Baltimore Ravens

Former Ravens running back is retiring after the season

Former Ravens running back is retiring after the season

Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley picked Ray Rice, left, and linebacker Jarret Johnson, right, as his choices for most improved players on the Ravens this season. He also discussed the team's matchup with the Cleveland Browns, Ed Reed's status, the NFL's salary cap and more. Read the full transcript on Ravens Insider.

Cleveland looking to jump-start lagging offense

Brady Quinn 's last start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns was Sept. 27 in Baltimore. Benched at halftime of a 34-3 loss to the Ravens, Quinn will make his first start since then in Monday night's return match.

The Ravens were feeling good about themselves after a performance that caused Cleveland to bench Brady Quinn. As it turns out, most teams have had an easy time making Browns quarterbacks look bad.

Cedric Benson topped 100 yards again on Sunday, and the Bengals scored on their first three possessions, setting up a 17-7 victory over Baltimore that kept surprising Cincinnati atop the AFC North and undefeated against division foes.

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is missing a game for the first time this season because of a sprained left ankle.

Just a warning: This is going to be one of my ranting posts where I may eventually touch on everything that’s wrong with the world. What a sad excuse for a game.  Tom Coughlin said that his Giants’ game against the Chargers was “a one-game season.”  The Ravens’ game was just as important.  They’re now 2 [...]

For some reason, WordPress is acting up, and messing up the layout and my changes on this post.  Hopefully it’s not this way for you, but there are crazy spaces between sections and crazy bold and italics.  All the content is right, but the layout is just crazy.   Opening Thoughts This game is huge.  If the [...]

After having a Q&A with a Bengals blogger, Mickey from WhoDeyFans.com, here’s another session of the questioning and the answering, with Ariana from THEaTEAM52 (yes, the caps are on purpose).  You may be familiar with her from her frequent, mostly Ravens-themed Twitter updates or her account on YouTube.  Enjoy, and a preview and predictions are coming [...]

Maybe stumble is too soft a word, perhaps fell on their faces might be a little more accurate. The Ravens faltered in all phases of the game against an opponent that was more then ready to jump on the opportunities. This was a triple loss for the Ravens. They lost a home game, the ones you're expected to win, they lost a Conference  game, and most importantly they lost a Division game. All three are measured at the end of the season and the best numbers win.

I was most surprised by the poor showing on offense, and the apparent lack of urgency. Joe Flacco seemed lost at times and had maybe his worst performance since the first 3 games of last season. The offensive game plan didn't seem to make any sense. How can Derrick Mason not touch the ball?, something that probably hasn't happened since hit first year in Junior high school. How can Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McLain have only two touches apiece? Why wasn't the three headed monster utilized? Especially in the 4th quarter. What was Cam Cameron thinking?

Defensively it wasn't much better. They once again failed to provide tight coverage in the secondary, and couldn't generate a solid pass rush with their front four. At times the Bengals offensive line simply stuffed the Ravens defense, something we're not used to seeing.  Ray Lewis made a stupid play by committing a personal foul on Ocho Stinko. Maybe Stinko was getting on his nerves but you can't rip the helmet off his head and not expect to see the laundry flying. Dominique Foxworth had another poor outing, something I'll touch on later, as did Dwan Landry. Allowing Carson Palmer far too much time to find his targets will bite you every time, and he bit the Ravens defense on the ass in the final two minutes.

While the referees didn't cost the Ravens the game, they did have their usual number of blown calls and pathetic judgment. The pass interference call on Frank Walker near the end of the game was bogus, as was the call on Ed Reed for the same offense earlier. However the ref's attention didn't seem to be focused on the Bengals when Stinko pushed Foxworth in the back to prevent him from making an interception, nor did they see Trevor Pryce tackled to the ground by Andre Smiith as he was about to get to Palmer. And both of these happened on the same play. You be the judge.

The Ravens now sit at 3-2, a record shared with the Steelers and Patriots. Of these three I'd say at least two make the playoffs, if not all three. This loss hurt, but it isn't the end of the world this early in the season. If you remember the Ravens were 2-3 at this point last season and managed to make it to the AFC Championship game, so all is not lost. At least for the moment. 

