I didn’t even watch the game on TV, just listened on the radio, but looking through my DVR Recording, how great was this game? Chad Pennington turned the ball over 5 times, more than half of his total turnovers during the season, and after the game he said he felt good about 3 of those 4 passes that were intercepted. Incredible ball-hawking ability by the secondary made this an easy win.

All of my predictions were totally wrong, except for the INT return for a TD, but the wrong person. Just shows how unpredictable, but great, the Ravens can be. For once I agree with Michael Wilbon, Ed Reed should definitely be in the hall of fame, and is the best DB since Ronnie Lott. For a safety in the supposed “twilight of his career,” 11 picks, with 3 of them returned all the way, including the longest return in NFL history, he is the best defensive back, and maybe defensive player in the NFL.

Just a little sidenote, in Coach of the Year voting, John Harbaugh received zero votes, but the top two finishers, both also rookie coaches, ended their season with zero playoff wins. Revenge is sweet.
Also, James Harrison took home the NFL Defensive POY award, getting 22 votes, followed by DeMarcus Ware’s 13 votes. Reed had 9 picks during the season, 2 returned for touchdown, and that I can remember, wasn’t beat deep once being less than 100%. Harrison and Ware were worthy candidates, but 8 votes compared to 22 is just another sign that the media has no interest in Baltimore.

Bring on the Titans Tighty-Whities

Playoff Scenarios

If the Ravens win, they would obviously play the top remaining seed, the Titans.

If the Dolphins win, they would face the Steelers, being the #3 Seed and the Chargers being the #4 seed, they would play Tennessee.

GameBreakers

Dolphins: The Ravens obviously need to look out for Ronnie Brown, the ‘Fins stud running back, but they also need to keep an eye on the emerging recieving threats for the Dolphins, as Ted Ginn Jr. will probably be the fastest player on the field, and Greg Camarillo, well, we know him.  Chad Pennington has thrown for 3,600 yards this year, an astounding amount for a guy who wasn’t expected to even finish the year as the starter in Miami.  

Ravens: Right away, Mark Clayton comes to mind.  John Harbaugh has perfected ways to use Clayton’s talent and athletic ability, whether its the end-around, a WR Pass or a jump ball in the end zone, he’s really stepped up while Mason hasn’t been at 100%.               Joe Flacco needs to have a good start to the game for the rushing attack to succeed, and with Ray Rice back, and the Dolphins not being able to prepare for him, expect a big game from him and his counterparts. 

Here is an injury report of the game.  Look all the way to the right for game status.

Prediction

Changed it up a little, now I’m saying Ravens win 28-17.

Joe Flacco throwing 2 TD’s, no turnovers, Willis McGahee scoring a semi-long TD run, and Fabian Washington returning a fumble for a TD.

First, an announcement: I can’t do the live blog for the first playoff game, as I have to attend a funeral service, but Jarrett might cover.

Now to the game.

The Ravens downed the Dolphins in week 7, 27-13 in Miami, but the Purple Birds will meet a totally different team on Wild Card weekend.  Chad Pennington has been named NFL  Comeback Player of the Year, and rightly so.  He’s revived his career in Miami, and stud workhorse Ronnie Brown has taken loads of pressure off the former Jets QB.  A new threat for the ‘Fins is Ricky Williams, who has taken carries to keep Brown fresh.  

The Ravens have had their own emerging surprises since then, with Joe Flacco becoming a formidable NFL QB, Le’Ron McClain being a top running back, and Ray Rice, whose coming out party was against Miami, is finally back.  Todd Heap has become a part of the air game again, and Mark Clayton has been as hot as any receiver in the AFC.  

Just as a side-note, for some unheralded stats, Jameel McClain leads the NFL in safeties, Sam Koch is 2nd in the league in punts inside the 20 and 1st in the NFL in punts inside the 10 and 5 yard lines.  Matt Stover now holds the all-time NFL record for consecutive made extra points.  He could go down as one of the greatest NFL kickers ever when he retires.

I hate Greg Camarillo.  Uggh.  Ravens win 24-17.

So first off, this is my last day in California, more constant posting will happen when I return home.  Now for the good stuff.

First game: vs Dolphins.  I think the Dolphins have been playing incredibly since the Ravens beat them, but that was a poor effort by Flacco and the Ravens’ offense, and the defense won the game for them.  With Flacco becoming more consistent and prolific, I see the Ravens putting the Fins away.

Second Game: vs Titans.  The Ravens are the bottom seed, meaning if they advance in the conference round, they play the highest seed.  If you’ll remember, the Ravens almost beat the Titans in B’More while Tennessee was playing their best.  With that said, this would be a hard win.

