I know not everyone got to see this game so I thought I'd offer some random thoughts on the Cowboys' 37-27 win:

• Tony Romo was phenomenal, completing 19 of 30 passes for 309 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. He set a new franchise-record with 33 touchdown passes on the season. Keep in mind this is his first full season as a starter. Last year, only one quarterback -- Peyton Manning -- threw for 30 touchdowns or more. He had 31. This year, Romo and Tom Brady (39) have over 30. Ben Roethlisberger (23), Brett Favre (22), Derek Anderson (22) and Carson Palmer (21) all have a chance to get there also.

• Anyone who watched the game has to have an opinion on Bryant Gumbel. I love Real Sports, and Gumbel's been in the business a long time, but there were several comical moments during the broadcast. He seemed indecisive about several calls, starting and ending sentences with "It appears..." or "...it seems." You're the play-by-play guy! Tell us what's going on! And be sure about it! Gumbel also called made field goals "the truth," and if I'm not mistaken, he called Tony Romo "Rick Romo" at the end of the broadcast. Did anyone else catch that? What did you think of Gumbel?

• Funny moment during ESPN's post-game coverage of Favre's session with the media. When asked about his injury, the Packers QB seemed unsure if he was allowed to be completely honest. At one point, he appeared to be checking with a public relations person before revealing that he had separated his left shoulder in addition to hurting his right elbow. Favre said he thinks he'll be OK though.

• Aaron Rodgers did an admirable job of filling in for Favre, but let's not get carried away. If Favre is out for any significant period of time, the Packers are done. Rodgers went 18-for-26 for 201 yards and a touchdown, but he had a few "What are you thinking?!" moments. And how do you describe that haircut? Adam Morrison-like?

• And finally, Greg Jennings is an exciting player. He had five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, and seems like a threat to break one every time he touches the ball.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 12:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
                    

Last week: 10-6

Overall: 87-81-9

Thursday night game: Packers at Cowboys

The pick: PACKERS (+7)

I'm not sure why Green Bay is considered such an underdog in this one. Sure, they're on the road, they're a little banged-up and they don't have a ton of experience. But they've been finding ways to win all season en route to a 10-1 record. Green Bay has scored 30 or more points in four straight games and has won its last four by an average of 17.5 points. The Packers' defense is allowing 16.8 points per game, third-best in the NFC. Green Bay is 5-0 on the road this season with wins at Kansas City, Denver, New York (Giants), Minnesota and Detroit. I'm aware that Brett Favre has never won in Dallas, and the Cowboys have a great passing attack and a play-making 'D.' But this just feels like a field-goal game to me, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers win outright.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

Here's a look at what the national media are saying about the Ravens. As always, let me know if you have a link I missed.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports gives the Ravens a C- for their performance against the Chargers:

The defense is suddenly very vulnerable. That's two in a row giving up 30 points. Boller made some throws, but the protection was awful.

Kevin Hench of FoxSports.com offers his take on the Ravens' loss:

No controversial ending this week. The abysmal Ravens were picked apart by Philip Rivers (who was booed by Bolts fans after his first series) to the tune of 25-of-35, 249 yards, 3 TDs and no picks. LaDainian Tomlinson passed 10,000 yards rushing in style with a 36-yard ramble (as opposed to the little two-yarder with which Warrick Dunn squeaked over on Thanksgiving). The Ravens have lost five straight and now they get the Patriots and the Colts the next two weeks. Fun times in Billick-ville!

SI.com's Bucky Brooks says the Chargers were able to pressure Kyle Boller by using more five-man pressures:

The return of the Chargers' pass rush was merely the result of using more five-man pressures. Ted Cottrell dialed up more blitzes using Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman on outside rushes off the edges. Though San Diego occasionally mixed in an inside looping stunt by one of their edge rushers, they were surprisingly able to win with conventional rushes off the edges.

SI.com's Peter King says he doesn't know how the Ravens' season can be salvaged.

ESPN.com's Tuesday Morning Quarterback Gregg Easterbrook says Mike Anderson's fumble on a kickoff return Sunday hurt the Ravens more than their other turnovers:

TMQ maintains that, other things being equal, a lost fumble on a kick return -- a "krumble" -- is the most damaging turnover. San Diego scored to take a 19-7 lead over Baltimore with 25 seconds in the first half, the Ravens fumbled the kickoff and the Bolts got a last-second field goal for a 22-7 lead at intermission. Baltimore never threatened in the second half. Note: In his career, Philip Rivers has 20 touchdown passes versus no interceptions in the red zone.

