Season Defining Game

[varaven]

Which game do you all think defined last year's season?

[wolfzie06]

Ravens vs. Cowboys. Most memorable game other than the Super Bowl.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='wolfzie06' post='178311' date='Apr 8 2009, 08:04 PM']Ravens vs. Cowboys. Most memorable game other than the Super Bowl.[/quote]


Oh yeah. Ditto. I was with several cowgirl fans at the time as well. Very sweet victory, that one.

[thewarden86]

What about the first Titans game? The Ravens lost (on a BS call) but they brought the Titans back down to Earth.

[Mahatma_Sloth]

the first steelers game was the best [u]metaphore[/u] for our season. tough team/schedual, physical game/year(remember our IR list?), ups and downs the whole game but the effort and preformance was a good indicator of this teams direction/future, just fell short in OT/Postseason and the steeler went home with the W/Bowl.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Mahatma_Sloth' post='178373' date='Apr 8 2009, 09:54 PM']the first steelers game was the best [u]metaphore[/u] for our season. tough team/schedual, physical game/year(remember our IR list?), ups and downs the whole game but the effort and preformance was a good indicator of this teams direction/future, just fell short in OT/Postseason and the steeler went home with the W/Bowl.[/quote]


See, that and the Redskins game (IMO) are what began to shape the 2008 Steelers. They started to believe that they were never out of a game. I credit Mewelde Moore for sparking the whole thing with his gutsy performance in that game against you guys.

I didn't watch every Ravens game but I know that no one expected anything from them and that Titans game turned some heads.

[kash96ravenstotalfan]

[quote name='thewarden86' post='178390' date='Apr 8 2009, 10:25 PM']See, that and the Redskins game (IMO) are what began to shape the 2008 Steelers. They started to believe that they were never out of a game. I credit Mewelde Moore for sparking the whole thing with his gutsy performance in that game against you guys.

I didn't watch every Ravens game but I know that no one expected anything from them and that Titans game turned some heads.[/quote]
This thread is not about the steelers most memorable game

[thewarden86]

[quote name='kash96ravenstotalfan' post='178391' date='Apr 8 2009, 10:28 PM']This thread is not about the steelers most memorable game[/quote]

Chill out!

The game was mentioned so I gave MY take on it.

[CustomUserName]

[quote name='wolfzie06' post='178311' date='Apr 8 2009, 08:04 PM']Ravens vs. Cowboys. Most memorable game other than the Super Bowl.[/quote]

Oh easily, the Cowboys wanted their final game at Cowboys stadium against the Ravens figuring an easy win, had a reunion of every famous Cowboy in history, Prime time, and then to dominate them like that. I was spent after that game, better than sex.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='CustomUserName' post='178393' date='Apr 8 2009, 10:35 PM']Oh easily, the Cowboys wanted their final game at Cowboys stadium against the Ravens figuring an easy win, had a reunion of every famous Cowboy in history, Prime time, and then to dominate them like that. I was spent after that game, better than sex.[/quote]


Now I remember that game! I don't think that was as "defining" for the Ravens as much as it put an exclamation point on the Cowboys season.

I actually enjoyed that game thoroghly. Found myself rooting for the Ravens in that one (reinforced that I guess I still hate the Pats and Cowboys just that little bit more)

[Nevermore52]

I believe the last game you play in a year defines that particular year if it is worth remembering. Any non playoff year is kind of boring. But if you get into the playoffs, your season HAS to be defined by the last game you play that year. Only one team gets the Lombardi trophy. Sure there are nice things that happen throughout the year and in the playoffs, but the most memorable and defining game is always the last one you play in the playoffs.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Nevermore52' post='178396' date='Apr 8 2009, 10:40 PM']I believe the last game you play in a year defines that particular year if it is worth remembering. Any non playoff year is kind of boring. But if you get into the playoffs, your season HAS to be defined by the last game you play that year. Only one team gets the Lombardi trophy. Sure there are nice things that happen throughout the year and in the playoffs, but the most memorable and defining game is always the last one you play in the playoffs.[/quote]


That's debatable. I think that there may be some truth to that but also sometimes the play of one player may lose a tight game for a team (see Neil O'Donnell).