AFC Championship: vs Steelers or winner of NY Jets/Colts.  I see the Colts advancing here, but when the Ravens get there, we’ll worry about it. It should be an exciting playoff run.

The opponents and venue have been released for 2009.  The Ravens will play:

           Home-Away                                            

• Cincinatti-Cincinatti                                   
• Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh
• Cleveland-Cleveland
• Denver-Oakland
• Kansas City-San Diego
• Chicago-Green Bay
• Detroit-Minnesota
• Indianapolis-New England or NY Jets

Huzzah! The Ravens are in the playoffs.

More on the game later in another post.

I haven’t been able to post for so long because I’m in sunny California, where wireless networks don’t pick up NFL blog servers.

Happy to be back, and so happy the Ravens are in.

First off, Happy Holidays everyone.

Now, when we look back on this season, even it it ends up disappointing with no playoff appearance, this could be the best season in Ravens history (minus one super exception.)  Coming into the year with no clear cut QB, an out of shape running back, an aging defense and a new coaching staff, expectations were 8-8, maybe even 9-7, with no shot at a playoff berth.  When Joe Flacco was basically forced in as the starter, those expectations dropped a few wins.  Flacco’s been excellent, the city has fallen in love with John Harbaugh, the draft was a monster success, and a new presence on offense (Le’Ron McClain) and a welcome newcomer on defense (Fabian Washington) have rounded out this underdog roster.  

We always knew the defense was there, but who would’ve thought in the second half of the year, after the cupcake games vs Oakland and such, that the Ravens would lead the NFL in scoring offense for an extended amount of time?  Who would’ve thought the Ravens go 11-5 and make the playoffs and are considered a top 5 NFL team?  Who would ever think Joe Flacco would be mentioned in the same breath as great rookie QB’s like Dan Marino?  No one.  No one ever would’ve thought any of that.

So after all the surprises and ups and downs, the Ravens have been the AFC’s Falcons.  Coming off a dissapointing, fan-losing season, a team with a rookie QB and a new coach would go on a cinderella run to the playoffs.  The Ravens have been the highlight of my year so far. Saturday night’s game, even though I only saw the second half, that game was the most satisfying I’ve ever had as a Ravens fan.  

If MJD runs all over the Ravens D, and something happens that would 1 out of every 1,000 times and the Ravens lose this Sunday, I’ll be just fine.  This season has been incredible.

Just remember: Last year the Dolphins were 1-15, beating a certain team in Baltimore.  This year they’re 10-5, and a certain team from Baltimore beat them.  I’d call that an improvement

Wow.  Incredible and totally unpredictable game.  What the Ravens showed me today is that they can win in any situation they need to.  The game started out as a low scoring hard-nosed affair, but turned out to be a no-defense, big play game in the 2nd half.   Flacco had a QB rating of 96.9, great for playing against the NFL’s leader in team (and in Demarcus Ware’s case, individual) sacks.  Leron McClain had 139 yards on 22 carries, and Willis McGahee had 108 yards on 8 carries.  McClain’s TD was the longest and most important run of his career, and saved a game that was about to be lost.  

For some reason, and I don’t know why, maybe it’s the lack of a true shutdown corner right now, but the defense cannot defend the pass for its life in the 4th quarter.  Maybe it’s having Dewan  Landry out, I don’t know, but it needs to stop come playoff time.  Now the Ravens control their own destiny, all they have to do is smother David Garrard, MJD and the always lame Fred Taylor, and they’re the 6th seed in the AFC.  How good is the AFC this year if a top 5 or 8 NFL team in most power rankings barely make the playoffs, and multiple 11-5 and 10-6 teams don’t make it?  Way too good.  

Ed Reed had another two interceptions.  BEST SAFETY IN THE NFL.  Don’t let Sally “The Scary Girl” Polamalu scare you, Reed is the real deal.  I’m just blabbing now. My purple rice krispie treats got burnt.  I cried a little, and then wrapped them as a gift, and put them in the mailbox addressed to the Steelers front office.  No I didn’t actually do that.  I was just joking.  

The Dolphins are playing the Chiefs tommorow.  Go Tyler Thigpen!  The Patriots are playing the Cardinals.  Don’t be surprised in Junior Seau finds himself uncomfortably matched up with Anquan Boldin, and can’t get any credit with him for being at Woodstock.  Kurt Warner will then come over to Seau and they’ll start to sing songs by Country Joe & The Fish, or whatever they were called.

Huzzah!  The Ravens have won!

Click this link to pop up the blog.

http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=62a4112f41

Nothing really happened, so don’t bother looking.  Sorry I started it so late, but I was expecting another person to cover the first half, but that didn’t work out.  Anyway, it was a great game, and now there will be a review posted.