1. It's time to admit it, this team lacks discipline. For the most part, players are to blame for penalties, but when it becomes a reoccurring problem, week after week, it's time to start asking whether the coaching staff made some mistakes in training camp this year by forgetting fundamentals. Holding calls, pass interference calls, roughing the passer calls -- it's all adding up. And this team doesn't have a margin for error anymore. At some point, blaming the referees is counter productive. Let the fans buy into conspiracy theories, but the players and coaches need to look in the mirror. There might have been some bad calls against New England, but crying about it seems to have backfired. Most of the flags thrown today were deserved. Fabian Washington can't run down the field holding hands with Chad Ochocinco. Jared Gaither needs to let go of a pash rusher if he has his hands under the shoulder pads and Joe Flacco starts scrambling. Lardarius Webb can't be bumping guys in the back when he's blocking on punt returns. The question now becomes: Can you make a team more disciplined in a short time span? Doubtful. Those things happen during training camp.

Continue reading "Five Things We Learned From The Ravens-Bengals game" »

Posted by Kevin Van Valkenburg at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)
        

How our experts saw Sunday's big AFC North loss to the Bengals:

Jamison Hensley: To go from your best effort to your worst in a matter of a week is not a sign of a playoff team. After getting swept by the Bengals, the Ravens should forget about winning the AFC North.

Ken Murray: No team that follows its best effort of the year with the worst should be considered a worthy playoff team, let alone a Super Bowl contender. The Ravens are way too inconsistent to go deep into January.

Kevin Cowherd: Ravens inexplicably listless play might have doomed playoff chances. Drop-off in playmaking from the Denver game is astonishing.

Kevin Van Valkenburg: For a team that was supposedly playing with a sense of urgency, this was a weak effort. No passion in the first half, and no real strategy. The Ravens should have come out in the no huddle at the start of the second half just to switch things up. They waited far too long to do something drastic. Steve Haushka needs to get his head right, or it's time to find an alternative. Lastly, what was up with Flacco most of the day? Bad footwork, bad throws and bad body language. Time to be a leader, quarterback. People don't seem to be listening to some of the old leaders anymore.

Ron Fritz: Unprepared, outplayed and overwhelmed. Just a horrible effort in a must-win game for the Ravens. Didn't see that one coming.

Mike Preston: I can't help myself. Anyone seen Matt Stover? Is he still with the Colts?

Posted by Ron Fritz at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (57)
        

Join Sun reporter Kevin Van Valkenburg for a live chat during today's Ravens-Bengals game. Click below to read the full transcript.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (24)
        

Murphy's Law was in the house in Week 5 when the Ravens were ambushed at home by the Bengals, 17-14. It was a game played almost in slow motion -- at least by the Ravens -- and a loss that shouldn't have happened.

Why? Because anything that could go wrong, did, from the 10 penalties the Ravens incurred to the Bengals' penalties that weren't called to the stellar job Cincinnati's patchwork offensive line did against the Ravens' pass rush.

That was the game that cost Ray Lewis $25,000 for the thundering hit that separated Chad Ochocinco from his helmet. It was the game where Andre Caldwell caught the game-winning touchdown after throwing nickel back Chris Carr to the ground by his facemask and getting away with it. It was where Ochocinco tackled cornerback Domonique Foxworth rather than allow him to make an interception -- and didn't get flagged, either.

Unless the Ravens are afflicted with the same lethargy, Sunday in Cincinnati figures to be different. The Ravens have figured out a few things since then, and reinforced others.

The defense finally went back to the attack mode against Denver. The Ravens played multiple fronts, used more blitzes and beat up on quarterback Kyle Orton. Carson Palmer should be forewarned. He was sacked only once in the first game. If he's sacked only once today, the Bengals could easily win this game.

The other key for the defense is getting after Cedric Benson, who snapped the Ravens' streak for not allowing a 100-yard rusher at 40 games. Benson is good, but he isn't that good. The Ravens missed too many tackles that day. Linebacker Antwan Barnes, in fact, hasn't played since missing a tackle on Benson's 28-yard touchdown run.

