The San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints just put on a show for the ages. The Saints rallied from a mistake-riddled first half and an early 17-point deficit to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, and then the two teams traded lightning touchdown drives until the 49ers won the game on a terrific throw and catch from Alex Smith to former Maryland star Vernon Davis with nine seconds left.

Simply amazing. The two teams scored four touchdowns in the final four minutes, and it looked like the Saints were going to pull it out when Drew Brees hit Jimmy Graham for 66 yards and his second touchdown of the game with 1:48 to go. But Smith connected with Davis for 47 yards to get into field goal range and then took one shot for the win.

Don't know about you, but it was one of the greatest playoff games I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of them. I'd like to think the Patriots/Broncos game tonight will deliver some drama, but it doesn't look like it's shaping up that way.

Oh well, the Ravens probably will have to go through Foxboro to get to Indianapolis, but they've beaten the Pats there in in the playoffs before.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Everybody -- including me -- wanted the Ravens to play the Texans this Sunday in the first home playoff game of the John Harbaugh era, but if you think that this is a walkover matchup for the Ravens, think again.

The Texans have a lot going for them, including -- not except for -- rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. While everybody has been swooning over Tim Tebow the last few weeks, Houston's third-string quarterback has held things together and kept the Texans on track for an upper-half seed in the postseason.

He looked pretty good against the Bengals and he's got Arian Foster to keep the pressure off him. The Texans could jump up and bite the Ravens in the tail-feather area if Joe Flacco spends too much time going downfield on third and short and wastes a bunch of possessions.

Don't misunderstand. Given the choice among the available opponents going into this past weekend, I chose the Texans, but only because I never imagined that Tebow and the Broncos ewould be available. Certainly, I'd rather have Denver coming here and the Patriots playing the Bengals, but the planets are only going to line up so much and then it's up to the Ravens to just win.

Will they? I would think so. They're 8-0 at home this year and Harbaugh is undefeated after his four regular-season bye weeks. They beat the Texans by 15 points at home earlier this season, and that was when Matt Schaub was healthy. Yes, they should win, but that doesn't mean they will, so let's hold the Tom Brady talk until after the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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My gut tells me that the Cincinnati Bengals can take the Texans on the road this weekend, but I think it would help the Ravens' chances of reaching the Super Bowl if Houston was the first team to visit M&T Bank Stadium for a playoff game during the John Harbaugh era.

That's open to debate, of course. The Steelers likely will show up here if the Bengals win, and I know a lot of fans think this would be a great time to catch them. The Steelers are very banged up and will be playing with a gimpy Ben Roethlisberger and without Rashard Mendenhall, so they might not even get past the Broncos. If they do, however, I'd like to see them face the Patriots and give both of those teams a chance to punch themselves out before the AFC championship game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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It's almost hard to believe that the 2011 regular season has come down to this, since there were several seemingly golden opportunities for the Ravens to lock up a high playoff seed a lot earlier.

No use crying about it. The Ravens have not played well on the road and need a victory over the Bengals on Sunday to finish with a .500 record away from M&T Bank Stadium. That will be no small feat with all the issues that John Harbaugh and the Ravens staff have had to deal with the past week or two, but I do believe the Ravens are the better team, so I'm still picking them to win.

The case can be made that the Bengals have more to play for, but I'm not buying that. Obviously, the Bengals want to get to the playoffs, but they aren't a real Super Bowl contender. If they get in, they'll have to win three straight playoff games on the road, which is asking way too much of a team that hasn't beaten anybody of consequence this year.

The Ravens could face the same fate if they don't beat the Bengals, but they are an experienced playoff team that has beaten a lot of good teams on the road in the regular and postseason over the past four seasons.

If the Ravens win, however, they will be in position for a very strong Super Bowl bid. I think that should give them the edge in the motivation department.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Clearly, no one is feeling terribly apprehensive about today's game against the Cleveland Browns, who will be starting Seneca Wallace at quarterback and playing for absolutely nothing on a day they'd rather be home with their families.

This ought to be an episode of "Fear Factor" for them, because the Ravens are still smarting from last week's embarrassing loss to the San Diego Chargers and are going to be very motivated to put on a big offensive and defensive show.

The spread on this game is almost two touchdowns and it's still pretty attractive. I'll be very surprised if the Browns score a touchdown today. I won't be surprised if they don't score at all. The only way this is a game is if the Ravens get into the egg nog too early.

So, go ahead, enjoy this Christmas treat, because the angst will return in earnest on Monday when the Ravens start preparing to play the Bengals in Cincinnati in the final game of the regular season. That's no gimme, and it might just determine whether the Ravens have a real chance to reach the Super Bowl.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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It was a sloppy game that featured five turnovers (by both teams) and an off-side penalty on Army that iced the game for the Midshipman, but in this rivalry, a win is a win. The Midshipman took advantage of those mistakes and two late field goals by kicker Jon Teague to defeat the Black Knights for the 10th consecutive time.

What a finish for Teague, who had suffered through a very frustrating season that featured more special teams breakdowns and blocked kicks than he'd prefer to remember. I'll be weighing in on his big day in my column for the Web site and the Sunday print edition.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Army's Black Knights appeared to be falling out of the 112th Army-Navy Game in the second quarter, but they rallied for two touchdowns to tie the game at 14-14 going into intermission. The Midshipmen have answered back at the start of the second half, taking advantage of a 48-yard kickoff return by Alexander Teich to score on their first possession.

Kriss Proctor went in from two yards out for his second touchdown of the game to give Navy a 21-14 lead, but this game seems to be building up to an exciting finish. Army quarterback Trent Steelman just threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Brown to tie the game.

That was just the second completed pass of the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Navy quarterback Kriss Proctor just scored on a keeper play to get the Mids on the scoreboard first. It took most of the first quarter for anyone to score, because Navy fumbled the ball deep in Army territory to end a sustained drive. The Black Knights returned the favor a few minutes later and Navy pounded the ball in with about a minute left in the quarter.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama made an appearance in the CBS broadcast booth. Obama is spending the first half of the game on the Navy side of the field. He will switch to the Army side at halftime.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Even though this is the 112th edition of the Army-Navy Game, it's hard not to get pumped up about it when you witness the pageantry -- from the morning march on by the Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen to the moment when the President of the United States marches to the middle of the field to toss the coin.

For the record, Army called "tails" and it was tails. Navy, wearing blue jerseys and white helmets decorated with a gold anchor, kicked off.

President Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden were joined on the field by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and other Washington dignitaries. No doubt, the Cadets and Mids were eager for the game to begin, since they have been in their seats in the 36-degree cold.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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On a personal level, I think it's great that there's an NFL game on Thursday night's during the second half of the regular season. I'm a big football fan and really haven't gotten excited about Thursday night primetime since George Clooney left "ER," so it works for me even if it apparently doesn't work very well on either a commercial or competitive level.

Sure, the Thanksgiving night game was great because it was a terrific matchup between the Ravens and 49ers, but the idea of certain teams being taken out of their regular routines in the heat of a playoff race just doesn't seem right. Throw in that a lot of the games aren't very good -- because you've got teams working on short prep weeks -- and you can make a pretty good case that it damages the integrity of the overall competition.

This year, in particular, the difference between the offensive performances of Thursday night teams vs. teams playing on Sunday or Monday is stark, particularly in the first half of those games. The first five games played on Thursday (not counting Opening Night) have featured an average of 11.6 total points in the first half, which is about half the first-half average (22.0) for teams playing on Sunday over the course of Weeks 2 through 11.

Obviously, I left out the opening Thursday game and the first slate of Sunday games, since I'm making a point about the short rest, which wouldn't apply in those cases.

That's a pretty dramatic difference. You can give some credit to the solid defensive performance of the Ravens and Packers on Thanksgiving Day, but it's pretty clear that teams playing on three days rest are a little slower off the ball. The 49ers and Lions are two of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL, and they combined for three points in the first two quarters on Thursday.

True, it's a small sample, and the first-half performance of teams last year was much closer to the overall average, but I'm wondering if the whole NFL Network thing is worth the trouble, especially when the league is having trouble selling the commercial spots for those games. If that wasn't the case, I don't think you'd get to see that "Top Five Plays" promo every 10 minutes throughout the broadcast.

I like my highlights at halftime, thank you.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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If you've been reading my column, you know that no one has harped more about the Ravens' problems against struggling teams more than I have, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that it won't be a problem any more.

Here's why: The Ravens suffered their apparent letdowns at a point in the season when they were going back and forth between high-intensity games against really good teams (and winning most of them convincingly) and seemingly less-significant games against teams that they were expected to beat. It's on them that they didn't beat some of those teams, because they'd be sitting pretty in the AFC home-field derby right now if they had won even one of the three games they lost, but the past is the past.

The difference now is multi-fold:

1. The Ravens will have plenty of time to moderate their emotions after their uplifting Thursday night victory over the 49ers. Ten days between games is almost like coming off a bye week, which will help the Ravens get healthy and mentally refreshed.

2. There are no more of those super-intensity games until the season finale against the Bengals on the road, and who knows if that one will still be significant. If the Ravens take care of business in Cleveland, that will be the end of the emotional roller coaster. They'll just need to remain on an even keel to get through the games they are supposed to win.

3. There can be no doubt in any corner of the lockerroom that the Ravens have no margin for error the rest of the way if they want to be playing home games in the postseason. Every game is a must-win game, and the Ravens have won every game they've felt that way about this year.

Been wrong before, of course, but I can't see the Browns making a dent in the Ravens defense this weekend. The key for the Ravens is pretty simple. Don't turn the ball over and the rest will take care of itself.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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If you haven't already, you can check out my take on the Harbaugh hype surrounding Thursday night's game between the Ravens and 49ers right here. If you're still reading, here are a few more thoughts on the game.

I'm picking the Ravens, because I think AFC teams are generally better than NFC teams (except the Packers, of course) and because every intangible involved in this game seems to be working in favor of the Ravens.

They might be harried by the compressed work week, but what they are going through is nothing compared to the Niners, who have one less day because they have to fly coast-to-coast in the wrong direction and will have to deal with jet lag for the second time in three weeks.

