Baltimore Ravens
Focus Points: Vonta Leach vs. the Houston Texans
For this game we decided to do the NFL equivalent of tracking an endangered species–we scouted the fullback and in Vonta Leach, one of the few players at that position who get any significant playing time.
It amazed me this year when Michael Robinson was named as the NFC’s first alternate; in part because he actually wasn’t very good as a blocker, but more to do with the fact he only played 22.8% of the Seahawks’ snaps. No fullback played more snaps than Leach (584) and with 52.6% of snaps, it may even be worth my while putting it all to paper. As it turned out, the Ravens game plan was so conservative that he ended up playing an awful lot more than his season average. Let’s have a look at how he did. Read the rest of this entry »
Three to Focus on: Texans @ Ravens, Divisional Round
It’s rematch weekend in the NFL Playoffs and the encounter between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans is arguably the most intriguing games and the toughest to pick. Even though the Texans have been hit by injuries, both teams are built on very similar models and matchup very well. Both run the ball well, play stifling defense, and have a quarterback who is just surviving and not making the mistakes to throw their team off course. The Ravens maintained their momentum down the stretch but have taken a week off while the Texans stumbled into the playoffs, but have momentum going into this game after a comfortable victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Wildcard Weekend. This game could not be more finely balanced. Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused: Ravens @ Bengals, Week 17
The AFC North can definitely claim to be the best division in football this year, sending three teams to the playoffs for the first time–the Pittsburgh Steelers and the two teams who met on Sunday: the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
In the end, the Bengals didn’t need to win the game as the roars of celebration ringing round Paul Brown stadium during the Bengals’ failed final drive signaled that the Broncos has lost. That being said, it’s disappointing to see them slip up against better opposition once again, not ideal heading into the playoffs.
The Ravens managed to banish their road woes to finish the season 4-4 away from M&T Bank Stadium, but the win meant they clinched the division and No. 2 seed in the AFC, meaning they’ll need to win one game on the road at most, to reach the Super Bowl. The game didn’t feature much in the way of dominant performances but there were still plenty of talking points. Here’s a look at the key performances from this matchup. Read the rest of this entry »
Three to Focus on: Ravens @ Bengals, Week 17
It’s fitting that this Week 17 matchup mixes together the two main stories of the Baltimore Ravens’ season, their struggles on the road and their perfect record in the AFC North. You won’t have to tell people in Baltimore what’s on the line in this one, win and they’ll host a playoff game for the first time under John Harbaugh, lose and they’ll likely be headed to Denver or Oakland.
The Cincinnati Bengals don’t have the luxury of already being in the playoffs and competing for a division title this weekend, they need to win to avoid being dragged into a murky field of 9-7 teams for the last Wild Card spot. It’s also the final chance for them to show they can beat someone other than the Cleveland Browns in the division.
For me, this is the most intriguing game of the week bar the winner-takes-all NFC East showdown on Sunday night, with both fighting for different reasons. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the three matchups to focus on this week.
Re-Focused: Browns @ Ravens, Week 16
It was a familiar story for the Cleveland Browns as I once again came away from watching them thinking they have the building blocks in place, but their lack of a top quarterback and receiver kept them from completing what would have been an impressive comeback.
For the Baltimore Ravens it was again the type of performance that makes you wonder if they can make any noise when January rolls around. Once again the passing game was lacking and they go into Cincinnati next week knowing that they need to shake their road woes or face a tricky trip to Denver or Oakland in the Wild Card round of the playoffs as opposed to a bye week to rest up.
Despite the Browns falling just short and the Ravens failing to inspire expectations of a run to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, this game featured some key performances, both good and bad, from both sides. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the performances of note from this Week 16 matchup.
Three to Focus On: Browns @ Ravens, Week 16
On Monday morning the Baltimore Ravens were licking their wounds after a beat down at the hands on the San Diego Chargers. They were an angry team that was facing up to the prospect of having to go on the road in the playoffs once again. Fast forward to later that night as they celebrated with the Pittsburgh Steelers failing to take advantage against San Francisco. The Ravens once again had their destiny in their own hands. In order to win the AFC North and get a first round bye it’s very simple – just win out.