Having a healthy Haloti Ngata would help, but even at 70 percent, Ngata could make a difference. The linebackers need to play big this game. Lewis needs to play big; he had his share of mental and physical mistakes in that game.

The defense should respond. And the offense should give Cincinnati a big dose of Ray Rice. The Bengals couldn't handle him the first time, when he had 143 yards from scrimmage, including a 48-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. That was the Ravens' only offensive touchdown in the game. That's another example of Murphy's Law. Holding Joe Flacco's offense to one touchdown won't happen again.

Posted by Ken Murray at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg was as amazed as everyone else that Mitch Berger's second punt of the game got past rushing Ed Reed last week. Reed came from the outside and was in the air when Berger seemingly launched the punt UNDERNEATH Reed.

"I'm not exactly sure where it went," Rosburg said this week. "I think Harbs [John Harbaugh] said it well: 'We think the ball actually vaporized and went through his body and came out the other side, because we can't see any space in there.' But it got past him some way or another. We still haven't figured it out yet."

Asked about Reed's technique blocking punts, Rosburg offered this assessment: "I coached against Ed for a long time at another club [the Browns] where he was rushing our edge, and I don't do a whole lot of coaching of Ed at that particular point in time. I've seen him get his hands on a lot of footballs. I'll let Ed coach himself on that. He'll figure it out, I'm confident."

Posted by Ken Murray at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Ravens wide-out Kelley Washington spent the first four years of his NFL career in Cincinnati, and it was a long, steady decline from prospect to disappointment. Washington has good memories of his former teammates, but not-so-good for Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and owner Mike Brown.

Washington said he had issues with "select" coaches in Cincinnati, although he liked offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski ("he was a great coordinator"). Washington said he didn't learn much from Lewis, and that there were double standards for certain players. "The only thing I learned how to do is not to do the right thing," he said.

On Bengals' management: "I don't really favor the way they do things."

On Brown: "He was the type owner [where] you'd sit down at the same table or pass right by him and he wouldn't speak to you. ... When you go to New England or come here, you have owners who speak to you, have a conversation, ask about your family, friends. It's a different mentality."

In his conference call with Baltimore reporters this week, Lewis had nothing bad to say about Washington.

"You know, when he left and had an opportunity, he wanted to play more and he went up to New England, and he did some things there and got an opportunity to paly on special teams," Lewis said. "Particularly, I don't think he was able to catch the balls that he quite wanted, but when Kelley was here with us, he always was a good contributor, and a guy that we could count on."

Washinton caught 53 passes in his first two years with the Bengals, but only 19 the last two years, when he missed 20 games with injuries. He spent two years with the Patriots before signing with the Ravens in May as a free agent.

Posted by Ken Murray at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Long snapper Matt Katula's sore elbow is not expected to prevent him from playing Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Katula practiced today after sitting out Wednesday's and Thursday's sessions, but he is listed as probable on the team's injury report.

Coach John Harbaugh said when he was an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Bearcats in 1991, kicker David Rowe had to replace the usual long snapper.

"We had to go into a game one time where the long snapper was the kicker," Harbaugh recalled. "He was the kicker for kicks and the long snapper for punts. They went after him. He survived. Dave Rowe. If you’re out there, Dave, this is a shout. You did good. I think it was against Penn State, too."

After a pause, Harbaugh added, "That will not be the case in this game."

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Although Haloti Ngata did not practice this week, the defensive tackle is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ngata, who has made 55 consecutive starts in his four-year career, is dealing with a sprained right ankle, but expressed optimism earlier today that he could play Sunday.

Safeties Haruki Nakamura (strained abdominal muscle) and Tom Zbikowski (illness) are also questionable. Nakamura was upgraded today to full participation after being limited Thursday. Zbikowski was limited for the second consecutive day.

Linebackers Jarret Johnson (left shoulder) and Prescott Burgess (illness), tight end Todd Heap (ankle), fullback Le'Ron McClain (shoulder), cornerback Frank Walker (illness) and long snapper Matt Katula (sore elbow) participated fully in practice and are listed as probable.