The last time I looked, the Ravens were listed as a 3 1/2-point favorite, which sounds about right. The oddsmakers are basically saying that home-field advantage will be the deciding factor, but I'm not convinced these are equivalent teams in spite of the 49ers' glitzy 9-1 record. The Ravens have the better defense and have played a tougher schedule, which is a good thing considering how they have played this year against their lesser opponents.

My prediction: Ravens 27, 49ers 16.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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If you want my take on the Ray Lewis injury situation, I'll have a column posted on the Web site a little later today, but I still had more to say when I ran out of room in tomorrow's paper, so here goes.

I'm going against the odds and the experts in guessing that Ray will show up on the field tomorrow. If you're able to read between the lines of the John Harbaugh quotes that have been published or blogged, it certainly sounds like Ray will be inactive, but we're talking about Ray Lewis and he may have something to say about that on Sunday morning.

Whether he should play is another matter, and a complicated one. He clearly is the spiritual and motivational leader of the team, but that didn't count for all that much last week against the Seattle Seahawks. I don't know when exactly he suffered the toe injury, but he didn't look very mobile and the Seahawks took advantage of that on at least one key play late in the game.

Everybody loves the Ray-Ray intro dance and everybody puts a lot of stock in Ray's pre-game Sunday-cone-to-meeting speech to his teammates, but we've come to a point in this strange season when you have to ask whether it is making any difference. Ray has made that speech three times before games in which the Ravens didn't look particularly imspired against lesser opponents, so there's room to wonder if the message is still getting through.

However, his contribution on the field -- when healthy -- is without question. Even at 36, he leads the Ravens in tackles and (like Cal Ripken in his later years) is able to make up for whatever physical ability he has lost to age with his terrific instincts and vast knowledge of defensive football.

I'm guessing he'll thumb his nose at Father Time for at least one more season, but it's hard to speculate on what he'll be able to over the next few weeks. We'll obviously have a better idea tomorrow.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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If anyone can figure out why the Ravens haven't showed up for three very winnable games that could have helped them put a stranglehold on home-field advantage for the playoffs, please write. John Harbaugh has tried to chalk it up to bad execution (which is certainly part of it), but we've reached the point where it's fair to connect the dots and wonder why his team seems to let down whenever there's an opportunity to put some frosting on the cake.

I'll be back in town today after a fairly lengthy trip west, which included a visit to the West Wing, the Ravens hangout in Hollywood that we featured on a WBAL program last season. The gang was all there, including several people I recognized from home and several people who recognized me.

Former Ravens.com guy Mike Duffy was in the house. He's working in the music business now. Also spent some time watching the game with Connor Byrne, the son of Ravens vice president Kevin Byrne. Except for the outcome, Mrs. Lincoln, it was a great experience and I'm looking forward to going back the next time I'm on the West Coast on an NFL Sunday. Here's a photo of the group taken before the stark realization that the Ravens were about to make another bad team look good.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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Let's not get too up or too down about Sunday's squeaky Ravens victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The first half was awful and the second half was fairly impressive, under the circumstances, but none of it applies to Sunday's game against the rival Steelers.

The one thing that's really disconcerting is that the Ravens' offensive struggles of last Monday night carried right through two more quarters yesterday. Not because it reflects a poor offensive scheme, but because the club's halftime epiphany -- articulated by just about everyone after the game -- was necessary after what happened against the Jaguars.

That's why I cling to the belief that the issue is more a matter of mental preparation on the offensive side of the ball, even if everyone at The Castle scoffs at the notion. And that's why I think you'll see a much different team in the Steelers game, which contains no aspect that would allow anyone to let down or lose focus in any way.

The Steelers may win the game, but I'm guessing you'll see a Ravens offense that knows exactly what it wants to do and executes better than it has the past two weeks, even though it will be facing one of the best defensive units in the league.

Sound crazy? Welcome to the NFL.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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For the record, I think the Ravens will cruise to victory today over the Arizona Cardinals, but they will be swimming against a red tide this week. Just look at what has happened over the past 48 hours:

The St. Louis Cardinals staged a pair of amazing comebacks in Game 6 of the World Series and went on to win Game 7 on Friday night.

The Stanford Cardinal needed a last-gasp comeback in regulation and three overtimes to to defeat Southern California at the Los Angeles Coliseum and remain undefeated.

And, the Louisville Cardinals scored a 27-10 victory over Syracuse on Saturday in a Big East showdown that ended a four-game road winning streak for the Orange.

Hmmmm.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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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.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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When the Ravens stumbled against Tennessee, it was almost understandable, but what is happening in Jacksonville is -- quite frankly -- an embarrassment. They've delivered one of the worst offensive performances in the history of the team and they've made every mistake known to a football team to get in position for a very damaging and discouraging defeat.

There have been some strange plays -- including a terrible personal foul call on Bernard Pollard -- but there will be no excuses after this one. The Ravens stunk it up for 55 minutes and will have a lot of soul searching to do this week.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Seemed like everybody on the ESPN pregame show was talking about what Joe Flacco needs to do to become a great quarterback. I'm not saying he's Aaron Rodgers, but what does the guy have to do to get some national respect.

Flacco has taken the Ravens into the playoffs all three of his previous seasons. He took them to the AFC title game as a rookie. He has won four playoff games on the road. He has won more road games than any other NFL quarterback over the past three-plus years. In other words, he just wins.

There have been some times when it hasn't been pretty, but the end justifies the means. Just ask everybody gushing about Tim Tebow after yesterday's game in which he played terrible until the last few minutes of regulation.

Instant update: So far, Flacco isn't exactly lighting it up. The Ravens are 12 minutes into the first quarter and still don't have a first down.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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If you think the Ravens are going to run over the Houston Texans today at M&T Bank Stadium, you're probably going to be disappointed. And, if you think Joe Flacco is going to throw for 400 yards to make everyone forget his unimpressive performance against the Jets two weeks ago, you've also got another thing coming. At least that's my pregame opinion.

I'm betting the Ravens focus on one thing coming off the bye week against a quality team that will be playing without two of it's very best players. They will focus on execution and balance to assure that they don't get ambushed like they did against the Titans a few weeks ago.

Look for them to open with a nicely scripted drive that includes a little bit of everything. Look for them to press the run harder if it's there in the first half. Look for Flacco to work the middle a little more and go downfield a little less, because the Ravens need to move the ball consistently and -- their great defense not withstanding -- they will need to put 20-plus point on the board to win.

The reason I believe they won't try to establish a quick-strike offense should be pretty obvoius. Cam Cameron will be looking to get Flacco back into a good rhythm and head coach John Harbaugh will be looking to manage the game in a way that reduces the possibility of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub getting on a roll. Remember, the Ravens have some soft spots right now, too, but I don't see this as a nail-biter.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Seems like only yesterday that we were awaiting the return of receiver Derrick Mason to M&T Bank Stadium for the game between the Ravens and the Jets. Now, it looks like Mason will play in consecutive games at M&T -- consecutive for us, not him.

Mason reportedly has been traded to the Houston Texans to fill the void left when top receiver Andre Johnson went down with a severe hamstring injury. It's a little surprising that the Jets were so quick to get rid of him, though he probably ruffled some feathers when he complained publicly about the Jets offensive issues.

It looks like a good move for Mason. The Jets were considered a Super Bowl contender when he signed with them, but their postseason hopes hit a rough patch with a string of losses to the Raiders, Ravens and Patriots. The Texans are in better shape in the standings (3-2), but their nice start has been stunted by the loss of Johnson and a season-ending injury to defensive star Mario Willliams.

Still, the Texans remain in decent position to reach the playoffs from the AFC South with the Colts in crisis and a remaining schedule that is not particularly challenging. Mason will certainly help add some continuity to Matt Schaub's passing attack and help the Texans battle with the Tennessee Titans for divisional supremacy.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Still trying to digest what happened to the Maryland Terrapins this afternoon. New coach Randy Edsall said that his team lacked intensity and will, so I'll have to take him at his word. The Terps also lacked just about everything else it takes to win a game against a decent team -- and Temple has become a very decent team over the past few seasons.

If you're interested in my take on the situation, why don't you click here and read my column off the game.

Now I've got to rest up for the Ravens game tomorrow by watching the season premier of Saturday Night Live with Alec Baldwin, who -- I have to admit -- I'm glad didn't keep his promise and move out of the country after George W. Bush was elected to a second term.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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These aren't your father's Temple Owls, but nobody expected them to come into Byrd Stadium and score four touchdowns before the Terps had four first downs. Temple had a 28-0 lead with nine minutes to go in the first half, then added a special insult when the Owls stopped the Terps on fourth and short at Temple's 10 yard line.

It has been a team collapse, featuring a sporadic offensive attack, a porous defense and a pair of special teams breakdowns. Other than that, everything is going great.

If you're hoping for a comeback like the one the Terps almost pulled off against West Virginia, don't hold your breath. Temple may not be a Top 25 team, but the Owls can pound the ball in the second half and eat up the clock if the Terps offense finally wakes up.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Everybody and his brother is calling what happened to the Ravens on Sunday a "letdown," which probably seems like an obvious conclusion to reach when you compare their performance with the one that had people crowning them Super Bowl champs after the Pittsburgh game last week.

If the fact that they didn't play anywhere near as well as they did against the Steelers constitutes a letdown, then who can argue? But if you give a little credit to the Titans coaching staff for completely disrupting the newlook Ravens offense and you give Matt Hasselbeck a little love for the way he picked apart the Ravens secondary and somehow neutralized the Ravens rush, then it's more of a beatdown than a letdown.

The Ravens did not rise to the emotional level of the Steelers game because it would have been impossible to replicate the intensity of their home opener against their chief division rival for a road game against a far less talented team. That's not an excuse -- they should have been able to beat the Titans anyway -- but it is a fact that should quell any talk of some motivational deficiency.

That doesn't mean it wasn't a shocking loss in the aftermath of such a satisfying and lopsided victory over the Steelers. It just means that anybody can be beaten by a team that executes its gameplan better.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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The Ravens said all the right things after they thoroughly spanked the Pittsburgh Steelers. They said that it's only one game and they've got 15 more. (True) They said the Steelers are a great team and they will be back.(True) They said they still have a lot of things they can improve on going into their first road game at Tennessee. (True).

Nobody wanted to say that they really, really enjoyed putting a complete beatdown on their chief rival and wiping away the memory of last year's second-half collapse in the playoffs.

