Good morning and happy Monday, Ravens Flock! The Cincinnati Bengals’ Cinderella run has, I’m happy to report, finally come to an end, as the Los Angeles Rams took down Baltimore’s AFC North rivals in Super Bowl LVI, 23-20.
Matt Stafford led an incredible game-winning drive in the waning moments (surprising me quite a bit, honestly), and then Aaron Donald ended Cincy’s late attempt to set up a game-tying field goal to force overtime.
AARON FRICKIN' DONALD.#RAMSHOUSE #SBLVI pic.twitter.com/KbmZYWmjN9
— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022
On LA’s game-winning drive, everyone’s favorite cornerback, Eli Apple, both committed a pass interference penalty in the end zone, and then got cooked by Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp for the decisive touchdown.
All around the league, players fired off the tweets they had prepared for the loudmouth CB. Our own Ravens got in on the action, of course.
🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/Qq4RTR4jEW pic.twitter.com/w3P8EzigdR
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) February 14, 2022
🍎.
— Rashod Bateman (@R_bateman2) February 14, 2022
Let’s take a moment to congratulate the now re-retired former Raven Eric Weddle on his new prize.
Guess who's back!!!!!!!!!! WORLD CHAMPION!!!! #1of1 pic.twitter.com/0C3Fmez7cF
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) February 14, 2022
Wow. @weddlesbeard so, so happy for you!
— Lacie DeCosta (@DeCostaLacie) February 14, 2022
Weddle was injured early on, saying later that he thought he tore his pec, and yet stayed in the game to help his team win. A great way to go out for a great player and an even better man.
Speaking of retiring, apparently Calais Campbell has no designs on doing so just yet.
Ravens DL Calais Campbell: “I’m not going to retire. I’m coming back.” pic.twitter.com/4pFIQDAaJz
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) February 14, 2022
But will he be coming back to Baltimore? We’ll have to wait and see. Until when? Well, RSR’s Brian McFarland has a new article this morning outlining all the important NFL offseason dates to circle on your calendar. That’s a good place to start.
For those trying to keep up with all the Ravens’ moves on the coaching side, Jeff Z had a nice summary tweet.
Ravens coaching changes:
In Out
TEs George Godsey Bobby Engram (Wisc. OC)
DC Mike Macdonald Wink Martindale (NYG DC)
OLB Rob Leonard Drew Wilkins (NYG OLB)
ILB Zachary Orr Rob Ryan (Raiders def. asst)— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) February 12, 2022
It’s now officially the offseason, Flock. We can put the constant string of gut-kicks that was the 2021 NFL season behind us and look forward to watching this team retool in the hopes of getting back to where they belong – atop the AFC North, and hopefully, the AFC as a whole.
