Ravens vs Lions, Week 13 Gameday Thread

Humphrey made up for passes allowed

 

Went after the rookie one time to many.

 

Marlon gets even and Stafford gets his throwing hand dinged too!

 

That is game thanks to in small part to the missed PAT.

 

Ruddock is warming up for Stafford.

Collins with a nice little Irish Jig after TD #2.

 

Former Raven Alert: Tyrod carted off with knee injury

 

Canaday!!!!

Weddle!!!!!

3 more turnovers.

 

44-20 is a score is have never predicted. Especially with 37 of those points being all offense

 

That's game though folks. 7-5 and the 6th seed is still ours for now

 

Stafford looks to have a broken hand. Suggs step on it trying to avoid incidental contact. Never like to see that happen, but since it did I wish it happened at the end of the 2nd half to preserve the shut out.

 

I like the tug o'war after the 1st TD.

 

Even more if Tyrod is out for the season or even a game or two.

Watch the Chargers and Jets though.

 

Not sure if this means that the passing offense has finally gelled but if so it only took 13 weeks. If Joe had played in the preseason I can only assume it would have been 4 weeks earlier (???) that we'd have seen this level of offense?

 

Nah. I think it came down to Marty finally calling real plays. Even Pitta called out the playbook. Joe and the receivers couldn't build any chemistry, especially in the deep game

 

Impressive win today. The loss of Jimmy Smith could be a derailer but I have faith in Humphrey to step into his shoes and be much more prepared next weekend. Joe finally started hitting receivers in stride for once, where in the hell did that come from? Anyway, really good win here. Keep it rolling and we will see how it all shakes out.

 

You guys may not have to worry about the Chargers taking your spot if they just take KC's instead.

 

Kansas City has sort of a cupcake-esque remaining schedule (Oak, LAC, Dolphins <all at home>, then Week17 @ Denver). Chargers aren't so lucky. Hosting Washington, @KC/@NYJets, then hosting the Raiders to close out. Raiders have a tough schedule remaining (@KC, host Dallas, and @ Philly), especially Week 17 being at the Chargers. KC, even though they're playing like shit lately, still has the more favorable schedule of the 3 contenders in the AFC West.

 

Looked over all those AFC WC contenders and here are my thoughts:
1) Four games is a lot of football left to be played in a hotly contested WC race. Many things can happen to drastically change this plyoff picture.

2) All the AFC West teams in that current 5-6 record all have more difficult schedules the Ravens. The Ravens have Steelers, Browns, Colts and Bengals in that order. 4-0 is possible if they beat the Steelers, but I'm not counting on that. 3-1 id probable given their recent surge, IF they can keep up that this level of play. Given the state of things in the AFC, that should be enough for the #6 seed.

3) Chargers have one of the worst schedules facing a tough Redskins, the fading Chiefs, the gamey Jets, and the Raiders. After a 1-5 start they have won 4 of the last and hung tough against the Pats and Jags. They only lost to Philly by a FG. Tough to call their final record in a muddled division with three 6-6 teams, but they appear to be the best team in the division right now.

4) The Chiefs have faded after a red hot start and its difficult to say out they'll finish the season facing 3 of their .500 division rivals and a Dolphins D that has frustrated many teams this year.

5) The Raiders are still a dangerous team fighting their way back to .500. They'll finish the season against Chiefs, Cowboys high-flying Eagles, and the Chargers.

6) The AFC South is a two team race with Jags and Titans at 8-4 each, one game ahead and they hold the tie breakers against Bmore. If either stumbles down the stretch one (or both) could fall to competing for the 6th seed. The Ravens just need a better record than either of them this to happen.

7) Titans face the desperate Cards, the reinvigorated 49ers, the red hot Rams and the Jags who they're currently tied for 1st in the Div.

8) The Jags face the a tough Seahawks, the Texans, the 49ers and, of course, finish with the Titans.

9) The Jets and possibly the Dolphins (both 5-7) can unseat the now vulnerable Bills for 2nd in the division. The Bills (6-6) just lost Tyrod Taylor for the season and Peterman looks like an INT machine. HOWEVER, both have to basically win out the rest of the schedule and both face the Pats one more time. Also the as amazing and Jets' offense looks now, in addition to the Pats they also face Saints and Chargers. While I think they're the better team, the Dolphins have a better chance of going 4-0 right now and that is still a HUGE "if."

So the Ravens are in a great position right now. Mathematically, they can still win the division if they manage 3 wins and the Steelers tank the rest of the way. Not likely. They can rise as high as the 5th seed with 3-4 wins and likely will end up the 6th with 2-3 wins. I'm very confident that barring further injuries to the defense they can get another shutout even without Jimmy and manage 3-1. I've also read that Jimmy's Achilles' (which was listed as a "strain" nearly all season) was not a matter of IF it will rupture, but WHEN if he continued to play. That type of "knowing" that you're in for a ton of pain if you don't stop takes guts. Despite his loss I have renewed hope they'll make the play-off and likely face the Pats, possibly the Steelers if they do very well. Against the either we have a 50/50 shot in the post season imo and FLacco/Harbs can possibly extended their streak of at least 1 win in the post season.

 

Also, for those of you on the Alex Collins band wagon (myself included) he has quietly amassed 705 yards in 11 game. That's 64 yds/gm. With 4 games and 295 yards to go it is possible he tops 1000 this year. He's also scored 4 TDs in his last 3 games...in case you haven;t kept score...but I know you have!