It wouldn't have been the end of the world if they had lost the game and they didn't punch their ticket to the playoffs by winning it. But they did exorcise some demons and they did store up a big, giant acorn in heaven by getting the first one against the Steelers by a very lopsided score.

And the Steelers felt it big-time.

"We got whipped in every facet of the game,'' said Steelers safety Ryan Clark. "They were the more physical team...the more aggressive team. They were the team more technically sound. They were the better football team. They made tackles. They were much more physical than we were."

Pretty much sums it up.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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It's not even the fourth quarter, and I'm already taking it all back. This is the biggest game of the season for the Ravens, who are manhandling the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Who would have imagined that the season opener would be so lopsided? Joe Flacco has been superb. Ray Rice has been terrific. The young tight ends have made a big difference. And, I think most importantly, the offensive line looked like the real thing.

Now, we can stop all that talk about Flacco never beating Ben Roethlisberger and the Ravens can move into Week 2 at Tennessee with some serious swagger. Can't wait to see where they are in the next ESPN Power Rankings. I'm guessing No. 3.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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I'm pretty sure we're all in agreement that we would rather have the games between the Ravens and Steelers take place later in the season, but nobody will be complaining if the Ravens make good on the oddsmakers opinion that they are three points better than the Steelers.

Of course, that basically accounts for the home-field advantage and there has been enough change in the Ravens roster to make it impossible to predict what might happen today. These games are almost always decided by three points or so, but I'm guessing there will be some air between these teams today. It's the opener and just about anything can happen.

I have to take issue with the notion that this is a must-win. Of course, any head-to-head matchup with your top divisional rival is extremely important, particularly because of the prevalence of tiebreaker situations at the end of the regular season, but there are 15 games to go after this and too much can happen -- to both teams -- to put any special significance on this particular matchup between them. If anything, this might be the one situation where you could make the opposite case.

Of course, if the Ravens win -- my prediction is Ravens, 19-16 -- I'll start printing Super Bowl tickets right after the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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If you haven't already, take a moment to read the two-story package that Jamison Hensley and I teamed up on to analyze the NFL's new kickoff rules. It's at the top of the sports front in the print edition, but you can read my column right here and Jamison's news analysis right here.

We appreciate your business.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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What a terrific public sendoff for Baltimore Colts Hall of Famer John Mackey. The public memorial service that was held at the Cathredral of Mary Our Queen on North Calvert Street featured eulogies and readings by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith, Hall of Famer Floyd Little, teammate-turned-minister Joe Ehrmann as well as Mackey's wife (Sylvia) and son (Kevin).

It was pretty cool to hear Goodell (who we all agree is a huge upgrade over former commish Paul Tagliabue) applaud Mackey for his pioneering work as the first president of the NFL players union.

Here's a VIP partial guest list, though I'm sure I'm leaving a lot of people out: Art Donovan, Lenny Moore, Bill Curry, former union director Ed Garvey, Bruce Laird, Tom Matte, Toni Linhart, Sam Havrilak, Marty Domres, Maxie Baughan, Brig Owens and Don McCauley, among others. The Ravens were represented by owner Steve Bisciotti, president Dick Cass and another of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game – general manager Ozzie Newsome. Former NBA star and current Detroit mayor Dave Bing, who met Mackey when bother were at Syracuse, also was among the special guests in attendance.

If you hang around the Web site long enough, you'll be able to read my column on the memorial service, which will be posted soon. If not, drag yourself out of bed in the morning and read it in the Sunday print edition. Don't make me come over to your house and read it to you personally.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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Who knows how much Thursday night's ragged performance by the Ravens factored into the deal today to acquire Buffalo Bills receiver Lee Evans...and who cares. Evans figures to have a very positive effect on the Ravens offensive attack if he stays healthy, and he probably will, considering that he has missed only three games due to injury over the course of his eight-year career.

Evans suffered an ankle injury in December last year and missed the Bills' final three games of the season, so his career-low 37 receptions are deceptive. He averaged just under three receptions per game, which would project to about 46 over a full season. He totaled 578 receiving yards, which would project to about 710 over 16 games.

Those projections would be pretty much in line with his non-peak seasons. He caught 82 passes for 1,292 in 2006 and caught 63 passes for 1,017 yards in 2008, but has averaged 46 catches over the other six seasons. His 15.6 yards per catch last year were right in line with his career average (15.7), so there's no indication that he's slowing down significantly as he enters his 30s.

In other words, the numbers confirm that it was a pretty good deal. Now, everyone is going to resume clamoring for GM Ozzie Newsome to address the offensive line.

Stay tuned.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Just football
        

Which figures to be more interesting -- the first Ravens preseason game of 2011 or the series finale between the Orioles and Chicago White Sox. If I'm voting with my feet, I guess I've already picked the O's.

How can that be?

Well, the first of four preseason games generally features the frontline offensive players for about two possessions. If you want to see the new fullback, for instance, try not to blink.

The Orioles aren't playing for anything, but there's still some intrigue tonight. I'm here to see if Chris Tillman can continue to move in the right direction. He's coming off one of his best efforts of the season and is displaying the velocity that made him one of the top pitching prospects in baseball when the Orioles acquired him from the Seattle Mariners.

I guess you might also be wondering if there's going to be any fallout from the chirping between Adam Jones and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, but manager Buck Showalter didn't seem too concerned.

"Whatevber he did with Jonesy last night,'' Showalter said, "I hope he does it again."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just baseball, Just football
        

If you haven't checked out my Ravens column yet, you can take a look at my take on the coaching style of John Harbaugh right here.

There has been a lot of talk about the way Harbaugh's reputation as a taskmaster may affect the Ravens' ability to attract (and keep) free agents, but I'm not buying it. If players are going elsewhere because they think they're going to have more fun in practice, then let them go.

I've spent a lot of my career covering teams with tough, no-nonsense coaches and managers, and most of those teams did very well. Gene Mauch wasn't beloved in the clubhouse, but he helped transform a long-suffering Angels organization into a winning franchise in the 1980s. The Rams and Redskins thrived under George Allen, who was a tough customer. Don Shula, who started his great NFL coaching career with the Colts, was no creampuff.

Harbaugh has gotten very good results in his first three seasons as Ravens head coach. That's all that matters.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Just football
        

Not surprisingly, there were a lot of No. 86 jerseys in the stands and concourses of M&T Bank Stadium. Those jersey's aren't cheap, but Frank Short of Brooklyn Park said that the price of his Heap jersey had nothing to do with it.

"I've got lots of jerseys,'' he said. " The reason why I'm wearing is it, 10 years is a long time for a tight end to stay with one team. It's to honor him, and I'll also be wearing it to the opening game."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Just football
        

The fans are still pouring into M&T Bank Stadium as the Ravens begin their only public workout of training camp. the lower bowl of the stadium is filling up and the team is hoping for a crowd of about 25,000. Still no word on whether it will make sense -- from a security standpoint -- to hold a mass autograph session at the end of practice.

Meanwhile, the team is choreographing the practice to make it as entertaining as possible for the fans. WBAL play-by-play guy Jerry Sandusky is on the sidelines calling the action over the PA system along with broadcast partners Stan White and Qadry Ismail.

Outside in the parking lots, fans spent the morning "cold tailgating." Cooking was not permitted, for logistical reasons, but the workout gave fans a chance to "walk through" their regular season tailgating routine.

It's not particularly surprising that fans would get up early on a Saturday to watch practice in the absence of a normal Westminster training camp. Even though there was no real delay in the opening of camps, the lockout created the feeling among fans that they were being denied football, perhaps creating an added sense of urgency about the new season.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Just football
        

Did anyone seriously think we'd get through a week of the NFL preseason without a few Brett Favre comeback rumors? I didn't think so.

Farve, as far as we know, has no intention of coming out of retirement again, but that didn't keep Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano from leaving the door open when he was asked whether Favre might be a solution to his quarterback problems.

Sparano said he wouldn't rule out anything when he was asked about Favre, whose name also came up in Philadelphia (for about a millisecond) recently. Agent Bus Cook continues to insist that Favre is retired, and I think we ought to believe him this time, but this definitely isn't the last you're going to hear about him.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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The Ravens originally were scheduled to take the field at The Castle at 1:30 for today's first full-squad practice, but the process of recertifying the players union and voting to approve the new collective bargaining agreement has dragged into the afternoon.

Looks like practice will start after 4 p.m. and end sometime before dark. Don't know why you would care one way or the other -- since there is no public access to practice until Saturday's workout at M&T Bank Stadium -- but I just thought I'd give you an update.

When the CBA is finalized, all of the players who signed free agent contracts will be able to start practicing. The rookies and players already under contract have been on the field for a week.

The only news so far today is the signing of safety Bernard Pollard, who agreed to a two-year deal, but that was no surprise after Pollard tipped off a Houston radio station on Wednesday.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football
        

While the Orioles are on the road, I've been spending some quality time over at The Castle watching Ravens training camp. My column on new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano is in today's print edition, but you can also read it right here.

Though I lot of people are comparing Pagano to Rex Ryan, I think he's probably somewhere between Rex and Greg Mattison on the coaching spectrum. Look for him to shoot from the hip more than Mattison, but not quite as much as Rex.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Just football
        

It was great to get out and watch a Ravens practice this afternoon, though it would have been greater if it had taken place somewhere like San Diego. The temperature wasn't bad, but the humidity was as thick as a phonebook, which might explain why No. 2 draft pick Torrey Smith was battling calf cramps throughout the opening workout. Terrell Suggs also was hobbling with what appears to be a minor hamstring strain.

The local colleges were well-represented in the rookie receiving corps, with Smith and LaQuan Williams from Maryland and Hakeem Moore from Towson. The only other local player is veteran cornerback Domonique Foxworth.

