And With That Our Season is Over

[RockGod]

Time to start looking towards 2010. Even if the Ravens managed to make it in the playoffs they can't beat a good team. Maybe they could start using D. Williams and other players to see what we have and plan accordingly.

[RavensInBrazil]

This kind of defeatist attitude really kills me. Everyone assumed we would lose to Indy when discussing playoff scenarios!

[Sephy]

Not even close. A lot of teams in the mix. Win next week and you do a lot for yourself. Beat Pittsburgh twice, and you're REALLY in the drivers seat.

[RockGod]

This kind of defeatist attitude really kills me. Everyone assumed we would lose to Indy when discussing playoff scenarios!

Not trying to be a defeatist just looking at the big picture. We're 5-5 overall and 5-4 in the conference. We can't beat good teams and we have a very tough schedule.

[CoverD]

Not trying to be a defeatist just looking at the big picture. We're 5-5 overall and 5-4 in the conference. We can't beat good teams and we have a very tough schedule.

Really? The Steelers just lost to the Chiefs and Big Jen went down with an injury, and if he and Polamalu are both out next week...we're definitely still in the mix and have a chance at playoff potential.

[Purpleguy]

We are still in the mix, but we can really only lose one more, and I would think it would have to be against an NFC team. My worries is that this team has horendous coaching. This team may just quit after today's loss.

[RavenScallywag]

Our season is no more over right now than it was before the game...

Remember, we ALL pegged this for a loss. The difference is we played Indy tough and Fabian is done for the year. Also we all figured Steelers would destroy KC. They lost in OT.

Next week is the stand. If we lose to the Steelers, I think you can write off the season. Right now, we're just in a tough spot.

[RockGod]

Really? The Steelers just lost to the Chiefs and Big Jen went down with an injury, and if he and Polamalu are both out next week...we're definitely still in the mix and have a chance at playoff potential.

Only if we could play Cleveland every week.

The Colts had rookies and backups in the secondary and we didn't score 1 td. The Steelers have a much better defense then the Colts and Flacco has never beat the Steelers in three tries.

[RockGod]

Our season is no more over right now than it was before the game...

Remember, we ALL pegged this for a loss. The difference is we played Indy tough and Fabian is done for the year. Also we all figured Steelers would destroy KC. They lost in OT.

Next week is the stand. If we lose to the Steelers, I think you can write off the season. Right now, we're just in a tough spot.

I know all that I just don't see this team being prepared week after week. If we can't grow a set and play like we wanted to win against the Colts which would have been a huge momentum swing. Then why wait until we've lossed 5 games before we do?

[Lee Van Cleef]

Not being pessimistic, but realistically this team isn't making plays when they need to, and making bad plays when it hurts the most. That seems to be the story of this season and you can't do that and expect to go anywhere. There's just enough issues that they are going to lose crucial games.

All the talk about lacking identity, this team has an identity, unfortunately it's one that is disappointing because it's a lack of discipline, intelligence and toughness. They aren't clutch.

[StingerNLG]

Here's the difference in all this guys:

Our offense has continued to struggle, and this week completely broke down in the redzone. We've lost our offensive swagger, and apparently Cam's lost his balls or ability to mix it up.

It's not a matter of the fact we lost. I had it pegged as a loss too. But I thought we'd at LEAST put up a couple touchdowns and show everyone that our offense could compete.

Call me defeatist. I don't care anymore. call me whatever names you want. But at the same time I want someone to explain to me how you walk away from this game thinking we can still make the playoffs.

And yes, Polamalu is out. But today wasn't Bob Sanders out? Wasn't the Colts defense banged up too?

I wish I was overreacting. But there is so little evidence that we have what it takes to beat a good team this year that I cannot understand how we still have a chance, outside of of course mathmatics.

[CoverD]

Only if we could play Cleveland every week.

The Colts had rookies and backups in the secondary and we didn't score 1 td. The Steelers have a much better defense then the Colts and Flacco has never beat the Steelers in three tries.

But KC just put the Steelers away in OT with that "better defense" you're talking about. So its any given Sunday, that Chiefs/Steelers game proved it.

[RavenScallywag]

I don't disagree with those points, but why would you say "and with that" for our season being over. Before this game, we all thought we'd get blown out by the Colts. If we do get blown out, the season is also over, because we can't put up a good performance against good teams. So by that notion, the season was over with the lackluster Cleveland win.

I think we played the Colts well, but we just need to find that one thing that puts us over the top. We've played 3 of 5 games just barely well enough to lose closely. We find that one thing in each game, we're 8-2, and in a TOTALLY different situation. If they can't fix this next week against the Steelers, pack it up. But if we can, we can still make things interesting at the end.

