First off, Happy New Year to everyone. Here is a quick look at next weekend's playoff times for Wild Card weekend. Obviously, I'll have much more on these games later in the week, but at first glance, the Steelers-Jaguars Saturday night matchup is the headliner. Everyone's recognized the Jaguars as a dangerous team, as evidenced by them being one-point favorites despite playing on the road. Jacksonville beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the Redskins and Titans snuck in with victories yesterday, and Jeff Garcia will face the Giants in the first round for the second straight season.

Saturday, Jan. 5 

Redskins at Seahawks, 4:30 p.m., NBC

Line: Seahawks (-3.5)

Jaguars at Steelers, 8 p.m., NBC

Line: Jaguars (-1)

Sunday, Jan. 6

Giants at Bucs, 1 p.m., FOX

Line: Bucs (-3)

Titans at Chargers, 4:30 p.m., CBS

Line: Chargers (-8.5)

Lines used from sportsbook.com.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

The Ravens held on for their first win since Oct. 14, beating the Steelers, 27-21, today at M&T Bank Stadium.

As always, this is the place to discuss the game. Here are some topics and observations to get you started:

1. What did you make of Troy Smith's play? Evaluating his performance last week was impossible because Smith didn't have a chance against the Seahawks. This week was a different story though. The rookie completed 16 of 27 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. Smith also rushed for 23 yards. He certainly has a good presence in the pocket, but Smith also got lucky on a couple throws that could have been picked off. That's to be expected for a guy making his second career start though. I was impressed with his patience and his ability to know when to tuck the ball and run. I'm not ready to say he's the answer, but Smith definitely delivered an encouraging performance.

2. How about the running game? The Ravens rushed for 180 yards despite being without Willis McGahee and Mike Anderson. Musa Smith carried 22 times for 83 yards and a touchdown. Cory Ross had 12 rushes for 72 yards, including an exciting 32-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The 5-foot-6 running back put a great move on Steelers safety Anthony Smith once he got to the second level and reached the end zone. Later in the first half, Ross showed good power picking up a first down on third-and-seven.

3. The underlying factor behind the success of the offense was obviously the line. The running backs had gaping holes, and Smith was sacked twice. The line has been frustrating all season, but this was certainly one of their most balanced performances.

4. As you'll likely read about, or as you saw if you were at M&T Bank Stadium, there were several Steelers fans in attendance waving their Terrible Towels. What's the call on whether it's OK to sell your tickets to fans of the opposing team? Is it wrong? Or do you take the point of view that fans are allowed to do whatever they want with their tickets?

5. Rick Neuheisel was officially named the next head coach at UCLA a couple days ago. That raises the question -- who will take over as Ravens offensive coordinator, and what will that person's role be? Will he call the plays next season? Mike Martz was expected to be fired today by the Detroit Lions, and San Francisco has been mentioned as his likely landing spot. Is he a guy the Ravens should go after?

6. Where do the Ravens go from here at quarterback? Does Steve McNair deserve another shot? What about Kyle Boller? Should Smith get a chance to compete for the starting job? Do they address this position in free agency? This is obviously one of the team's biggest questions facing 2008.

7. There have been scouts at every game I've attended this year. While some pointed to this as a meaningless game, someone is always watching. The teams listed as being represented were the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts and Jaguars are already in the playoffs, and the Titans and Browns are battling for the final spot. Eyes were undoubtedly on the Steelers today even though all their starters didn't play.

8. An update on the draft status of the Ravens. The Jets, Dolphins, Chiefs, Raiders, Falcons and Rams all finished with worse records than Baltimore. The 49ers finished at 5-11, meaning the Ravens will have no worse than the eighth pick (corrected from earlier).

9. Some final stats to pass along. The Ravens controlled the clock, holding possession for 36:42, and they turned the ball over just once. Derrick Mason caught six balls for 72 yards, giving him 103 catches on the season, a career high. The Ravens were penalized six times for 86 yards, and the defense failed to register a sack.

10. And finally, a thank you to all the readers. When I began the game blog in Week 1, I didn't know exactly what direction it would take. I've made changes every week and tried to listen to your concerns/suggestions, and I think the blog has made great strides. The last couple months have been frustrating for Ravens fans, and I hope this has become a good place to vent. I think it has, based on the 71 comments after the loss to the Dolphins. Anyway, thanks for reading and thanks for the comments. Don't expect fewer posts just because the Ravens' season is over. It's playoff time and then we'll go right into draft prep and free agency. As always, any suggestions/feedback are always welcome.