The Ravens announced the signing of 26 undrafted free agents today. Only a couple -- Williams and Moore -- are likely to be familiar names around here. If you want proof that the Ravens scouting department throws out a wide net and is truly objective, consider that the 26 players come from 24 different college programs. The only colleges to have two players on the list were Hawaii and Auburn.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Just football
        

Since I couldn't make up my mind about what to write for my Tuesday column, I went ahead and wrote two of them. The second one -- examining the decision to release Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Kelly Gregg and Willis McGahee -- is up now on the Web site and you can read it by clicking right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football
        

The NFL lockout is over and the Ravens players are filtering into to The Castle today in preparation for the start of training camp. So, if you click right here, you can have my instant take on the return of football to Baltimore. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football
        

If my fairly extensive experience covering the baseball labor wars of the past three decades allow me any instinct about the NFL dispute at all, let me give you football fans a piece of advice. The guys and gals from ESPN, Fox Sports, NFL.com and all the other print, television and internet reporters are working very hard to give you a feel for what's going on at the super-secret negotiating site outside Washington, D.C., but they are filtering countless small fragments of information that may or may not fit together to give a true sense of where the negotiations stand.

One day, you're hearing that there appears to be some kind of progress. The next, you're reading -- as in the story you can jump to right here -- that the talks "almost blew up."

Here's what everybody knows. The soft deadline for starting the season on time is about Aug. 10, so it seems unlikely that either side is going to make any dramatic concessions on June 15. Maybe the NFL players union and the owners are more reasonable than the people who blew up the 1994 baseball postseason (I certainly hope so), but even the unnamed sources who are expressing optimism are saying that they wouldn't expect an agreement for another month.

In the meantime, I'll bet you my Orioles playoff tickets that there will be at least a couple of occasions where news outlets jump the gun with a piece of information that seems to indicate an agreement is at hand, so don't believe everything you read.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Just football
        

Ravens player rep Derrick Mason was asked after Tuesday's unsanctioned players workout at Johnny Unitas Stadium whether he agreed with Ray Lewis's controversial contention that a lengthy NFL labor stoppage might cause an increase in street crime.

If you didn't see the ESPN interview, here's what Lewis said: "Do this research. If we don't have a season. Watch how much evil, which we call crime, how much crime picks up, if you take away our game...There's nothing else to do."

Mason tried not to cast himself in opposition to Lewis when he was asked for his reaction, but he obviously could not help himself.

"I respect anybody's opinion,'' he said. "Ray's a passionate guy, and of anybody I respect him as a football player and a person. But I'm not naive or arrogant enough to think what I do is going to affect John Doe or Mary Sue when they are at home or out there walking the street. I'm not going to be that arrogant.

"My life and what I do doesn't necessarily affect someone else on an everyday basis. They might get disappointed because we're not playing on Sunday, but for them to go out and change their whole lifestyle based on what I do. That's pure arrogance, I think. I'm not going to think that. But you respect everybody's opinion. If he felt that way, he felt that way for a reason."

Associated Press file photo

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (32)
Categories: Just football
        

No doubt, Ozzie Newsome woke up this morning still irritated that he doesn't have an extra fourth-round pick in this week's NFL draft, but the Ravens probably should just be happy the aborted trade didn't cost them the player they wanted.

Newsome, who's better that this kind of thing than just about anybody, had a deal done with the Chicago Bears that would have given the Ravens an extra pick and almost certainly would have resulted in them still getting cornerback Jimmy Smith. The Bears apparently got their man, too, but the communications breakdown apparently was not intentional.

I'm not sure all's well that ends well, because the Ravens made the deal in good faith and probably deserve that draft choice, but it could have been a huge embarrassment if the Kansas City Chiefs had swooped in and picked Smith with the 26th pick.

No doubt, the Ravens would have drafted Muhammad Wilkerson or Cameron Heywood and acted like he was their first choice all along, but we now know that was not the case. Coach John Harbaugh said afterward that Smith was their clear choice and they wanted him badly.

Of course, I thought they should have gone for a pass rusher like Heywood or Wilkerson, but maybe they'll still be able to get a quality guy in tonight's second round.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Just football
        

My latest column on the upcoming NFL draft is up on the Web site and will be in the print edition tomorrow morning. I'm making my case that the Ravens need to tap one of the deepest areas in the first round and bring home a quality pass rusher to help Terrell Suggs and Co. put more pressure on the AFC's top quarterbacks. You can read it right here right now.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football
        

The NFL just released the 2011 regular season schedule and the Ravens open at home against the evil Steelers, which will be their third meaningful game against Pittsburgh in their last eight games (including playoffs). It might be even more meaningful, however, if the lockout clips off the first game of the season and it has to be moved to the end of the schedule.

I suspected that might be the reason for the imediate showdown, but a quick scan of the other schedules did not reveal a pattern of divisional season openers. If such a conspiracy was in play, you'd think the Jets would open against the Patriots and the Cowboys would open against the Giants or Eagles.

There are some interesting openers. The Saints will play the NFL champion Packers in the Thursday night opener; the Giants will travel to Washington; and the Jets will open against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

I'm pretty sure the season will start on time, anyway. Based on my experience covering many baseball negotiations, I suspect the NFL labor dispute will get settled about a week after training camps are supposed to open.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Just football
        

Once again, the Ravens have scheduled their annual cheerleader tryouts while I'm out of town, which I'm starting to think is not an accident. I'm guessing they're afraid I'll upstage everybody with my amazing agility and pep.

Meanwhile, they don't even make Nestor try out anymore.

Here's the Ravens news release with the details:

Baltimore Ravens Cheerleader Tryouts This Weekend

The Baltimore Ravens will host auditions for their 2011 cheerleading squad on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 at the Downtown Athletic Club. Saturday registration will be held between 9:30-10:45 a.m., and material will be taught from 10:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Tryouts will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and run from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

“Entering our 14th cheerleading season, we are excited,” said Ravens director of cheerleading Tina Galdieri. “Cheerleading tryouts are not only a time when new people can step up and join our team, but veterans are also expected to improve their skills to remain on the team. As a coach, it is always inspirational to see people work hard in order to achieve their goals. We look forward to seeing even more talented athletes this year who will strive to become a part of the Ravens’ organization.”

Approximately 150-200 male and female hopefuls will participate in open tryouts with 60 making the final squad. All participants, as well as coach Galdieri (prior to 10:45 a.m.), will be available for interviews on Saturday and prior to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Additionally, tryouts for the Playmakers squad will be held on Sunday, March 6 at the Downtown Athletic Club.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football
        

With Steve Bisciotti, Dick Cass, Ozzie Newsome and John Harbaugh on the dais and dozens of reporters firing questions, there was a lot of ground covered during the course of the Ravens' season wrapup news conference.

One of the headlines to come out of it will surely be Cass's announcement that the Ravens will not -- as they usually do every other year -- raise season ticket prices this year. Cass cited the uncertainty about the labor situation and also said that season ticket funds will not be used for club operations during a potential work stoppage. The money will be kept separate and fans will get it back with interest for any games not played because of a strike or lockout.

Cass also said that, unlike some NFL clubs, the Ravens will not lay off any employees in the event of a work stoppage. Employees may, however, have some pay reduction associated with a work stoppage, but will get any reduction refunded if the full season is played.

There were no great revelations about the labor situation, because Bisciotti and his fellow owners are under something of a gag order.

"I want to keep my money,'' Bisciotti laughed, "and Roger (Goodell) wants to take my money."

On the personnel front, Bisciotti made it clear that he would give Harbaugh a contract extension, probably finalizing it in the next couple of weeks. Newsome confirmed that Haloti Ngata's free agent status is a top priority, but the labor uncertainty may make it difficult to get a deal done before a decision is made by the NFL whether to lock the players out in March.

If you want to hear from the brain trust on Joe Flacco's progress this season, you'll have to wait a few hours for Jamison Hensley's story on the subject. The Sun had its entire football staff mobilized for the news conference, so look for several stories on the state of the franchise in the print edition and here on the Web site.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Just football
        

The Ravens will hold their year-end news conference today at The Castle, so we'll get to hear what Steve Bisciotti, Ozzie Newsome, Dick Cass and coach John Harbaugh have to say about the way the 2010 season transpired.

I'm guessing they'll say what everyone is thinking. The Ravens were a couple of turnovers removed from the Super Bowl, which means that they're not going to overreact to one very wrenching loss in Pittsburgh.

That's the right answer, but there's a lot to talk about going forward. The uncertain labor situation makes it hard to predict what will happen over the next few months, but the Ravens have a long list of unrestricted free agents to ponder -- starting, of course, with All-Pro defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.

It was very encouraging to see Haloti at yesterday's news conference to introduce new D-coordinator Chuck Pagano. Ngata was asked about his situation going forward and he didn't play agent games.

"I don't want to go anywhere else,'' he said.

The Ravens will get that one done just as soon as they know the lay of the land.

It's possible the team will have some coaching announcements to make today, but any speculation that Cam Cameron is in trouble is probably wishful thinking on the part of those fans who think he was the reason the Ravens did not live up to their on-paper offensive potential. Cam apparently isn't going anywhere.

The coaching staff, minus Greg Mattison, will stay largely intact. Most of the marquee players on the roster will be back, too, if there's a 2011 season, but this team needs something to elevate the offense to a level where it can overcome mistakes and close out games consistently. I'll be curious to hear what the braintrust thinks.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Just football
        

Is it just me, or did the victory by the New York Jets today make it feel like the Ravens blew the Steelers game all over again?

It's one thing to lose and have to go to Foxborough to face the team with the best record in the AFC, though I thought the Ravens had proven they could beat the Pats. It's quite another to know that a merely adequate second-half performance against the Steelers would have brought the AFC Championship Game to M&T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens would have been favored to take the final step to the Super Bowl.

I wrote a whole column for Saturday's paper saying that the Steelers game was all or nothing...that if the Ravens won they'd keep winning right on through Dallas and bring home the Lombardi Trophy. I still can't prove it, but I was right and that makes the whole weekend even harder to stomach for devastated Ravens fans.

I'm happy for Rex Ryan, but this just ain't right.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (60)
Categories: Just football
        

Seriously, that's what I thought when I woke up this morning and started remembering everything that led to the Ravens' ignominious come-from-ahead loss to the evil Steelers.

Following the game, I heard a lot of people saying that they felt pretty safe at halftime, and why not? The Ravens had dominated the first half after the Steelers scored that tainted first touchdown -- much like the Ravens came back from the first touchdown by the Chiefs last weekend.

Myself? I didn't feel safe at all at that point, because the Steelers were getting the ball to start the second half and if they could drive the field, they would be back in a one-score game. When I started feeling like it was in the bag was right after the Ravens stopped Ben Roethlisberger on third down on that first possession.