My apologies up front Ravens fans, but I think the best example is actually the 2004 Steelers. 15-1 and we get spanked in the AFCCG. That one game cannot define a 15-1 season. No way.

[K-Dog]

[quote name='wolfzie06' post='178311' date='Apr 8 2009, 08:04 PM']Ravens vs. Cowboys.[/quote]

Agree 100%

They played at their very best that game. I was expecting a loss for that one too.

[ROH522155]

[quote name='thewarden86' post='178400' date='Apr 8 2009, 09:44 PM']That's debatable. I think that there may be some truth to that but also sometimes the play of one player may lose a tight game for a team (see Neil O'Donnell).

My apologies up front Ravens fans, but I think the best example is actually the 2004 Steelers. 15-1 and we get spanked in the AFCCG. That one game cannot define a 15-1 season. No way.[/quote]

15-1 is so incredible. nearly unbeatable. who was the team that gave u that one loss? ohhhhhhhhhhhh.....................yeaaaa.................it was the Ravens wasnt it?? haha just messin

[Ravenoid]

I agree with the Ravens/Titans game. I think that game, even though we lost, made others sit up and take notice. It proved we could bang with the big boys and we are going to get better at it each and every game as long as our coaching staff stays in tact.

What's our name!!?

[ROH522155]

[quote name='Ravenoid' post='178414' date='Apr 8 2009, 10:07 PM']I agree with the Ravens/Titans game. I think that game, even though we lost, made others sit up and take notice. It proved we could bang with the big boys and we are going to get better at it each and every game as long as our coaching staff stays in tact.

What's our name!!?[/quote]

sorry but didnt we prove that the week before?

[Ravenoid]

[quote name='ravensorioleshoyas522155' post='178423' date='Apr 8 2009, 11:14 PM']sorry but didnt we prove that the week before?[/quote]
Pittsburgh doesn't usually play as well as they can early in the season. Tennessee then went on to beat the Colts, Green Bay and eventually Steelers. Some people believed we caught the Steelers off guard since we had only played Cleveland and Cincinatti. Playing well in back to back games against tough teams is defining IMO.

[beetus]

The game that defined the season for me was the second Cleveland game. Down 27-14, 3rd and a mile, Joe Flacco hits Mason for a 25 yard completion and we come back to win 37-27.

[plesiosaur]

The second Ketchup game. Strong, close game, Ravens denied win through late 4th quarter drive and shady officiating.

[darklight1216]

I'm picking the Eagles game, if for no other reason than Ed Reed's interception.

[Nevermore52]

[quote name='thewarden86' post='178400' date='Apr 8 2009, 10:44 PM']That's debatable. I think that there may be some truth to that but also sometimes the play of one player may lose a tight game for a team (see Neil O'Donnell).

My apologies up front Ravens fans, but I think the best example is actually the 2004 Steelers. 15-1 and we get spanked in the AFCCG. That one game cannot define a 15-1 season. No way.[/quote]


I think that AFCCG completely describes the Steelers that year and Cowher's tenure as coach to a lesser extent. His teams played in 5 AFCCGs at home and lost 4 of them. The game was held in Denver the year his team won the Super Bowl. Cowher's teams had a very big tendency to choke in the playoffs. The 2004 Steelers were a prime example of that.

As for O'Donnell, he didn't lose that game for the Steelers. That was the year the Steelers debuted the 5 WR formation and they had an injury to Charles Johnson in late December of that year. Rookie Corey Holliday was tapped to replace him. On both Larry Brown interceptions in the Super Bowl O'Donnell made blitz reads and hot throws correctly but Holliday ran the wrong route each time.

I believe the '08 Ravens season defining game was the AFCCG. To get that close and come away empty is going to be a real gut check for this team. If we have enough heart and can bounce back strong then we may very well have another Lombardi trophy of our own very soon.