Late addition

In case you're already thinking about next season, here are the teams the Ravens will face:

They'll host Jacksonville, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Washington and Oakland.

They'll travel to Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas, the Giants and Miami. And of course, they will see the Steelers, Bengals and Browns two times each.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 7:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
                    

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How they scored

Ravens 27, Steelers 21 -- Charlie Batch hit Cedrick Wilson for a 7-yard touchdown to cut the Ravens' lead with 3:36 left. The Steelers went 56 yards on seven plays after recovering an onside kick.

Ravens 27, Steelers 14 -- Charlie Batch hooked up with wide receiver Santonio Holmes for a 59-yard touchdown to cut the Ravens' lead to 27-14. Pittsburgh went 91 yards on four plays for its most productive drive of the game.

Game log

15:00 -- The Steelers' offense has the ball on the Baltimore 42-yard line and is driving as we open the fourth quarter. The Ravens lead, 27-7 and are 15 minutes away from picking up their first win since Oct. 14.

14:16 -- Santonio Holmes' catch is challenged by Brian Billick, and the call on the field is overruled. Pittsburgh is forced to punt.

7:13 -- Charlie Batch finds Santonio Holmes for a 59-yard catch and run, cutting the Ravens' lead to 27-14. Holmes beat Derrick Martin on the play.

7:10 -- This one's not over yet. The Steelers just recovered an onside kick.

5:53 -- Haloti Ngata is whistled for a 15-yard penalty for a late hit on Batch as the Steelers drive.

3:45 -- Holmes can't hold on to a Batch pass in the end zone. He's also slow to get up on the play.

3:36 -- Batch hit Cedrick Wilson for a 7-yard touchdown to cut the Ravens' lead to 27-21. The Steelers went 56 yards on eight plays. Wilson spiked the ball after the touchdown, and a few Ravens fans threw drinks and trash at him in the end zone.

1:04 -- David Pittman intercepts a Batch pass, securing the Ravens' win, 27-21.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 6:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

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How they scored

Ravens 27, Steelers 7 -- Troy Smith hit Devard Darling for a 15-yard touchdown with 3:41 left in the quarter to give the Ravens a 27-7 lead. Baltimore went 74 yards on eight plays in 5:25.

Game log

15:00 -- The Steelers' openig kickoff of the second half goes out of bounds and the Ravens' offense takes over on its own 40-yard line.

11:34 -- On third-and-18, Troy Smith finds Derrick Mason for a 16-yard gain. But Mason tried to fight for a first down and ended up losing a fumble. The Ravens were well within Matt Stover's field-goal range at the spot of the fumble.

9:06 -- Today's announced attendance is 71,353. That would be PAID attendance. There were several empty seats to start the game and several more after halftime.

6:46 -- Derrick Mason makes a catch for a first down, giving him 100 receptions on the season.

5:51 -- Smith hits Mason for another first down on a 14-yard gain.

3:42 -- Smith connects with Devard Darling for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Ravens a 27-7 lead. Great job by the offensive line and nice patience shown by Smith. He put a little extra on the throw. The Ravens went 74 yards on eight plays in their most impressive drive of the day.

2:48 -- A little scoreboard watching shows that the Chargers hold a 24-10 lead over the Raiders. A San Diego loss combined with a Steelers win would have moved Pittsburgh into the three-spot in the AFC playoffs, meaning it would avoid Jacksonville. Doesn't look likt that's going to happen at this point though.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

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How they scored

Ravens 20, Steelers 7 -- Matt Stover's 31-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the half extended the Ravens' lead to 20-7. Baltimore went 25 yards on 10 plays, taking 4:27 off the clock. The score was set up by a David Pittman interception.

Ravens 17, Steelers 7 -- The Steelers got on the board with 10:07 left in the half, courtesy of a 1-yard touchdown run by Najeh Davenport. The big play on the 75-yard drive was a 47-yard pass interference penalty on Ravens cornerback Corey Ivy.

Ravens 17, Steelers 0 -- Cory Ross' 32-yard touchdown run with 13:27 left in the half gave the Ravens a 17-0 lead. Baltimore went 52 yards on three running plays after starting the drive with great field position at its own 48-yard line.

Game log

15:00 -- The Ravens' offense takes over on its own 48-yard line after a 25-yard punt by the Steelers. Good first quarter all around for the Ravens -- offense, defense and special teams all made plays. By the way, what would you have said if I told you at the beginning of the year that Troy Smith, Musa Smith and Lee Vickers would be starting at quarterback, running back and tight end, respectively, in the team's regular-season finale?