The Steelers had used up some time to start the third quarter and they were giving the ball back. I actually articulated in my mind at that point -- and I'm sure many of you did the same thing -- that the only thing that could stop the Ravens was a string of turnovers, which just didn't seem possible after the way they had won the turnover battle in Kansas City and during yesterday's first half.

Obviously, I was right and wrong at the same time. They Ravens did turn the ball over in rapid-fire fashion, and they did it with a look of panic that told me where this thing was going. All it needed was an extra push from the officials, who were simply awful both ways for much of the game.

Let's not throw this all on Joe Flacco. Just about everybody on the offense who is supposed to makes plays -- at some juncture -- failed to make a play that good playoff teams make. Flacco certainly failed to hold things together. Anquon Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh dropped passes in very key situations. Ray Rice had his first fumble in forever to start the snowball rolling downhill.

And I'm not letting the coaching staff off the hook on either side of the ball. I don't know why Flacco was going long downfield to Todd Heap at a time when the Ravens were still ahead and really just needed to re-establish possession and find some offensive rhythm. I also don't know why the defense decided to drop into total pass coverage on that key third-and-19 throw that put the Steelers in the red zone at the end.

You can say all you want that the guy shouldn't have gotten behind the coverage, but if you're willing to let Ben Roethlisberger stand in the pocket as long as he wants, he's going to make a big play. That's what he does, just as he did in the second regular-season meeting under similar defensive circumstances. I guess those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, but this is getting ridiculous.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: Just football
        

While we're all getting worked up about the Ravens/Steelers game, I think it's only fair to ramp up the rhetoric even further. I'm not particularly confident the Ravens will win in Pittsburgh this weekend -- and I did not go with the home pick just to be popular -- but I do think that they can win the Super Bowl this weekend.

I really do.

I believe that the Ravens would win a hypothetical road matchup against the Patriots next weekend and definitely would dispatch Rex Ryan and the Jets at M&T Bank Stadium. I'm also confident they can beat anybody in the NFC in the Super Bowl.

So it comes down to one game at Heinz Field.

Since some people bristle when I pick the opposing team to win, let me repeat that it is not because I want the opposing team to win. I make my picks based on my knowledge of the two teams and the circumstances surrounding the matchup.

If it is any consolation, I've been pretty awful in the Staff Picks competition this year, so my decision to pick the Squealers might just give the Ravens the karmic boost they need to move on to the AFC title game.

You're thoughts?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (33)
Categories: Just football
        

The Ravens were just being difficult today. I wrote a column saying they would take it down to the final minutes like usual, so -- of course -- they blow out the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium just to make me look bad.

Let that be a lesson to you.

What an impressive victory, particularly after they fell behind early and turned the ball over a couple of times. They flat-out bullied the Chiefs and answered a lot of the tough questions that have been flying around about the offense. Now it's on to Pittsburgh for Saturday's divisional rubber game for the right to play in the AFC title game. Can't wait.

Also, congratulations to Todd Heap, who had one of the best games of his career. Let me know if anybody still thinks he's soft.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Just football
        

Well, as far as I'm concerned, What's Important Now is that you click on my column right here or go to today's print edition to get my take on the Ravens as they head into today's playoff opener against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

I think the Ravens will win. My prediction in the paper was a 27-24 victory. But I'm not overwhelmingly confident, and I'm guessing that my mindset has been affected a bit by the way the Seattle Seahawks handled the New Orleans Saints yesterday. Once again, proof that anybody can beat anybody in the NFL, especially if they're at home.

I've only been to Arrowhead once in my life, and my impression of it was that it's not as hostile a place as Heinz Field or some of the other places the Ravens play in more regularly. I don't think that, or the weather, will be major factors in the game. I believe it will come down to which team can execute its offense. That would appear to favor the Ravens going in, because they have the better run defense, but we'll know soon enough.

My column basically calls on Ravens fans to let go of their preconceived -- as in preseason -- notions about the team and embrace it for what it is. You're not going to be able to book that bus to Pittsburgh until the last two minutes of today's game, so fasten those seat belts and get ready for another bumpy ride.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Just football
        

If you didn't see me around yesterday, it wasn't because I was lying around ignoring the blog. The Schmuck still stops here, but Monday was a pretty busy day for the Baltimore Sun Sports department.

We had to dig up the latest developments on the Alfredo Simon case -- and Dan Connolly and Nick Madigan are doing a great job of that -- and there were the other small matters of the University of Maryland introducing the new Terps head football coach and the Ravens beginning to prepare for Sunday's playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Which is why I actually had two columns in today's print edition. Check out my take on the Randy Edsall hiring right here, and -- if you're not tired after that -- you can read my column here on why the Ravens caught a big break when they drew the Chiefs in the Wild Card round.

It isn't easy to be such a tireless workhorse, but I make up for it with my modest and humble nature.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Just baseball, Just football, News of the day
        

When the University of Maryland introduces new football coach Randy Edsall at a news conference today, there are still going to be a lot of Terp fans scratching their heads.

That's not because there's anything wrong with Edsall. There isn't. He's a good coach with a solid reputation who has done a terrific job of bringing the Connecticut program into the national spotlight.

Still, there was a certain profile that everybody assumed would be in play during the coaching search, and Edsall doesn't quite fit it. He's more like a fresher, younger Ralph Friedgen than the hard-charging, win-or-else type coach that everybody assumed athletic director Kevin Anderson was looking for when he made the controversial decision to replace Fridge.

This, to me, is some evidence that the decision was based more on the image of the program than the actual nuts and bolts necessary to take it to an elite level. If so, Edsall was the right choice, but it's hard to make the case that -- on the basis of pure coaching ability -- he's a dynamic upgrade over Friedgen.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (33)
Categories: Just football
        

What a shocking way to start the new year. Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon has been named as the chief suspect by police in his native Dominican Republic after a 25-year-old man was shot to death and the man's brother was wounded on New Year's Eve.

Here's the Associated Press report, but there isn't much detail yet.

Simon, who is being sought by police, reportedly has denied involvement in the incident to an Orioles official in the Dominican Republic.

Don't really know what to say at this point. For Alfredo's sake, I hope this is a case of mistaken identity, but this is a tragic story no matter who is the culprit. I'm guessing the Orioles will withhold anything but a perfunctory "no comment" until they get more information.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Just football, News of the day
        

While you're hunkered down in your living room or braving the 50-degree temperature at M&T Bank Stadium, I'm going to head down to Fedex Field for the 4:15 game between the Redskins and New York Giants.

I'm neither a Redskins nor a Giants fan, but Orioles reporter Jeff Zrebiec is from New Jersey, so I'm going to humor him and join him to see if the Giants can get past the 'Skins and keep hope alive for an NFC wild card berth. It'll be a serious scoreboard watch situation for Tom Coughlin, whose job may depend on whether the Bears can go into Lambeau Field and beat the Packers. The way the inconsistent Giants have played in the second half of the season, I'm not sure that will even matter.

Ravens fans will be doing essentially the same thing at 1 p.m. today. I'm pretty confident they'll dispense with the Bengals, but that won't matter unless the Cleveland Browns pull a huge upset against the Steelers in Cleveland. The Ravens will keep the fifth playoff seed regardless of today's game if the Steelers win, since they beat the Jets head to head.

The Browns will be sufficiently motivated, and they have victories this year over the Saints and Patriots, so a win today is not out of the question.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Just football
        

If you read me regularly or listen to me talking sports on WBAL, you know that I've been highly critical of the NCAA and the bowl selection system -- particularly in regard to the way Maryland was dropped to the bottom of the bowl pecking order in the ACC.

My feelings haven't changed, but I'll have to admit that the soft matchup for Maryland created a nice opportunity for Ralph Friedgen to go out on a very high note. The Terps started off a little slow, but they took the ECU defense apart in the second half on the way to a very lopsided victory.

So, Friedgen gets to go out holding a trophy after a nine-win turnaround season. Guess that's about as good as it gets under the circumstances.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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Da'Rel Scott just broke off a 91-yard touchdown run -- on the heels of a 61-yard TD sprint near the end of the third quarter -- and is closing in on a 200-yard day. He has 193 yards in just 13 carries. What a great way to wrap up his Terps career.

The Terps are now doing what everybody thought they might do to ECU's unheralded defense. There are 11 minutes left to play and Maryland now leads 44-13.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Redshirt freshman D.J. Adams just landed in the end zone for his third touchdown of the game and now has 10 touchdowns this season, which is a pretty impressive total when you consider that he has carried the ball just 65 times this season. He came into the game with just 204 yards on 54 attempts.

The touchdown was set up by Davin Meggett's 31-yard catch and run on a swing pass from Danny O'Brien.

Late in the third: Maryland 30, ECU 10.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Just football
        

The Terps kicked off to open the second half, but just four plays later, they were on the ECU 2 yard line, thanks to an interception and 35-yard return by David Mackal. D.J. Adams took it the final two yards for his second touchdown of the game.

This is starting to feel like a blowout.

It's Maryland 23, East Carolina 3 with about 12 minutes left in the third quarter.

Instant update: Or maybe not. The Pirates just took advantage of a long punt return and a great thrown and catch from Dominique Davis to Lance Lewis for ECU's first touchdown. It's now, 23-10 with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Just football
        

The Military Bowl hasn't been a total offensive showcase for the Terps, but they are very much in control of the game heading toward intermission. D.J. Adams just scored on a one-yard blast to give the Terps a 16-3 lead with 2.57 to go in the first half. The score was set up by a 44-yard run by Davin Meggett.

The Terps have left a few points on the field, but they've achieved almost perfect offensive balance. O'Brien has thrown for 103 yards and Meggett, Adams and Da'Rel Scott have rushed for a total of 99.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien came out flinging in the first quarter, but his attempt to overfly the Pirates defense on the first offensive play of the game didn't stay up in the air quite long enough and was intercepted.

The second time was the charm. He delivered a perfect ball to receiver Kevin Dorsey on a third-down play for a 45-yard touchdown. O'Brien also drove the Terps deep into ECU territory on their next possession, but came up empty when kicker Travis Baltz missed on a 25-yard field goal attempt.

It was the second hiccup by the kicking team. The Pirates blocked the extra point attempt after the touchdown.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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This is set up to be a major showcase for freshman quarterback Danny O'Brien, who is coming off that great game against a North Carolina State defense that just suffocated No. 22 West Virginia on Tuesday in the Champs Sports Bowl.

