Week 13 Analysis: New England @ Baltimore

December 4th, 2007 1:25 am
by Big Dog

First things first, the Baltimore Ravens defense dominated much of this game. On offense, RB Willis McGahee earned his money and then some, as he carried major responsibility for a Ravens strategy that included keeping the New England Patriots offense of the field for as long as possible.

Baltimore led this game from the early stages and were managing to stay in front as the Patriots were at best only able to equalise. Each time they did that the Ravens came back to score with confidence and QB Kyle Boller did an excellent job of making some critical passes in the face of tough pressure from the Patriots pass rush.

The Ravens have been renowned for their defense for years and tonight that squad’s skill and experience showed as they limited the Patriots and managed to apply significant pressure to New EnglandQB Tom Brady, sacking him several times. Importantly, they were twice able to hold the Patriots to field goals and maintain a lead. In the end the Ravens defense still had to spend a lot of time on the field and the toll of their workload was showing in the latter stages of the fourth quarter.

New England’s final drive was what decided the game. The Patriots took possession with a little over three minutes left on the game clock and were moving downfield. The Ravens had held the Patriots to 4th and 1 on the Baltimore 30 with just under two minutes to go. The Ravens sideline called a timeout just before the ball was snapped and as the play was whistled off, the Ravens defense stopped the play for what would have been a turnover on downs if the timeout hadn’t been called.

After the reset, the Ravens again stopped the following play for a turnover on downs, but a flag on the play called a false start on the Patriots offense for 4th and 6. Brady scrambled for the 1st down on the following play.

That series of plays was decisive. After investing nearly 60 full minutes of emotional, mental and physical energy, the Ravens defense just imploded. The rest of the drive was dogged by penalty calls against the Ravens. Every time that the Ravens defense got the upper hand, there was another call that let the Patriots off the hook. The frustration was tangible.

The Patriots snatched the lead with a passing TD to TE Benjamin Watson, that will live in infamy for Baltimore fans as Watson held the ball in the fingertips of both hands for the completion. The play was reviewed by the booth and upheld, on replay it clearly was a caught pass.

Kyle Boller and the Ravens offense made a huge effort to race back down the field in the final minute and try to either get into field goal range to tie the game or make the long play for a TD and win. The final play of the game was an awe-inspiring 52 yard shot from Boller to WR Mark Clayton who was on the 2 yard line and unable to make it to the endzone.

In the end, Baltimore’s troubled season continued and the pressures within the team once again boiled over. On the other hand, the Patriots stayed cool and committed to the end, making the plays when the plays needed to be made. This is two weeks in a row that the Patriots have been tested and both times they have passed. The Patriots aren’t without their weaknesses, but nobody has yet been able to make New England’s weaknesses overcome their strengths.

Posted in Baltimore Ravens, Monday Night Football, Willis McGahee, Kyle Boller, Mark Clayton, Benjamin Watson, Tom Brady, New England Patriots, Analysis, Game, NFL on television, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Players, NFL | No Comments »

MNF Week 1

September 10th, 2007 8:44 pm
by Pro Set

Baltimore @ Cincinnati

First half thoughts

This first drive has been an absolute disaster for Baltimore thus far. With an illogical starting script of 4 pass plays, and a wasted timeout, things need to sharpen up. The only bright spot is the high catching ability of Ravens WR Demetrius Williams.

 

The Bengals receivers look like they only need a couple of seconds to get open. That will put serious pressure on the BAL secondary. The BAL pass rush will have to step up. 

What a terrible attempted running play from QB McNair to RB McGahee. McNair never even got close to the correct position. It is the responsibility of the QB to put the ball in the basket, so to speak. This one must be on the QB. 

The Ravens made a good stop here, but will have to limit turnovers. The missed FG is a lucky break for BAL, and as nice as the missed FG return was, the lateral at the end of the play was an unnecessarily dangerous attempt to force a big play. 

Drop back, sack, forced fumble: just an unbelievably poor start for BAL. There is something to be said for 3 carries between the tackles and a deep punt, if necessary. It’s called strategy and patience. 