13:27 -- Wow. Tremendous 32-yard touchdown run by Cory Ross gives the Ravens a 17-0 lead. Ross put a great juke on Steelers safety Anthony Smith once he got to the second level to get in the end zone. Ross and Musa Smith are the Ravens' only active running backs today with Mike Anderson and Willis McGahee sidelined.

11:19 -- Corey Ivy is whistled for a 47-yard pass interference penalty, giving the Steelers' offense possession at the Ravens' 1-yard line. Ivy was attempting to cover Nate Washington.

10:07 -- Najeh Davenport's 1-yard touchdown run cuts the Ravens' lead to 17-7. Davenport was stuffed on first and second down but found the end zone on third-and-goal.

5:09 -- Sam Koch is forced to punt for just the second time today.

4:44 -- David Pittman intercepts a Charlie Batch pass. He fumbled during the return, but the Ravens recovered, taking over at the Steelers' 38-yard line.

2:54 -- T. Smith has picked the right times to tuck the ball and run today. On third-and-long, he found a lane up the middle for 14 yards and a first down.

1:38 -- Good power shown by Cory Ross. The 5-foot-6 running back surged ahead on third-and-seven to pick up a first down. He's carried seven times for 63 yards.

0:28 -- T. Smith fumbles the snap from the shotgun on third down, but he recovers.

0:17 -- A 31-yard field goal from Matt Stover extends the Ravens' lead to 20-7.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

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How they scored

Ravens 10, Steelers 0 -- Matt Stover's 28-yard field goal with 1:48 left in the quarter gave the Ravens a 10-0 lead. Troy Smith led the offense on a 12-play, 57-yard drive that took 4:28 off the clock.

Ravens 7, Steelers 0 -- Musa Smith's 2-yard touchdown run gave the Ravens a 7-0 lead with 10:08 left in the first quarter. The score was set up after Willie Reid fumbled the opening kickoff and Devard Darling recovered. Baltimore went 35 yards on eight plays.

Game log

15:00 -- Ray Lewis was introduced to the crowd as the Ravens recognized their Pro Bowlers before the game. As I stated earlier, Lewis won't play in this one. Jonathan Ogden and Ed Reed were also recognized.

14:53 -- A good start for the Ravens? This is something we haven't seen all year. The Steelers' Willie Reid fumbles the opening kickoff, and Devard Darling recovers, giving the Ravens possession at the Pittsburgh 35-yard line.

14:06 -- Troy Smith's first throw looks better than all his throws from last week. The main reason: he had time. Smith hooks up with Mark Clayton for an 18-yard gain.

10:08 -- Musa Smith's 2-yard touchdown run gives the Ravens a 7-0 lead.

6:16 -- The Steelers' offense drove to the Ravens' 33-yard line under the direction of Charlie Batch but turned the ball over on downs. Pittsburgh went for it on fourth-and-one and dialed up a pass over the middle, which fell incomplete.

4:53 -- T. Smith throws another nice ball, finding Derrick Mason for a first down.

4:29 -- The Steelers are whistled for a 15-yard penalty after a nice M. Smith run as the Ravens are driving.

3:14 -- T. Smith tucks the ball and runs on third down, picking up 11 yards and another first down. He's been very quick in his decision-making today.

1:48 -- The Ravens extend their lead to 10-0 on a 28-yard field goal from Matt Stover. Nice job by the offense moving the football once again. And the offensive line has opened up some gaping holes in the running game.

1:42 -- The Ravens recover another Reid fumble, but Mike Tomlin challenges the play and it's overruled. The Steelers keep possession at their own 25-yard line.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Ray Lewis is inactive for the Ravens' regular-season finale against the Steelers.

Lewis missed last week's game against the Seahawks also. Nick Greisen will once again start in Lewis' place.

The Ravens' other inactives: quarterback Kyle Boller, running backs Willis McGahee and Mike Anderson, defensive tackle Amon Gordon, tight ends Daniel Wilcox and Quinn Sypniewski, wide receiver Demetrius Williams.

Lee Vickers will get the start at tight end.

The Steelers will be without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, safety Troy Polamalu and wide receiver Hines Ward.

Pittsburgh's other inactives: cornerback Allen Rossum, linebackers Andre Frazier and Clint Kriewaldt, offensive lineman Darnell Stapleton and offensive tackle Marvel Smith.

Nate Washington will start in place of Ward. Max Starks will start in place of Smith. Charlie Batch will get the ball at quarterback. And Tyrone Carter will start at safety.