This ECU team isn't in the same universe as NC State. The Pirates are ranked last in Division 1A in total defense, so it'll be a major surprise if they throw a serious roadblock in front of O'Brien and the Terps offense. ECU will score some points, however, so O'Brien will need to be on his game.

The oddsmakers and betting public certainly think it will be a high-scoring affair. The over/under number is 69, which is the second-highest of the remaining bowl games, behind only the BCS title game between Oregon and Auburn (74). In other words, this might not be a great matchup, but it's probably going to be fun to watch.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Just arrived at RFK Stadium to prepare for today's Military Bowl between the Maryland Terrapins and East Carolina Pirates, and you couldn't ask for a much better day for a college football game.

You could ask for a better stadium and you could ask for a better matchup, I suppose, but that can't be helped. The Terps deserved to be higher in the bowl pecking order -- by virtue of their record, not their fan support -- but they probably couldn't have picked a better matchup to allow Ralph Friedgen to go out on a high note.

No, I'm not assuming a Terps victory. The bowl season has already produced a few unexpected results. But the Pirates don't play a lot of defense and the Terps probably will be able to move the ball pretty well against them.

I'm guessing the players will be fired up to give Fridge a big send-off, and I think he deserves that. He oversaw a major uptick in the program when he arrived here a decade ago and he also brought the Terps back from last year's 2-10 trainwreck to make a legitimate run at first place in the ACC Atlantic Division.

I've already weighed in on the decision to replace him. I think the whole thing went down awkwardly, but I can't argue with the need to move the program in a new direction. Ralph deserved better but, as a practical matter, it would have been hard for AD Kevin Anderson to justify giving him a long-term extension.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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I don't know about you, but I woke up this morning thinking about what a great guy Peyton Hillis is, and how Colt McCoy is such a nice young fellow, and how Josh Cribbs is just a fine human being.

The Browns made a few mistakes yesterday -- well, more than a few -- but they deserve a lot of credit for getting so fired up for a game that really didn't mean anything to them. That showed character.

That's why I'm not giving up on their game next week against the Steelers. Eric Mangini has stuck it to the Patriots this year and the Browns have also beaten the Saints. I think the Browns would love to knock the Steelers into next week, and I don't think it's entirely out of the question.

Of course, if you're a Ravens fan, you're wishing your biggest wish, because the alternative is a first-round playoff game for the Ravens in Indianapolis. In that case, they would have been better off finishing behind the Jets in the playoff seedings and heading off to Kansas City for the wild card round.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Just football
        

First of all, let me wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. I got a lump of coal this morning, but with energy prices what they are, I will be able to trade it for something really nice.

I'm going to spend the day remembering the reason for the season, which apparently is to watch five consecutive NBA games. If that doesn't float your boat, you can take a look at my colunn in today's print edition, in which I implore Santa to fix college football -- since the NCAA apparently can't. Of course, you can also read it right here.

I'm pretty sure we're not going to get any Orioles news today, so Wayne, I think you should take the day off and try to get into the spirit of the season. No matter how much the Orioles have disappointed you, I think you owe it to yourself (and maybe your employer) to pursue some other interests before your head explodes.

Nobody is being played. Everybody here knows what they're getting with the Orioles organization, but a lot of fans still find a way to be hopeful because that's they way they're made. They choose not be be miserable, so if they can't hack the inability of the O's to sign the best free agents, they refocus on some other aspect of their lives.. I believe you could learn something from them.

I don't say that to be nasty and I certainly am not saying that your criticisms and gripes are not legitimate, they're just redundant and give the impression that you're somehow superior to everybody else because of your insight and outrage. I hope you -- and everybody else -- has a very happy day today.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (57)
Categories: Just football
        

Hate to blow my own horn, but I was one of the few people saying the Ravens defense would come up big today. I realize the Saints scored 24 points, but when it counted, the Ravens stuffed the Saints deep in their own territory a couple of times. It was a big win at a time when the Ravens needed one, and it was the 60-minute performance everyone -- at least around here -- wanted to see.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Just football
        

The Ravens are giving the defending Super Bowl champions a lesson in offensive football, mixing the run and the pass very efficiently on the way to a 21-7 lead in the second quarter. Ray Rice has been all over the place, scoring on a 10-yard run and catching a 17-yard TD pass from Joe Flacco.

The last touchdown was set up by a nice punt return by Lardarius Webb to start the possession in Saints territory.

Of course, it's still the first half and the Saints are one of the most explosive teams in the NFL. There's also the small matter of the way the Ravens played with a big lead against the Houston Texans in the second half, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens, but the offense has been executing very well and the defense has held Drew Brees in check so far.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Just football
        

The Ravens didn't exactly get off to an auspicious start, going three and out on their first possession before falling behind on a touchdown pass from Drew Brees to tight end Jimmy Graham, but their second possession was much more impressive.

They ran right at the Saints and moved the ball down the field to set up a nice third-down throw to rookie Ed Dickson on a tight-end delay for Dickson's first NFL TD.

Ravens 7, Saints 7. The Ravens defense has stopped the Saints quickly on two of three New Orleans possessions, which is a pretty good sign, but not as good as the ability of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee to move the chains on the ground. That shortens the game and keeps Brees off the field, which should be Job One.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Just football
        

Though a lot of you have already done so, I would encourage everyone to take a look at my column on the unfortunate Ralph Friedgen situation. It's a shame that his career as Maryland football coach came down to this.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not dismissing the notion that a new high-profile coach might take the Terps up a level, but what happened in this situation shows a lack of appreciation for the way Fridge took the Terps to a whole new level of national respectability when he arrived here 10 years ago. Maryland hasn't been an ACC dynasty since then, but the Terps have gotten seven bowl invitations in 10 years.

To be fair, I didn't put the hammer down on Steve Bisciotti for doing essentially the same thing to Brian Billick, giving him a vote of confidence and then deciding to fire him anyway after the 2007 season, but it was a much different situation. Billick was coming off a very disappointing season and Bisciotti still had to pay him for the next three seasons at $5 million per year.

By the way, Brian is scheduled to be the FOX analyst for today's game between the Saints and Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. It will be only the second time he has been back to M&T to do a FOX broadcast.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Just football
        

Do you remember how much abuse I took at the beginning of the NFL season for my prediction in the Sun's preseason football preview section that the San Diego Chargers would win the Super Bowl? And that was before their first-half collapse that almost took them out of playoff contention.

Obviously, I'm some kind of prognostication prodigy, because the Chargers are building momentum for the playoffs and are starting to look like a very formidable contender for the Super Bowl title.

I know, there are some people who are shaking their heads and saying that this is just typical Chargers football. Slow start. Fast finish. Quick postseason exit. Maybe so, but there's something about this Chargers team that makes me think this year might be different.

For one thing, it's still a team with some talent in reserve. There are some quality players -- like tight end Antonio Gates -- who aren't even in the picture right now, and receiver Vincent Jackson has hit stride with a fury. Phillip Rivers hooked up with him three times for touchdowns last night against the San Francisco 49ers and that was before the Chargers shut down the offense early in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers are no great shakes, but the Chargers defense ran off seven straight scoreless quarters before San Francisco scored a meaningless TD last night. Everything seems to be falling in place, though there's still the small matter of overtaking the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.

Details. The Chargers will win their last two road games against the lowly Bengals and Broncos, leaving the Chiefs needing to win their last three games to hold them off for the division title. That's not going to happen, and the Chargers will either get to the playoffs on the division tiebreaker (if the Chiefs lose to Oakland), the common opponent tiebreaker (if the Chiefs lose to the Rams this weekend) or the conference record tiebreaker (if the Chiefs lose to the Titans next week).

The Chargers also have a chance to overtake the Jets for the last wild card spot if they can win out and the Jets lose two of their last three, which is possible with road games remaining against the Steelers and Bears.

Shameless plug alert: If you don't have anything better to do this afternoon, join me at noon for "The Week In Review" on WBAL (1090 AM) and WBAL.com.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Just football
        

Listening to the Ravens blow another game to the Steelers at 5:30 in the morning -- Italian time -- is even more painful than usual, so I should withhold judgment until I've had more time to pause and reflect.

But I won't. The Ravens did more to accomplish less than any team that has a right to consider itself a deep-playoff contender.

They were in position to take a big lead early inside the Steelers 30-yard line after Joe Flacco's second big pass play, and somehow marched backward out of field goal range.

They were looking at second and 5 with three minutes or so left in the game and Flacco ends up naked in front of Troy Polamalu when a two-yard run by Willis McGahee would have shaved down the clock a little further and kept them -- at the very least -- in position to back the Steelers up in their own territory for the final minute or two of the game.

They lose 11 yards on a Donte Stallworth reverse that just wasn't necessary. They committed a series of penalties that made it look in the first half like they were not ready for prime time.

I know. I know. It's easy to second-guess them after a tough loss, but lets face it. This isn't a team that can take control of a game and hold onto it. This is a team that could have beaten New England if it was confident enough in its offensive line to get a half yard on fourth down. This is a team that couldn't hold a 10-point lead against the Buffalo Bills. This is a team that still finds the most discouraging ways to screw up drives and lose big games.

This game was probably the difference between having home games in the postseason or spending the playoffs on the road for the third straight year, and they fumbled it away.

You have to have a killer instinct to win the Super Bowl, and -- it should be obvious by now -- the Ravens don't.

Sad but true.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Just football
        

...you better not do what the Romans do if you're a Ravens fan, because the Romans don't even know the Ravens exist. If you want to monitor the Ravens/Steelers game, not only do you have to stay up until 2:20 a.m. for kickoff, you've also got to buy the NFL.com audio package to listen to Jerry Sandusky and Co. call the game.

I haven't done that yet, because I'm not sure I can stay awake. I've been eating pasta at every meal to maintain my strength, but I'm still fading as the clock gets ready to strike one and I've got to be up for a 7:15 tour of the Vatican City.

I'm right in the middle of my Roman holiday, which included a tour of The Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. It wasn't really called The Coliseum back when the lions played there. It was called the Flavian Amphitheatre, but I guess that was too hard to remember during the dark ages and everybody just started calling it the Coliseum.

