Pats v Ravens

[JJP]

New England is looking very mortal now. That's two weeks in a row that they've won, but had to work hard to win and was never, ever remotely close to covering their spread. A healthy Indy and Dallas are no doubt capable of beating them. We'll find out soon on Pittsburgh. The Steelers had a couple bad games against the Jets and Miami before rebounding this past week. And Jacksonville is sharp. But if NE gets by this past week, it looks like it will be a done deal to go undefeated in the regular season.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by JJP

New England is looking very mortal now.

Perhaps they've been somewhat exposed as having a defense that isn't as good as it was playing when the offense set them up with big early leads in the vast majority of games in the first half of the season.

The offense might have had there two most impressive performances all season in the last two weeks - as Moss has always struggled against Eagles double teams (be it in either Minny, Oakland, or now in NE) .. and with a big physical corner like Chris McAlister and a freakish athlete like Ed Reed playing center field - he was going to struggle against Baltimore even without the kind of strong winds that take the deep ball out.

Philly, and Baltimore especially, are the two teams in the NFL most capable of containing Moss for an entire game.

I talked over and over about how tough I thought this game would be for New England - it had all the makings of the ultimate trap game - and a healthy Balt D with their two elite starting pro bowl corners from last year back in the lineup is a massive upgrade over trying to cover with 3rd and 4th string corners....which was happening during the long losing streak they were stuck in.

I said for weeks going into this game that Baltimore's defense, with all the circumstances in their favor for this game - would have a big chance to make that one magical last stand of theirs.

While Balt's D fought - they just didn't have that magic they always had in these kind of situations. Watching them in past years - Ed Reed would have found a way to turn that INT into a defensive touchdown instead of fumbling it back away. In past years, that ball batted high up in the air by Ray Lewis would have been a near lock to be picked off - and probably returned...instead it fell harmlessly to the grass with a few Raven defenders patroling the area.

The Ravens defense MURDERED the Steelers in a blowout when they had their 15-1 season a few years ago - tonight, even with a surprisingly good effort by the Baltimore offense...they didn't have enough to win this.

Sad to see as it was - I think this game marked the end of an 8 year defensive dynasty in Baltimore... valiant yet vanquished... like the Spartans at Thermopalye or whatever. A mostly aging machine made their last stand.

For a good part of the last 8 years - there defense has been almost like an offense - I'm sure it can be argued that past teams have had sustained defenses as good or better....but no way has there ever been a defense more entertaining to watch than the Ravens unit has been virtually throughout this entire decade.

[declansharbor]

Hats off to the Drugsmeister, as he said the Ravens would give the Pats all that they could handle. It's a shame that they don't play anymore teams named after birds.

[Danzig]

altho i don't care much for the pats, i'd like to see them win it all. we can't pick and choose what team will show up and dominate each year, but how exciting to see a possibly record breaking season long performance.

[viscount26]

I thought it was time to change my avatar

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by viscount26

I thought it was time to change my avatar

it was a nail biter for sure.

did you guys see BB blowing kisses at the pats defensiveman? hilarious.

[whodey17]

Well the mood isnt too great here in Indy when it comes to the chances of Indy knocking off the Pats. Freeney is out for the year, Peyton is getting too much pressure on him and Marvin being out is turned out to be HUGE. It seems like that the stars are not aligned this year for the Colts. I wouln't be surprised at all if they end up losing in the first round of the playoffs. The Jags clearly outplayed them last week.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Perhaps they've been somewhat exposed as having a defense that isn't as good as it was playing when the offense set them up with big early leads in the vast majority of games in the first half of the season.

Some of the older defensive players are looking old

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Perhaps they've been somewhat exposed as having a defense that isn't as good as it was playing when the offense set them up with big early leads in the vast majority of games in the first half of the season.

The offense might have had there two most impressive performances all season in the last two weeks - as Moss has always struggled against Eagles double teams (be it in either Minny, Oakland, or now in NE) .. and with a big physical corner like Chris McAlister and a freakish athlete like Ed Reed playing center field - he was going to struggle against Baltimore even without the kind of strong winds that take the deep ball out.