As always, I'll be blogging live from M&T Bank Stadium so feel free to chime in during and after the game.

It's raining here and all the speculation about this being a Steelers crowd was pretty accurate. The Pittsburgh players received cheers from the crowd when they came onto the field, and there are several Terrible Towels waving. I even saw a Terry Bradshaw jersey earlier.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

The Ravens are three-point underdogs for their finale against the Steelers. Here's a look at what the national media are saying about the matchup, followed by my Week 17 picks:

Six of eight ESPN experts like the Steelers.

Four out of five members of ESPN's Sunday Countdown pick the Steelers. Chris Mortensen likes the Ravens to break their losing streak.

SI.com's Peter King predicts a 23-10 Steelers win:

The Steelers still have a prayer to win the third seed, so they've got to play this game hard. Re: Baltimore: If you could have predicted a nine-win decline in 2007, you're a better prognosticator than I. (I'm sure you are anyway.) By the way, a big Ravens fan friend of mine asked the other day, "Sometimes, when Brian Billick has that quizzical look of his on the sidelines, doesn't he remind you of Dwight Schrute?''

CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco predicts a 21-20 Steelers win:

You can bet the Ravens would love to physically beat up their rivals before they play next week's playoff game. But can they? And the Steelers need the game to try to get the No. 3 seed. The Ravens show some pride and keep it close.

Four of six CBSSports.com experts like the Steelers to cover the 3.5-point spread.

CBSSports.com's Harmon Forecast predicts a 21-16 Steelers win:

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger had his second perfect passer rating of 158.3 this season. Roethlisberger should have success against a Ravens defense that allows too many receivers to get open. Ravens rookie QB Troy Smith will test a Steelers defense that intercepted Marc Bulger twice, but also gave up three touchdown passes.

FoxSports.com's Kevin Hench predicts a 27-13 Steelers win:

Pittsburgh still clings to a slim chance of avoiding the murderous Jaguars in the first round of the playoffs, and that faint hope should be enough to blast the embarrassment known as the Ravens, who are looking to avoid their 10th straight loss. Look for the new coaching manual "How to Go From 13 Wins to 12 Losses in 12 Short Months," by Brian Billick.

All five FoxSports.com experts predict a Steelers victory.

Four out of five Yahoo experts and 87 percent of Yahoo users pick the Steelers.

Week 17 picks

Last week: 8-7-1

Overall: 118-112-10

My pick listed first in CAPS. Lines used from sportsbook.com.

PATRIOTS (-13.5) at Giants

EAGLES (-7.5) vs. Bills

BENGALS (-2.5) at Dolphins

COWBOYS (+9) at Redskins

PACKERS (-5) vs. Lions

TEXANS (-6) vs. Jaguars

SAINTS (-2) at Bears

STEELERS (-3) at Ravens

SEAHAWKS (+1) at Falcons

49ERS (+11.5) at Browns

COLTS (+5) vs. Titans

VIKINGS (-3) at Broncos

CHARGERS (-8) at Raiders

CARDINALS (-6) vs. Rams

JETS (-6) vs. Chiefs

PANTHERS (-2.5) at Bucs -- (This is my buddy MC's pick of the week. His record on these: 7-1-1)

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
                    

Here's a look at the likely playoff matchups as we approach Week 17:

AFC

Chargers (10-5) vs. Titans (9-6)

Steelers (10-5) vs. Jaguars (11-4)

Byes: Patriots (15-0), Colts (13-2)

Still alive: Browns (9-6)

It's pretty simple in the AFC. If the Titans beat the Colts in the Sunday night matchup, they're in as the No. 6 seed. Normally, beating Indy on the road is not an easy task, but the Colts have nothing to play for. Tony Dungy has already said backups will play the entire second half, and maybe more. Don't be surprised if Peyton Manning and company are lifted after one series. For that reason, Tennessee is a 6.5-point favorite.

If the Titans lose, the Browns are in regardless of what happens in their matchup against the 49ers.

The only other aspect of the AFC playoff picture that needs sorting out is who will claim the No. 3 and 4 seeds. Right now, the Chargers have the upper hand over the Steelers. If San Diego beats Oakland OR if the Steelers lose to the Ravens, the Chargers will be the No. 3 seed. If San Diego falls to Oakland AND the Steelers beat the Ravens, Pittsburgh gets the No. 3 seed. Remember, if the Steelers stay as the fourth seed, they'll host the Jaguars, a team that beat them in Pittsburgh, 29-22, in Week 15.