[StingerNLG]

I don't disagree with those points, but why would you say "and with that" for our season being over. Before this game, we all thought we'd get blown out by the Colts. If we do get blown out, the season is also over, because we can't put up a good performance against good teams. So by that notion, the season was over with the lackluster Cleveland win.

Yes, but if we lose 35-27, or 28-24, that's different. Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning. You get that. But to lose 17-15, knowing that if you had simply gotten a single yard in three plays you would have won, that changes things

And it's a trend. We haven't scored a first quarter TD in how many games now? Against the Browns we only scored one. We couldn't score against the Bengals very well. It's not a one game thing.

[RockGod]

But KC just put the Steelers away in OT with that "better defense" you're talking about. So its any given Sunday, that Chiefs/Steelers game proved it.

But we're not the Cheifs. I don't know the stats but did the Cheifs play mistake free football? The Ravens don't. We had a +2 turnover ratio and lsot the game. We have no balls to play against the good teams.

[HoustonRaven]

RockGod is doing his best HoustonRaven impersonation when I started posting here. Dude, you're doing a bang up job at making friends here. :grbac:

Are we out? No. Is it VERY hard and do we need help? Yup.

Way I see it is we need to win out and then hope for some help from teams like Houston, Jax and SD.

[Purpleguy]

But we're not the Cheifs. I don't know the stats but did the Cheifs play mistake free football? The Ravens don't. We had a +2 turnover ratio and lsot the game. We have no balls to play against the good teams.

We ended up with a +1 turnover differential. I think that's important because i don't think the Ravens have ever lost with a +2 differential.

[Purpleguy]

RockGod is doing his best HoustonRaven impersonation when I started posting here. Dude, you're doing a bang up job at making friends here. :grbac:

Are we out? No. Is it VERY hard and do we need help? Yup.

Way I see it is we need to win out and then hope for some help from teams like Houston, Jax and SD.

If we win out I think we are in. We need help if we lose one more, which is highly probable.

[RockGod]

I don't disagree with those points, but why would you say "and with that" for our season being over. Before this game, we all thought we'd get blown out by the Colts. If we do get blown out, the season is also over, because we can't put up a good performance against good teams. So by that notion, the season was over with the lackluster Cleveland win.

I think we played the Colts well, but we just need to find that one thing that puts us over the top. We've played 3 of 5 games just barely well enough to lose closely. We find that one thing in each game, we're 8-2, and in a TOTALLY different situation. If they can't fix this next week against the Steelers, pack it up. But if we can, we can still make things interesting at the end.

I pick the Ravens to lose hoping they would win and making our playoff chances a lot better. But after watching this game and the past 4 weeks our offense has no idea how to win. They don't know if they can run or pass. I said this before I don't think Harbaugh is going to workout and watching these last couple of games I don't see the players being to fired up about playing for him.

[UKRavenGordon]

We just pushed the best team in football to their very limit today. Our D held Peyton Manning to 17 points. We are not done yet. I'll tell you this if we play like this the rest of the year we won't lose another another game.

[RockGod]

We ended up with a +1 turnover differential. I think that's important because i don't think the Ravens have ever lost with a +2 differential.

When the final turnover comes 14 seconds at the end of the game I highly doubt that it made a difference. When Reed returns a INT almost to midfeild from the 5 and you only get 3 points, I don't think your all that good.

[Lee Van Cleef]

We just pushed the best team in football to their very limit today. Our D held Peyton Manning to 17 points. We are not done yet. I'll tell you this if we play like this the rest of the year we won't lose another another game.

I respectfully disagree, the hallmark of the team today is not doing enough, and doing enough dumb things to lose games. If they keep playing like they did today, they'll lose the rest of the games.

They need to be more clinical. They need to get their bloody heads in the game. Then they'll start winning games.

[StingerNLG]

We just pushed the best team in football to their very limit today. Our D held Peyton Manning to 17 points. We are not done yet. I'll tell you this if we play like this the rest of the year we won't lose another another game.

If we play without scoring an offensive touchdown the rest of the year we won't lose another game?

This isn't the 2000 defense.

[UKRavenGordon]

I meant to add on defense in there. If we play like this on D the rest of the year then we won't lose.

[Purpleguy]

When the final turnover comes 14 seconds at the end of the game I highly doubt that it made a difference. When Reed returns a INT almost to midfeild from the 5 and you only get 3 points, I don't think your all that good.