ESPN.com's DJ Gallo says this could have been a preview for the Ravens-Chargers game:

Reminiscent of teen dance movies such as "Stomp The Yard" and "Save The Last Dance," Shawne Merriman and Ray Lewis engage in an intense dance-off, strutting and jiving after even the most inconsequential of tackles. The conclusion is predictable, but three questions will keep your interest. One, can the unlikable Philip Rivers mend his troubled relationship with San Diego fans? Can Kyle Boller's new beard disguise the awful truth that he's still Kyle Boller? And will Brian Billick continue to take issue with the officials' insistence on getting calls right? (Contains suggestive dancing)

Adam Schein of FoxSports.com gives the Ravens an F for their performance in November:

The play calling has been horrible. The play of the starting quarterback was inept. The turnovers are ghastly. The repetitive penalties are inexplicable. Other than that, it's been a good season in Baltimore. To be 4-7 after starting 4-2, with the talent on this team, is just a total letdown and waste.

Adalius Thomas won't be giving the Ravens any bulletin board material this week after he and Ray Lewis exchanged blows through the media earlier this season. Here's what he told Boston.com:

"I have talked to Ray. We talked, and all the nonsense that was printed that was half-true, all of that's done with."

In the rankings

ESPN.com has the Ravens 25th in its power rankings:

The five-game losing streak is the longest in franchise history, and it figures to reach seven with games against the Patriots and Colts the next two weeks. Right now, not even the Dec. 16 game at Miami seems like a sure win.

Prisco of CBS Sports has the Ravens 26th:

We expect the offense to struggle. But what about the defense? They have allowed over 30 points in consecutive games. That doesn't happen to the Ravens.

Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com has the Ravens 27th.

NBCSports.com has the Ravens 24th.

USA Today has the Ravens 24th.

Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports has the Ravens 23rd while Charles Robinson has them 25th.

Dennis Dillon of the Sporting News has the Ravens 26th.

Tony Moss of The Sports Network has the Ravens 24th.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 9:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Here's how I see the top half of the league stacking up:

1. New England Patriots (11-0) -- The scare against the Eagles might have been the best thing for New England. Not that he had any problems in the past, but now Bill Belichick will have no problem focusing his team down the stretch. I'm not so sure the Eagles provided a great blueprint for other teams either. Philly's cornerbacks are better than most, allowing the Eagles to shut down Randy Moss. Pressuring Tom Brady is a must to have a chance against New England, but let's remember that he still threw for 380 yards. If I'm a Patriots fan, my main concern would be how A.J. Feeley marched the Eagles down the field.

2. Dallas Cowboys (10-1) -- How awful were this year's Thanksgiving Day games? The Cowboys took care of business like they should have against the Jets. Next up is one of the year's biggest matchups against the Packers Thursday night. You're all invited to watch at my house if you don't have NFL Network.

3. Green Bay Packers (10-1) -- Other than Tom Brady, I'm not sure there's a quarterback out there who is in better sync with his receivers than Brett Favre. There were rumors that Green Bay was interested in Randy Moss in the offseason, but this receiving corps led by Donald Driver and Greg Jennings is showing it's more than capable of making big plays. The Packers are playing at an extremely high level right now, having won their last four by an average of 17.5 points.

4. Indianapolis Colts (9-2) -- The latest on Marvin Harrison: He could return Sunday for Indy's monster matchup against the Jaguars. How many weeks in a row have we heard that about Harrison? If Feeley and the Eagles' offense can pick apart New England's 'D' like that, you'd have to think Peyton Manning and company certainly have a shot in the playoffs.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) -- This stat will likely make Ravens fans sick. In eight games this season, David Garrard has zero interceptions and one lost fumble. In 11 games, Ravens quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Steve McNair have a combined nine interceptions and 10 lost fumbles. I'm looking forward to seeing how Garrard and the Jacksonville offense will fare against an Indy 'D' that is playing very well right now.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) -- Not sure what you can take away from Pittsburgh's ugly 3-0 win over the Dolphins Monday night at a torn-up Heinz Field. What if it the field is in that condition before the Steelers host a first-round playoff game against a lesser opponent? You've gotta think conditions like that would always favor the underdog.

7. Cleveland Browns (7-4) -- Maybe the defense is making strides? I like the balance on offense. We all know about Derek Anderson's success this season, but Jamal Lewis and the run game controlled the clock for 20 minutes, 56 seconds in the second half of the Browns' win over the Texans.

8. San Diego Chargers (6-5) -- They don't get much more inconsistent than San Diego. Their last five games: win-loss-win-loss-win. On one hand, you could say Philip Rivers looked great against the Ravens. On the other hand, I probably could have hit Antonio Gates, considering how wide open he was.

9. Tampa Bay Bucs (7-4) -- If Jeff Garcia is out, bump the Bucs down. Tampa Bay's offense gained just 15 yards and failed to make a first down in the second half against the Redskins, but the Bucs still escaped with a 19-13 win.

