I felt less than confident about the Ravens’ chances of going into Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football and coming out with a win prior to last night’s game. Well, my feelings were confirmed. The disappointing part is that the Ravens had a real chance to win last night’s game, but squandered it with sloppy play, mental mistakes, and a lack of intensity. The Ravens lost by 13 points, but this game felt more like those single-digit-gut-wrenchers Ravens fans have come to know all too well this season.
Here are my primary takeaways from the game:
The offensive line turned in their worst performance of the year. There have been many games when they’ve failed to run block well and there have been games when they’ve failed to protect Joe Flacco, but on Monday Night they failed in both facets. The Ravens recorded just 185 yards of total offense and if it wasn’t for the 175 yards they received as the result of Packer penalties the final could have been more lopsided. Packers’ rookie defensive tackled BJ Raji worked Ben Grubbs, while his fellow rookie teammate Clay Matthews Jr. gave Jared Gaither fits.
Greg Mattison is the king of sending blitzes that don’t pressure the quarterback. A typical Ravens blitz goes a little something like this…Ravens send two or three defenders who are instantly swallowed up by the O-line and/or running backs, the QB sidesteps what little pressure is in his face and connects down field for significant yardage. Our corners are simply not good enough to be left on an island, so we need to disrupt the QB when we blitz. The Ravens managed just one sack and two QB hits last night while the Packers sacked Flacco three times and hit him eight times total. I’ll admit that the pressure from the down linemen was better in the second half, but still not acceptable.
Raven receivers get ZERO separation and it hampers Joe Flacco and the offense as a whole. Far too often you’ll see Flacco check down to Ray Rice or try to force a ball into tight coverage, which is a direct result of the lack of open receivers. Last season the Ravens were able to use play action to get receivers open, but that was when they were a legitimate running threat.
John Harbaugh looked shell shocked on the sidelines for most of the game. Teams reflect the personality of their head coach and last night the Ravens intensity was lacking for most of the game. Harbaugh started jawing at Flacco after he threw a fourth quarter endzone interceptions, but besides that there was little fire from the head coach. On another note, I can’t understand why Harbaugh would elect to short kick it after two consecutive scores. Trailing 17-14 I would have booted it deep and let the defense take over.
Cam Cameron’s play calling was a little suspect last night as well. Cam did a masterful job working with a rookie QB last season…maybe it’s time to dumb down the play book a bit and get back to basics.
NFL referees have way too much impact on the outcome of games. I get that the Ravens and Packers are the first and second most penalized teams in the NFL, but last night was a bit ridiculous. The game featured a combine 23 penalties for 310 yards, which made it the second highest single game penalty total in NFL history. You can attribute that to a lack of discipline on both sidelines, but the sheer volume speaks to a deeper problem. The NFL is soft. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…the NFL rules committee has gone too far to foster offensive production. It’s to the point where sound defensive plays are being flagged and it’s having a significant impact on the outcome of games.
The silver lining is that if the Ravens win out they still have a real chance of making the playoffs, but at 6-6 they no longer control their own destiny. Last year we saw the Patriots miss the playoffs at 11-5 and the year before that Cleveland was left out after going 10-6. The Ravens head back to M&T for a two home games against the Lions and Bears before hitting the road to finish at Pittsburgh and Oakland. It’s definitely possible to win out, but if we really want to be a legit team we need to fix our line play on both sides of the ball.
~ Pat Cary
Filed under: Baltimore, Football, NFL, Ravens | Tagged: Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh, Ray Rice, Green Bay Packers, Monday Night Football, Lambeau Field, BJ Raji, Clay Matthews Jr.
It’s going to be tough to make the playoffs for these Ravens but, there are definitely a few silver linings in what has been a somewhat dissapointing season…
Laderius Webb is the real deal. He can threaten for a starting CB job next year even with everyone healthy and he’s an absolute game changer on kick returns.
Even being stifled last night, Ray Rice has turned into one of the most electrifying players in the league.
The main drawbacks in my opinion have to be the play of the secondary in general (specifically Dawan Landry and Frank Walker). Walker has no business being anything more than a special teamer in the NFL. I’ll be shocked if he makes the team next year. The other big downside has to be Mark Clayton. It may be time to cut ties w/this Wideout. One nice play here and there does not make for a good NFL career.
All in all, while the game last night had to be dissapointing for Ravens fans and the playoffs will be tough to sneak into, at least there’s still hope. Most teams who lose 6 of 8 over the course of the season don’t get that opportunity.
Even if the Ravens miss the playoffs (which is my belief), a lot of great teams with young QB’s have to take a step backwards before making that step forwards into elite status. This is a young team who will be among the leagues elite w/in 2-3 years regardless of how this season turns out.
Tim – I agree 100%. There are a lot of positive things to take away from this team and I think the foundation on offense is in place.
I’m glad that we didn’t trade away our draft, or pay a king’s ransom for a big name wide receiver, because that’s not how you build a team. We certainly need help at that position, but I’m glad we didn’t leverage our future.
Not to mention this year has a plethora of WR’s who will be available in the draft…
-Dez Bryant
-Golden Tate
-Marty Gillyard
-Arrellious Benn
-Brandon LaFell
-Demaryius Thomas
-Jordan Shipley
…this is just to name a few. There are about 10 guys who will probably go in rounds 1 or 2 which is about as deep a WR draft as there has been in a long time.
I think going this route is a much better option than if they had traded for Boldin, Marshall or Edwards in the off-season. While Marshall still looks to be on the up and up, I wouldn’t be surprised if Boldin and Edward’s best days are behind them.
Pat I couldn’t agree more about the impact of subjective penalty calls in this game and every other game nowadays.
It’s gotten to the point where the Tecmo-Bowl ‘chuck-up’ seems a legitimate play call where a QB will toss a 40yd ball and hope for a flag as much as a catch. (Knowing perfectly well that the odds of getting the call are probably around the same as completing the pass, making those combined options the best play call around right now.)
And in the rare instance something isn’t called on a d-back playing tough and fielding the ball, every WR without hesitation whines to the official.
It’s insulting.
I think the Ravens have 12 PI calls in 12 games this year. It’s ridiculous. I blame Roger Goodell and the NFL rules committee.
Why isn’t Goodell concentrating on the hundreds of former NFL players berried up to their eyeballs in medical bills? He certainly knows how to fine people, so why doesn’t he use those revenues to provide these guys with healthcare? Goodell would rather flex his muscle on troublesome loud mouths and make rules to protect the golden boys like Brady and Manning. The NFL rules committee needs to realize that there doesn’t need to be rule changes after every f-ing season…if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Leave well enough alone Goodell…focus on taking care of the men who made this league what it is today. Oh and you better concentrate on restoring labor peace if you want to be remembered as a great commissioner.
Don’t even get me started on this…to call lame PI’s left and right, protect the QB as though he were a 6 year old girl and fine Chad Ochocinco for having fun is absolutely absurd.
Then you see cheap shots like the one Brady Quinn laid on T-Suggs and like Flozell Adams laid on Justin Tuck this past weekend resulting in the same types of fines? It’s absurd. The latter two should have ended in suspensions (especially in that loser Adams case)