NFC

Seahawks (10-5) vs. Redskins (8-7)

Bucs (9-6) vs. Giants (10-5)

Byes: Cowboys (13-2), Packers (12-3)

Still alive: Vikings (8-7), Saints (7-8)

It's simple in the NFC also, as the top five seeds are all locked into place. Bucs-Giants will be a first-round matchup regardless of what happens in Week 17, and Seattle will host either Washington, Minnesota or New Orleans.

If the Redskins beat the Cowboys, they're in and will travel to Seattle next week. The Cowboys have the No. 1 seed locked up and will probably sit many starters like Indy. Can Brad Johnson prevent his former team from getting into the postseason? Not likely. Washington is playing well right now and is listed as a 9-point favorite.

The Vikings, meanwhile, likely blew their chance last week by losing to Washington at home. Minnesota needs a win over Denver and a Redskins loss to get into the tournament. And finally, New Orleans needs to beat Chicago and have Washington and Minnesota both fall.

And the question everyone's asking: Should the Giants play their starters against the Patriots?

The latest news out of the Meadowlands is that the Giants will play their starters against the Patriots as New England attempts to complete their quest for perfection. It's the right move.

Right now, the Giants are destined for another first-round playoff exit. If they somehow beat New England (very unlikely, I know), they would be remembered forever as the team that spoiled the Patriots' journey towards 16-0. They'd also gain some serious momentum going into the playoffs. If New York gets stomped, it doesn't really matter. That's what everyone expects anyway -- the Giants are two-touchdown underdogs. On Inside the NFL, they asked the question: What would be bigger for the Giants -- to beat New England or a first-round playoff win? I say beating the Patriots. I realize the ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl, but there are always exceptions. What do you think?

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Here's a look at what the national media are saying about the Ravens after their 27-6 loss against the Seahawks:

Looking back

FoxSports.com's Kevin Hench offers his take on the Ravens' loss to Seattle:

And make it nine straight losses for the wretched Ravens. Since their tantrum-filled loss to the Patriots, Baltimore has spotted Indy a 30-0 lead, Seattle a 27-0 lead and, of course, lost to the Dolphins. The Ravens offense was its usual punchless self behind rookie Troy Smith, and the D got into the weak act, pulling off a minor miracle by allowing Shaun Alexander to average over five yards a carry. That hadn't happened since Week 12 last season, 20 games ago.

ESPN.com names the Ravens as one of its Week 16 duds:

Ever since their heartbreaking loss to the unbeaten Patriots in Week 13, the Ravens have been an uninspired bunch. Sunday's 27-6 loss to the Seahawks extended Baltimore's franchise-record losing streak to nine games. With rookie QB Troy Smith making his debut as a starter, the Ravens got into Seattle territory only one time in their first eight drives.

CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco gives the Ravens a C- for their performance against Seattle:

Going to Troy Smith at quarterback didn't bring much to the offense. It didn't help that Willis McGahee went down early. The banged-up defense actually played OK.

Odds and ends

SI.com's Peter King says the Ravens' struggles this season shouldn't affect Rex Ryan's chances of landing a head coaching job:

The other day, someone said to me, "Well, the Ravens' lousy year is really going to screw Rex Ryan's chance for a job.'' My reaction: For God's sakes, why? Why should one of the two or three best defensive coordinators in the NFL, and a forceful personality too, be eliminated from consideration for a head-coaching job because his team got destroyed by injuries and a lousy offense?

FoxSports.com's Alex Marvez says Sunday could be Jonathan Ogden's last game as a Raven:

Baltimore coach Brian Billick won't speculate on his left tackle's future, but Ogden told the Baltimore Sun earlier this month that he was considering retirement. Ogden, who strongly weighed stepping away during the off-season, has played in only 10 games because of toe problems. Ogden, though, was still voted to the Pro Bowl for the 11th time in 12 seasons.

SI.com's King names Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis as one of the "young turks who should be at the top of the list for rebuilding franchises."

ESPN.com's Jeffri Chadiha says Haloti Ngata will be a Pro Bowler soon enough:

There are plenty of reasons why the Ravens' run defense has ranked among the best in the league all season and Ngata is the best place to start. The second-year veteran has 58 tackles and two sacks and almost certainly would've been selected if not for Baltimore's 4-10 record. As proof, just consider that San Diego's Jamal Williams, who played through injuries this season, is going back to Hawaii with 39 tackles and no sacks. Here's something else to think about: The Ravens still managed to put three players on the AFC Pro Bowl roster (left tackle Jonathan Ogden, linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed). So there's still respect for the talent in Baltimore. It's just taking awhile for it to trickle down to Ngata.