[RedFire]

eagles game - we made mcnabb get benched
redskins game - we made clinton portis go off the redskins and get mad at the coach publicly
cowboys game - we shut down texas stadim and ray lewis said turn the light off at the end, lol.

[#1 D]

cowboys' game....this is why
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTVEv71BCbk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTVEv71BCbk[/url]

[Ed_Reed20]

The Cowboys game defined the season for me. All signs pointed to the Cowboys winning and it looked like they might late in the 4th quarter. And then we all know what happened....

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='#1 D' post='178554' date='Apr 9 2009, 10:23 AM']cowboys' game....this is why
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTVEv71BCbk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTVEv71BCbk[/url][/quote]

Beautiful...! My favorite part was McGahee's run. Three players fell over just trying to tackle him and Zach Thomas had got knocked around thanks to a block from someone. Deion shouting in disbelief is hilarious too.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='ravensorioleshoyas522155' post='178411' date='Apr 8 2009, 11:02 PM']15-1 is so incredible. nearly unbeatable. who was the team that gave u that one loss? ohhhhhhhhhhhh.....................yeaaaa.................[b]it was the Ravens wasnt it?? [/b] haha just messin[/quote]


That game wasn't even close, so you definitely have the right to brag.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='Nevermore52' post='178544' date='Apr 9 2009, 09:59 AM']I think that AFCCG completely describes the Steelers that year and Cowher's tenure as coach to a lesser extent. His teams played in 5 AFCCGs at home and lost 4 of them. The game was held in Denver the year his team won the Super Bowl. Cowher's teams had a very big tendency to choke in the playoffs. The 2004 Steelers were a prime example of that.[/quote]


Totally agree about Cowher, but I fail to see how losing the AFCCG ANYWHERE could describe a team who wins 15 games in the regular season.

[quote name='Nevermore52' post='178544' date='Apr 9 2009, 09:59 AM']As for O'Donnell, he didn't lose that game for the Steelers. That was the year the Steelers debuted the 5 WR formation and they had an injury to Charles Johnson in late December of that year. Rookie Corey Holliday was tapped to replace him. [b]On both Larry Brown interceptions in the Super Bowl O'Donnell made blitz reads and hot throws correctly but Holliday ran the wrong route each time.[/b][/quote]


Not true. I can't recall if it was even Holliday that he was throwing to on either of those passes, but Neil O'Donnell will tell you that one of those passes just sailed on him. The other was the WR's fault.

[AlaskanRavensFan]

[quote name='beetus' post='178450' date='Apr 8 2009, 08:57 PM']The game that defined the season for me was the second Cleveland game. Down 27-14, 3rd and a mile, Joe Flacco hits Mason for a 25 yard completion and we come back to win 37-27.[/quote]

I would have to agree. That is a game where we usually would have just had no chance. Boller would have panicked and made some bonehead play to completely remove us from the possibility of winning. (sorry but it's true)

This year though, we had the poise to not panic, and the will to keep fighting for that game.

My second game though would be the Titans divisional playoff though, just because we kept coming up with plays despite the odds.

[Ravenskid2085]

The Cowboys and Deadskins, showed we could win on the big stage.

[Nevermore52]

[quote name='thewarden86' post='178689' date='Apr 9 2009, 04:02 PM']Totally agree about Cowher, but I fail to see how losing the AFCCG ANYWHERE could describe a team who wins 15 games in the regular season.




Not true. I can't recall if it was even Holliday that he was throwing to on either of those passes, but Neil O'Donnell will tell you that one of those passes just sailed on him. The other was the WR's fault.[/quote]



Regular season wins don't mean much to me. They are a means to an end. The end is the playoffs. I remember watching O'Donnell's press conference after the game and I thought it was pretty classy of him not to throw the rookie receiver under the bus. He had made those same reads and same throws all year long. Only in the Super Bowl it was Holliday running the routes instead of Ernie Mills due to Johnson's injury.

To get back on point, all the Ravens playoff games pointed to how this team can be in the future. I can't wait for next season.