[News] Late For Work 12/8: Joe Flacco: Patriots Can Intimidate Some Teams, But That's Not Us

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New England media members think the Patriots are still 'pissed off.' Steve Smith is still trash-talking the Dolphins … at charity events ... and in a Yoda onesie. Andrew Luck wins AFC Offensive Player of the Week over Joe Flacco. The Ravens' 2016 fourth-round draft could be a significant moment in franchise history.

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[DaRupp]

So i was playing with the playoff calculator on espn.com. Basically this game doesn't matter. We have to 3 games, and we HAVE to win at Pittsburgh. That's everything. We can lose to the patriots, and as long as we win the other 3, we still win the division.

If we beat the pats, and lose to the steelers (assuming the steelers win all their other games which is a cakewalk for them), then we don't make the playoffs.

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

[FloridalovesRavens]

Every game matters at this point. I'm sure the Ravens want the Pats very much. One game at a time. If we can come out like against the Fins we won't have a problem. My concern is the weather. Will be have to rely on the run game? Will our RBs be good enough? Guess we'll find out. Go Ravens!

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

So i was playing with the playoff calculator on espn.com. Basically this game doesn't matter. We have to 3 games, and we HAVE to win at Pittsburgh. That's everything. We can lose to the patriots, and as long as we win the other 3, we still win the division.

If we beat the pats, and lose to the steelers (assuming the steelers win all their other games which is a cakewalk for them), then we don't make the playoffs.

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

Not necessarily true since the Broncos, Raiders and Chiefs all play each other in their remaining games. Broncos could easily lose to the Pats, Chiefs and Raiders and fall to 9-7. We win 3-1 even with a Steelers loss, and we're 10-6. Even at 9-7 we'd hold the tie breakers over any 10-6 or 9-7 team.

Plus, I wouldnt say Steelers schedule is cakewalk. Cinci wont roll over for them and the Bills are in desperation mode. Rex knows them well, their D is good enough to slow the offense down, and Shady/Tyrod are explosive enough to put points on the board. Definitely easier than our schedule, but they still have to beat us.

X-mas night could in all likelihood decide the division. That's the way it should be. Steelers and Ravens late in December, playing with it all on the line.

[DaRupp]

  14 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

So i was playing with the playoff calculator on espn.com. Basically this game doesn't matter. We have to 3 games, and we HAVE to win at Pittsburgh. That's everything. We can lose to the patriots, and as long as we win the other 3, we still win the division.

If we beat the pats, and lose to the steelers (assuming the steelers win all their other games which is a cakewalk for them), then we don't make the playoffs.

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

Not necessarily true since the Broncos, Raiders and Chiefs all play each other in their remaining games. Broncos could easily lose to the Pats, Chiefs and Raiders and fall to 9-7. We win 3-1 even with a Steelers loss, and we're 10-6. Even at 9-7 we'd hold the tie breakers over any 10-6 or 9-7 team.

Plus, I wouldnt say Steelers schedule is cakewalk. Cinci wont roll over for them and the Bills are in desperation mode. Rex knows them well, their D is good enough to slow the offense down, and Shady/Tyrod are explosive enough to put points on the board. Definitely easier than our schedule, but they still have to beat us.

X-mas night could in all likelihood decide the division. That's the way it should be. Steelers and Ravens late in December, playing with it all on the line.

You're right. As I mentioned, I made the assumption that a wildcard isn't an option since it's unlikely. It's much more likely for us to get to the playoffs through winning the division.

Have you seen Cinci play recently? Without Green or Bernard, they're really struggling. I do think the best chance of a steelers loss (other than the ravens) is this week against the Bills. Bills are heating up.

HOWEVER, if the BIlls beat the steelers, and we beat the pats, but lose to the steelers (assuming wins against philly and cinci), we still don't win the division. Steelers have tiebreaker for wins in common games.

[rossihunter2]

22 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

dont assume anything like that - the west still all have to play each other which will either consolidate all 3 or one of them could come careening out of the playoff picture altogether...