SI.com's King has a problem with Ogden making the Pro Bowl:

Jonathan Ogden at left tackle is about as smart as picking Steve McNair at quarterback. As of the time of the vote, Ogden had started seven of 13 games for Baltimore. Why doesn't the league just pencil in Ogden at left tackle the year after he retires? Not only has Ogden been a shell of himself this year, as a player, he also hasn't shown up for half the games!

SI.com's King says not to give up on Chad Pennington's career. So where do the Ravens come in? Here's what he says:

Do not give up on a rested Chad Pennington when the Jets (in all likelihood) put him out to pasture this offseason. Nice TD toss on the run in the first half at Tennessee on Sunday. Are you listening, Ozzie Newsome, Arthur Blank, Bill Parcells? Pennington might be the perfect bridge to your next long-term quarterbacks -- he might even be better than that.

In the rankings

FoxSports.com's Peter Schrager has the Ravens 31st in his power rankings.

ESPN.com has the Ravens 26th:

Troy Smith didn't set the world on fire in his first NFL start. But neither did he embarrass himself. Considering the state of the Ravens' offense this season, there's probably something to be said for that.

CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco has the Ravens 26th:

It's officially a disaster. They have to fix that passing game for 2008 or it will be a disaster again next season.

Jason Cole and Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports have the Ravens 30th.

USA Today has the Ravens 29th.

NBCSports.com has the Ravens 27th.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
                    

Here's a look at how former Ravens fared in their Week 16 games:

Derek Anderson, Browns

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

In Week 2 against the Bengals, Anderson threw for 328 yards and five touchdowns for a quarterback rating of 121.0. Sunday, with the Browns badly needing a win to clinch a playoff berth, Anderson tossed four interceptions and had a quarterback rating of 53.4. Cleveland's quarterback picked a bad time to play his worst game of the season as the Browns fell to the Bengals, 19-14.

Jamal Lewis, Browns

Played in Baltimore from 2000-2006

The former Ravens running back carried 21 times for 92 yards and also caught five balls for 42 yards. Cleveland's loss means its playoff hopes rest on the result of Sunday night's Titans-Colts game. If Tennessee wins, it's in. If the Titans lose, the Browns are in, regardless of whether Cleveland beats the 49ers. Said Lewis to The Plain Dealer, "We just have to grow up and take on the task at hand and play like a playoff team."

Chris Redman, Falcons

Played in Baltimore from 2000-2003

Redman played much better, completing 28 of 42 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Atlanta's 30-27 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The Falcons' offense had their highest point output of the season, and Redman rallied Atlanta from a 24-14 fourth-quarter deficit. "We just went to our five wide receivers and they didn't have an answer for it," Redman told ajc.com.

Chester Taylor, Vikings

Played in Baltimore from 2002-2005

The Redskins made a point to not let Minnesota's run game beat them Sunday night, and it worked. Washington beat the Vikings, 32-21, to take control of the final NFC playoff spot. Taylor carried six times for 14 yards and caught five balls for 42 yards. To make the playoffs, the Vikings need to beat the Broncos next week and have the Redskins fall to the Cowboys.

Your Ravens grades

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

Quarterbacks: C (51 percent)

Running backs: C (51 percent)

Receivers: D (41 percent)

Offensive line: F (44 percent)

Defensive line: C (46 percent)

Secondary: D (41 percent)

Linebackers: C (45 percent)

Special teams: C (43 percent)

Coaching: F (61 percent)

Note: Results taken as of 2:45 p.m. Monday.

Monday night game: Broncos at Chargers

The pick: CHARGERS (-9)

Monday night record (with spread): 9-6-1

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The Ravens dropped their ninth straight game today, falling to the Seahawks 27-6.

As always, this is your place to vent. And don't forget to grade the Ravens. 

Here are some topics/observations to get you started:

1. What should be on the Ravens' Christmas wish list? A new coach? A new offensive coordinator? A new quarterback? A new cornerback? You tell me. And Happy Holidays to everyone by the way.

2. The Ravens' supporting cast did nothing to make Troy Smith's debut as a starter pleasant. The offensive line was atrocious, Willis McGahee went down early, and the receivers made no plays. It's unfair to assess Smith for this performance. He had no chance to succeed. If anyone starts calling for Cullen Finnerty, I'm quitting the blog.

3. Did you notice that the Ravens' offense was flagged for a penalty on its first play after Ed Reed's interception in the first quarter? That's the exact type of play that has killed this team all season.