Philly, and Baltimore especially, are the two teams in the NFL most capable of containing Moss for an entire game.

I talked over and over about how tough I thought this game would be for New England - it had all the makings of the ultimate trap game - and a healthy Balt D with their two elite starting pro bowl corners from last year back in the lineup is a massive upgrade over trying to cover with 3rd and 4th string corners....which was happening during the long losing streak they were stuck in.

I said for weeks going into this game that Baltimore's defense, with all the circumstances in their favor for this game - would have a big chance to make that one magical last stand of theirs.

While Balt's D fought - they just didn't have that magic they always had in these kind of situations. Watching them in past years - Ed Reed would have found a way to turn that INT into a defensive touchdown instead of fumbling it back away. In past years, that ball batted high up in the air by Ray Lewis would have been a near lock to be picked off - and probably returned...instead it fell harmlessly to the grass with a few Raven defenders patroling the area.

The Ravens defense MURDERED the Steelers in a blowout when they had their 15-1 season a few years ago - tonight, even with a surprisingly good effort by the Baltimore offense...they didn't have enough to win this.

Sad to see as it was - I think this game marked the end of an 8 year defensive dynasty in Baltimore... valiant yet vanquished... like the Spartans at Thermopalye or whatever. A mostly aging machine made their last stand.

For a good part of the last 8 years - there defense has been almost like an offense - I'm sure it can be argued that past teams have had sustained defenses as good or better....but no way has there ever been a defense more entertaining to watch than the Ravens unit has been virtually throughout this entire decade.

Drugs, just want to give you the credit that you are due here. You said that the Ravens would/could beat the Pats and almost everyone including myself laughed at you. The Ravens really should have won the game outright, a couple of bad calls and a couple of bad breaks for them was enough to cost them in a game where they outplayed the Pats. I don't think that the Ravens could play any better, I thought that the defense was great. McGhaee looked like the back everyone thought he was going to be out of college and Kyle Boller was at his best. Unfortunatley he threw one awful pass and then they took the ball away from him. I said it before, I'll say it again They lost because they got conservitive after he threw the pick in the endzone. They stayed with the run and were afraid to let Boller make a play, like he was doing all night. Instead of being aggressive and playing to win, they tried not to lose.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Perhaps they've been somewhat exposed as having a defense that isn't as good as it was playing when the offense set them up with big early leads in the vast majority of games in the first half of the season.

The offense might have had there two most impressive performances all season in the last two weeks - as Moss has always struggled against Eagles double teams (be it in either Minny, Oakland, or now in NE) .. and with a big physical corner like Chris McAlister and a freakish athlete like Ed Reed playing center field - he was going to struggle against Baltimore even without the kind of strong winds that take the deep ball out.

The bottom line is that the Pats won the game like great teams do. I agree with you Drugs that Moss struggles with the scenario you describe but I think the severe windy cold weather in the stadium made it unbearable to play 4 quarters. I have been to many a game at Foxboro in December and those conditions Monday night were worse than other games Ive seen there like the Jaquars AFC title game and the infamous "tuck" fiasco withthe Raiders. Randy really doesn't like the cold and will likely struggle as the season wears on in New England. If they get to the super bowl again he'll be a monster again but even at Marshall Randy didn't dig the freezing weather late in the season and says so openly.....this may be more of an issue than it's currently playing as Brady and BB protect Moss. Day games not as bad but night games are not Randy's thing in the cold.

[wiphan]

I too have to give Drugs credit. I laughed at him when he said the Ravens would beat the Pats. I never saw this one coming. Great game. I think the key to beating the Pats is getting to Tom Brady. He can't handle the pressure. Their running game is definitely sub par so you should be able to blitz and get pressure on Brady, with that said they still found a way to win and they are an outstanding team. I hope the Pats fgo 16-0 and lose either in the playoffs or Superbowl