Someday we’ll have another Victory Monday around here, right? Right?
Santa certainly didn’t deliver one, leaving #RavensFlock nothing but a big ol’ lump of coal in our stocking, in the form of a dozen more players on the COVID list, injuries both before and during the game, an opponent suffering from Little Brother Syndrome, and a partridge in a pear tree.
We’ll touch on the Ravens-Bengals game a bit here, but stick with me…we’ll get to more fun things quickly thereafter.
First off, a hat tip to Josh Johnson. The veteran hadn’t made an NFL start since 2018, was thrown into the fire when Tyler Huntley tested positive for COVID on Saturday, and performed admirably, even leading the Ravens to their first opening-drive touchdown in months and giving them a short-lived 7-3 lead.
Josh Johnson has now played for 14 NFL teams and has played in four different professional leagues. His college coach was Jim Harbaugh…not at Michigan. Not at Stanford. But at U of San Diego.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) December 26, 2021
That first touchdown went to Rashod Bateman, as the rookie FINALLY got into the end zone (in a way that the officials couldn’t rob him of).
TOUCHDOWN RAVENS‼️
FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN FOR @R_bateman2‼️
TUNE IN ON CBS! pic.twitter.com/QAuEJzLtq0
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 26, 2021
That was it for the highlights for the good guys, of course. The Bengals had this one wrapped up by the fourth quarter, yet still had their starters on the field and Joe Burrow throwing deep with two minutes to play. Supposedly he was butt-hurt that Wink Martindale said he wasn’t Aaron Rodgers yet, or some such nonsense.
Joe Burrow acknowledging he saw the #Ravens DC Wink Martindale’s comment about Burrow not being of the quality of Aaron Rodgers to deserve the type of game plan the Ravens gave the Packers, said it might have been on his mind when dropping 500 yards today pic.twitter.com/aJVAudEwMU
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) December 26, 2021
What a weird thing to get upset about, if that’s true. Whatever gets you up for the game, I guess, Joe.
Let’s remember that the last time the Bengals beat up on the (already decimated) Ravens, they went on to lose to the Jets and Browns in the next two games. After they rebounded and mopped up the floor with the Steelers, they lost to the Chargers and 49ers in subsequent weeks. They finish up with the Chiefs and Browns, so let’s see how they handle success this time around. Judging from the social media antics of some of their players after the game…it won’t be well.
Bengals fans while beating the Ravens 8th stringers pic.twitter.com/UL9lz1kO6x
— Jose V (@RavensFanReacts) December 26, 2021
But hey, I promised more fun things right? Speaking of the Chiefs and somebody mopping the floor with the Steelers…roll that beautiful bean footage!
Tomlin breaking records #PITvsKC pic.twitter.com/ujzVA3EC8G
— Dal Digle (@DalDigle) December 26, 2021
Your very own Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee recovered the fumble 😏#WPMOYChallenge + @Mathieu_Era pic.twitter.com/ygVkRhORbd
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 26, 2021
ANOTHA ONE‼️ *DJ Khaled voice*
📺: #PITvsKC on CBS pic.twitter.com/hyYXQ6nZKs
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 26, 2021
Mike Tomlin be like #Steelers pic.twitter.com/n2mAVFtKuE
— Fungible Dave (@FungibleDave) December 26, 2021
If the Ravens are going to get stomped, it’s nice that the game is immediately followed by one in which the Steelers get stomped even worse…just sayin’.
Even better? If the Washington team ALSO gets destroyed that day! (Like many of you, I didn’t have a Baltimore team to root for as a young kid, and had a hatred of the Redskins beaten into me by my Dad and all the idiots who told me to just cheer for Washington.)
FINAL: The NFC East champs put up 56 points to move to 11-4! #DallasCowboys #WASvsDAL pic.twitter.com/yPpqKqZTPq
— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2021
Only fight shown by Washington tonight! pic.twitter.com/pGUKwCtaFp
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) December 27, 2021
Hey, we all cope differently. I’m going to do it by pointing and laughing at teams I hate, while pointing at my own team’s injury/COVID list to hand-wave away their shortcomings. Argue with the wall.