Drop back, good pocket presence, deep corner pattern: touchdown reception to Bengals WR Chad Johnson. CIN finally cashes in on its good fortune and Johnson shows his great speed to fly by the BAL secondary. The deep throw by CIN QB Carson Palmer was just first class football. Missed PAT always takes some gloss off a score.

 

BAL 0-6 CIN

 

Ravens finally looking like a semi-professional team, until, wait a minute, another fumble. Lost fumbles on 3 consecutive drives on the road in the division is a hurdle that few teams overcome to win. 

I like the CIN emphasis here on moving the chains after the third FR. Eschewing the deep pass, Bengals moved the ball well and ran between the tackles. With Ravens LB Ray Lewis down to one arm, the horse collar penalty was the result. Of course, if BAL continues to turn the ball over, all the Bengals would need to do is run up the middle and kick deep. The suspect CIN FG unit will only be an issue if BAL can hold onto the football.

 

BAL 0-9 CIN

 

If the Ravens aren’t fumbling the ball, they’re dropping passes. Ravens WR Mark Clayton simply has to catch that third down pass. I think that the Ravens need to switch to slashing running plays, rather than the slower developing counter-action plays. Good to see TE Heap get involved in the passing game. 

Finally the BAL defence can show up in the CIN half. And they respond with a nice stop. I know that people will see it as being too conservative, but I think that the Bengals need to pound away with RB Rudi Johnson. With a 9-0 lead, CIN should tire out the Ravens defence and set up a deep play-action strike to catch out Ravens SS Ed Reed playing the run. 

Now BAL has finally settled down. McNair making some clutch third down throws. McGahee running hard over left guard. Williams catching the high pass again. They’re down to the 5 yard line now. Must score possession. And RB Musa Smith obliges over right guard. Despite the utter disaster so far, the score line is manageable. An 88 yard TD drive is exactly what BAL needed.

 

BAL 7-9 CIN   

 

The Monday Night Football crew is much better for the presence of Ron Jaworski. But Jaws holds the party line and does not embarrass the awful, moralistic, puritanical, Mike Tirico, when Tirico just described the WR Johnson end-around as a ‘reverse’. Anyway, lovely third down reception over the shoulder by WR Johnson to convert. Then another excellent catch and run. Palmer throws the ball superbly. Ravens need to be careful about blitzing. I want to see BAL stop the run on early downs and put the pressure on Palmer. And so they do, forcing the punt. Ravens take over with a touchback. 

Quick pass to Heap, then McGahee over right guard is super football. After a penalty, I love the 1^st and 20 screen pass call. But the Bengals destroy the 2^nd down running play. Again it was a slow developing lead draw. No need for this. Slashing running plays are better. Anyway, nice 3^rd down pass to Heap but the air under the ball allowed Bengals FS Dexter Jackson to hit Heap and force the drop. 

After a personal foul on the punt return, CIN gets an extra 15 yards and starts just shy of midfield. CIN should try to ensure that this drive (starting with 3 mins and change left in the half) is the final drive. With good receptions by WR Houshmandzedah and WR Johnson, the Bengals reach 1^st and 10 at the BAL 28 at the 2 min warning. Two quick short receptions and an injury timeout leads to 3^rd and 4 for CIN. An incompletion will allow BAL time for a drive. CIN should have run the ball and killed the half either way. Nice kick by K Scott Graham.

 

BAL 7-12 CIN

 

What can BAL do with 63 seconds left? Ravens KR BJ Sams is a stud, in my opinion, and hits the left sideline return past midfield. Ravens should play it carefully and guarantee a FG attempt. And they do! Great call Billick to run with Smith and get inside the 30 of CIN. After the good pass and catch, the spike kills the clock at 21 ticks left. Nice throw to the right front pylon, unlucky to get such good coverage. Must kick FG for Ravens K Matt Stover. Kick is up and good. Great job Ravens. In the worst first quarter effort I’ve seen for ages, BAL trails by only 2 pts. 

 

BAL 10-12 CIN Halftime

Posted in Mike Tirico, Steve McNair, Ron Jaworski, Chad Johnson, Willis McGahee, Carson Palmer, Monday Night Football, Analysis, Game, ESPN, NFL on television, NFL Players, NFL | No Comments »