10. Seattle Seahawks (7-4) -- It wasn't pretty, but the Seahawks still got by with a 24-19 win against the Rams. Seattle is third in the league with 35 sacks. Meanwhile, Maurice Morris is averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Shaun Alexander averaged 3.3 before being sidelined.

11. New York Giants (7-4) -- I don't get a lot of things right, but I told you back when the Giants were 6-2 that I wasn't sold. New York's most impresive wins this year came against the Eagles and Lions. Suddenly trips to Chicago and Philly the next two weeks don't look like gimmes. Still, New York could make the postseason without having beat a playoff team this season.

12. Tennessee Titans (6-5) -- Tennessee has allowed 97 points during its current three-game losing streak after the defense gave up just 117 points over the first eight. The Titans have been without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth during that stretch.

13. New Orleans Saints (5-6) -- Do they have a legitimate shot at a playoff spot? We should find out if the Saints are for real this week when they take on the Bucs. New Orleans beat the Panthers in Carolina last week, but then again, the Panthers haven't won at home in a year.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) -- Andy Reid had a great game-plan and you had to love Philly's effort Sunday night against the Patriots. The Eagles are 0-3 in games decided by three points or fewer. Otherwise, they could be sitting in prime playoff position.

15. Detroit Lions (6-5) -- C'mon Lions. You finally have a respectable record at Thanksgiving, and that's the performance we get? The Lions were down 31-12 at one point, and the defense looked especially awful. The next three weeks: at Vikings, Cowboys and at Packers. Good-bye playoff hopes.

16. Minnesota Vikings (5-6) -- Nice win at the Giants. The Vikings are 3-1 in their last four games and should get Adrian Peterson back this week.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Here's a look at how former Ravens fared in their Week 12 games:

Derek Anderson, Browns

The Ravens drafted him in the sixth round of the 2005 draft.

He was sharp once again, completing 24 of 35 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Cleveland's 27-17 win over the Texans. Most of his success came in the first half when Anderson hit Braylon Edwards for a 19-yard touchdown and Kellen Winslow for a 7-yard strike. His 22 touchdowns on the season are tied for fourth-best in the NFL.

Jamal Lewis, Browns

Played in Baltimore from 2000-2006

He helped the Browns control the clock in the second half of their win over the Texans. Lewis carried 29 times for 134 yards and a touchdown. Cleveland ran the ball 23 times in the second half and controlled the clock for 20 minutes, 56 seconds. Here's what Lewis told Cleveland.com: "The offensive line wants it and is calling for it. We need to get in that tempo and set the tone, and that's what we're doing. The way we spread things out [in the passing game] opens things up in the running game."

Chester Taylor, Vikings

Played in Baltimore from 2002-2005

He's doing a decent job filling in for sensational rookie Adrian Peterson. Taylor carried 31 times for 77 yards in Minnesota's 41-17 win over the Giants. Taylor also caught two balls for 12 yards. The Vikings expect Peterson to return Sunday against the Lions so look for Taylor's workload to decrease significantly.

Brandon Stokley, Broncos

Played in Baltimore from 1999-2002

He caught five balls for 50 yards in Denver's 37-34 overtime loss to the Bears. Stokley's quietly had a solid season with 36 catches for 512 yards and four touchdowns.

Your Ravens grades

Here's how readers graded the Ravens' performance against the Chargers:

Quarterbacks: C (44 percent)

Running backs: B (47 percent)

Receivers: C (56 percent)

Offensive line: D (44 percent)

Defensive line: B (44 percent)

Linebackers: C (47 percent)

Secondary: F (49 percent)

Specials teams: C (38 percent)

Coaching: F (55 percent)

Note: Poll results were collected at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Monday night pick: Dolphins at Steelers

Monday night record (with spread): 7-4-1

The Steelers are coming off a 19-16 overtime loss to the Jets on the road. But Pittsburgh has been a different team at home this season, blowing out its opponents in four of five victories at Heinz Field. While Miami's defense has allowed 17 points or fewer in three straight games, the Dolphins are still looking for their first win. It wouldn't surprise me if Miami covered the giant spread, but it'd be foolish to pick against the Steelers at home.

The pick: STEELERS (-16)

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The Ravens dropped their fifth straight game today, coming up short in a 32-14 defeat against the Chargers. It's the longest losing streak in franchise history. 

You can go here to grade the Ravens. 

As always, this is the place to vent and offer your opinions on the game. Here are some topics to get you started:

1. Rate the Ravens' play on defense.

Everyone's used to the inefficient offense, but the Ravens' opponents have now scored 30 or more points in three of the last four games. Did field position and turnovers on offense play a role there? Sure. But the defense hasn't been sharp. LaDainian Tomlinson didn't have much room to run, but it didn't matter. Antonio Gates had a monster game, catching six balls for 105 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Receivers were open all day for Philip Rivers. He had thrown 12 interceptions going into this game but was not picked off against the Ravens, completing 25 of 35 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. Chris McAlister was out of the lineup, and Samari Rolle was understandably rusty, but no defensive player stood out all game. On the season, the Ravens have 22 sacks, 16th in the NFL. What areas of the defense need to be evaluated the most, and what are your major concerns on this side of the ball?

