
9. George Iloka         SS
10. Eric Winston         RT
11. Brandon Thompson     DT
12. Marvin Jones         WR
13. Brandon Tate         WR
14. Pat Sims         DT

 

Spotrac lists them all as UFA's (I'm not sure that's the case). That's a lot of good defense coming off the books at the same time and every receiving weapon apart from Green and Eifert.

 

With Dalton injury (maybe) and slack coaching by Marvin, they may have just missed their window before it closed.

36 million in cap space, In the past they are a cheap franchise, let's see what they do,

I hope they remain cheap.

[TDubbs]

How long will Big Ben continue to play through injuries? He's always been a guy who gets banged up, but now each injury seems to get more serious. And, if he continues to play through more serious injuries how effective will he be? The Steelers are nothing without Big Ben. 

 

As for the Bengals like a few previous posts mentioned, they have a lot of FA's to deal with. They'll keep some, but definitely let some go. They will still have a talented roster b/c they can draft well, but they still don't have a big game QB. 

 

One good draft, get our guys back healthy and we're in the mix for the division title, no cause for concern. 

[darklight1216]

I'm worried about this team's near future, but I'm worried because they have finished 3rd in their division for three straight years  yet don't seem to think they need drastic changes. The game on Saturday wasn't frightening in the least.

 

How long will Big Ben continue to play through injuries? He's always been a guy who gets banged up, but now each injury seems to get more serious. And, if he continues to play through more serious injuries how effective will he be? The Steelers are nothing without Big Ben.

 

As for the Bengals like a few previous posts mentioned, they have a lot of FA's to deal with. They'll keep some, but definitely let some go. They will still have a talented roster b/c they can draft well, but they still don't have a big game QB. 

 

One good draft, get our guys back healthy and we're in the mix for the division title, no cause for concern. 

The Steelers are actually pretty effective without him. It's downright uncanny. 

Does anyone remember the November 2012 game against Charlie Batch?

 

That said, they would have a tough time succeeding in the post-season without him.

[Tru11]

i take it some of you did not watch the week 17 game against the bengals?

 

AJ Green did very little in that game.....

[stampedehero]

I CANNOT agree with nextgen  We had a couple of bad years since 08.  We lost games by fingers length this year. We have the #1 IR list.  NO. Next year is got to be better.  My karma is in my  motto.

[usmccharles]

I CANNOT agree with nextgen  We had a couple of bad years since 08.  We lost games by fingers length this year. We have the #1 IR list.  NO. Next year is got to be better.  My karma is in my  motto.

Yea, like watching that game saturday scared anyone else.  Makes no sesnse....Although on offense we dont have any weapons compared to either of them, but we have Joe

[Cillmatic]

1. The Bengals are about to take a step back, they have like 15 free agents, the coaching staff is incompetent at best due to their inability to control their players and they're about to lose their best defensive player for three games.

2. We beat the Steelers with our practice squad...

As long as we have Jimmy or any other shutdown CB we'll be fine.

(And one last thing; their defenses aren't mean, they're dirty and cheap aka Burfict & Jones.

Edited January 13, 2016 by Cillmatic

[edthehead]

just like a marine, lol, I am joking I was Army,

anyway come on bruh, how was it difficult . it was honest.

it is not their fault they have a bad kicker = fact and i agree. did we benefit from that yes, but to say we have their number

possibly, it's a division game and can go either way. I love the sweep and I am one of the few who prefer the sweep over the draft picks (due to my friend) bragging rights.

     "Ooo Rah"

[Guest]

I'm worried about this team's near future, but I'm worried because they have finished 3rd in their division for three straight years  yet don't seem to think they need drastic changes. The game on Saturday wasn't frightening in the least.

 

The Steelers are actually pretty effective without him. It's downright uncanny. 

Does anyone remember the November 2012 game against Charlie Batch?

 

That said, they would have a tough time succeeding in the post-season without him.

 

Up 15-0, Big Has Ben left the game. He came back in down 15-16. He couldn't throw but his mere presence enabled them to pull that game out.  (Well that and Cincy players who could not keep their heads.) 

 

Big Has Ben is a force. Even if you hate him and his team, you have to concede the man is magic.

 

That said, BHB can't take a hit any longer without being escorted to the xray room. Always somewhat brittle, the guy is a geriatric bag of old bones now.  Hit him. Hit him hard.

[usmccharles]

And i am one of the few also that wanted wins instead of losing out for a better draft pick.  I dont think we have Pitts number really...its been good games and last year we didnt have to worry about Bell, could of been a completely different game with him in it.  I think its ok to say or at least worry about his future regarding injuries, but i am for sure worried about their trio of WRs. 

 

And you are right about Cinci, they have some good cap space and also have a good amount of FAs.  They have a very well balanced team and it will be very interesting to see what they do in FA and the draft, hopefully they continue to be cheap.  I expect them to have a rough turnover.

[usmccharles]

Up 15-0, Big Has Ben left the game. He came back in down 15-16. He couldn't throw but his mere presence enabled them to pull that game out.  (Well that and Cincy players who could not keep their heads.) 

 

Big Has Ben is a force. Even if you hate him and his team, you have to concede the man is magic.

 

That said, BHB can't take a hit any longer without being escorted to the xray room. Always somewhat brittle, the guy is a geriatric bag of old bones now.  Hit him. Hit him hard.

Ryan Clark was on Mike and Mike the other morning i think and he was talking about the difference between the Steelers/Ravens games and the Bengals/Steelers game and said that Cinci and Pitt actually hate eachother but Ravens and Steelers respect each other.  I really dont like the steelers, but i dont hate them. 

[Purple_City39]

 

And i am one of the few also that wanted wins instead of losing out for a better draft pick.  I dont think we have Pitts number really...its been good games and last year we didnt have to worry about Bell, could of been a completely different game with him in it.  I think its ok to say or at least worry about his future regarding injuries, but i am for sure worried about their trio of WRs. 

 

And you are right about Cinci, they have some good cap space and also have a good amount of FAs.  They have a very well balanced team and it will be very interesting to see what they do in FA and the draft, hopefully they continue to be cheap.  I expect them to have a rough turnover.

2-0 this season

4-1 the last two seasons with the one being the game right after Jimmy getting hurt.

8-3 over the last 5 years against the Steelers.

 

I don't know how anyone can think we don't have the Steelers' number.  Maybe it changes, but as of now, the Ravens are the better head to head team.  

 

Oh and I don't care about them not having Bell in last year's playoff game when they had every other starter.  We didn't have J.Smith, Monroe, Wagner, and were down to Webb plus 5th and 6th stringers in the secondary.  We still won by 2 scores.