When it was announced that Anthony Brown would start in place of the injured Tyler Huntley, it was easy to conclude that the Ravens were about to concede the regular season finale in Cincinnati. That approach was further cemented after we learned that Marcus Peters, Brandon Stephens, J.K. Dobbins and Mark Andrews would all join Brown in street clothes.
A blowout was expected, especially with an amped up Bengals team that hoped to send a message to the league when they learned that the host city of their AFC Wild Card Game could be decided by a coin flip. NFL odds shifted even further in the Bengals direction.
But the Ravens had something else to say about the matter.
Earlier in the week head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that the Ravens would maintain both a short-term and long-term focus. How to interpret that was anyone’s guess but the way things unfolded yesterday in Cincinnati, score one for the team’s approach to Week 18. The Ravens may have lost the battle, but they set the stage to win the war. And just maybe that was Harbaugh’s intent all along.
Despite the Bengals pomp and circumstance – never mind all their pregame chatter to send a message about how the league stiffed them by not following the winning percentage rules (per head coach Zach Taylor), the Ravens were the far more physical team. And from the looks of it, the grittier team got into the heads of the Bengals. Without several star players, the Ravens stayed in the game, punched the Bengals in the mouth and in the process muted all of Cincinnati’s chump talk, all of their fake inspiration and then watched it circled the drain, along with their fragile egos.
Mixon really had a coin in his glove 😂#BudLightCelly | @budlight pic.twitter.com/eg8evfvtsT
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 8, 2023
Sure the Bengals celebrated their AFC North crown and Joe Burrow sure does talk a big game and smokes a cigar with plenty of swagger. But like their fake inspiration, I sense fake swagger. I sense a team that seems a bit concerned, despite their 27-16 win.
The mighty Bengals were out-gained by the Ravens 386 net yards to 257 yards. They benefitted from a 4-1 advantage in turnovers yet they couldn’t put the Ravens JV team away; they couldn’t take away the Ravens collective will; they couldn’t intimidate the Ravens. If anything, it was the other way around.
After The Game
When the game ended, players from both teams parted ways and went their respective ways, some with combative posturing. But the loss didn’t seem to deter the Ravens. They didn’t look like a team that missed an opportunity to win the AFC North, priority No. 1 when the season began. Instead, the body language suggested a team that accomplished their mission.
When your favorite @NFL player @Patrickqueen_ gives you his gloves after the game! It was a moment I will never forget! Continue to inspire and motivate big bro! @Ravens pic.twitter.com/YA6Fi53xKR
— ☞Deangelo★Sanchez☜ (@Charez_VS_Bam) January 8, 2023
My guy Mike 😈💜🖤 #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/tV1i7CKeRO
— KickaStayTrippy (@TrippyKicka) January 8, 2023
After the game Roquan Smith, while smiling ear-to-ear, shared this:
“Looking forward to seeing these guys again. I think it’ll be even sweeter then. All the marbles.”
Dirty Birds?
The Bengals, #WhoDeyNation and even the Cincinnati media made claims that the Ravens played dirty, additional proof that the Ravens are in the heads of their divisional adversaries.
Bengals players were big mad yesterday. (via https://t.co/i07xvYsPXn) pic.twitter.com/7w3xrMsPnU
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) January 9, 2023
THIS was simply DIRTY by Roquan Smith intentionally putting a shoulder on Chase but the Ravens were doing this all game long today pic.twitter.com/sD6MOSwOxH
— Mark Slaughter (@MarkVSlaughter) January 9, 2023
Are the Bengals, their fans and the media that covers them really that soft?
Nothing to Lose!
The Ravens can play free and daring – play with nothing to lose because there are no expectations. Sunday night should be a lot of fun.
Of course dressing the aforementioned missing players will help, but none more than the possible return of Lamar Jackson. Jackson’s injury wasn’t supposed to keep him out this long, but then again, his situation is quite unique. He can opt to sit out if he doesn’t feel that he’s 100%, but what player is 100% at this time of year? Sometimes, you have to fight through. Maybe Lamar does, maybe he doesn’t. He has an opportunity to put on the Superman cape and lead the Ravens. Or, he can choose to sit out again, and fan the flames of speculation.