2. What's been the most disappointing part of the season?

The Ravens came into this game with high expectations after going 13-3 in 2006. They're now 4-7 overall. What's been the worst part of this season? The continued inefficiencies of the offense? The way the team constantly looks unprepared? The overall coaching? The dumb penalties? The defense not being as dominant as last season? You tell me.

3. What is the biggest offseason need?

It can be via the draft or free agency. What area do the Ravens most need to address before 2008? We still have five games to see who can play and who can't. But where do you want to see new additions in the offseason? Quarterback? Offensive line? A pass rusher? Depth in the secondary?

4. What's next?

It gets no easier. The good news is the Ravens won't take away your Sunday afternoons the next two weeks. You can watch other games, do some holiday shopping, rake the leaves, whatever. They play the Patriots at home on Monday night next week. And then it's the Colts the following Sunday night. Will you still watch? What will you be looking for? Do you just focus on your fantasy team? Or maybe you start planning your spring training trip? I'm interested to know what your state of mind is and how much interest you'll have the rest of the way.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 7:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)
                    

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How they scored

Chargers 32, Ravens 14 -- Nate Kaeding's 41-yard field goal with 8:41 left gave the Chargers a 32-14 lead. San Diego went 65 yards on 11 plays and took 6:11 off the clock.

Game log

14:05 -- Philip Rivers finds Vincent Jackson for a 31-yard gain. Rivers has torched the Ravens' defense today. And how is every San Diego receiver so wide open on every play?

13:05 -- Ray Lewis is whistled for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It's a good thing too. I think that keeps the Ravens' streak of games with 15-yard penalties alive at 74. Meanwhile, CBS was at a game break when the penalty happened, and no replay is shown.

8:41 -- Nate Kaeding's 41-yard field goal gives the Chargers a 32-14 lead.

4:54 -- The Chargers go for it on fourth-and-three. Rivers hits wide receiver Buster Davis for a first down. Brian Billick challenges the ruling. Corey Ivy and Davis get into it after the play. The Ravens are a frustrated group and understandably so. The ruling on the field stands.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 6:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

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How they scored

Chargers 29, Ravens 14 -- Kyle Boller found Le'Ron McClain for a 13-yard touchdown to cut San Diego's lead to 29-14 with 5:39 left in the quarter. The Ravens put together a nice 11-play, 69-yard drive that lasted 5:51.

Chargers 29, Ravens 7 -- This one has gotten ugly. Philip Rivers found Antonio Gates for a 25-yard touchdown with 11:30 left in the third quarter to give the Chargers a 29-7 lead. San Diego took the opening possession of the second half 72 yards on six plays.

Game log

13:38 -- LaDainian Tomlinson didn't have much room in the first half, but he just had a 35-yard carry that puts him over 10,000 career yards on the ground. The Chargers are just pounding the ball on the ground to start this half, and the Ravens' defense looks worn out.

11:30 -- Rivers finds Gates for a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Chargers a 29-7 lead. I'm not sure what the Ravens' game plan was for Gates going into the game, but it hasn't worked. This time, he beat Ray Lewis for the score. Gates has six catches for 105 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

8:54 -- Willis McGahee has had a couple nice runs but is moving slowly on the sideline as Musa Smith enters the game.

7:26 -- Well, Brian Billick always gets ripped for his play-calling so let's at least give him credit here. The Ravens converted a third-and-eight with a nice screen to M. Smith.

6:49 -- McGahee gets back into the game.

5:39 -- Boller finds rookie Le'Ron McClain for a 13-yard touchdown, cutting the Chargers' lead to 29-14. And yes, McClain is actually dancing to celebrate the score even though the Ravens are losing by 15 points. Unbelievable. I know it's the first touchdown of his career, but some perspective would be nice. Anyway, the Ravens put together a nice 11-play, 69-yard drive.

3:25 -- The Ravens' offense gets the ball back and Boller fumbles, but Mike Flynn is there to recover. That would have been devastating.

2:45 -- Boller hits Derrick Mason for a first down on third-and-15. Great job by the offensive line on the play.

0:56 -- The Ravens come up with 8 yards on a third-and-nine. They set up to go for it on fourth-and-one, but Billick calls a timeout. He really wanted to get the ref's attention on that one, inadvertently bumping the official.

