FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)Our recent vacation trip to San Diego coincided with the Ravens playing the Chargers, who failed to sell out the game. So we were not surprised to see a number of Raven-maniacs, proudly sporting their team paraphernalia, visiting such lush sites as La Jolla and the classic Coronado Hotel where “Some Like It Hot’’ was filmed despite claims it was taking place in Miami Beach.
It was a chance for the home folks to get a sun tan, enjoy the scenery and also savor the Ravens victory thanks to some highly questionable play-calling by Chargers’ coach Norv Turner in the final minute
But these same fanatics will not be making early reservations for the Super Bowl in Detroit next year for two basic reasons: (1) It will be frigid outside the domed stadium and (2) really No.1, in their heart of hearts they now know the Ravens will be fortunate to even make the playoffs.
Yes, the Ravens had an excellent chance of beating the under-rated Bengals here on Sunday, but in losing on a late 80-yard scoring drive deftly executed by Carson Palmer, all their inherent weaknesses were dramatically exposed.
Maybe the first mistake was making Baltimore an eight-point favorite. Palmer simply added to his mastery over the Ravens, besting them for the seventh time in 10 meetings.
Still, talk show hosts will be slavering all week, talking about how three untimely defensive penalties played a major hand in aiding the Bengals’ victory, just as they had the week before against the Patriots in Foxboro. Bitter fans will suggest that the referees view the Ravens in a much harsher light than their rivals and angrily note the disparity in penalty yardage
. You could argue that the final interference call Sunday against Frank Walker was ticky-tacky and Chris Carr’s earlier holding call was less than fragrant. But Ray Lewis’ head-jarring tackle of Chad Ochocinco was simply the foolish case of the Macho Man getting back at the Bengals’ wideout for his pre-game boast that he would hit the All-Pro linebacker in the mouth. Pride goeth before a fall, as Bible-belching Lewis should know..
Ravens boss John Harbaugh, who was badly out-coached by Marvin Lewis, the team’s defensive coordinator in the 2001 Super Bowl run, was quick to admit that the ill-timed penalties were not responsible for the disheartening loss. Said Harbaugh, ’I just think we need to play better, to play so well these things become irrelevant….We have to make sacks, an interception, whatever it might be.’’
Baltimore Sun critics were quick to place most of the blame on Raven cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth and Fabian Washington after they were repeatedly burned by Ochocinco, Chris Henry and Andre Caldwell who caught the game-winning pass in the end zone.
True, Foxworth is undersized and mediocre at best, and Washington may be only a step quicker, but the absence of a pass rush and shabby tackling allowed Palmer to stand back and wait until a receiver broke free. Given so much time, even Grandma Moses could have completed a few passes.
Outside linebacker Jarret Johnson recorded the lone sack for the Ravens, who now have a total of 11 in 5 games, hardly a statistic to strike fear in an opponent. The 2007 defection of Adalius Thomas to New England, and Rex Ryan’s successful wooing of Bart Scott to New Jersey this year are obvious reasons why the Ravens’ once-vaunted blitz now has the bite of a soggy bagel.
Perhaps even more embarrassing was the way running back Cedric Benson consistently broke tackles in gaining 120 yards on 27 carries, keeping the Ravens consistently off balance. It marked the first time in 40 games that a runner had topped the 100-yard mark against Baltimore, but Benson made it look easy in getting key first downs, causing defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to proclaim, “It definitely stinks.’
Save for brainy All-Pro Ron Reed, who intercepted a pass for a touchdown and stripped the ball from Ochocinco to prevent a Bengal TD, the defense was uninspired.
And, if possible, the offense was even worse. Marvin Lewis seemed to anticipate every play, and somehow managed to keep the Ravens’ bread-and-butter receiver Derrick Mason without a reception. In fact, only a single pass was thrown his way.
So in a game where second-year quarterback Joe Flacco was supposed to be anointed as a future super-hero, the Ravens’ offense was held scoreless for 53 minutes before mighty-mite Ray Rice turned a screen pass into a spectacular 48-yard touchdown run.
Flacco completed 22 of 31 passes, but garnered only 186 yards in playing it safe. He had a chance to put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter, but overthrew Mark Clayton who had clearly beaten his defender.
Rice rushed for 69 yards, but it was tough going against an improved Bengal defense. Why Harbaugh kept Willis McGahee-who leads Baltimore with 5 touchdowns and averages 5.4 yards a carry, glued to the bench-was never fully explained.
With major question marks surrounding both the defense and offense, it is difficult being optimistic about the Ravens’ future. Arguably, they were given one of the toughest schedules in the league. Among their final 11 opponents, only consistent-patsy Cleveland, on the road, Nov. 8, and hopeless Oakland in the season finale, appear to be favorable match-ups.
Otherwise, they face a killer schedule starting next Sunday in Minnesota where they not only have to face ageless wonder Brett Favre, but the NFL’s most gifted runner in Adrian Peterson. After a welcome bye, they face unbeaten Denver and red-hot quarterback Kyle Orton who out-dueled Tom Brady in an overtime upset of New England.
Excluding the Browns, they could or should be underdogs in a visit to Cincinnati, at home against Indianapolis and Pittsburgh and a visit to Green Bay. The much-improved Lions are no sure thing, before the Ravens host the Bears and fearless QB Jay Cutler followed by a visit to Pittsburgh’s death trap.
It just may be time for Harbaugh to replace Jim Mora, Sr. in that memorable Bud Light commercial where the one-time Saints’ coach famously rants:. “Playoffs? Playoffs? You kidding me? Don’t talk about Playoffs!’