[hen826957]

So i was playing with the playoff calculator on espn.com. Basically this game doesn't matter. We have to 3 games, and we HAVE to win at Pittsburgh. That's everything. We can lose to the patriots, and as long as we win the other 3, we still win the division.

If we beat the pats, and lose to the steelers (assuming the steelers win all their other games which is a cakewalk for them), then we don't make the playoffs.

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

The last 4 games is not exactly a cakewalk for the Steelers. They could lose to Buffalo next week and l hope Tyrod and the Buffalo Bills can do us a favor. I will be watching that game cheering for the Bills hard. That might be the only game l could see them losing. The Steelers got the Bengals number but they can also lose that game too. If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

[rossihunter2]

1 minute ago, hen826957 said:

The last 4 games is not exactly a cakewalk for the Steelers. They could lose to Buffalo next week and l hope Tyrod and the Buffalo Bills can do us a favor. I will be watching that game cheering for the Bills hard. That might be the only game l could see them losing. The Steelers got the Bengals number but they can also lose that game too. If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

wouldn't that be great if tyrod and rex did us a massive favour and knocked the steelers down a peg?

[DaRupp]

  29 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

So i was playing with the playoff calculator on espn.com. Basically this game doesn't matter. We have to 3 games, and we HAVE to win at Pittsburgh. That's everything. We can lose to the patriots, and as long as we win the other 3, we still win the division.

If we beat the pats, and lose to the steelers (assuming the steelers win all their other games which is a cakewalk for them), then we don't make the playoffs.

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

The last 4 games is not exactly a cakewalk for the Steelers. They could lose to Buffalo next week and l hope Tyrod and the Buffalo Bills can do us a favor. I will be watching that game cheering for the Bills hard. That might be the only game l could see them losing. The Steelers got the Bengals number but they can also lose that game too. If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

False (unless the calculator has a bug). If we lose to the steelers, they will win tiebreaker in common games.

[DaRupp]

  13 minutes ago, hen826957 said:

The last 4 games is not exactly a cakewalk for the Steelers. They could lose to Buffalo next week and l hope Tyrod and the Buffalo Bills can do us a favor. I will be watching that game cheering for the Bills hard. That might be the only game l could see them losing. The Steelers got the Bengals number but they can also lose that game too. If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

wouldn't that be great if tyrod and rex did us a massive favour and knocked the steelers down a peg?

it doesn't matter. It only matters that we beat them week 16.

[rossihunter2]

2 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

it doesn't matter. It only matters that we beat them week 16.

obviously statistically - i just mean wouldnt it feel particularly satisfying knowing that a former ravens 6th rounder knocked off the steelers...

[whobilly]

  16 minutes ago, hen826957 said:

  44 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

So i was playing with the playoff calculator on espn.com. Basically this game doesn't matter. We have to 3 games, and we HAVE to win at Pittsburgh. That's everything. We can lose to the patriots, and as long as we win the other 3, we still win the division.

If we beat the pats, and lose to the steelers (assuming the steelers win all their other games which is a cakewalk for them), then we don't make the playoffs.

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

The last 4 games is not exactly a cakewalk for the Steelers. They could lose to Buffalo next week and l hope Tyrod and the Buffalo Bills can do us a favor. I will be watching that game cheering for the Bills hard. That might be the only game l could see them losing. The Steelers got the Bengals number but they can also lose that game too. If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

False (unless the calculator has a bug). If we lose to the steelers, they will win tiebreaker in common games.

NFC East losses along with embarrassing loss to the Jets could come back to haunt us.

[merryjman]

When we beat the Patriots it has usually been because we've been able to rattle Brady. Not necessarily sack him, but at least get some legal hits on him just as he releases.We have Jimmy Smith back and we have 55 & 58 back. With them putting pressure on the outside, 22 and 36 on the corners, and 98 eating blocks in the middle, our defense is in a good position to limit Brady to short throws by making him get rid of the ball quickly.