0:12 -- The Ravens choose to pass on a long fourth-and-one. I'm sure that call won't be too popular. Boller looks for Quinn Sypniewski, the pass is deflected and Mark Clayton comes up with it for an apparent first down. But wait. Sypniewski is called for offensive pass interference, and the Ravens are forced to punt.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 6:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

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How they scored

Chargers 22, Ravens 7 -- Nate Kaeding's 41-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half gave the Chargers a 22-7 lead. San Diego has scored 19 unanswered points. The score was set up when Mike Anderson muffed a kickoff return, giving the Chargers' offense possession at the Baltimore 34-yard line.

Chargers 19, Ravens 7 -- Philip Rivers' 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Chambers gave the Chargers a 19-7 lead with 25 seconds left in the half. San Diego's drive went 49 yards on nine plays.

Chargers 12, Ravens 7 -- Nate Kaeding's 46-yard field goal with 5:09 remaining in the half gave the Chargers a 12-7 lead. The score was set up when Kyle Boller fumbled, giving San Diego possession at the Ravens' 30-yard line.

Chargers 9, Ravens 7 -- Philip Rivers found tight end Antonio Gates for a 35-yard touchdown with 7:17 left in the half to put San Diego up, 9-7. The Chargers failed to convert on the extra-point attempt because of a bobbled snap. San Diego went 60 yards on seven plays.

Ravens 7, Chargers 3 -- Willis McGahee's 1-yard touchdown run gave the Ravens a 7-3 lead with 9:59 left in the half. The score was set up by a 57-yard kickoff return by rookie Yamon Figurs. The offense then went 37 yards on six plays.

Chargers 3, Ravens 0 -- Nate Kaeding's 27-yard field goal with 13:11 remaining in the half gave the Chargers a 3-0 lead. San Diego went 47 yards on 10 plays, starting the drive on their own 44-yard line. The Ravens have bottled up LaDainian Tomlinson on the ground, but he has four catches for 30 yards, including a 15-yarder on this drive. 

Game log

15:00 -- No score in the first quarter. It looks like last week's excitement against the Browns was a one-game thing. LaDainian Tomlinson had nowhere to run in the first quarter, carrying five times for 4 yards. He did take a little dump-off pass from Philip Rivers for a first down to end the first quarter though.

13:47 -- Nice play by Justin Bannan to disrupt a Tomlinson carry on third-and-one, forcing a Chargers field-goal attempt.

13:11 -- A Nate Kaeding 27-yard field goal gives the Chargers a 3-0 lead.

13:03 -- Great return by Yamon Figurs, taking the kickoff 57 yards to the San Diego 37-yard line. After watching Joshua Cribbs last week, I'm sure it's nice for Ravens fans to see their team start out with great field position.

10:32 -- Kyle Boller rifles a 23-yard pass to Derrick Mason to give the Ravens a first down inside the 5-yard line. By far Baltimore's most productive play of the day.

9:59 -- McGahee's 1-yard touchdown run gives Baltimore a 7-3 lead.

9:59 -- Not sure if Matt Stover was trying to just kick away from Darren Sproles, but his kickoff went out of bounds, giving the Chargers possession at their own 40-yard line.

7:17 -- Rivers finds Antonio Gates for a 35-yard touchdown. No clue what the Ravens were doing, leaving one of San Diego's biggest playmakes wide open. There was definitely a miscommunication, possibly between Bart Scott and Jarret Johnson. The Chargers missed the extra point for a 9-7 lead.

5:52 -- Shawne Merriman beats Jonathan Ogden, forcing a Kyle Boller fumble. The Chargers recover and the offense takes over at the 30-yard line. You could see this one coming from a mile away. For Christmas, someone ask for just one game where the Ravens' quarterback doesn't fumble please. Thanks.

5:09 -- The Ravens' defense comes up big, forcing the Chargers to settle for a 46-yard field goal, making the score 12-7.

3:17 -- Rivers finds Gates, but Brian Billick challenges the play, saying the Chargers' tight end didn't have both feet in bounds. The play stands as called on the field.

1:13 -- Gates beats Bart Scott for another big gain. He's killed the Ravens in the first half, catching five balls for 80 yards.

0:25 -- Rivers finds Chris Chambers for a 5-yard touchdown. Chambers burned Samari Rolle on the play. The Ravens have bottled up Tomlinson in the first half, but Rivers has been on target.

0:22 -- Mike Anderson muffs the ensuing kickoff, and the Chargers' offense takes over on the 34-yard line.

0:03 -- Kaeding's 41-yard field goal extends the Chargers' lead to 22-7.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

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Game log

15:00 -- We're still about 15 minutes from kickoff, and as always, I'll be blogging during the game. Please chime in with your comments during and after the game. 

The news just came from Sun reporter Ed Lee that cornerback Chris McAlister will miss this one. How many times have the Ravens had both he and Samari Rolle on the field at the same time this season? It's definitely a blow for Baltimore, considering Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been picked off 12 times this season.

