Ravens fans cannot escape, their football team played a horrible game that the 27-14 loss fails to sufficiently document. The story was familiar, unless a team has a commanding lead in the standings, for serious playoff contenders, all games after Thanksgiving are must win games. Sunday's results gave the Ravens a great opportunity to advance toward a wild-card berth but their efforts in Green Bay proved them unworthy.
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First, Joe Flacco was not on his game and clearly looked rattled when the game was on the line late. His decision-making was faulty and Green Bay's defense was ready. Completing 15 of 36 for 137 yards, the Ravens' QB only achieved about half the yardage of his rival, Aaron Rodgers. Further, misery came in threes as Flacco was intercepted and sacked three times. He also fumbled. So did Ray Rice who is usually a bright spot in the Ravens attack, but tonight was all but invisible rushing for 54 yards with 14 carries.
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Second, the Ravens simply must not play in constant danger of penalties. They were penalized 12 times for 135 yards. Ironically, Green Bay did worse, 11 penalties for 175 yards, but who won the game.
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The Ravens defense came through brilliantly in spots despite missing Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs, given the number of turnovers and short fields, the Ravens defenders had little room to give to avoid Green Bay scores. The scoring damage against the Ravens could have been far worse.
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As poorly as the Ravens started being shut out 17-0 at the half, late in the third quarter, they found life that brought them in easy striking distance of taking the lead scoring two quick touchdowns late in the quarter bringing the score to a three point deficit at 17-14, but that was all they had to give.
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After a couple more mistakes, the air was out of the tires, the dogs had left their cage, the chairs were on the tables, the Ravens looked finished, tired and beaten. Joe Flacco had that frozen "deer in the headlights" look that showed the game had taken its toll.
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While the playoff hunt is not over, the Ravens are now tied with Pittsburgh, Miami, and the New York Jets at 6-6 to overcome Jacksonville who has the tie-breaker if they should even up with them. The Ravens must see Jacksonville lose two games to go ahead of them in the wild card race. Denver would have to lose three games. The task is not impossible, but anyone short of a wild-eyed dreamer would see it as plausible. That the Ravens have Detroit and Oakland on their schedule should not be cause for feeling too comfy. The Ravens must travel to the West Coast on the last Sunday of the season to face the same Oakland Raiders who just knocked off the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
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While it's not time to give up yet, Monday night on the "Frozen Tundra" gave all Ravens fans a painful chill that only victory can solve.
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Wild Card Contenders:
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In:
Denver (8-4) (Div: 3-1, Conf: 6-3)
Remaining: @Indianapolis, Oakland, @Philadelphia, Kansas City
Jacksonville (7-5) (Div: 3-2; Conf: 6-2)
Remaining: Miami, Indianapolis, @New England, @Cleveland
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In Contention:
Baltimore (6-6) (Div: 3-2, Conf: 6-4)
Remaining: Detroit, Chicago, @Pittsburgh, @Oakland
Miami (6-6) (Div: 3-2, Conf: 3-4)
Remaining: @Jacksonville, @Tennessee, Houston, Pittsburgh
New York Jets (6-6) (Div: 2-4, Conf: 5-5)
Remaining: Tampa Bay, Atlanta, @Indianapolis, Cincinnati
Pittsburgh (6-6) (Div: 1-3, Conf: 4-4)
Remaining: @Cleveland, Green Bay, Baltimore, @Miami
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Analysis:
The good news for the 6-6 teams outside looking in is that Denver goes on the road to Indy and Philadelphia facing two strong playoff teams. The bad news is they would have lose a home game against Oakland or Kansas City. Jacksonville battles Miami, Indy, and New England with only Indy in great shape and Miami and New England facing perhaps must win scenarios to achieve their goals. They have a tough fight before their trek to Cleveland to face the Browns.
The Baltimore Ravens face three teams with losing records and one team at .500 in their final four games. They must win all four games and hope for help. The key game is their next to last game in Pittsburgh.
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Miami and the New York Jets have an additional consideration. Both teams trail New England by just one game so they are also in competition to win their division. Neither face New England, but New England will be tough to overcome given they face Carolina, go to Buffalo, host Jacksonville, then finish at Houston. Miami face two contenders and visits Tennessee which has only lost one game (versus New England) since Vince Young took over at Quarterback. While the Jets face two certain playoff teams in Indy and Cincinnati, both teams could be playing soft to preserve their health for the playoffs. Visiting Tampa should bring home a win, but hosting Atlanta who might still cling to playoff hopes in week 15 will be no push over.
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Given the Ravens inability to win games back to back much less putting together any kind of drive, expecting they will carry the rest of the season will require effort not shown so far in 2009. Stacking up against Pittsburgh, the Steelers do have what should be a "gimme" at Cleveland, but then host the Green Bay Packers who will be fighting like mad for their playoff fortunes. In all likelihood, the season will be decided before they travel to finish the year in Miami.
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That's right Yogi, it's not over until it's over, but depending on one team to lose two out of four games while winning all four remaining games is a very tough scenario but one that can happen.
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Keep dreaming. Some times dreams come true, but the 2009 Ravens lack the killer instinct of last year's team.
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