For the Bengals, strong safety Roy Williams (forearm) was limited in practice and is questionable for Sunday.

Fullback Jeremi Johnson (sprained left knee) was upgraded from limited to full participation and is probable. Defensive tackle Tank Johnson (foot) was added to the injury report after being limited in practice, but he is also listed as probable.

Posted by Edward Lee at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The gift basket of deodorant that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco said he sent to Ravens linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and the secondary hasn't raised a stink with the Ravens players.

In fact, Suggs was the only player I could get to comment on the delivery. "It’s all in fun," Suggs said.

Posted by Edward Lee at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata seemed confident that he would start Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ngata, who sprained his right ankle last Sunday, hasn’t practiced all week. In his first comments to reporters this week, Ngata estimated Friday that his chances of playing at “8 or 9.”

“It feels great. Actually, it feels pretty good,” he said. “There’s not much swelling or anything. Just stiffness and soreness. So hopefully, we can get it full to go, and I’ll go for it.”

Having Ngata will be a big lift for the Ravens, who are going against Cedric Benson. The Bengals running back gained 120 yards against them earlier this season.

Since being drafted in the first round in 2006, Ngata has been one of the most durable Ravens. He has never been sidelined in his 55-game career.

Asked to rate Ngata’s chances of playing, coach John Harbaugh said, “I wouldn’t be interested in doing that. There is a chance.”

Posted by Jamison Hensley at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Ravens practiced on the far field today, so it was difficult to take roll call. But it was clear that defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was not present during the portion of practice open to the media.

Ngata, who is dealing with a sprained right ankel suffered in last Sunday's victory over the Denver Broncos, has started all 55 games of his four-year career, but NFL teams usually suscribe to the general rule of thumb that an injured player must practice at least once to be considered available for an upcoming game.

Long snapper Matt Katula, who has sat out the past two days, took part in practice today. Katula, who has been bothered by a sore elbow, insists that he will play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Three starters in linebacker Jarret Johnson (left shoulder), tight end Todd Heap (ankle) and fullback Le'Ron McClain were present at practice.

Posted by Edward Lee at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Even though the Cincinnati Bengals won the first meeting and get to stay home and play host to the Ravens this Sunday, the Ravens are three-point favorites.

Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said he was unaware of what could be perceived as a major slight.

"Well, I didn’t know I was an underdog, so it doesn’t matter what we are," he said Wednesday. "We’ve just got to play. We have a nine-game season and our first week is this week against the Ravens, and what counts is this game. This one counts, and all the other stuff is peripheral. It’s good for people to talk about, but when you come out there on Sunday the team that executes, runs and tackles and takes care of the football will win the football game."

Quarterback Carson Palmer pointed out that this current Bengals squad that is tied for the AFC North lead with a 5-2 record went 4-11-1 last season.

"When you win four games the year before, people don’t expect you to be on top of your division, and to beat a team that went to the AFC Championship game last year, back-to-back times," Palmer said. "I’m sure that has something to do with it. But I could care less whether we’re overlooked or underlooked. At the end of the year, if you’re playing in the Super Bowl, people think you’re pretty good. And you are pretty good if you make it that far. That’s our goal."

Posted by Edward Lee at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

With four blocked punts in his career, free safety Ed Reed almost got his fifth blocked punt in the first quarter of Sunday's 30-7 thumping of the Denver Broncos. Somehow, Mitch Berger's punt escaped Reed's outstretched arms.

"The ball went through my hands," Reed said Wednesday. "That was a rookie mistake. You’ve got to have those hands tight to take it off the foot."

Special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said he had never seen a punt squirt through Reed's hands.

"We’re not exactly sure where it went," Rosburg said Thursday. "I think Harbs [coach John Harbaugh] said it well. We actually think the ball vaporized and went through his body and came out the other side. We can’t see any space in there, but it got past him somehow. We still haven’t figured it out yet."

Posted by Edward Lee at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)