“Obviously, Lamar Jackson is one of one, so if we could have him back, that would be great. If not, we’ll go with who we have. I think we can win with this football team, the quarterbacks that we have on our roster. So, I’m really excited about whoever’s going out there. We’re all riding behind them, and we plan on winning the game.” ~ Marlon Humphrey
“Of course, Lamar, if he’s able to go, that gives us the best chance to win. I’m rooting for that and hoping it happens, but at the same time, it’s football. It’s no different. I think we have a little bit of confidence in ourselves seeing what Anthony Brown did today; he got into a rhythm. Started shaky early on, found a little bit of rhythm and played good football against a really good defense that we respect a lot. So, whoever we put out there, we’re going to give it our best shot.” ~ Calais Campbell
If Lamar doesn’t go, will it be Brown or Tyler Huntley?
Money, Money, Money, Money
While we’re on the topic of money (let’s face it, that’s what Lamar’s prolonged inactivity is all about), there were some gains and losses yesterday. Hayden Hurst, who apparently has a hair up his wazole when it comes to the Ravens, made his 50th catch of the season and that triggered a $125K bonus.
Hayden Hurst got 2 quick catches to hit a $125k incentive for reaching 50 catches and immediately made it rain pic.twitter.com/TPjvLgraR0
— Barstool Sportsbook (@BSSportsbook) January 8, 2023
Hurst demanded to be traded. He didn’t want to play second fiddle to Mark Andrews. He got his wish and now he’s on his third team in four seasons. Why he has an axe to grind with the Ravens is a bit of a mystery. Just more evidence of more whining and more fake inspiration.
Meanwhile Ravens edge defender Justin Houston missed a $1.5M bonus by a ½ sack.
Ravens OLB Justin Houston is not going to be happy with the official scorer.
Houston thought he got a full sack, which earned him a $1.5 million bonus. He did a celebratory summersault going off the field.
But it was switched to a half-sack for Houston. A costly change.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 8, 2023
I wonder if the Ravens will give Houston a portion of his bonus anyway?
It Happened Again
Greg Roman has been a favorite whipping boy for Ravens fans. He’s earned the criticisms. But he isn’t alone when it comes to the pitfalls of the team’s offense. That said, these kind of things (below) happen WAY too often in the Ravens offense where two receivers are in the same spot allowing a defense to account for them with one defender.
Either this is a design flaw, poor positional coaching or bad execution by the pass catchers. Whatever the case is, this has been going on for a long, long time and the fact that it still happens is ultimately a reflection on Harbaugh who apparently hasn’t been adamant enough about correcting this regularly embarrassing flaw in the passing scheme.
The flaws aside, it was nice to see the Ravens employ the back-shoulder throw during two connections from Brown to Sammy Watkins. Here’s one, that unfortunately Watkins gave away.
What would have happened if Sammy Watkins didn’t fumble pic.twitter.com/mxaK4GyGaX
— 🐜 (10-7) (@Gamergod29) January 9, 2023
Studs & Duds
Studs
• Isaiah Likely, 8 catches for 103 yards
• Ben Cleveland filling in admirably for Kevin Zeitler
• Charlie Kolar with his first 4 catches as a pro for 49 yards, in place of Andrews
• Roquan Smith, 16 tackles
• Daryl Worley, a coupled of PD’s, one preventing a TD to Ja’Marr Chase
• David Ojabo with his first career sack, a strip sack to boot
• Justin Tucker, 3 for 3 on FGA’s, one from 51 yards
Duds
• James Proche for his lack of awareness, stepping out of bounds negating a big play
• Demarcus Robinson with a couple of drops, one leading to an interception
Next Week
The Ravens are currently 6 ½ point underdogs in the Wild Card battle in Cincinnati on Sunday Night. It will be interesting to see how the line moves if Lamar practices on Wednesday.
14 Responses
Demarcus Robinson and Proche doing their best Lee Evans immitiations yesterday. The Bangles are a very concieted outfit right now. They seem to feel entitled? Maybe Harbs can channel some anger with his team and get the agression flowing for 60 minutes? You have to reignite the mighty MO. Also theRavens fanbase needs some of that. After 5 weeks of wierd I’m ready to suit up.
Where dirty team?! I hate Cincinnati because they are one of the dirtiest teams I have witnessed in the last 5 to 10 years. Not justifying we should be equally inappropriate and unethical, but, I have no problem seeing people get hit hard, not to put anyone out or God forbid anyone who needs acute first aid but, any time in Cincinnati player goes down, that’s a major plus!
I’m just nervous that if we win, then we will have to play Kansas City as well. Likely be the lowest seed going into the second round, and there’s no way we’re beating the Chiefs but, one game at a time.
It’s one thing to be banged up at this juncture of the season, it’s quite another not to have played or practiced for weeks and expect it not to adversely affect performance, which Lamar was not exactly living up to expectations even before the injury! Relative to his contractual limbo, he stands to lose more by playing because a loss or another injury would seriously diminish his value at this point! And, if he no longer wants to play in this system, which is highly possible, why would he risk it?!
