Ravens vs Bengals, Week 17 Gameday Thread

The final week of the regular season and today will determine the playoff fates of a few teams, but most importantly (to us), the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore will play Cincinnati in the final week of the regular season, which is no surprise, but will actually host the Bengals in Baltimore, which is a surprise.

A Ravens win today locks them into the 5th seed and sets them up for a trip to Arrowhead in the wildcard round. The Bengals will do their best to play spoiler, which may not be horrible for Baltimore as a Titans OR Bills loss still grants them a playoff berth. Of course I'm sure the Ravens and their fans would just prefer to see Baltimore handle it themselves.

Joe Flacco has been much better the second half of the season in comparison to the first half. It's being said that it's because he's finally healthy, but I don't know how the physical stress of NFL practice and NFL games could do anything but make back problems worse. I still think it's a combination of better play calling and better protection from the o-line. The calls were trash to start the season and the line was still getting to know each other, I guess. With how the offense has played as of late, they should be able to hang with most AFC teams if they play a flawless game. But if not, they'll need help.

The Ravens defense is simply not that great. They are the 2009 Saints reborn. Very opportunistic, but can be pushed by an offense that plays mistake free football. This defense lives and dies by the turnovers and will need to produce at least one in every game, going forward, to give the team a good chance at winning. Can they do it? We'll all find out starting today

LET'S GO, RAVENS!!!

 

For some reason, I don't have a good feeling about this game. Bengals have nothing to play for, but if it is Lewis' last game, they will want to go out on a high note.

Ravens have everything to play for, obviously. Maybe Pees pulls a Ray Lewis and announces his retirement before the game.

 

I expected this board to be loaded and busy. Crickets.

 

The NFL general discussion board has a thread for all week 17 games if anyone is interested.

 

https://www.live4sportnetwork.com/forum/threads/week-17-game-chat.12118/

 

Well, TD by the Bengals to start the game and a punt by the Ravens. Collins runs for a first down on two attempts, so we throw three straight times after that. It's the Ravens way

 

Ravens d-line losing at the point of attack

 

Bengals are running the ball surprisingly well. 6 carries 55yds.

 

Wow zero fans in stands today at Baltimore again I see.

Think it was a pretty packed stadium (in comparison) today in Heinz with the backups playing.

 

M&T looks to be close to just that... m-t.

 

Flacco bomb attempt... pd by Iloka.

 

To say the offense looks flat would be generous. D can't stop the run. Again, no pass rush.

 

Thought that catch by Green was worth a challenge

 

Nice coverage by Humphrey. Step for step w/ green.

Nice stop by Moseley.

 

Me too. Ball arrived on the first step.

 

One thing that doesn't get talked about much is how bad the defense gets near playoff time.

And the drops keep coming. Flacco will get blamed though

 

Wallace should've had that one on 3rd/3.

 

This defense is playing like shit

 

Not a catch. The last AJ sideline catch prior to this one was closer.

 

Again. Nice coverage from Humphrey.