-- If last week's missed field goal controversy wasn't bizarre enough for you, the clock in San Diego has already malfunctioned. That means I don't have times to post on this game blog because CBS' clock isn't working either.

-- Well, here's your first chance to question Brian Billick's play-calling. Kyle Boller just threw incomplete to Derrick Mason on third-and-one (and a half). Both teams punted on their opening posessions. Color man Randy Cross just said possessions ending in punts are not bad for the Ravens. Huh?

11:28 -- As you can see, the game clock is back. Rivers just got booed on his way off the field and had something to say to fans. Not a smart move Philip, not a smart move.

11:23 -- Ouch. Willis McGahee just got nailed behind the scrimmage as soon as he took the handoff by Shawne Merriman.

10:09 -- Great catch by Derrick Mason on third-and-nine. The ball was deflected a couple times before he finally came down with it.

7:33 -- Rather than attempt a 52-yard field goal, Billick chooses to punt. Dangerous return man Darren Sproles didn't get a chance to return it though. The punt appeared to hit off a Chargers blocker, but San Diego recovered, and the offense will take over.

7:22 -- That is a hideous tie, Randy Cross.

5:23 -- Great play by Ray Lewis, covering All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates and deflecting a pass on third down. Lewis has made a couple great plays already today. Meanwhile, CBS tells us the Chargers have 82 first-quarter points this season, second-most in the NFL.

4:16 -- Antonio Cromartie's interception is called off as he's whistled for an illegal contact penalty, giving the Ravens a first down. Cromartie has six picks on the season.

2:52 -- Boller is nearly picked off on a third-down play, and the Ravens are forced to punt once again. McGahee hasn't had much room so far, carrying eight times for 13 yards.

2:42 -- Sproles gets his first chance at a return but doesn't have much room. The punt wasn't great though as the Chargers take over their own 45.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Here's a look at who the national media are picking to win the Ravens-Chargers matchup:

All eight ESPN.com experts are picking the Chargers.

All five members of ESPN's Sunday Countdown like the Chargers. 

SI.com's Peter King picks the Chargers, 23-21:

The real question is: How long am I going to be a sucker for the Chargers? If I could count on Kyle Boller to play a B game here, I'd pick Baltimore, but he makes two throws every game that make you say: What in the world led him to THAT decision?

SI.com's Bucky Brooks says the Ravens' keys to the game are to grind it out with Willis McGahee and limit LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates.

Two of six CBS Sports experts like the Ravens to cover the 8.5-point spread.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports likes the Chargers, 23-21:

These two had the two best records in the AFC last year, but both are having disappointing seasons. The Ravens must have this one or they can forget any playoff talk. The 5-5 Chargers need it, too. The Ravens will keep it close with their defense.

CBS Sports' Harmon Forecast has the Chargers winning, 24-14:

Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for only 62 yards on 16 carries last week, but could have more success against a Ravens defense that gave up 92 rushing yards to the Browns. Ravens RB Willis McGahee should have success against a Chargers defense that gave up 122 rushing yards.

All five Yahoo Sports experts and 89 percent of Yahoo users like the Chargers.

All eight USA Today experts like the Chargers.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Last week: 13-2-1

Overall: 77-75-9 (including Thanksgiving picks)

Broncos at Bears

The pick: BRONCOS (+2)

Look at that record from last week. What a beautiful thing. After swimming below .500 all season, I finally put together a monster week. Now the goal is to stay about .500 the rest of the way. As for this game, could Denver win the AFC West? I thought the Broncos were done after a 44-7 loss to the Lions in Week 9, but they've come back to win at Arrowhead and home against the Titans last week. Meanwhile, the Bears are 0-3 in their last three home games. 

Titans at Bengals

The pick: TITANS (-1)

The Titans' wide receivers struggled so bad last week against the Broncos that that they signed former USC star Mike Williams. He won't play in this one, but Tennessee needs someone to help out Vince Young. The second-year QB played well Monday night and the Titans will need continued progress as they battle for a playoff spot down the stretch.

Bills at Jaguars

The pick: Jaguars (-7.5)

Still haven't gotten tired of seeing replays of that Maurice Jones-Drew block on Shawne Merriman last week. Meanwhile, the David Garrard no-interception streak continues. The Jaguars quarterback hasn't thrown a pick this season in 172 attempts. Jacksonville is picking up momentum having won three of four and is a lock to be a scary first-round opponent in the AFC playoffs.

Raiders at Chiefs

The pick: CHIEFS (-5)

Wasn't the AFC West supposed to be one of the best divisions in football going into this season? No team is over .500. Who would have thought a late November college game between Kansas and Missouri would be much more significant than this matchup?

Texans at Browns

The pick: BROWNS (-3.5)

You know it's been a quirky NFL season when a Week 12 Houston-Cleveland matchup has playoff implications. The Browns haven't lost at home since Week 1, and after last week's ending in Baltimore, you just get the feeling that despite having the league's worst-ranked defense, they're going to be playing in the postseason when all is said and done.