 

This game will help set the tone for the AFC North this season. The Ravens are coming off of a heartbreaking loss to the Pat's, while the Bengals won out over Cleavland in overtime. It would seem to me that the Ravens just might be a little more then fired up for this game. The defense in particular hasn't been liking the way they've played and want to set the record straight.

Meanwhile Carson Palmer and the Bengals newly confident defense are feeling like they can conquer anyone after beating out the Steelers and the Browns. They are a better team this year but are they ready to take over the talking points for the AFC North?

 

Game Info:

Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (EDT)

Site: M&T Bank Stadium (71.008) · Baltimore, MD

TV: CBS

Announcers: Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Steve Tasker (color)

Fast Facts:

-33.3 percent (14/42) of Baltimore's offensive drives have ended in touchdowns this season -- the highest percentage of any team in the league.

-Cincinnati and Baltimore are tied with three other teams for the league lead in red zone TD percentage at 66.7%. The Ravens have 12 TD's in 18 red zone trips, while the Bengals have scored 8 TD's in 12 red zone visits.

-Since 2003, when Marvin Lewis took over as Bengals head coach, the Ravens and Bengals defenses rank 1-2 in the NFL in takeaways. The Ravens lead with 205, and the Bengals are second at 198.

-Cincinnati has allowed a running back to gain at least 93 yards in back to back games.

-The Ravens have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 39 consecutive regular season games.

Ravens Offense vs. Bengals Defense: After suffering a neck injury last week against the Patriots, it is unlikely that left tackle Jared Gaither will play this Sunday. If that is the case, Michael Oher will switch over from the right side over to the left as he did last week. He will have his hands full though, going up against defensive end Antwan Odom. Odom is tied for first in the league with eight sacks this season. Of Baltimore's 66 offensive plays last week, only 17 of them were running plays. They will need more balance if they want to keep the Bengals D in check. Joe Flacco and his receivers can only do so much when the opposing defense knows what you are going to do. Le'Ron McClain had zero carries in Week 4. Look for him to get a little more involved this week. Willis McGahee has been a touchdown machine. He scored in his sixth straight game last Sunday and now has nine TDs (7 rush, 2 rec) since Week 16 of 2008, the most of any NFL player during that span.

Bengals Offense vs. Ravens Defense: Quarterback Carson Palmer is off to a mediocre start, with a 75.2 QB rating, which ranks 24th in the league. He has six TD passes but has also thrown five interceptions. Running Back Cedric Benson ranks third in the AFC and is tied for fourth in the league with 367 rushing yards. He is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and has two touchdowns. Chad Ochocinco is the team's leading receiver with 17 catches, a 15.2-yard average and three touchdowns. The story with Baltimore's defense this year has been their vulnerability through the air. The run defense is as good as it's ever been, holding opponents to an average of 59.5 yards a game, tops in the NFL.

Prediction: The Bengals are a good football team. If it weren't for a miracle ending to their week 1 game against Denver, they would be 4-0. They squeaked out an overtime win over the lowly Browns last week, but have also come back after trailing double digits to the world champion Steelers. I wouldn't be shocked if this turns out to be a close game late. But I just don't see them finishing the job. The Ravens are a great football team at home. I don't see them losing, especially with first place in the division on the line. RAVENS 30 - BENGALS 21.

The Ravens make a second trip to Ohio with in a week to play the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football. In their first meeting this year the Ravens beat the Browns 34-3. This game the Browns will be playing for pride and look to win their first home game of the year. The seasons for [...]

From the Baltimore Sun: But the nerve impingement issue he has in his neck and shoulder appears to be worsening. Reed said Wednesday that he has more pain with the injury this season, that he sees his doctor every week and that he continues to take anti-inflammatory medication for it. “If there’s a point that I come [...]

A nice piece in the form of a Q & A session between Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden and Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun. I think this interview dispels the notion that NFL football players are narcissistic jerks. Here is an excerpt from the session: Question: What’s your assessment of your play in your first [...]