Ravens crushed in Houston; The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

A completely healthy Baltimore Ravens team would have had a difficult chance of winning today in Houston, as the Texans might be the most physically talented team in the league. With multiple significant injuries, and a poor game plan; the Ravens had no chance in Houston’s 43-13 blowout victory.

Houston came into the game leading the league in time of possession, and 9th in the league with 17 sacks. My question going into this game was would the Ravens attempt to beat the Texans in an offensive shootout, or would they play closer to the vest and attempt to move the clock?

Knowing Houston came into this game just 14th overall in Total Offense, and seeing Aaron Rodgers carve up the Texans for 6 TD’s last week, I understood the inclination from some that that the Ravens needed to recommit to their no-huddle offense and attack the Texans through the air. I’ve spent the last several years advocating more no-huddle, as I believe that is what Flacco is most comfortable with. Coming out of Training Camp this year, the increased reliance on the no-huddle was what I was most encouraged about.

That said, I went into this game thinking a reversal in philosophy was needed. I came to that conclusion after watching the Ravens be carved up for 200+ yards on the ground the past two weeks. With Baltimore showing an inability to get offenses off the field, my feeling is that the Ravens offense needed (needs) to help their defense out. Points are not the only way you can help a defense. Long sustained drives also help. The Ravens came into this game 29th overall in Time of Possession. If you are going to continue to go 3 and out (the Ravens went 3 and out 6 times today), you are not doing the defense any favors.

To have a chance to win today, the Ravens probably needed to commit to ground and pound. Rice and Pierce behind Leach over and over again. A JUMBO formation with an extra tackle. It was clear relatively early that the Ravens offensive line had no chance in pass protection against the Texans. Flacco was continually harassed, and passes were knocked down left and right.

This is not an indictment on Flacco. This is an indictment on the team surrounding him. Baltimore should not completely abandon the no-huddle, but it should not be the base offense. If you can not stop the run, you need the offense to move the clock, and shorten the game.

Today’s loss was not unexpected. Getting beat-up this badly hurt a bit. Overall, it just means Baltimore will likely have to go back to Houston in the playoffs should they get that far. 5-2 going into the bye is not a bad place to be. Get healthy, and decide during the bye what your identity as a football team is going to be the rest of the way.

The Good:

1) Houston went 3 and out on their initial offensive series, with 2 of the 3 plays being runs towards Suggs. On 3rd down, Ellerbe delivered a hit on Foster which cause the would be 1st down to be dropped.

2) Baltimore’s first series started with Rice gaining 8 yards on 1st down. He made Watt miss in the backfield and found a hole. After Rice gained a new set downs with a short run, Flacco found Smith over the middle for 13 yards. Rice’s 3rd carry of the first drive went for 17 yards, putting the Ravens into Houston territory at the 38. Flacco connected with Dickson for 5 yards on 1st down. Tucker would hit from 51 yards out for the 3-0 Ravens lead.

3) The Ravens defense forced a 2nd 3 and out on Houston’s 2nd drive. Cody was clogging the middle, and Ellerbe again made a good play on 3rd down. Suggs was out for the first two plays, but back on the field for 3rd and 5.

4) Who needs practice? On Houston’s 3rd series, Suggs got his first sack of the year, bringing down Schaub for an 8 yard loss. The Texans were forced to punt for a 3rd time.

5) With the Ravens down 23-3, and Houston again driving, Suggs got his hands up and knocked down a Schaub pass.

6) Down 26-3, Jones had a nice KR, taking the ball to the Ravens 44 and giving Baltimore a chance for points before the end of the 1st half.

7) Coming off a corner blitz, Williams sacked Schaub on Houston’s 1st series of the 3rd Quarter. The Texans would go 3 and out.

8) Baltimore’s 2nd drive of the 2nd half started in Houston territory (at the 47). A pass interference call on Joseph on 3rd and 5, gave the Ravens a 1st and 10 at the Houston 21. Rice ran up the middle for 6. Tandon Doss got his first NFL TD, coming off a screen, and racing 15 yards for the end zone. With 10:36 left in the 3rd, the Ravens were now down 29-10.

9) Following the Ravens initial TD, Upshaw came up with a 2 yard Tackle for Loss on the following Houston series.

10) Trailing 36-10, the Ravens began a drive with 3 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter. Flacco started the drive with a 15 yard completion to Smith. On 2nd and 9, Pitta had a 9 yard catch, followed by a Flacco run for 1st. After a 9 yard catch from Jones, the Ravens faced 3rd and 1 from the Houston 40. Flacco ran off tackle for 5 yards and another 1st and as the 3rd Quarter expired. Into the 4th, Boldin would catch his first pass of the day. Another pass interference from Joseph (on 4th and 3) would give the Ravens a 1st down at the Houston 19. Tucker would kick a 54 yard FG to end the drive. Houston 36 – Baltimore 13.

The Bad:

1) On the Ravens first series, they reached the Houston 33, on 2nd down with 5 to go. Incomplete passes on 2nd and 3rd down had Baltimore settling for a FG attempt.