Call me old-fashioned but if you’re being paid $23M to do a job and you’re capable of doing exactly that but refuse to because you’re trying to make a point, then to me those are irreconcilable differences. Those are the behaviors of a thief.
See. You. Later.
If Ray Lewis or Suggs were still around, I can promise you they’d be in Lamar’s grill. But they aren’t so the Ravens are saddled with a “me” player in a “we” game. So much for being a great teammate and a leader.
But these are the times in which we live in; times tarnished by narcissism.
Bold words Tony … and I couldn’t agree more. If I’m the owner this guy is gone. He went from proclaiming his goal is to win Super Bowls, plural to ” I want to be a billionaire “. Okay, that’s a fine goal. But it wouldn’t be me writing that check.
Couldn’t agree more, but it’s mere speculation at this point! Maybe he’ll decide to play Sunday because he does want to win a SB and this provides a chance worth the risks! Wanting to prove he was worth a huge contract by performance was a noble idea, but it didn’t happen! Winning a SB like his predecessor did would certainly prove his point……
Yeah, maybe he’ll decide to play Sunday … gee, let’s hope he blesses us with his presence. I’m with Tony on this one. See. You. Later. Give me Flacco anyday
Well said Tony and I agree.
For Tony and Armchair, I’m not so sure he helps or hurts his value by not playing. He certainly hurts it with the fan base here. There are a significant number of people who just chant “pay the man”, but they don’t see the whole picture of many poor plays, with missed wide open receivers, poor decision making and pick sixes in big games. They just watch/remember the many spectacular highlights from his great days. They also overlook how he has benefitted from the offense designed for him. He captivated me in the first few years. He was a leader and lifted the team. The “yea, I want to go for it” on 4th down in that Seattle game really made me love him. But the behavior and production recently have soured me. He has lost a step. Remember when he was so quick he would feint forward and drop a half step while defenders leaned a bit forward and then waved bye as he scampered away? He’s heavier and maybe stronger now, but not quicker, and that was his everything. His passing game seemed to improve, but didn’t really. He is a medium level passer at best(regardless of receiver quality). If he could be a medium level passer with consistency and have most of his running skills, he would still be fine, but not worthy of Mahomes money.
I think the GMs and owners that have to fork over the bucks and maybe restructure the team, to make him a billionaire, will be very wary of buying into the total package.
I want Lamar out there as much as anyone but who are we as fans to say that he needs to fight through? No one knows the extent of this injury. Remember Bateman was supposed to be 1-2 weeks out. and that is just one example of how this organization is not upfront about injuries. Lamar is a competitor, and I for one am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he will go if he and the drs. think he can be effective. I won’t conclude like you are that he would rather sit to prove a point. And if Lamar goes out there and is not effective, I doubt I will read about how gutsy his performance was on this website. Rather, it will be how Lamar didn’t prove his worth and it’s time to move on.
The D played very well yesterday. If not for the early turnovers, this game may have had a different outcome. I have to think we have a good chance if Cappa and Collins are out and the D plays smothering D again. The one thing we can’t do is have turnovers and fall behind early. I hope Roman can come up some surprise plays(highly unlikely). Well just wishful thinking.
John comes out again today saying he has nothing to report on Lamar’s situation. Come on, that is pure BS. Does he mean that he can’t go to the doctors and Lamar and ask point blank whether he will be able to play in 6 days. Is Lamar going to wake up on Monday, not being able to play and then on Wednesday or Thursday he is miraculously cured. Harbaugh guards his injury report like it’s the combination to Fort Knox. He knows darn well whether Lamar is going to be able to play on Sunday. But knowing Harbs, Lamar will be listed as questionable all week. Nobody will know for sure until 8:15 pm on Sunday. This Lamar is he or isn’t he playing this week has gotten very, very old this last month. I think that is why a lot of fans have become apathetic and can’t wait for the season to be over.
So you want our coach to tell the opposing team which qb to prepare for? He shouldn’t tell us anything just like they didn’t know Brown would play. Leave it!
If Lamar can’t/won’t go, does Harbs go with Huntley or Brown? I suspect the turnovers eliminated Brown and Harbs will go with Huntley. So we’ll have to win with like 120 yards in the air, maybe 150-200 on the ground, max 16 points? Tough ask.
Bengals fans, the new Chiefs fans. Their chit don’t stink. But at least the Chiefs, like Baltimore have hoisted that Lombardi Trophy. Bengals ain’t done squat. Let em crow about the North, thats all they good.