Week 13 in the NFL
I’ve been having a strange feeling about the Ravens lately, a sense that, in every game, they’ve got a better shot at winning than they do at losing. They’ve got the intangibles working for them right now, most important among them momentum.
Which makes today’s game against the Bengals tougher than it might seem at first glance.
For the Ravens, this is actually something of a must-win. Not just in order to keep pace with — and, depending on what happens in New England, potentially tie — the Steelers, but also to cement the notion that the Ravens are a team worthy of mention among the contenders. If they were to lose today, there’d be a tidal wave of “see, I told you they weren’t as good as their record.” And, there’d be something to it.
Gotta beat who you’re supposed to beat.
Division-wise, there’s the aforementioned Steelers-Patriots matchup at 4:15. The Browns host the Colts at 1.
Lots of big games today. Can’t wait.
Bonus Hot Stove Content: I don’t understand the Felix Pie rumors at all. I guess you have to kick the tires on a young prospect like that, but I don’t see the point.
You know what? Between the depantsing of an Eagles team that should have been a challenge and the way we went in and just fucking got the job done today against maybe the worst team in the conference, I’m feeling real good about the roll the Ravens are on going into another tough couple of weeks.
Also, I was driving done through Reading and Allentown during the game, so I listened to the Eagles coverage and heard this gem:
“Well, it’s time for our Dominoes Delivery of the Game…and that would be the buses taking us back home.” And they never gave any one play of the game (not even the kickoff return TD)…I just about busted a nut I was laughing so hard.
I love Cam Cameron.
Let’s go Pats!
What’s more awesome
1. Troy Smith pass to Joe Flacco
2. Mark Clayton pass to Derek Mason
Cam Cameron for MVP. Do they make Cam Cam jerseys?
And another week that we have a solid first half, but then go in at halftime, make adjustments, and just dominate the second half. I love our coaching staff.
And @ greg, I wish those two plays could tie, but I don’t think there can be any ties in the NFL. At least that’s what McNabb told me (I figured the media used similar jokes only about 500 times over the last 2 weeks, I should jump in).
as excited as i am about the ravens i still maintain what i said last week – they may need to win the division. and the steelers look impressive right now at the start of the 4th quarter.
with indy and new england’s cupcake schedule the ravens may have to win out to get a wildcard – a ridiculous proposition.
basically they could win eleven games and miss the playoffs while a 9-7 division winner gets in.
and they say the bcs is unfair.
Well, one thing’s for sure – the Steelers beating the Pats might’ve eased the wild card picture for the Ravens. Granted, the Steelers losing would basically make that December 14 game the division crowning game, but if the Ravens lose that game, the Pats winning today might have put them out of the playoffs entirely. Instead, the Ravens and the Colts get an extra game up on the Pats and things look okay.
Pats (-1): at Seahawks, at Raiders, Cardinals, at Bills
Ravens: Skins, Steelers, at Cowboys, Jaguars
Steelers (+1): Cowboys, at Ravens, at Titans, Browns
Jets: at 49ers, Bills, at Seahawks, Dolphins
Colts: Bengals, Lions, at Jaguars, Titans
Too close to call. Actually now I want to change my mind and say if the Steelers had lost we would be in better shape to win the division than we are to win a wildcard spot. But then again…on the other hand…hmmm…
It’s gonna be an exciting month of football, that’s for damn sure.
the good news is the redskins are kind of reeling right now as they head here and the cowboys go to pittsburgh looking dangerous again.
so for two weeks in a row i get to root for two teams i hate (pats/cowboys) against a team i hate. feels kind of gross.
i think the steelers could have problems with the cowboys – romo can get rid of the ball quickly to those receivers and their running back can take on those linebackers better than most.
conversely, i think the steelers could destroy the over-rated titans.
the ravens/steelers game might be the most brutal game they’ve ever had – which says a lot. i know i’m biased but how is this not the best rivalry in football.
I’ve been trying to figure out the playoff picture in the even that there are a few teams tied for the wildcard. http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/standings/playoffrace/tiebreakers-explanation
This is the “simplest” explanation I could find.
Unfortunately, I think the Colts are in. Even if they are tied with us and the Patriots, they beat both of us giving them the “head-to-head sweep.” But if we’re tied with the Patriots, we currently own the tie breaker. They have a 5-5 conference record and we have a 7-3 one. So as long as we win 1 game between the Stealers and the Jaguars, we have that tie breaker. If we lose both, well then we’re probably not going to be tied with them, so I’m not worrying about the common games. By the way, the Jets are 6-4 within the conference with the Bills and Dolphins left, in case the Patriots pass them.
But now onto the Redskins. They have not looked good in a long time (I’m knocking on wood as I write this). They had good wins against NO, Ari, @Dal, @Phi in weeks 2 – 5. Then they lost to St. Louis, barely beat Cleveland (Derek Anderson was terrible that game) 14 – 11, barely beat Detroit 25 – 17, were crushed by Pit 6 – 23, respectably lost to Dallas 14 – 10 (Romo’s first game back), barely beat Seattle 20 – 17, and lost handily to NYG. I think we should win this game pretty easily. Now I’m going to go knock on wood for the rest of the work day.
It’s another benchmark game, sort of like the Eagles game, in my mind. This is a team that isn’t terrible, but hasn’t been good in a few weeks, and is in that mediocre middle ground that the Ravens may or may not also be in. It’s a game the Ravens should and must win, but the Redskins are definitely a step above the normal competition the Ravens have had so far this year (Bengals, Browns, Texans, Dolphins). I can’t imagine a version of the game that we lose, since DC has really only the one weapon (Portis) and we have one of the top run defenses…but yeah, it’s a benchmark game, a must-win and a should-win, and a real good rev-up week for the main event of the season (probably, excluding playoffs): the Steelers in Baltimore.
I’m with Ben, who’s rivalry is better?
Speaking as a Skins fan, the Ravens will win the game. The Skins D is good, but not great. Their offense is currently dysfunctional, as is their special teams. The Ravens will hold them to their usual 7 to 10 points, and will win 24-10, or some similar score.
The Ravens look really good. They win the games they’re supposed to win, and they’re extremely well-coached. Flacco is already so much better than Campbell it’s depressing.
Another Skins fan here, and I have to agree with sci. The only way the Skins win is if Ngata, Ray Ray and Suggs all accidentally shoot themselves in their respective legs at Baha Beach Club this weekend.
Skins can’t win if Portis can’t run and he won’t against the Ravens.
Even Ray Lewis is classier than Baja Beach club. That place is a festering hole. Only thing worse is the Iguana Cantina.
I predict the Skins/Ravens to be somewhat similar to the Eagles game… Campbell will be on his toes all game and make dumb mistakes and Portis (like Westbrook) won’t be able to find any holes. It will come down to Flacco being able to not turn the ball over and make a couple big plays.
A couple more of those Mark Clayton plays and boom: 9-4.
LMAO at Brendan
And an FYI for you guys the Baja beach club has been closed for about 6 months now,so that scenario is pretty unlikely.
Still funny shit though.
The problem with the Skins is they arent really “great” at anything,and both lines of scrimmage are medeocre at best.Flacco will have all day to throw,and Pryce and Ngata will destroy whoever is in front of them.Oh and then there is that Suggs guy off the edge against a couple slow old tackles.
I like that 24-10 score,but I am having a hard time figuring out how they are gong to get the 10.