Seahawks at Rams

The pick: SEATTLE (-3)

This is my buddy MC's pick of the week. His record so far on these: 3-1. Here's what he's got:

I think the Seahawks are actually a better team without Shaun Alexander. Matt Hasselbeck has stepped up now that he's the man and the offense is going through him, and Maurice Morris runs much harder than Alexander had been. Seattle took the first matchup 33-6 at home. Shouldn't be that lopsided this time, but Seattle should still cover the three points.

Vikings at Giants

The pick: VIKINGS (+7.5)

Some teams are getting healthier as we enter the stretch run. Not the case for the Giants, who lost linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka for the season. Meanwhile, Brandon Jacobs is hobbled with an injured hamstring. New York won't get much on the ground against the Vikings' stout run defense.

Saints at Panthers

The pick: SAINTS (-3)

These two teams are a combined 8-12 and have lost six straight. Yet the winner, combined with a Bucs loss, would be just one game out of first place in the AFC South. Unbelievable. Carolina is winless at home this season and that trend will continue in Week 12.

Redskins at Bucs

The pick: BUCS (-3)

This is one of my favorite games of the week. Tampa Bay is quietly one of the better teams in the NFC and has been very good at home. The Bucs' only loss in Tampa Bay this season was a one-point defeat to the Jaguars.

49ers at Cardinals

The pick: CARDINALS (-10)

Things have gotten ugly in San Francisco. There are reports that Alex Smith's shoulder injury was worse than originally thought, and he might be shut down for the season. Ownership is talking to Mike Nolan. And the 49ers have lost eight in a row. Meanwhile, Arizona is very much in the playoff picture and has already beaten Pittsburgh, Seattle and Detroit at home this season.

Ravens at Chargers

The pick: CHARGERS (-9)

Two of the AFC's most disappointing teams square off in San Diego. I'm not buying the Chargers. The Ravens could certainly make some noise in this one if they can force Philip Rivers to turn the ball over. He's been picked off 12 times this season after throwing just nine all of last season. However, the Ravens are going to the West Coast for the second time this season, knowing their season is essentially over. Not a good spot for them.

Eagles at Patriots

The pick: EAGLES (+22.5)

As recently as Wednesday night, I liked the Patriots in this one. Then I realized the Eagles could lose 40-18 and still cover. Incredible. A.J. Feeley is likely to start for Philly, meaning Andy Reid should be calling for a healthy dose of Brian Westbrook, who had 32 carries last week. If the Eagles can run the ball effectively, maybe they can cover the enormous spread. I know. I'm not completely convinced either.

Note: Picks are for entertainment purposes only. Lines used are from sportsbook.com. Monday night game will be picked Monday.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Last week: 13-2-1

Overall: 75-74-9

What am I thankful for? A 13-2-1 record last week that put me over .500 for the first time all season. This week, we'll see if I just got lucky for a week or if I'm ready to go on a run over the final six weeks of the season: 

Packers at Lions

The pick: PACKERS (-3)

I've been saying all year I don't buy the Lions. Statistically, Detroit ranks 24th in the league, allowing 353.3 yards per game. But the Lions have survived by forcing turnovers. Their 30 takeaways lead the NFL. As long as Brett Favre takes care of the football, Green Bay's offense should be able to put up points. On the other side of the ball, the Packers' 28 sacks rank fifth in the league while Detroit has given up a league-high 43 sacks. Look for Green Bay to get to Jon Kitna and come away with its sixth straight win.

Jets at Cowboys

The pick: JETS (+14.5)

Highlights last week showed Tony Romo finding Terrell Owens for four touchdowns against the Redskins. But look closer, and you'd have noticed that Washington had a chance to win that game in the fourth quarter, due in large part to a suspect Cowboys pass defense. Meanwhile, the Jets have played better in their last two games, falling to the Redskins in overtime and beating the Steelers at home. The Cowboys win this one, but that line is too high.

Colts at Falcons

The pick: COLTS (-12)

Some are pointing to Peyton Manning looking human over the past couple weeks, but how about Indy's struggles in the running game? The Colts have just 141 yards on the ground over the past two games. Indy can live with an ugly win and is looking forward to getting healthy over the next 10 days. Don't expect a monster game from Manning, but Atlanta's offense won't have much succes against the Colts' D.