No defense in this league is going to keep Brady from throwing 300 yds, but the Ravens can use their bend-don't-break defense, let Brady have his 8-yard quick throws, and hopefully limit their possessions to mostly field goals.

The key of course will be for the offense to put up points. They'll need to put up more than 24 points, I think, to have a real shot.

[DaRupp]

  13 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

it doesn't matter. It only matters that we beat them week 16.

obviously statistically - i just mean wouldnt it feel particularly satisfying knowing that a former ravens 6th rounder knocked off the steelers...

oh well yeah. In that case, I'm totally with you. Beating the pats would be HUGE satisfaction, and also show that we can compete with anyone. So yes, I definitely want to stick to Brady and company.

[DaRupp]

  24 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

  27 minutes ago, hen826957 said:

  56 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

So i was playing with the playoff calculator on espn.com. Basically this game doesn't matter. We have to 3 games, and we HAVE to win at Pittsburgh. That's everything. We can lose to the patriots, and as long as we win the other 3, we still win the division.

If we beat the pats, and lose to the steelers (assuming the steelers win all their other games which is a cakewalk for them), then we don't make the playoffs.

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

The last 4 games is not exactly a cakewalk for the Steelers. They could lose to Buffalo next week and l hope Tyrod and the Buffalo Bills can do us a favor. I will be watching that game cheering for the Bills hard. That might be the only game l could see them losing. The Steelers got the Bengals number but they can also lose that game too. If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

False (unless the calculator has a bug). If we lose to the steelers, they will win tiebreaker in common games.

NFC East losses along with embarrassing loss to the Jets could come back to haunt us.

If we don't make the playoffs (I think we're completely capable!), I think the Jets loss will be the game we look at.

[DaRupp]

When we beat the Patriots it has usually been because we've been able to rattle Brady. Not necessarily sack him, but at least get some legal hits on him just as he releases.We have Jimmy Smith back and we have 55 & 58 back. With them putting pressure on the outside, 22 and 36 on the corners, and 98 eating blocks in the middle, our defense is in a good position to limit Brady to short throws by making him get rid of the ball quickly.

No defense in this league is going to keep Brady from throwing 300 yds, but the Ravens can use their bend-don't-break defense, let Brady have his 8-yard quick throws, and hopefully limit their possessions to mostly field goals.

The key of course will be for the offense to put up points. They'll need to put up more than 24 points, I think, to have a real shot.

Well said. Don't forget Guy and Urban in the middle knocking down passes. I think that's going to be key if Brady is getting rid of the ball too quickly for 55/58 to do their thing.

[TheRavengers]

Winning 2 more games is the absolute minimum if we want a playoff shot, and those would have to come against division opponents. That being said, I'd prefer to try and win out the rest of the season so we don't have to worry all that much.

[Drew P]

Does anyone else think Tayvon should cover the slot?

[TheRavengers]

39 minutes ago, DaRupp said:

If we don't make the playoffs (I think we're completely capable!), I think the Jets loss will be the game we look at.

I was watching the Colts-Jets game on Monday Night and actually wondering how did we manage to lose to them?

[rossihunter2]

to win this game, the defense is going to have to pick brady once - the whole tenor of a game that brady plays changes if he throws an early(ish) pick - he's thrown only one pick since he came back and even then he played well - the trick has got to be keeping the ball out of brady's hands - turnovers in general are key... as per usual then lol...

[TheConquerorWorm]

  1 hour ago, whobilly said:

  1 hour ago, DaRupp said:

  1 hour ago, hen826957 said:

  2 hours ago, DaRupp said:

So i was playing with the playoff calculator on espn.com. Basically this game doesn't matter. We have to 3 games, and we HAVE to win at Pittsburgh. That's everything. We can lose to the patriots, and as long as we win the other 3, we still win the division.

If we beat the pats, and lose to the steelers (assuming the steelers win all their other games which is a cakewalk for them), then we don't make the playoffs.

I'm assuming a wildcard is out of the question since the afc west will likely have both wild card teams.

