...And Here’s Where The Ravens Really Make A Statement

Last Sunday night’s game between the Ravens and the Steelers was historic for all Ravens fans. It’s the 92-yard drive that finally made doubters into believers. Flacco, while inconsistent, is fully capable of putting the team on his shoulders and winning a huge game that matters on the big stage, in prime-time, while nearly the entire NFL fan base is watching. Sure he had some miscues along with an almost costly fumble, but it’s how he responded with precision and poise on that last drive that got just one more monkey off his back. The funny thing is if you talked to him about the drive, you wouldn’t think he felt much pressure at all.

With all the excitement involved with beating your arch rival twice, it's time for this team to move on and really step it up in week 10 against Seattle. As much as we all rejoiced (I literally almost cried tears of joy) when we saw Torrey Smith make that game winning catch, by the next day many of us fans immediately thought about the let down in week 2 when the Ravens lost to the Titans after their emotional win against the Steelers the week before. The possibility of another letdown in Seattle is definitely in the back of our minds.

Since Flacco and Harbaugh have been in Baltimore, the Ravens have only lost 3 times to a team under .500, the most recent being only 3 weeks ago against the Jaguars in the Monday night embarrassment. That loss is not a too distant memory, so this leaves us fans a little nervous about Seattle. At the beginning of the season most fans were checking this off as a win. Now, in week 10, while very optimistic after last week’s game, you can’t help but think in the back of your mind of the possibility that this game will be tougher than expected.

Despite any doubt, I do have confidence that Joe, Harbaugh, and the rest of the team understand this more than anyone. They are one of the most talented teams and all they’ve needed to do these past few weeks is work out some mental and physical kinks. They certainly don't want to give back any wins.

Now that we've swept the Steelers, its time to make another statement...that Ravens will be the team to beat in the AFC and are ready to put that Super Bowl push into full gear!

Now here’s that game winning drive one more time (hey, the team needs to move on, not us fans):

http://www.nfl.com/videos/baltimore-ravens/09000d5d823dcffa/QB-Flacco-to-WR-Smith-26-yd-pass-TD

RIVALRY

It’s been a fun filled weekend so far! My high school Alma mater Baltimore Polytechnic High school beat its arch rival Baltimore City College22-16 in a last minute drive with 9 seconds on the clock making it one of the best games of this historic rivalry. One of my close friends summed up the feeling of the Poly/City rivalry best: 

"If you didn't have the honor of attending Poly or City then you wouldn't understand what today is about. Yes, I realize that I'm 31 years old and that I've been out of school for 13 years but I'm looking forward to today's game as if I was in my senior year. There is no other high school rivalry in Maryland - better yet - the country that can compare and I'm happy to say that I was blessed to be able to attend the prestigious Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (class of 1998)! May the best team win today! #GoPolyBeatCity"-Chanell Banks

I can definitely identify with this statement. Poly/City will always be a huge rivalry for me. My brother, who made the mistake of choosing City, was my sworn enemy yesterday, but today we are reunited for the best rivalry in the NFL...

RAVENS VS. STEELERS...

It's Purple Monday!!!

Rob Carr/ Getty Images

All Sunday, Ravens fans were aimlessly paroosing the NFL games wishing they didn't have to wait an additional day for a Ravens victory (that's right, victory...do you see the Jaguars winning this in any possible way?). Last night's Saints-Colts outrageously lopsided, snoozer didn't do much to direct all anticipation for Monday night to a different outlet. Many viewers even switched to the World Series last night, grabbing more ratings than Sunday Night Football! I'm sure I wasn't the only one who woke up this morning and said finally, it's Monday...now is it 8:30pm yet?

So how do the Ravens plan to beat the Jaguars? 
Ray Rice wants to pound it on the ground and show why he's better than Maurice Jones-Drew.

Pagano's defense is sure to give rookie QB Blaine Gabbert all he can handle. I'm not sure who to choose between Ray, Reed, Suggs, Webb (just to name a few), but someone from the top scoring defense in the league should get a touchdown tonight.

Flacco and Smith are building great chemistry and since Lee Evans is out another week, they will get more work in tonight.

Billy Cundiff has been money all season and scored 15 of the 29 points against the Texans last week.

Welcome back Jimmy Smith!
Rookie CB Jimmy Smith who's been out since the first play of the opener with a sprained ankle will be back tonight, but probably on special teams. A position where most Ravens fans don't want to see him.

Prediction
Ravens win 31-10

The Ravens are one of if not the most complete teams in the NFL and should continue to find ways to win in all facets of the game tonight.

SN: Anyone missing Kyle Boller? anyone..anyone?

John Harbaugh Has Brother's Back In Handshake-Gate

 

Never has a handshake been so talked about as the Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz debacle. 

After finally seeing footage of the handshake, big brother John Harbough says in his Monday press conference "I can just tell you this: I think I know who was right, but whoever was right or wrong, I know whose side I was on. I'm definitely taking sides. Same side I'm always taking."

John also mentioned that he's been in several fights with Jim a a kid. How would John and Jim size-up in the ring? Dj Gallo of ESPN has Jim as the number one heavyweight while John is a low ranking middleweight. Either way, all the attention little brother Harbaugh is getting should set up for a an eventful match-up this Thanksgiving.

Ravens Looked More Complete Than "Ugly" In Texans Win

Several reports have described the Ravens win over the Texans as ugly.

I see it more as a complete win from the offense, defense, and special teams.

Flacco struggled midway with two turnovers in the first half, but picked up his game in the second half with two 50-plus yard passes to Smith and Boldin.

Ray Rice wasn't getting much yardage with only 32 yards at the end of the half, but found new holes in the second completing the game with 101 yards.

The Defense surrendered a 32 yard touchdown from  Matt Shaub to Jacoby Jones, but didn't allow the Texans to score more than 14 points, the fewest the Texans have scored since October 2010, despite the team being in the Ravens territory majority of the game.

Billy Cundiff did the most leg work with 5 field goals after both the passing game and running game sustained long drives.

If that's not a sign of a well rounded complete team, then I guess "ugly" will have to do.

Ravens-Texans Matchup: So far all, but one expert sees a Ravens win in week 6

NFL.com

CBSSports.com, Pete Prisco feels Joe Flacco will get back to throwing better and the other experts all agree that the Ravens will get the win.

All of the Playbook analyst pick the Ravens except Sterling Sharpe.

Peter King sees a loss for the Texans without Mario Williams and Andre Johnson.

Peter Schrager feels, "This has a Baltimore win written all over it."

Madden Simulation has Baltimore winning 19-16.

Phil, Chris, and Warren can't see the Texans with a win.

The Ravens have garnered 10 out of 10 picks from ESPN ...and Yahoo Sports are looking to favor the Ravens.

Ditka and the crew,...all Baltimore.

Finally, Rosenthal and Florio both agree that Baltimore will be too much to handle for Texas.