For the second-consecutive season, the Baltimore Ravens have advanced to the AFC Playoffs.

Like most everything else during this 2009-10 season, nothing came easy. That said, the Ravens organization can feel good about seeing their season continue. They will start next week with a clean-slate, and while they may or may not advance; they will not be a team anyone will enjoy having to play.

The Good:

1) Baltimore did not play particularly well today. After a 6 yard 3rd quarter, the Ravens could have started to collapse under the pressure. They did not, as they made the plays necessary to win.

2) John Harbaugh gets credit for getting this team to playoffs in each of his first two seasons.

3) Willis McGahee’s 167 rushing yards, and 3 TD’s speak their selves. I think his stiff-arm, and resulting touchdown showed a player motivated to make plays, and advance to the playoffs today. I, and most of Baltimore, have and will continue to wonder if McGahee has a future as a part of the Baltimore Ravens after this season; but he is still here now. He has fresh legs, and should be used regularly with Rice to pound at the opposition. Move the chains, move the clock, and keep the opposing offense off the fields.

4) It was great to see Reed, and Gaither both get back on the field today.

5) Ellerbe continues to show that not only did he deserve to be drafted, but that Tavares Gooden is going to struggle to get his starting position back.

6) Parmele was explosive again today on Kick Returns. In his 4 attempts, he had 138 yards, averaging 34.5 yard a return, including a high of 53. When Webb went down, it was fair to ask if the Ravens had lost not only a starting CB, but a valuable returner. Parmele has shown these last two weeks that he is capable of providing field position.

7) Suggs had a sack, Gregg had a sack for the 3rd straight game, and Barnes made a huge play with his sack, and strip.

8) In addition to McGahee’s 167 yards, Rice also added 70. The Ravens offensive-line needs to get credit for the holes they opened up on the ground.

9) The Ravens completely eliminated the Raiders rushing game.

The Bad:

1) When Janikowski pulled the Raiders within 1 with 4 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter, I was thinking that the Ravens did not exactly look like a team playing to reach the playoffs. Maybe they will benefit going into Foxboro as the hunter. There will be no pressure for the Ravens, and that might allow them to play more ‘free’.

2) That was a rough, rough day for Mr. Flacco. 102 passing yards, 4 sacks, poor decisions, missed opportunities. Not good. He can not play like today, if the Ravens are going to have any chance to advance. On the other-hand, he does not have to be as good as he was 12/20 against Chicago either. Middle ground between those extremes will be fine.

3) The Baltimore O-line gets credit for the holes they opened up on the ground today, but the pass-defense needs improvement. The Raiders brought extra-rushers, and the O-line looked confused multiple times. Too often Flacco was under complete duress.

4) I understand Matt Katula has been good Raven for years, and I feel bad about his injury, but he might need to replaced. You might get away with a bad long-snap against Oakland, but you probably will not have the benefit of that in the playoffs.

The Ugly:

1) The Ravens were up 8 points with 3 minutes and 48 seconds left in the 4th Quarter. Facing 3rd and 7 on the Raiders 33 yard-line, Flacco passed incomplete to the right. If you were going to attempt to kick a Field Goal (51 yards at that) why would you not run on 3rd down and attempt to make the kick more manageable for Cundiff?

2) Anyone else have the feeling we could be having a different discussion if Charlie Frye had not been knocked out of the game?

Up-Next:

Baltimore will return to Foxboro, to take on the New England Patriots. The Pats suffered a large injury today, with Wes Welker’s ACL tear. Despite that injury, and the general-sense that New England is not as good as past years; they still have Belichick, Brady, Moss and large amounts of big-game experience.

Here is a link to our article after the Patriots / Ravens game in October:

http://baltimoresportsandlife.blogspot.com/2009/10/ravens-lose-to-patriots-27-21-good-bad.html

Here is a link to our October 1st interview with Patriot’s Reporter Ian Rapoport of The Boston Herald:

http://baltimoresportsandlife.blogspot.com/2009/10/q-with-patriot-reporter-ian-rapoport-of.html

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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