4. With three more lost fumbles today, the Ravens now have 25 on the season, which is by far the most in the NFL. They are a minus-19 in turnover differential, also last in the league. Last year, the Ravens were first in the league with a plus-17. If you're wondering how 13-3 became 4-11, turnovers are a pretty good start.

5. A bit off-topic, but does Cuba Gooding Jr. really make anyone want to rush out to Target and buy Hanes underwear? His commercial with Michael Jordan, which was shown during the Ravens telecast, just makes me feel awkward as a viewer. I need to hear your thoughts on this.

6. Not sure who was still watching in the fourth quarter, but Smith threw a beautiful pass to Derrick Mason for a 79-yard touchdown. Mason, an 11-year veteran, proceeded to celebrate with a dance in the end zone. Is that type of celebration appropriate? I usually don't care when players celebrate, but it just seemed pretty ridiculous to be dancing with the Ravens down, 27-6. Am I being too uptight, or do you agree?

7. The Ravens are now 4-11 so let's update draft positioning. The Dolphins have one win. The Falcons, Rams and Jets all have three (as of this writing). The Raiders and Chiefs both have four. That means the Ravens are likely looking at a top-seven pick. When I started this blog back in August, I wasn't sure what I'd write about in the offseason, but I think I have a pretty good idea now.

8. A pretty simple one that I think Ravens fans sometime forget: Terrell Suggs is a free agent at the end of the season. He has five sacks but was a double-digit sack guy three times from 2003-06. Do you want him back, and if so, at what price?

9. The Steelers come to town next week for the regular-season finale. Will you watch?

10. Was that really Shaun Alexander out there? The Seahawks running back averaged 5.6 yards per carry, his best single-game average all season. Alexander carried 13 times for 73 yards, his highest total since Week 4. If he can regain some of the magic that made him one of the league's best backs a couple years ago, Alexander will give the Seahawks' offense an enormous boost come playoff time.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 6:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)
                    

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How they scored

Seahawks 27, Ravens 6 -- The Ravens finally got on the board as Troy Smith hit Derrick Mason for a 79-yard touchdown with 4:41 left in the game. It was the longest touchdown catch of Mason's career. The Ravens went for a two-point conversion but were unsuccessful.

Game log

14:53 -- Corey Ivy is called for a 29-yard pass interference penalty. The Ravens have been flagged five times for 64 yards. The Seahawks have yet to draw a penalty.

4:41 -- Well, finally something good on offense. Better late than never right? Smith hit Mason for a 79-yard touchdown on a beautifully thrown pass. I'm not sure if Mason's celebration was appropriate, but that's probably another topic for another day. The Ravens were unsuccessful on the two-point conversion and trail, 27-6.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 6:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

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How they scored

Seahawks 27, Ravens 0 -- Josh Brown hit a 39-yard field goal with 3:07 left to give the Seahawks a 27-0 lead. The score was set up after the Ravens fumbled a handoff exchange from Troy Smith to Le'Ron McClain.

Seahawks 24, Ravens 0 -- Josh Brown's 42-yard field goal with 5:40 left in the third gave the Seahawks a 24-0 lead. Seattle went 56 yards on nine plays, taking 4:54 off the clock.

Game log

15:00 -- Ugly first half for the Ravens. Let's see if they can do something positive in the second half. Offensively, it all starts with the line. If they don't hold up, Troy Smith and company have no chance for success.

13:50 -- Willis McGahee will not return after injuring his ribs in the first half. By the way, I thought this game would be somewhat exciting because of Smith's first career start, but I'm severely bored. Is anyone out there?

11:42 -- If you want to look on the bright side, Haloti Ngata just chased down Hasselbeck for a sack. Ngata is a lock to be a Pro Bowler in the future.

5:40 -- Josh Brown just connected on a 42-yard field-goal attempt to put the Seahawks up, 24-0. The Seahawks went 56 yards on nine plays.

4:52 -- Well, the Ravens are guaranteeing to finish first in one offensive category this season -- lost fumbles. They just lost another one on a handoff from Smith to Le'Ron McClain. That's 25 on the season.

3:07 -- Josh Brown's 39-yard field goal gives the Seahawks a 27-0 lead.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

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How they scored

Seahawks 21, Ravens 0 -- Matt Hasselbeck connected with running back Shaun Alexander for a 14-yard touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 21-0 lead with 1:53 left in the half. Seattle's drive went 70 yards on six plays and took 2:22 off the clock.