Very impressive. I've also spent time in Florence, Siena and Assisi over the past week reliving the Renaissance. Apparently, that Michelangelo fellow had a great deal of time on his hands.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Just football
        

If you thought that the Ravens' performance today was unimpressive, John Harbaugh and Ray Lewis don't want to hear it. The team is 8-3 and headed into a big showdown with the Steelers here next week, which is all that matters niow.

"For us to be 8-3 and to be fighting next week for the division, that's a huge, huge thing,'' Lewis said. "It's a beautiful thing to be playing for the division next week at home."

I suppose if Ravens fans are apprehensive about the pending arrival of Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, they should take some solace in the performance of the Steelers in Buffalo today. They should have lost the game -- which would have smoothed the road to the playoffs for the Ravens considerably -- but the Bills basically choked on a couple of occasions where they could have put the game away.

Oh well. It was always going to come down to next Sunday...and I bet you can't wait.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (100)
Categories: Just football
        

The officials called back that terrific catch and run by Ray Rice because of a supposed block in the back by Anquon Boldin, but the replay showed it didn't happen. He reached out for the defender, who fell to the ground and jumped up gesturing for a flag. Obviously, it was a pretty good acting job, but a disgraceful performance by the official, who called something he could not have seen and negated the most exciting play of the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Just football
        

The thing the Ravens don't need right now are any significant injuries heading into next week's showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers, so what happens?

Michael Oher gets his leg rolled up and leaves the game limping noticeably and Dawan Landry suffered a concussion making a big hit on Bucs running back Carnell Williams. The team announced that Oher suffered a knee sprain and is probable to return to today's game. We'll wait and see.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Just football
        

Joe Flacco just hit Todd Heap with a 65-yard touchdown pass to give the Ravens a 10-7 lead near the end of the first half.

It was a momentous play, since it was the longest play from scrimmage for the Ravens this year...the longest catch of Heap's career...and the 52nd touchdown pass of Flacco's career, which moves him to the top of the Ravens' all-time list in that department. He was tied with Vinny Testaverde at 51.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Just football
        

The Ravens are finally on the move as they move into the second quarter of today's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they sputtered again at the outset. The Buccaneers haven't done a thing offensively -- which is consistent with their performance against the other three winning teams they've faced this year -- but the Ravens need to make it clear right now that this is not going to be a game.

Now that the Steelers have survived a scary day in Buffalo -- thank you Stevie Johnson -- the Ravens much hold serve here to set up next week's showdown.

Instant update: Joe Flacco just got sacked and the Ravens had to settle for a 45-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff. Sorry, that's not good enough.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football
        

I'm totally stunned by Boise State's loss to No. 19 Nevada late last night, and maybe it was my fault. I was watching the game, but went to bed when the Broncos took a 24-7 lead late into the third quarter.

I fully expected to wake up to a 38-7 victory that jumped them over TCU and into position to play in the BCS title game if either Oregon or Auburn stumble. Now, though I can't harp on the big-conference conspiracy to keep them out of the title game, I can start harping on the big-conference conspiracy to keep them out of a BCS bowl game.

Spare me. Boise State won 24 straight games, beat Oregon and TCU last year, and finally loses on the road against a Top 20 team because the Bronco's kicker missed what amounted to an extra-point-distance field goal, and they drop from possibly playing in the BCS title game to settling for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Meanwhile, Alabama has lost three games and just blew a 24-point lead yesterday against Auburn, but the Tide will definitely play in a better bowl than Boise St.

It's playoff time.

If you get a chance, check out my column in today's print edition of the Sun, or click right here to read it on the Web site.

Shameless radio plug: I'll be whining about Boise State today from noon to 3 on "Sportsline" (WBAL 1090 and WBAL.com). Of course, I'll also be whining about the Orioles coming up short on free agent Victor Martinez and looking ahead to tomorrow's game between the Ravens and surprising Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I'll be taking calls all afternoon, so you're welcome to join in the conversation.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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Ignore the 30-16 final, because it might give you the impression that Florida State clearly outplayed Maryland tonight at Byrd Stadium. The Terps were their own worst enemy at times, but kept their wits about them and were in position to stage a last-minute drive that ended on a fourth-down pick six for the Seminoles.

This was really a one-score game that was decided by turnover ratio and a couple of defensive breakdowns by the Terps that led to big, damaging plays, but Maryland fans need not despair. The Terps have bounced back dramatically from last year's 2-10 collapse and still have a chance to finish with eight wins if they can knock North Carolina State out of the title game with a victory at Byrd Stadium

Head coach Ralph Friedgen clearly was disappointed, but not in his players.

“I’m proud of them,’’ Friedgen said afterward. “The biggest thing that could go wrong (four turnovers) went wrong and we didn’t flinch…They were planning on winning that game right until the end. I’m pretty proud to be their coach.

“I think that tells you what kind of people we have here. They’re disappointed because they didn’t get what they were coming after.”

The Terps rushed the ball very effectively and outgained the Seminoles by 78 yards (432-354). Redshirt freshman QB Danny O'Brien made a few mistakes, but it's obvious that he's going to be a major offensive cornerstone for the Terps for the next three years.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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The Maryland Terrapins have made a series of fundamental mistakes and execution errors in the first half tonight, but somehow have managed to keep the game pretty much under control midway through the second quarter.

They gave up a 70-yard touchdown on a defensive breakdown and ceded another three points on a fumbled pitch in the first quarter, but young quarterback Danny O'Brien has kept his poise and kept the offense moving. The Terps defense has rebounded to make some big plays and hold the Seminoles in check.

In short, this thing could go either way.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Just football
        

The Maryland Terrapins are about 90 minutes from kickoff at Capital One Field, where they can move one step closer to the ACC title game with a victory over the Florida State Seminoles. It's no longshot, but the Seminoles will enter the game as about a 4-point favorite.

The oddsmakers have set the over/under at 52 1/2, which means they are basically predicting this will be a 28-24 Florida State victory.

The Terps have been moving the ball well and playing some opportunistic defense. If they can hold onto the ball, they'll have a pretty good chance of advancing into a decisive game against North Carolina State next week for the Atlantic division berth in the ACC Championsip Game.

I haven't done a lot of college football since I started doing the blog, but I'm pretty excited to be at Byrd Stadium tonight.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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If you haven't already, check out my latest "News item" column in today's print edition or on the Web site right here. The beauty of the News item/My take format is that I have you a whole bunch of reasons to disagree with me on a variety of subjects, so go to town.

If you want a preview of tomorrow's column, I'll be headed to Byrd Stadium for the blackout. The Terps can move one step closer to the ACC title game with a victory over Florida State tonight. That's going to be tough, but who would have thought three months ago that it would even be an issue.

While I'm shamelessly plugging myself, I'd also like you to join me for "Sportsline" on WBAL (1090 AM) and WBAL.com today at noon. I'll be talking Orioles, Ravens and Terps and taking a ton of phone calls.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Just baseball, Just football
        

I'm baaacccck...and you should be very afraid. It's time to get cracking on the baseball offseason -- the Florida Marlins certainly have -- but first I need you to read my first column since I returned from California and Las Vegas.

I take a look at how crazy the NFL has been the past few weeks and try to make some sense of the Super Bowl pecking order. Take a look at it right here and tell me what you think.
I've been resting the past few weeks, but I'm refreshed and almost ready to do battle on the comment board again, so gird your loins.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Just football
        

Normally, I'm not an instant replay basher, but Sunday night's game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers highlighted a problem with the NFL replay system that really must be corrected to maintain the credibility of the sport.

Everybody knows that there is some homecooking built into the replay protocol, but it shouldn't be allowed to change the outcome of the game the way it did on Sunday night. The Packers got a phony touchdown when Andrew Quarless landed out of the end zone and bobbled a touchdown pass out of the sight of the officials.

NBC went to a commercial quickly after the touchdown and didn't show a definitive replay until after the commercial break. The Packers lined up and kicked the extra point before the Vikings could challenge the play. If the roles had been reversed, the replay would have gone up on the scoreboard to alert the home team.

OK, so the system gave the Packers at least the difference between a touchdown and a field goal (four points) in a four-point game, but that's just part of the problem. The Vikings also had two disputed plays in the end zone, but the Packers had sufficient time to challenge and two touchdowns were overturned. One of them was clearly the right call. No problem with that. The other was a great catch by Visanthe Shiancoe that was overturned because the officials claimed that the ground helped him catch the ball.

Personally, I don't think there was compelling evidence to overturn the play. The guy had possession all the way and simply landed on the ball. The announcers opined that it might have moved in his hands slightly. I couldn't see that, so I have trouble thinking it was obvious enough on replay to take away a great play. That was another four points, since the Vikings kicked a field goal instead.

If you want to go outside the confines of last night's game, you don't have to go far. The Miami Dolphins feel they got a win stolen from them yesterday because of a poorly administered replay on that goal line fumble by Ben Roethlisberger.

There is no perfect system, of course, but it should not be this imperfect and -- in this case -- so favor the home team that it decides a very high-profile game. The point of the replay system is to get plays right, not to create a whole new dimension of home-field gamesmanship.

I don't have that much sympathy for Brett Favre, whose selfish I'm-going-to-make-a-big-play-no-matter-what-the-risk style of quarterbacking both kept the Vikings in the game and ultimately took them out of it. I know it's being reported that he was playing on a damaged ankle, but that doesn't change the fact that his gunslinger mentality is a two-edged sword that ultimately cut the wrong way on Monday night.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Just football
        

The good news is that Ed Reed is on a rampage. He has forced a fumble and intercepted two passes in his first game back from hip surgery, returning the second interception to the Bills' 9-yard line before the Ravens fumbled the ball right back.

The bad news is that he looked gimpy after breaking up a pass play right before the interception and he was slow to get up after being up-ended at the end of his exciting return. He came off the field with minor assistance, but has returned to the defensive backfield.

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Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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The Bills just went 91 yards in 11 plays to take a 17-3 lead on another touchdown pass by Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the boo birds have surfaced. The Ravens are in the midst of a textbook letdown and they need to recover right now or this could be a very deflating afternoon.

I'm trying to figure out how the Ravens have 49 yards on five rushing attempts and they have only five rushing attempts halfway into the second quarter.

Guess they want to prove to everyone that they aren't too conservative.

