Ravens vs Browns Week 16 Game Thread

Actually it does, in terms of strength of schedule and victory which factor into the tie-breaking rules which will apply when 3 or more teams are tied for a spot in the post-season.

 

I rewatched the highlights on YouTube and wanted to mention 2 things.

I had been telling @Lyman that Jackson wasn't taking big hits in the running game all season and was mostly running out of bounds, but he took some wallops yesterday. None was bigger than the run where he wanted Boyle to block for him. I'd rather he didn't take hits like that, but I feel like that is more what we will see when the stakes get higher. Not that Jackson doesn't want to win every game, but when he has something he needs, he's going to put it all on the line.

I haven't seen anyone talking about the abysmally low football IQ play by Baker on the Browns failed 4th and goal attempt. (The one that was then saved by a facemask call on Jimmy Smith.) On the play that actually happened, Baker runs to the right attempting to scramble as none of his targets are open. For a second, it appears like he will run into the end zone untouched, but quickly that gets snuffed out and Baker realizes it as he pseudo-jukes his way out of bounds for another 2 yard loss. IT'S 4TH DOWN! At a bare minimum, he needs to throw the ball anywhere in the end zone where a player from the Browns is supposed to be. If it gets intercepted, oh well. It's not like running out of bounds on 4th down is going to do anything for you. You're in a situation where you're already going for it on 4th and medium and not taking the points for a chip shot FG.

Seeing plays like that where players have no concept of the situation they are in is maddening.

 

Yeah, Lamar took a big shot on that play, but he has been running out of bounds more when he can. He even slid this week. When was the last time we saw Lamar slide?

In terms of Baker, I was at a Ravens bar here in Atlanta, and people actually laughed before we saw the flag. I couldn't believe he ran out of bounds nowhere near the first down marker. That wasn't the only low football IQ play that ended up not mattering. There's was another Browns 4th down where Baker threw up a prayer and our LB, I don't remember who, caught it for the INT. But if he swats it or let's it drop, the offense gets the ball at the LoS which was 30 yards or so closer to the endzone. Didn't matter though because another penalty (I think defensive holding) gave them the 1st down

 

It was LJ Fort that one-handed the INT at the 10 yard line, and the hold was on Peters for holding Beckham (which was definitely the right decision as he was holding his butt off that play)

 

If he didn't hold Beckham the results of that play might have been a TD, so the holding was actually a good play at that point. It's not a bad thing if it stops a possible big play.

 

You guys will probably be favored even if you declare you are sitting the majority of your starters.

 

Speaking of the football IQ, Lamar sliding was just that to keep the clock moving.

We also saw Andrews leap again after a couple months of me saying the coaches broke him of it. I don't like how the ball gets away from his body when he does that, but just like I mentioned with Lamar, I think we're seeing the start of the playoff mindset from the team. They are going to put it all out there.

 

To continue the football IQ topic, a play or two after this, Gus Edwards runs out of bounds after getting the first down

 

I just put on the Falcons/Bucs game and saw Perriman make one of the nicest catches I've ever seen him make. He was out of bounds, but still. He's been pretty good for Tampa Bay. Looking like the receiver Baltimore expected him to be