The last 4 games is not exactly a cakewalk for the Steelers. They could lose to Buffalo next week and l hope Tyrod and the Buffalo Bills can do us a favor. I will be watching that game cheering for the Bills hard. That might be the only game l could see them losing. The Steelers got the Bengals number but they can also lose that game too. If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

False (unless the calculator has a bug). If we lose to the steelers, they will win tiebreaker in common games.

NFC East losses along with embarrassing loss to the Jets could come back to haunt us.

If we don't make the playoffs (I think we're completely capable!), I think the Jets loss will be the game we look at.

We got beat soundly by the Jets. I think the defense choking in the last minutes against the Raiders & the Giants are the ones to look at.

[jar2260]

The way to beat the patriots is to knock brady on his butt! Repeatedly!
Ands protect Joe!

Go Ravens

[Minionhunter]

Weather report for the game, current forecast says Snow with rain and ice late. They seemed to have decreased the amount of snow they are predicting from yesterday, but still bad conditions.

[steelcityraven]

The way to beat the patriots is to knock brady on his butt! Repeatedly!
Ands protect Joe!

Go Ravens

Agreed... especially right now that they are down a few weapons. I think ball control (keeping Brady off of the field and limiting his chances is also a major factor). We need to be able to run the ball -find a way

[steelcityraven]

If we beat the Pats and the Bills beat the sqeelers (which I think will happen). We will be siting pretty. The Sqeelers will be a game behind us... we hold the head to head and still have to play them one more time... putting us squarely in the drivers seat.

[AlwaysA_Raven]

2 hours ago, DaRupp said:

If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

False (unless the calculator has a bug). If we lose to the steelers, they will win tiebreaker in common games.

 

Actually, we hold the tie breaker over the steelers no matter what. The common games come into play only when the head-to-head and the conference record are both a tie. Currently, we have only 2 conference losses, assuming we lose from the Steelers, that's a 3. The Steelers currently have 3 conference losses, if they lose any game (Bills, Bengals, Browns), the go up to 4. There is no scenario in which we end with a tie in the conference record. Even with common games, we still have the tiebreaker. Currently, the Ravens are 6-4 in common games; the Steelers are 5-5. All coming games are  common games, if we end up with a tie over the coming 4, we still hold the tie breaker in common games. Long story made short, we win any tiebreaker over the steelers no matter what.

[VermontRaven]

3 hours ago, DaRupp said:

If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

False (unless the calculator has a bug). If we lose to the steelers, they will win tiebreaker in common games.

The ESPN playoff machine is wrong!  WE win the Common Games tiebreak.  I have lost all respect for ESPN's playoff machine over this.  I have reported it to them, and they have done nothing to change it.  Try nflplayoffpredictor.com  Basically, there is no way we can lose a tiebreak to Pittsburgh. (barring any tied games--I haven't factored that in)

[DaRupp]

  3 hours ago, DaRupp said:

If the Steelers lose to the Bills and we win vs the Patriots, we will be in good shape.

False (unless the calculator has a bug). If we lose to the steelers, they will win tiebreaker in common games.

The ESPN playoff machine is wrong!  WE win the Common Games tiebreak.  I have lost all respect for ESPN's playoff machine over this.  I have reported it to them, and they have done nothing to change it.  Try nflplayoffpredictor.com  Basically, there is no way we can lose a tiebreak to Pittsburgh. (barring any tied games--I haven't factored that in)

Oh i saw your comment on there! I"ll check out the one you mention. Thanks for the context!

[The Greek]

The way to beat the patriots is to knock brady on his butt! Repeatedly!
Ands protect Joe!

Go Ravens

agreed 1000% and we need some long drives to keep the defense fresh

[The Greek]

Does anyone else think Tayvon should cover the slot?

he is better suited covering smaller receivers. not sure they put him on edelman. that dude is sneaky and his experience may be too much for tavon being in his rookie season but tavon has definitely impressed me thus far. going to be interesting how the defensive staff matchup the corners with the pats receivers.