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Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The Ravens obviously have decided to keep us in suspense for awhile. The defense allowed the Bills to drive down the field for a touchdown on their second possession and Josh Wilson just fumbled away the kickoff deep in Baltimore territory.

Fasten your seatbelts.

It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Ed Reed didn't exactly tiptoe back into the defensive lineup after coming off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. He started the game and he was the guy who blasted receiver Roscoe Parrish and knocked the ball loose for a huge loss.

Scoring update: The Ravens moved the ball pretty well on their second possession and have taken a 3-0 lead on a 41-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Not this time. Joe Flacco threw on each of the Ravens' first three offensive plays today, completing one of them for a short gain before handing the ball over to the Bills. Don't know if Cam Cameron and Flacco were trying to make some kind of point, but the Bills secondary was not listening.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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It makes me all warm and fuzzy to watch Navy delivering a brutal beating to Notre Dame at the new Meadowlands Stadium. The Mids just scored again to take a 35-10 lead over the fightless Irish.

This has nothing to do with my former status as a USC fan, though I'm sure there are some residual anti-Irish feelings swimming around in my subconscious. I'm just happy to see Navy nailing down their third victory over ND in the last four years after going four decades without a single in in the historic series.

Ricky Dobbs looks very much like the Heisman Trophy candidate he was supposed to be before he got banged up and the Mids got off to a slow start this season. He's got three rushing touchdowns and Alexander Teich has just shredded the middle of the Notre Dame defense.

Today's plug: The noon game pre-empted my WBAL radio show, so you'll have to settle for my Saturday "New Item" column, which you can read right here. I'll also have an Orioles column up a little later today and in tomorrow's print edition.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football
        

Just so you don't think that I've been loafing the past few weeks, take a look at my lengthy interview with Brian Billick. It just went up on the Web site this morning -- so you can read it right here -- and it will be part of our 10th Anniversary Super Bowl Commemorative section in Friday's print edition.

I hope you enjoy it. Billick delivers some interesting insights that you may not have heard before and lets us see the 2000-2001 postseason through his eyes.

Here's a quick excerpt in which Billick talks about one of his most memorable moments of that championship season:

There are so many of them. There's one that comes to mind. I knew how good this defense was. We're playing the Cleveland Browns, and they're terrible. And we were all about shutouts. This team wanted to break the all-time shutout record. I forget what it was. We had like six or something [actually four], and we were going for it. We're playing Cleveland, and the guys all week thought, "This is one we're going to get," and then Cleveland comes out on the opening drive and goes 86 yards to score. We're down 7-0. At home. So I'm walking down toward the defense, they're going to come off and I'm going to do my coaching thing, and Ray -- I remember like yesterday -- Ray and Rod Woodson are coming off the field and look at me and go, "Don't say a thing." Basically saying: "We got this. Don't say a word." So I make an immediate left turn to the Gatorade, figuring: "OK, you got it. I'm out." You'd have to check the exact number. We gave up 86 yards in that first drive, and we gave up like 112 yards on the day. The rest of the day, they were pissed off. The ability to crank up to that level, that they could hold themselves accountable and knew that they were that good -- that's when I realized, wow, this is a special, special group.

Of course, I only had a small part in the special Super Bowl retrospective, so you'll want to read all the stories and take a happy trip down memory lane. You can even read Ken Murray's original game story from Tampa if you click here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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My latest column -- on the NFL's expressed intention to crack down on intentional helmet-to-helmet hits -- is up on the Web site right here and also is part of a package on the league's evolving policy regarding player safety.

If you haven't already, you also will want to click on this story by my Sun colleague, Ken Murray, who reacted to Tuesday's news and delivers a very well-researched and well-reported analysis of the league's attempt to get a handle on dangerous hits and their effect on the victimized players.

While I'm plugging everything in sight, you can get another side of the story at Ravens Insider from Kevin Van Valkenburg, who thinks it is going to be very hard to enforce an effective ban on violent helmet hits.

When you get done, let me know what you think?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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This won't go down as the most devastating loss in Ravens history. It's just a disappointment after the way they played through the first three quarters. It probably came down to one bad defensive call in regulation, when the Ravens did not attempt to pressure Tom Brady on that third down play that went for a touchdown to Deion Branch.

If the Ravens had forced the issue and prevented that strike, the Patriots would have had to kick a field goal and then would have had to go down the field and score a touchdown to send the game into overtime.

The Ravens had a 10-point lead with one of the best defenses in the NFL, but credit Tom Brady for waking up down the stretch and making several big throws when it counted.

The thing that was most frustrating to watch, however, was the lack of offensive movement in overtime. The Ravens were on the road and there were times when they looked like they were playing for the tie.

By the way, the oddsmakers apparently are pretty smart, since they posted the Patriots as a three-point favorite.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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What is it about regular season games against the Patriots. It seems that every one of them comes down to some stupid mind cramp on the part of the Ravens. This time, it was LeRon McClain getting baited into a personal foul after the second down of the Ravens last possession.

Okay, I can't say it was decisive. The Ravens had done little with any of their possessions after the third quarter and they still would have had a third and long, but it affected the field position and, well, it was dumb. Simple as that.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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It's easy to say now that the Patriots are driving the field, but the decision to punt at midfield on fourth and a half yard was too conservative for my taste. The Patriots already had shown they could move the ball and the punt surrendered what little momentum the Ravens still had in the game.

The decision only emboldened the Pats, had just scored on a clutch third-down pass from Tom Brady to Deion Branch.

So, here we are at the two-minute warning with the Patriots knocking at the door. Let's see what happens.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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So far, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and quarterback Joe Flacco have done an outstanding job of mixing up the offensive gameplan and using every weapon at their disposal. Even Todd Heap, who took that cheap helmet shot earlier in the game and appeared to be done for the day, came back and made a big catch over the middle. If anybody ever says the word "soft" about him around me, I'm going to head butt you with my giant melon so you'll know what it feels like.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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So far, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and quarterback Joe Flacco have done an outstanding job of mixing up the offensive gameplan and using every weapon at their disposal. Even Todd Heap, who took that cheap helmet shot earlier in the game and appeared to be done for the day, came back and made a big catch over the middle. If anybody ever says the word "soft" about him around me, I'm going to head butt you with my giant melon so you'll know what it feels like.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Though you could take issue with the Jalen Parmele's decision to run the kickoff out of the end zone -- and the procedure penalty that forced the Ravens to start at their 7-yard line -- the Ravens' first drive was impressive, even if they did end up settling for a field goal. They held the ball for more than eight minutes and drove a total of 86 yards before Billy Cundiff converted an easy kick to give them the lead.

Nice start.

Can't ask for too much more than that.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Sorry, but I just got back from a couple of days off and spent the day putting together a Ravens column for tomorrow's print edition. Of course, you can take a look at it right now if you click here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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The Denver Broncos aren't one of the top five teams in the NFL, so I'm not going to pass off today's game as some kind of final referendum on the quality of the Ravens, but it was an important victory for a variety of reasons.

First and foremost, it was a win that preserved the momentum and credibility that they carried out of Pittsburgh last week. But I thought going in -- and I said it in my most recent column -- that it was also important to dominate a decent team to reinforce the nationwide opinion that the Ravens are one of the top three games in the league.

Don't think you can argue that right now. They beat the Jets (who are getting similar props) and the Steelers on the road and they would have beaten the Bengals in Cincinnati if they could have held onto a couple of interceptions. Mind you, there are no invincible teams in the NFL. There really is tremendous parity. But the Ravens have made a big statement over the past two weeks and now we'll see if it will extend to New England next Sunday.

The only blemishes on this victory were the opening red zone snafu and the two deep passes to Brandon Lloyd that kept it from being a total blowout. Still, the only place it wasn't a blowout was on the scoreboard. The Broncos were overmatched.

The Patriots will be a tall order. They are the fourth likely playoff team (though the Bengals are no longer one) the Ravens will face on the road in six weeks. That's why this has been the toughest stretch of the season. Now, they can end up no worse than 4-2, which would be okay if they weren't already 4-1.

I know one thing. They won't be going into Foxboro scared. They dominated the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in last year's playoff game, and you could make the case that they are a much better team now than they were then.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Apparently, screwing up the first drive just got the Ravens offense and defense even more fired up. Joe Flacco led the Ravens on long touchdown drives on their next two possessions to take a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter and Kyle Orton has not been able to get the Broncos offense in gear.

It kind of reminded me of that scene in "Blazing Saddles" when Gene Wilder warns everyone about Mongo.

"If you shoot him, you'll only make him mad."

Better news: Ray Rice looks like his old self. He has run the ball very effectively and elusively, though I'm hoping he saves his best for the first offensive play against the Patriots next week in Foxborough.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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The Ravens looked like they were going to waltz right through the Denver Broncos defense on their first possession of the game after Joe Flacco's 58-yard completion to Ed Dickson and a couple of succeeding quarterback keepers. Then it got ugly.

The Ravens appeared to score on a six-yard QB draw -- one official signaled touchdown -- but ended up with the ball spoted at the one. Then Willis McGahee stutter-stepped to a pair of no gains and the Ravens tried to pull a rabbit out of their playbook on fourth down.

Now don't misunderstand. If the Ravens had run another running play or a quick pass and come up empty, I've got no problem with that. That would still have left the Broncos sitting at their own goal line. But the Ravens inserted Haloti Ngata in as an eligible receiver and tried to run a pass play to him in the left flat. Somehow, the play deteriorated into a 14-yard sack and Ngata limped off the field.

It was a ridiculous outcome. The Broncos were bailed out of both a red zone situation and field position hell because the Ravens got a little full of themselves. Time will tell whether they will live to regret it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Former Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce explained this week that it was the charisma of Jets coach Rex Ryan that convinced him to sign with the Jets instead of waiting to rejoin the Ravens this week.

“It’s a thing where you’ve got to say, ‘OK, who has it and who doesn’t?’, Pryce said on ESPN Radio New York "Rex has it. He has something about him. There’s a difference in him as a head coach, you don’t see him as much, whereas as a coordinator, you’re around him for eight hours a day. As a head coach I see him 10 minutes in the hallway. … But some people just have that effect on other people. It’s said that those people often become President.”

Wow, Rex for president? I'd vote for him just to count the bleeps during his inaugural address.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Just football