The Baltimore Ravens ended their regular season, with a 13-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The victory gives the Ravens a 12-4 record for the year, but there is not a lot to feel good about today.
Luckily for the Ravens, the focus immediately turns to tomorrow and preparation for the playoffs.
The Good:
1) Beautiful pick from Reed to essentially start the game. The second pick was crucial. Really had an outstanding season with his 8 INT’s. Perhaps being out the first six-weeks has helped keep him fresh as the Ravens head to the playoffs.
2) Welcome back Todd Heap. After missing his previous 3 games, Heap returns to provide a 37 yard catch and run on his first reception of the day.
3) A 60 catch season for Mason for the 11th consecutive year.
4) McClain layed the wood on Palmer on the Bengals 1st offensive series of the 2nd half. Seems to me that McClain is at his best when he runs downhill and attacks.
5) Extreme athleticism shown by Ngata to recover the fumble by Simpson.
6) Cundiff ties NFL record for most touch-backs (40) in a single season. What a year for the Kicker, the Pro Bowl is well deserved.
7) Cedric Benson had 21 carries, and was limited to 2.5 yards per attempt.
The Bad:
1) After Heap’s initial reception, the Ravens had 1st and Goal at the Bengals 9 yard line. After two minimal runs, Baltimore faced 3rd and 7, and were not able to give themselves a good chance at the TD. In the playoffs the Ravens will not be able to settle for field-goals.
2) Carson Palmer and the Bengals were 4 for 5 on the 3rd down on their third offensive series. Palmer converted three of those 1st downs out of a spread/shot-gun formation. Those plays made me flash-forward to the AFC Playoffs, and think about being spread-out against Manning, Brady, and Roethlisberger. For the game, the Bengals finished 7 for 17 on 3rd down.
3) Oher picked-up a 15 yard unnecessary roughness penalty, which brought on 3rd and long where Flacco was absorbed in a pass-rush.
4) The Flacco INT was floated. That should be been a lot of yards to Heap.
5) Four sacks allowed by the Ravens, and Flacco had responsibility in at-least a couple of them by holding the ball too long. That Cover 2 defense continues to be an issue for him.
6) Suggs’s helmet came loose, and he took what he felt was an unnecessary hit from Simpson. The decision by Suggs to swing will likely cost him some cash. Could have been worse if it cost him playing time next week.
7) Boldin had another game as the ultimate decoy, 2 receptions for 9 yards.
8) I’m a Flacco fan and generally feel he is underrated. The Ravens have run more the last few weeks and that limited some of his throwing yards. Today though was his 3rd consecutive game with under 200 yards. I would have liked to have seen him be asked to make a few more plays today.
9) Palmer gets the ball back with under a minute left, and beat Webb down the field. Immediately after that he attacks Landry for another easy gain. From the Cincinnati 16 yard line to on the Ravens goal-line in the blink of an eye? That is horrible.
10) No receptions for Rice, and just a 3.9 yard average on his 20 carries.
11) Baltimore held the ball for just 25 minutes today.
The Ugly:
1) Pittsburgh was up 31-3 at half-time of their game. It should have been evident to everyone that the Ravens had zero chance of becoming the 2nd seed overall at that point. Unless the Ravens were to face the Jets in the AFC Championship, Baltimore will have to win 3 road games to get to Dallas. As long as Indianapolis beats Tennessee, the Ravens first playoff game appears to be at Kansas City. For the Ravens Coaches to know that the Pittsburgh game was over at half-time, and decide to keep the starters out on the field to start the 2nd half made little sense.
Oher leaving the game on a knee sprain falls on Harbaugh. The injury to Ed Reed falls on Harbaugh. It was his responsibility to make sure the starters (at-least the most valuable players) were out of the game.
Harbaugh obviously wanted to keep the starters in the game to win, and build ‘momentum.’ Does that momentum have more value than the health of Oher, and Reed?
Up-Next:
As long as Indianapolis beats Tennessee this afternoon, I believe the Ravens will head to Kansas City for the 1st round of the AFC Playoffs.
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.