After a hard fought comeback in the last five minutes of the game, the Baltimore Ravens fell just two points short of handing the Minnesota Vikings their first loss of the season. Throughout the entire game, it seemed as if the Ravens couldn’t get out of their own way. Stupid penalties and terrible coverage in the secondary allowed the Vikings to pull away with a commanding 30-17 lead. However, the Ravens offense, lead by Mighty Mouse and Joe Cool, made a triumphant comeback and actually took the lead with under two minutes to go. Thanks to a lucky pass from Brett Favre to Sidney Rice, the Vikings managed to kick a field goal to retake the lead.
The Ravens offense got themselves in great field position for a 44 yard game winning field goal. Only there was one problem, Matt Stover is in Indy and we had an unproven kicker who has never kicked a game winning field goal in the NFL. Low and behold, the kick sailed wide left and the Ravens walked out losers in this one. Here are my cheers and jeers for this game.
Cheers
Mighty Mouse Carried a Mighty Load: Right now, Ray Rice IS the Ravens offense. Even though it is pathetic to have a running back as your leading receiver, you must give props to Rice for carrying the load for the Ravens offense. Rice was the leading rusher and receiver for the offense for the second straight week, carrying the ball 10 times for 77 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Rice also caught 10 passes for 117 yards.
Joe Cool:Despite having his foot stepped on three times, which was being blatantly ignored by the referees, Joe Flacco stepped up when the going got tough. He lead the Ravens offense to four touchdowns on five possessions to take the lead with a little over two minutes to go in the game. Flacco had a career day in the Metrodome, completing 28 of 43 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
Defense Steps Up in the Clutch: Despite being run on and passed on all game long, the Ravens defense pressured Brett Favre when it counted to allow the Vikings to punt the ball away and the Ravens to take the lead for the first time in the ball game.
Clutch Clayton: Mark Clayton redeemed himself from his dropped pass in New England with a 32 yard touchdown grab from Joe Flacco to narrow the deficit to 10 points.
Return Game Returns: Ladarius Webb proved to be a great returner on Sunday, setting up the Ravens in great field position. Webb had seven kickoff returns and totaled 165 yards, his longest being 40 yards.
Jeers:
The Secondary Sucks:It’s just plain and simple, Ravens fans, our secondary is terrible. Dominique Foxworth and Fabian Washington do not look at ball coming in at all, they just stare at the receiver. Once again, Frank Walker gets a dumb pass interference penalty (two actually) that costs us the lead. If they can’t cover Sidney Rice, how are they going to cover Reggie Wayne, Santonio Holmes, or Brandon Marshall? Something needs to be done with this secondary, because their performance, thus far, has been very poor. I’m sorry, but if John Harbaugh and Ozzie Newsome are smart, they will track down Chris McAlister and resign him to this ball club. Yes, he has an attitude, but he’s a pro bowl, shut down cornerback that has dominated receivers here in Baltimore for years. And if that doesn’t work, why not but Ladarius Webbat cornerback and give him a chance? Do something about the secondary, because they are going to be our Achilles heal all season long.
Hauschka Finkles Us Out of the Win: I have had my reservations about Steve Hauschka since the preseason, and my reservations are confirmed; he’s no Matt Stover. If you can’t make the clutch, game winners here in Baltimore, you have no place on this team. Steve has done a fine job thus far, going 4/5 on field goals coming into this game, but when you are inside, with no wind, and have a great leg like he does, you need to make those field goals.
Play Calling: Are we digressing back to the 1999 Ravens offense of check the ball down to Priest Holmes every single play, or are the Ravens receivers just that poor at getting open? We ran pass patterns short of the first down marker on 3rd downs, we check the ball down way too often, and we look kind of flat to start out the game. Cam, WTF?
Not So Special Teams Coverage: Once again, stupid penalties that negate outstanding runs by Ladarius Webb, and why is Chris Carr still returning punts?
Cash for Clunkers: Why is Chris Carr STILL on this team?
Happy Feet: Willis McGahee was very poor in this game, only rushing for three yards on five attempts.
Incompetent Referees:The head referee for this game is the same jackass that was officiating the debacle in Detroit back in 2005. This officiating crew thought an obvious forward pass was a fumble, they couldn’t spot the ball right, and sometimes didn’t even know what down it was. Plus, there were four instances of encroachment by the Vikings that weren’t called. Can we PLEASE get one competent officiating crew to referee Ravens games?
The bye week couldn’t come at a better time, Ravens fans. With this three game losing streak, Baltimore needs to lick their wounds, rest up, and come back to work with a purpose to return to the way they played at the beginning of the year; NO FEAR.
Listen, I’m not panicking here because I have complete trust in John Harbaugh; he’s no moron and neither is the coaching staff. This isn’t Greg Mattison’s first bar-b-que either, Ravens fans. He had a great defense for my Fighting Irish in South Bend, and he will get the secondary straightened out. Back to fundamentals; that’s the name of the game for the secondary. Let’s get it together.
The good thing about this week is that the Bengals lost, and we are only one and a half games out of first place in the AFC North. Cincannati proved to be beatable, we almost did it and the Texans just did it in their house. And the Steelers? Holding off the Detroit Lions and allowing two touchdowns from Cleveland is supposed to impress me (granted one was special teams)? Trust me, Ravens fans, our third AFC North title is well within reach.
The Ravens return in two weeks to take on the surprise Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium.
