The Few, the Brave, the Sodden
You gotta love it. Coming in as Lions, and leaving as Lambs. This was the perfect tonic for what ailed the Ravens – a patsy they could beat up on and, while they were at it, work out some nagging kinks. Here’s what I liked and,…… what I didn’t like.
What I Liked
· Ray Freaking Rice. What can you say? 155 total yards rushing and 204 yards total from scrimmage in the first half ALONE. Ray was headed for a 300 yard game until John Harbaugh wisely parked the Rice Rocket and gave some badly needed work to Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee.
· Harbs began to pull his starters in the 3rd quarter. Good move. It will pay dividends down the road – assuming there is a road after Week 17. It was also a smart move to deactivate Ed Reed. We’ll need him for much more important games than this.
· Only 5 penalties for 50 yards. Compared to Monday night’s flag-fest against the Packers, it seemed almost benign. Think of it this way – The Ravens gave the referees a break. After the Green Bay game, in which the refs threw a total of 23 penalty flags, I thought the zebras might file disability claims for rotator cuff damage.
· The Oniel Cousins sighting. When I saw a lineman dressed in a # 64 uniform I had to check the program to see who it was. And he played well!
· The Running Game. I don’t care if it was against the Lions who laid down like dogs; it was 308 yards on the ground! Think of the positives: Pound the defense into submission! Less wear and tear on Joe the Quarterback! 3-headed monsters! Ravens fans want more of this! Harbs and Cam, are you listening?
· Real Fans. The Lions fans contingent was not large but it was present. During one of my many rain breaks in the breezeway, I asked a few of the silver and blue faithful where they were from and what the hell were they doing in Baltimore watching this dreck. Most were Michigan natives, some in the military, living in the area. Props to those who traveled so far to watch such a dreadful team.
· Cleveland 13, Pittsburgh 6. I love early Christmas presents.
What I didn’t Like
· 5 penalties for 50 yards. OK, maybe I’m dreaming about a mistake-free game like I dream about a White Christmas. It’s probably the hangover from watching a season’s worth of yellow polyester fly in the Ravens’ direction.
· Troy Smith dancing in the end zone after his touchdown run that made the score 47-3. It was humiliating to the Lions and totally classless. Troy, leave the showboating to somebody who plays once in a while.
· All I want for Christmas is…..a Pass Rush. Just asking.
NEWS & NOTES:
Home Sweet Home?
So much for the story-book, feel good, homecoming for Mount Saint Joe grad Jim Schwartz. Home town boy makes good, but Ravens fans saw first-hand the mess that Matt Millen has left the Lions in. Unfortunately for Jim, it’s now his problem to fix.
Dead Coaches Walking Update: It’s that most wonderful time of the year! It’s December and the Wade Philips death watch has begun anew. Their remaining schedule (Saints, Skins, and Eagles) is a killer and they might play their next game without their best defensive player, DeMarcus Ware. Bonus reason: Once again, Tony Romo is holding for place kicks.
If the Glazer clan can take their minds off raising ticket prices (42% in 3 years) for their beloved Manchester United soccer team, they might consider how their American football team is doing and think about a coaching change. Head coach Raheem Morris shows more and more every week that he’s in well over his head.
Other worthy candidates include Eric “The Fat” Mangini, John “Don’t Look Now, But Bill Cowher Lives in NC” Fox, perennial term Jim Zorn, and a new candidate to this list, Lovie Smith of the Bears.
Dead Player Walking
Former Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas just might have played his last game for the Patriots. After calling out Bill Belicheat for sending him home after a late practice arrival, A.D. was deactivated for Sunday’s Panthers game. Thomas may be inactive this week against Buffalo and, quite possibly, for the rest of the season. The relationship is clearly fractured and we’ll see how big a grudge Belichick can hold. My take? I think A.D. is toast.
THIS WEEK
What did Ravens fans learn from Sunday’s demolition? Considering the opposition, not much. We mashed a team we were supposed to easily handle. But good teams are supposed to do this. We should see more of the same this week as the Bears make their first visit to Baltimore in several years. Chicago is out of the playoff picture and is running out the season clock. Playing at home, we should handle Da Bears, Lovie, and their self-absorbed, self-destructing quarterback, Jay Cutler.
Prediction: Ravens 24, Bears 10
