The Baltimore Ravens slept through most of their home-game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, and lost 17-14, as Cincinnati marched 80 yards on their final drive.

Baltimore falls to 3-2, and into a tie for 2nd-place in the AFC North.

I thought the game today had a very good chance being tight. I thought the line established by Vegas was high. I thought the Ravens would find a way to win at-home.

Losing this game hurts. The Ravens ability to return to the playoffs have taken a significant hit today. Even if Baltimore returns to the post-season, the Ravens also lost a game that could potentially effect home-field advantage.

Despite that, some perspective is required. I have been listening to comments on the radio, and reading people on-line saying the sky is falling. Some of that is in the moment hyperbole. The Ravens are still a talented, and deep team. Even though Carson Palmer took the Bengals on an 80-yard drive to win the game (aided by multiple penalties), the Ravens defense is still among the elite in all of football.

People saying the Ravens defense is horrible, are living in a distorted reality. Up until that final drive, they had held the Bengals to 10 pts, and had put 7pts on the board of their own. People piling on the Ravens Secondary, should ask where the pass-rush was (and has been). You also need to give credit to Palmer, Johnson, Henry, Coles, and Caldwell who are talented enough to put points on the board against any defense.

The reality is that the Ravens offense was limited to 7pts today, and that is what lost the game. Baltimore looked uncomfortable all day. I think you can attribute some of that due to Gaither’s injury, and the shifting on the line. The other-part of the equation is that the Ravens look like they are suffering from a crisis of identity on offense. You do not have to be a straight-physical, pound the rock type of team. You also do not have to be a strictly finesse pass-first team. You need balance.

The Good:

1) Ed Reed’s interception for the TD, and the fumble he forced from Johnson, were things of beauty.

2) Ray Rice has an uncanny ability for gaining positive yards, and making people miss. He is making the jump from a back-up / 3rd-down back, to one of the better all-around backs in the game.

3) Todd Heap had 7 catches today. Only 41 yards, but he now has 21 receptions for the season.

4) Webb had 1 Kick Return for 43 yards today.

5) Gooden actually had some reason for all of his histrionics, as he made several big tackles.

6) Ngata again showed his athleticism, catching Johnson down the field for a tackle.

7) Considering the Ravens generated just 1 sack, and barely touched Palmer all day; I think the Ravens Secondary played reasonably well.

The Bad:

1) Flacco’s interception in the attempt to Heap was a poor decision. For the 2nd-straight week, Flacco cost the Ravens points.

2) For the Ravens to have the weapons of Rice, McGahee, and McClain; and for that group to have a combined 17 carries is just not acceptable.

3) Chris Carr had two Kick-Returns for a combined 42 yards.

4) The Ravens take pride in stopping the run. It was one thing for the streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher to end, but the poor tackling of Cedric Benson, allowed Cincinnati to sustain too may drives.

The Ugly:

1) The Ravens lost a division-game at-home. Just can not happen, when your goals are winning the division and advancing deep into the playoffs. You force yourself into winning the road game in Cincinnati just to break-even.

2) Cincinnati took over the ball with 2mts, and 10 seconds on the clock down 4 points. All you have to do is not allow a TD. The Ravens appeared to not be able to decide if they should bring pressure, or sit-back in a prevent. As Steve Tasker pointed out on CBS, they Ravens became overly aggressive, as they are prone to do in pressure situations; and made multiple penalties. The penalties greatly aided the Bengals, and helped contribute to the loss.

3) Raven fans directing their displeasure to the refs for the 2nd-straight week is kind of sad. The Ravens did not lose in New England because of the refs, and they did not lose today in Baltimore because of the refs either.

You are never as good as you look when things are going well, nor as bad as you look when things are going bad.

The Ravens are good team. A team that if they get into the playoffs, is capable of doing some damage. The key is that they have to get to the playoffs first. The effort, and the game-plan today was disappointing. Playing a division-rival at-home, with 1st-place on-the-line; should have had the attention of everyone on the roster. I can not help but feel the Ravens felt this game was won before they took the field.

Up-Next:

Baltimore will head to Minnesota, and the Metrodome to face the 5-0 Vikings. I have looked at this game as a loss since the schedule came-out. Not because I think the Ravens can not win, but because I do not think they should be expected to win in Minnesota. If you lose a game at-home you should win, you need to find a way to win a game, you should probably lose. The Ravens run-defense should be motivated to atone for the results against Benson today. They will certainly be challenged by Adrian Peterson. If I am Baltimore, I commit to limiting Peterson, and making Farve beat me. If you can go to Minnesota, and steal a victory; you can feel good about where you are heading into the bye-week. If you go to Minnesota and lose, the bye will be spent with numerous questions, and some self-doubt.

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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