The Loss Column — Baltimore Sports Blog and Community

The WNST text message announced it, and this Jay Glaser report confirms it: Brian Billick is out as coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

Wow.

Ya know, most teams started their second string this week. The Ravens were the only team that HAD to. Yes, We ended our losing streak AND we beat the Steelers — however, we beat a Steelers team that had Charlie Batch at the helm.

So what did we really learn? Really? We learned a lot about next year. Here’s a semi-news flash … we could have an entirely new team next year. I understand Mr. Billick said that we’ll have a lot of guys back next year. What he failed to mention is which guys.

Last night’s lineup could very well be the starting lineup opening day in ’08, and to be honest, I’m all for it. I’m sick of the ups and downs. I don’t want to ride a roller coaster anymore. If that means that next year is a losing season, so be it.

I’m a Ravens fan, not a Ravens 2000 fan, or a Ravens 2001 fan, or a 2007 Ravens fan. Just a Ravens fan. I am ready to rebuild damn it. I want Troy Smith as my foundation and Willis McGahee as my rock. I want Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to inspire the next generation of defenders, and in a couple of years I want the Lombardi trophy placed squarely on Lombard St.

I want every die-hard that has gone to a game, listened on the radio at work and watched the game on TV to experience a winning team from start to finish. I am ready to suffer the agony of growth. Just ask the Orioles (I still hit up every game of theirs I can).

I saw a lot of positive things last night and it wasn’t just those two Steelers’ fans who got egged, I saw a city willing to get into it for the long haul. And that, my friends, was the best thing I’ve seen all year.

((Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images, swiped from nfl.com)

With tonight’s Titans victory over the Colts, the first round NFL Playoff matches have finally been determined.

Here’s how it shakes down:

Redskins at Seahawks (Saturday at 4:30)
Jaguars at Steelers (Saturday at 8:00)
Giants at Buccanneers (Sunday at 1:30)
Titans at Chargers (Sunday at 4:30)

First round byes go to the Patriots, Colts, Packers, and Cowboys.

My predicted winners: Redskins, Steelers, Giants, Chargers. I should note, though, that I’m not so sure about the Steelers and Giants. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if those games go the other way. But you have to pick somebody.

I also took this chance to revisit my preseason picks, which you can find here. I did OK as as far as predictions go. I correctly picked 6 out of 12 playoff teams but whiffed terribly with the Cowboys and Jaguars.

I said it would be Patriots-Saints in the Super Bowl, so that’s shot to hell. But then again I did predict the Pats to win it all, so perhaps I was on to something.

Break it down, folks. Who’s winning these first round matchups, and who’s taking it all?

I just spent a good while looking for the archived Loss Column moment where I predicted that the Patriots would go 16-0 this season. I swear I said it at some point, but there’s no evidence. Maybe I left it in one of those late-night drunken posts that I wisely opted not to publish (as opposed to the many late-night drunken posts that I did, in fact, publish).

Regardless, the deal is sealed. Bill Belichick and his New England Patriots have capped off an undefeated season with a comeback win last night against the Giants.

I can think of 28 other teams I’d rather have seen pull this off. Only the Eagles, Cowboys, and Bengals would offend, and then not so much as the Patriots.

What needs to happen now is for the NFL to finally wise up and go to an 18-game regular season.

Today’s slate offers up a couple of fine matches. The Redskins have a win-and-in at home against the hated Cowboys, while the Titans face the same scenario at Indy for the night game. The Browns could still sneak in with a Tennessee loss — nothing they do in their game against San Francisco matters.

The Ravens welcome the Steelers to PSINet in a game that seems to excite exactly no-one, which is crazy to think about. I’ll be watching regardless.

The Bengals play at Miami, and I think they’re going to lose. Marvin Lewis‘ seat should be almost as hot as Billick’s next year.

Hope everybody’s enjoying their holidays. It’s a slow time in sports as in life, but remember: spring training is literally right around the corner.

Breaking: Ravens “offensive coordinator” Rick Neuheisel has been named the new head football coach at UCLA. I can’t find a news link yet, but the report comes from ESPN Radio so I trust it’s reliable.

As for how this affects the Ravens, my take is simple: it doesn’t. It was nice of Brian Billick to give Neuheisel a chance to get back into coaching, but I don’t think he ever had a chance to put his stamp on anything the team did. He’s headed back to where he should have been all along, and I’m happy for him. He deserves better than working with this Ravens offense.

When the current NFL season began, this weekend’s Ravens-Steelers showdown figured to be a monster. It’s a heated rivalry game, it’s the last game of the season, and the Ravens were supposed to at least contend for the division. We had every reason to expect high drama at PSINet stadium.

Now, however, with the home team mired in a 4-11 funk and with the Steelers already having wrapped up the division title, I can barely even tell there is a game Sunday. If a daily scan of the talk radio dials is any indication, Baltimore fans have once again done what I’ve so often criticized them for doing with regards to the Orioles: given up.

I’m hearing plenty of talk about how to improve for next year. I’m hearing next to nothing about beating the Steelers, at home, in a last-ditch attempt to salvage what little pride is left in this mess.

You can probably guess how I see this: more proof that a significant chunk of the Baltimore White Marsh/Perry Hall/Rosedale/Parkville/Carney/Dundalk fans are, in fact, bad fans. They root for winning and good times, not for the colors. They feel entitled to victories.

What am I missing with that? I’d love for somebody to explain to me how it’s OK to abandon your team at the end of a tough year as they stare down their biggest rival.

I’m willing to be convinced here.

Maryland’s losses to both Ohio University and American University — at home — have done great damage to my college basketball excitement. When the Terps are bad it just kills the mood.

Until March Madness, that is, when “which teams made it?” matters a lot less than “which teams should I pick?”

A few thoughts between here and there:

– As bad as Maryland looks, they can erase all of it by steamrolling to a winning record in the ACC. There’s nothing right now to suggest they could actually do that, but at least we can keep hope alive.

– UMBC, by contrast, looks fantastic early. They actually managed to beat the same American team that handled Maryland, and right now they’re easily the best men’s team in the state. Next up, though, is Ohio State. I’m looking simply for a good showing there, a loss by no more than 20.

– Here’s a bold prediction: this is the year when we’ll finally see a 16 seed upset a 1 seed.

With the way top talent is spread around college ball these days it’s bound to happen someday. I’ve got a hunch this is the year.

Anybody else watching college ball? Who’s your team? Who’s the mid-major dark horse I need to know about when bracket time comes?

It’s Christmas Eve and not a damn thing’s happening, sports-wise, for the next day or so. I don’t count tonight’s Broncos-Chargers matchup, and I definitely don’t count the annual Christmas Day NBA slate.

So let me take a moment to thank everyone who helps make The Loss Column a fun place to be. Dan the Man, Andrew, Joe the Guy, Kona Boy, Big Ben, Chris and everyone else who chimes in — you’ve all got my gratitude.

Special thanks and best wishes to Drew, who if I’m not mistaken is celebrating his first Christmas with his baby Ethan. Have a good one.

Here’s to Santa bringing you all some primo shit. Take care.