After another disappointing season, the Browns will surely be relishing the chance to play spoiler as they get to take on the divisions two best teams to end the season. Improvements have been made in Cleveland, but before they can think about challenging the rest of the AFC North, they need a capable signal caller and some offensive playmakers.
The Ravens know that they are just two wins away from one of the best regular seasons in team history. However, the Browns will be desperate to prove a point on Sunday, so with that in mind let’s take a look at the three areas to focus on.
Re-Focused: Ravens @ Chargers, Week 15
Football can be a funny old game. Given the 20 point margin of victory for the San Diego Chargers you’d assume they dominated the Baltimore Ravens in every phase. After all they picked up 145 yards on the ground, another 270 in the air, all while limiting the Ravens to just the one score before a garbage time Torrey Smith touchdown.
But as can be the case, the stats are misleading. The Ravens ran the ball far more effectively while producing numerous minimal gains for the Chargers rushing attacks, with San Diego’s rushing numbers greatly inflated by three runs that accounted for 73% of their rushing yardage. Indeed this game served to prove that good rushing can be pretty worthless when you can’t complete passes to move the chains or stop an opposing quarterback victimizing your overmatched cornerbacks.
That is what this game came down to in the end; one quarterback and one coverage unit being better than the other, and it’s got to be a big concern for the Ravens as they face the possibility of going on the road in the playoffs. Who knows, they may just have a rematch with San Diego to come this season.
Three to Focus On: Ravens @ Chargers, Week 15
Count me amongst the few glad to see this one remain on Sunday Night if for no other reason than to see if the Ravens can keep building towards the playoffs. Right now, they look like the favorite to take the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the first time in their 16 years in Baltimore. They need to win-out to guarantee that and to avoid looking back on the season wondering quite how they managed to lose in Jacksonville.
The Chargers are clinging on by a thread this year and could be mathematically eliminated from the postseason with a loss on Sunday night. Regardless, change seems inevitable for the Chargers after yet another disappointing season. Truthfully, the Chargers have wasted an incredibly talented roster the last two years when the AFC West was theirs to be won.
Despite their problems, the Chargers still represent a significant threat to the Ravens aspirations to be home for the playoffs. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the three matchups to focus on this week.
Re-Focused: Colts @ Ravens, Week 14
After three surprising losses earlier in the year the Baltimore Ravens are finally beating the teams that they should. Just like last week’s win over the Cleveland Browns they looked comfortable throughout the second half and the score line doesn’t reflect the true ease with which this one was won as the Ravens head towards an almost certain playoff berth.
For the Colts it was another routine loss, poor quarterback play, poor blocking and poor play in coverage. Safe to say the Colts were pretty poor on Sunday and you really have to question how they can find a way to win a game this year, not that they deserve to – I personally haven’t seen a worse team in all my time watching football.
The game featured key performances, both good and bad, from both teams so with that in mind, let’s take a look at the performances that impacted the game on Sunday.
Three to Focus on: Colts @ Ravens, Week 14
Previous showdowns between these two in Baltimore would have induced much vitriol spewing from the home crowd towards the franchise that many still feels belongs to them (certainly the records) but, truth be told, there isn’t the same anger from the Baltimore fans this year because of just how bad the Colts have been. In fact, any anger from the stands this week is more likely to come from Indianapolis fans begging Baltimore to take the Colts back.
It continues to be a rough year for the Manning-less Colts with very little in the way of bright spots. They seem almost locked into the slot for the No. 1 draft pick and the opportunity to draft Andrew Luck.
For Baltimore, they know that they need to keep winning and ensure they finish the year with a record no worse than the Steelers – do that and they’ll top the division and host a playoff game for the first time in the Harbaugh-Flacco era. To do that they’ll need to avoid another slip-up to a team they should beat, so with that in mind, let’s take a look at the areas to focus on this week. Read the rest of this entry »
 |
|