2) Despite a 7 yard connection to Smith to start their 2nd drive, the Ravens would go 3 and out. There was an opportunity to run on 2nd and short, but the Ravens elected to pass the ball (incomplete) on both 2nd, and 3rd.

3) The Texans moved the chains on their 4th series, picking up 3rd and 1. Schaub missed the completion, but Walter blew past Smith on a double move. An accurate pass would have been an easy TD. Pollard picked up a face-masking penalty, giving Houston a 1st down at the Ravens 36. Several plays later, Houston would score; with Schaub finding Walter from 25 yards out. With the extra-point, Houston went up 9-3.

4) Following Flacco’s interception for TD, the Ravens had back-to-back series where they quickly went 3 and out.

5) Houston began their 2nd drive of the 2nd Quarter from their own 42. Schaub hit Johnson for 13 yards, and followed that 2 plays later with a 20 yard strike to Graham. With a new set of downs, Foster ran for 9 yards. Foster would get the ball again, and gain 14 yards with a rush to the Goal line. The Baltimore defenders were doing a poor job of getting off the blocks. Daniels finished the drive with the 1 yard TD reception. With the extra-point, Houston extended the lead to 23-3.

6) After Baltimore’s 3rd punt of the 2nd Quarter, Houston took over from their 46. Asking Kruger to cover Johnson in the flank went as expected, and the Texans gained 14 quick yards. That was followed by a 7 yard gain from Tate. Coming off play-action, Schaub found Daniels for 8 yards on 3rd and 1. Houston moved to the Baltimore 14, when Schaub and Daniels connected for another 7 yards. Graham would kick a FG, and the Texans took the 26-3 lead with 2 minutes left in the half.

7) Houston’s last drive of the 1st half started at their 31 with 1:06 on the clock. They would move down the field, with Daniels catching balls for 19, 17, and 6 yards. Williams picked up a defensive holding call on 3rd and 4. On 3rd and 10, Pollard was charged with a personal foul on a late hit. The Ravens would make one positive defensive play on the series, and it was Suggs dropping into coverage. Graham kicked a 29 yard FG to end the half, putting Houston up 29-3.

8) Continuing on where the 1st half ended, Baltimore went 3 and out to begin the 2nd half.

9) The Ravens had a 1st and 10 from the Houston 19 early in the 4th Quarter. Flacco was sacked on back-to-back plays Antonio Smith, losing 17 yards. Bobbie Williams was beat like a drum.

10) The starters could have been removed from the game much earlier.

The Ugly:

1) The Ravens 3rd drive started at their own 3 yard line. After former Texan Vonta Leach gained 6 yards on 1st down with a rare carry. Flacco would fumble on 2nd down, but Birk and Baltimore recovered. On 3rd down, Barwin came in unaccounted for, for the Safety. With as early as the Ravens got to the line of scrimmage, there seemed to be plenty of time to consider an audible if you did not like what Houston was presenting. It was clear that pressure was coming from both sides, and that Barwin was going to be unblocked. The safety made it a 3-2 game.

2) Starting the Ravens first drive of the 2nd Quarter, Flacco was picked by Joseph and taken to the house. This put Houston up 16-3.

3) Down 20 points (23-3), the Ravens did not need Christian Thompson picking up a personal foul on Houston’s kickoff. For the 3rd time in the 2nd Quarter, the Ravens went 3 and out, and Houston again started in good field position.

4) Baltimore’s last drive of the 1st started with a good Jones return to the Ravens 44. Baltimore picked up back-to-back 5 yard gains to Pitta, moving into Houston territory. Jones then picked up 8 yards on a short pass. Down 26-3, and absolutely needing some points before the half ended; Flacco was picked off on 3rd and 2. There should have been 2 downs there to rush Rice, and get the 1st.

5) After the Ravens scored their initial TD of the game, they were still down 19 points and obviously needed a defensive stop. Smith was beat on a double move by Walter, who gained 34 yards down the sideline. On 3rd and 1, Foster took a pitch 5 yards for another Houston 1st down. On 3rd and 3, the Ravens had Foster buried behind the line of scrimmage. Ngata missed a tackle, and Foster turned back across the field for the 1st. Foster would score from a yard out, culminating a 12 play, 80 yard, 7 minute and 40 second drive. If Baltimore had any thoughts of getting back into the game, they were erased after this series. With the TD, Houston led 36-10.

Notes:
Houston went up 23-3 with 6 minutes left in the 1st half, despite punting on 4 of their first 6 possessions.
Osemele was taken out of the game with an injured ankle in the 1st half. X-Rays came back negative, and he returned in the 2nd half.
Baltimore was 0-7 on 3rd down in the 1st half. 4 of 15 for the game.
Houston was 8 of 15 on 3rd down.
The Ravens had 8 series in the 1st half, 4 punts, 2 picks, a safety, and the initial FG.
Flacco was 7 for 20 for 52 yards in the 1st half. 21 of 43, for 147 yards for the game.
Rice had 6 carries for 35 yards in the 1st half.
Flacco was sacked 4 times, and had 6 passes knocked down.
Houston out-gained Baltimore 420 yards to 176 yards. Houston had 27 1st downs, Baltimore 12.