Seahawks 14, Ravens 0 -- Seattle linebacker Leroy Hill recovered a Mike Anderson fumble and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 14-0 lead with 5:57 left. Anderson's in the game because Willis McGahee went down with an injury earlier in the half.

Seahawks 7, Ravens 0 -- Matt Hasselbeck hit wide receiver Nate Burleson for a 21-yard touchdown to give the Seahawks a 7-0 lead with 11:34 left in the half. Seattle went 89 yards on a methodical, 12-play drive. Shaun Alexander had a big 19-yard run before the touchdown.

Game log

13:32 -- Shaun Alexander, who has become a forgotten man in Seattle, just provided a flashback during a 19-yard run. The Seahawks are driving.

11:34 -- The Seahawks get on the board first. Hasselbeck hit Burleson for a 21-yard touchdown on third-and-two. Hasselbeck changed the play at the line of scrimmage, and Burleson burned Willie Gaston. Seattle went 89 yards on 12 plays. Hasselbeck completed all six of his pass attempts for 55 yards.

10:55 -- Mike Anderson, in the game for an injured Willis McGahee, carried for 12 yards to give the Ravens just their second first down.

9:29 -- It's been ugly on offense so far for the Ravens. Troy Smith was just sacked, forcing a fourth straight punt. One play earlier, Musa Smith dropped a short pass on a slant.

8:54 -- Derrick Martin comes into the game for Gaston. Guess Rex Ryan wasn't too pleased with that last touchdown pass.

8:47 -- Alexander looks like 2005 Alexander. He just broke through for a 17-yard gain.

6:59 -- Ryan looks like a genius. Martin intercepts Hasselbeck -- Seattle's second turnover -- and the Ravens' offense will take over at the Baltimore 3-yard line.

6:54 -- Mark Clayton drops a perfectly-thrown pass by Smith. The supporting cast isn't really helping out the rookie QB so far today.

5:57 -- Mike Anderson fumbles, and the Seahawks recover as linebacker Leroy Hill returns it 20 yards for a touchdown. The Ravens have fumbled 23 times this season, most in the NFL.

2:07 -- With the Seahawks driving, rookie linebacker Antwan Barnes is whistled for a 15-yard penalty for a late hit on Hasselbeck. It was definitely a questionable call as it looked like Barnes started to lunge towards Hasselbeck when he was still in bounds.

1:53 -- The Seahawks add to their lead with a 14-yard screen pass to Shaun Alexander. Alexander looks like a different player today. Seattle went 70 yards on six plays. The Seahawks' offense has been able to move the ball all day.

0:34 -- The Ravens cross midfield for the first time all day.

0:07 -- Smith fumbles in Seattle territory as the Ravens go into the half trailing, 21-0.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

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Game log

15:00 -- It is pouring in Seattle as the Ravens prepare to kick off to start the game.

14:35 -- Not a great start for the Ravens. Matt Hasselbeck just hit Deion Branch for a 19-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. The Seahawks started the game in a hurry-up offense, just as many teams have done against the Ravens this season. Corey Ivy was whistled for a 5-yard holding penalty.

14:15 -- The announcers said they were having technical difficulties. I would say so. My screen just went black.

13:25 -- Great play by Terrell Suggs, dropping Maurice Morris for a loss on third-and-one. Not too late to start playing for that contract Terrell. The Seahawks are forced to punt.

11:53 -- Here's a play that probably got some Ravens fans to rise to their feet. Troy Smith just ran for 10 yards on third-and-eight with the Ravens pinned inside their own 5-yard line.

8:44 -- Nice play by Nick Greisen, tackling Morris for a loss on a little dump-off. Greisen is starting in place of Ray Lewis.

8:09 -- A poor throw by Hasselbeck on third-and-11 forces Seattle to punt for the second time. The Seahawks have been trying to force tempo with a hurry-up offense but haven't had success so far.

4:21 -- Ed Reed intercepts a Hasselbeck pass, giving the offense possession at its own 46-yard line. It's Reed's seventh pick of the season. Terrell Suggs did a nice job of pressuring Hasselbeck on the throw. How many times this season has the Ravens' opponent been the first one to turn the ball over? Seems like never. The Seahawks have crossed midfield on all three possessions so far but have no points.

3:14 -- Uh-oh. Willis McGahee is slow to get up after a carry. Will have an update as soon as one is made available.

2:49 -- Initially, it looked like Smith hit Derrick Mason for a first down, but the play was challenged and overruled, forcing the Ravens to punt. Smith has been under pressure on virtually every pass so far today.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)