Ravens: Tuesday hangover
Oh, what a night. The Monday Night Football crew spent the pregame show trying to decide if the Ravens were the best team in the AFC or a flawed offensive unit in need of more spark from quarterback Joe Flacco. Unfortunately, the Ravens and Flacco weighed in on the wrong side of that argument.
Head coach John Harbaugh will try to explain what happened at his second-day news briefing this afternoon. He'll have had time to look at the film and break down what broke down. I'm guessing everything.
Let us count the ways. Ray Rice couldn't hold onto the ball. Flacco couldn't find any receivers -- though I'm pretty sure the Ravens have some. Brendan Ayanbadejo got thrown out of the game for swinging at Jacksonville tackle Guy Whimper. He was provoked, but it was right after the Ravens stopped the Jags on third down at the 7 yardline, so you've got to show some poise there.
There was a point in the game when Flacco had a pass knocked back to him and caught it, which gave him more receptions than the Ravens had first downs in the first half. Billy Cundiff missed his only field goal attempt, which was a very tough try but might have changed the game if he had made it.
The thing that has me scratching my head the most, however, is the fact that Rice had just eight carries in the game. He clearly was in the penalty box for a series after his second fumble, and the offense steered away from him the rest of the way, which is a curious thing to do to your go-to guy. By contrast, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew fumbled three or four times (depending on whether you count the one that didn't count), but the Jags just kept riding him all the way to a 105-yard evening.
Still, I'm going to ignore the handful of comments here from anguished fans insisting the Ravens will never win with Harbaugh and Flacco. Get a grip. The Ravens are 4-2 and have hammered the Steelers, Jets and Texans.
Clearly, their problem right now is getting mentally prepared to play mediocre teams, something they had better figure out since there are a lot of them remaining on their schedule.
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Comments
Pete you said you are going to ignore the hand full of comments that say the ravens can't win with Harbaugh and flacco.Why?? When a head coach comes out and say's It's about as bad as you can be on offense, What about how bad of a coach he is . He is the worse in game decison maker that i have seen in a very long time. Pete are you actually agreeing with harbaughs decision to go for a on side kick. This isn't the first time guy's and it won't be the last. that he has made horrible decions in a game. Now if you want to continually win 10 or 11 games a year and play a road playoff game then i guess you are satisfied with this pair. But if you want to win a superbowl it will never happen with these 2 He is so over his head at being a head coach it's not even funny. The ravens organization win despite having a bad coach and despite having a Qb that has clearly demostrated that he has reach is plateau and won't get any better. If the fans and certain media members of this town keep trying to fool themselves into thinking anything different they are dylusional. We continually waste time outs for no reason other then not getting in the play on time, this has been a problem since harbaugh has been here and hasn't improved one bit. I have been on this board for the last 2 weeks begging this organization to go out and get another veteran receiver to supplment boldin, Lee evans will not hit the field again this year and you saw from last night's game that there wasn't 1 inch of seperation from anybody.The owner has to start holding coaches accountable for these unexplained lapses that continually seem to happen.
Posted by: blancione | October 25, 2011 11:46 AM
What puzzles me is how the Ravens, once again, have tricked me into thinking they are anything more than a Wildcard contender.
Posted by: Sean G | October 25, 2011 12:16 PM
Get a grip, first this is not Flacco's first poor game this season. Why didn't Harb tell Cam to run the ball no matter what they fumbled three times we fumble once and don't run anymore. Yes I would like to see things happen and in this order: 1st bench Flacco you all ready know what your going to get from him, if he's a competior he'll fight for his job. 2nd start looking for a new head coach and let it be known Harb is a position coach at best; he has no fire and he's not a motivatior or team prepairer. 3rd maybe let Cam go at the end of the season.
Posted by: Kevin James | October 25, 2011 1:32 PM
FAILING FLACCO AND HARBOUGH HAS GOT TO GO.
REX SHOULD HAVE THAT JOB AND WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER RING. OUR PLAY CALLING SUCKED.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM, BUT THE COACH'S DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE SUPPOSE TO WIN NOT JUST PUT EAR PHONES ON AND LOOK IMPORTANT ON TV.
Posted by: ED OCONNOR | October 25, 2011 1:48 PM
In as much as the offensive problems have been, well, "offensive", for several years now, you overlook the fact that Joe Flacco has regressed since his first two years under Cam Cameron and may be losing confidence in himself and his coordinator! How often in recent years have we heard: the offense is out of sync, they have no sense of urgency, the receivers can't get separation? And the one constant is the coordinator who game plans, schemes, devises pass routes, sets the "protection", sets the tempo.....you beginning to see a trend here? This offense won't get better until there is a change in coordinators just as the defense has improved under Chuck Pagano...........
Posted by: Jerry B | October 25, 2011 1:54 PM
Is it mentally unprepared or tactically?
Coming into last night's game, I thought 12 - 4 was a real possibility. Now I think we have to hope for 10 - 6. Same thing as with Tennessee. They didn't respond to a shutdown defense. At least in the scoring drive the Ravens changed tactics and it worked; but why not try that earlier?
Posted by: David | October 25, 2011 3:47 PM
How do you put your best player in the penalty box but your quarterback doesn't get a timeout when he makes frequent mental and physcial bollerisms? How many penalty records does Oher have to set before his position and/or playing time are effected? For how much longer will Cam's in-ability to make in-game adjustments be tolerated?
I'm all for accountabiltiy. Just wish it was a little more spread around and consistant.
Posted by: Rick H. | October 25, 2011 4:09 PM
Peter,
Thank you, someone needed to provide perspective!
Is is just one of those moments in the NFL. The Ravens need to bury the game ball and move on.
Posted by: Tony Green | October 25, 2011 5:58 PM
So....Todd Heap is injured....again. Guess he's keeping his record of being brittle as an Arizona Cardinal now since he made a career out of it as a Raven.
Lee Evans = BUST as in MAJOR BUST. I'd take Derrick Mason; at least he proved he could play hurt.
Posted by: IR | October 27, 2011 5:20 PM