Everyone have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Enjoy the games. And thanks for reading.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Here's a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Ravens after their 33-30 overtime loss to the Browns:

ESPN.com's Mike Sando says the better team won in Baltimore Sunday:

Baltimore converted only two of 12 third-down chances. Kyle Boller took six sacks and tossed two interceptions. The Ravens' defense continued to do its part, and then some, but it's looking like coach Brian Billick might never field a dynamic offense. Baltimore has thrown six more touchdown passes than interceptions (151-145) since Billick took over as head coach in 1999. The Ravens have finished with more interceptions than touchdowns in three of the six previous seasons, a trend that is continuing in 2007. It gets worse. The Ravens have 27 touchdown passes in 26 games since the start of the 2006 season. Cleveland's Derek Anderson has 25 during the same span, despite starting only 12 games.  

SI.com's Peter King says Brian Billick isn't going anywhere:

I think, speaking of coaches not far from the Beltway, Brian Billick's not going anywhere, people. Not this year. Not in the first year of a four-year contract. Not with $15 million or so due him if he were to get whacked. Baltimore owner Steve Bisciotti's not Dan Snyder in the patience or disposable-income departments.

SI.com's King says field goals like Phil Dawson's should be reviewable:

I think the league has to allow field goals to be reviewable. The league's argument will be field goals have never been reviewable by instant replay because of the Pandora's Box it would open to have kicks flying directly over the top of uprights open for review. But how many of those do you see per year? Two? Three? It's more important to be sure you can fix a potential bizarre game-changer like Dawson's kick. Funny thing about that game, when it was over, ref Pete Morelli asked someone if they got the call right. Told they did, Morelli was very relieved.

SI.com's Don Banks talks about preseason predictions gone wrong:

San Diego and Baltimore were no flukes last season when they were the top two seeds in the only-the-tough-survive AFC. The Chargers and Ravens combined to go 27-5 in the regular season in 2006, and while they both lost their playoff openers at home in the divisional round, they'd be back knocking on the door to the Super Bowl this season because San Diego possessed an unstoppable offense and Baltimore's defense was impenetrable.

The Ravens and Chargers, who by the way meet in San Diego this week, are 4-6 and 5-5, respectively.

ESPN.com's Tuesday Morning Quarterback Gregg Easterbrook says the Ravens shouldn't pin their loss on the reversed field goal call:

With the score tied at 27, Baltimore had a second-and-1 on the Cleveland 29 with 38 seconds remaining, holding a timeout and with cool-as-ice place-kicker Matt Stover waiting to trot onto the field. So run the ball, and drill the clock! Instead: incompletion, incompletion, then a field goal for a 30-27 Ravens lead. The two clock stoppages on those incomplete passes left Cleveland with 31 seconds to work with; had Baltimore's coaches called rushes, then used the timeout with a couple of ticks remaining, the game would have ended on Stover's kick. (Or Baltimore would have forced Cleveland to spend timeouts, rather than letting the Browns save them for their last gasp.)

Kevin Hench of FoxSports.com offers his take on the Ravens' loss:

You watch football long enough and you'll see something new that defies belief. No, I'm not talking about Kyle Boller quarterbacking a team that scored 30 points, which in itself was incredible. Phil Dawson's game-tying double-doink off the upright and crossbar support that sent the game into OT gave us our most ridiculous finish of the year. Speaking of ridiculous finishes, the Ravens (4-6) will be hard-pressed to win seven games after winning 13 last year.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports gives the Ravens a B- for their Week 11 performance:

This time it wasn't the offense's fault. It was the special teams and defense that let this team down. Kyle Boller played well except for the pick that Pool returned.

In the rankings

ESPN.com has the Ravens 24th in its power rankings:

Brian Billick prepares his team for the inevitable pitfalls of a season -- injuries, streaky play, lineup changes. But a reversal like Sunday's wacky Immaculate Deflection? "That's not one scenario I've covered," Billick said.

FoxSports.com has the Ravens 25th.

Prisco of CBS Sports has the Ravens 25th:

Doesn't 13-3 seem like years ago? In the summer some thought this was the best team in football. Now they're near the bottom of their division.

USA Today has the Ravens 23rd.

Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports has the Ravens 20th; Charles Robinson has them 22nd.

Dennis Dillon of The Sporting News has the Ravens 25th.

NBCSports.com has the Ravens 19th.

Tony Moss of The Sports Network has the Ravens 23rd.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Here's how I see the top half of the league stacking up:

1. New England Patriots (10-0) -- Not sure what else there is to say about this team anymore. Do we really want them on the Sunday night flex game every week though? I'd rather see two teams battling out for a playoff spot than the Patriots up by 30 at halftime and Al Michaels and John Madden struggling to find new things to talk about during the final 30 minutes.

2. Dallas Cowboys (9-1) -- They're not without faults. Dallas' pass defense ranks 24th in the league, and Jason Campbell threw for a career-high 348 yards while almost bringing the Redskins back Sunday. Still, the bottom line is the Cowboys' only loss all season was against New England.

3. Green Bay Packers (9-1) -- You can easily make a case for the Packers to be No. 2. Green Bay has scored