No, it may not have made a difference, but it is big to those that keep the stats.

[RockGod]

RockGod is doing his best HoustonRaven impersonation when I started posting here. Dude, you're doing a bang up job at making friends here. :grbac:

Are we out? No. Is it VERY hard and do we need help? Yup.

Way I see it is we need to win out and then hope for some help from teams like Houston, Jax and SD.

I can't go away from who I am. I'm just saying what I think. Is it possible to make the playoffs? Yup. But I highly doubt we can. The way I've seen this team play, the only way another team can help us is if they come play the games for us.

[Purpleguy]

If we play without scoring an offensive touchdown the rest of the year we won't lose another game?

This isn't the 2000 defense.

The offense has gone to exactly what the fans and press have been calling for since we went 3-0 by "passing too much". We now run on first and second down and throw on third and long. We are predictable, but the fans were clamoring for that brand of "Raven Football".

[Lee Van Cleef]

The thing that really bothered me, was in the last minute or so when Harbs started losing the plot. That concerns me because the guy is a disciplinarian and he's doing stupid stuff that's losing timeouts and losing his temper. I can understand the frustration I suppose, but that's not what I wnted to see out of him. I got a sense of him losing control that I didn't like.

[RockGod]

No, it may not have made a difference, but it is big to those that keep the stats.

To be completely honest I wasn't even watching the game at that point, I saw the Reed play on the review. I stopped watching when Flacco threw the INT. I had forgot about that turnover when I made that post.

[BlackSunday]

To implicitly disagree w/ the OP:

Are we rooting for SD or Denver?

BS

[Mista T]

A Broncos-Chargers tie would be kinda nice!

[Lee Van Cleef]

Interestingly, Al Harris is done for the season and Aaron Kampman has a knee injury. Makes the Green Bay game more interesting.

[UKRavenGordon]

Interestingly, Al Harris is done for the season and Aaron Kampman has a knee injury. Makes the Green Bay game more interesting.

Makes is very winnable, their best pass rusher and second best corner out. I like our chances against that front seven.

[btarr8]

This kind of defeatist attitude really kills me. Everyone assumed we would lose to Indy when discussing playoff scenarios!

We also assumed we'd beat the Bengals twice, and we see how well that played out.

[btarr8]

When the final turnover comes 14 seconds at the end of the game I highly doubt that it made a difference. When Reed returns a INT almost to midfeild from the 5 and you only get 3 points, I don't think your all that good.

According to Stan White on the radio a little while ago, today was the Ravens first loss with a +2 turnover differential. They had been 48-0.

[camdenyard]

Um, we had a +1 differential...Reed's "fumble" at the end was our 2nd TO.

[Lee Van Cleef]

Makes is very winnable, their best pass rusher and second best corner out. I like our chances against that front seven.

And if we can't get pressure against that O-line then the defense should be taken out back and shot.

[BlackSunday]

... They need to get their bloody heads in the game. Then they'll start winning games.

But enough about Matt Birk ...

BS

[Lee Van Cleef]

Um, we had a +1 differential...Reed's "fumble" at the end was our 2nd TO.

Maybe that's why he did it! Didn't want to break the streak!

:laugh:

Seriously, when the team was sitting there with a +3 TO differential I was thinking "We never lose with that margin, they'll pull it out"... oh how wrong I was!

[Lee Van Cleef]

But enough about Matt Birk ...

BS

True, what's with his nose?

[UKRavenGordon]

You look our next two games and if the Burger is out then we should get to Batch, their OL lets Roth get hit but because he's so good at not going down he helps them. At GB we should nail Rodgers and put up some points. Going into the easier part of our schedule we can easily be 7-5. I like our chances for the rest of the year.

The Steelers are playing pretty similar to us right now.

The thread title may be the most melodramatic in a while. I'd have thought people like that would have been too busy watching New Moon at the cinema this weekend. If we lose the next to THEN our season is over.

[Lee Van Cleef]

I don't think Assburger is going to be out. I reackon people are being a bit hopeful in that.

[CoverD]

But Polamalu may be out, they said it may be a week or two for his injury.

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

This kind of defeatist attitude really kills me. Everyone assumed we would lose to Indy when discussing playoff scenarios!

:iagree:

[Galen Sevinne]

the season is far from over.

[Sua Sponte]

We ended up with a +1 turnover differential. I think that's important because i don't think the Ravens have ever lost with a +2 differential.

Not to be a Dick, but what game were you watching. I'm pretty sure we had a +2, 2 INT's and FR to 1INT

[Galen Sevinne]

Not to be a Dick, but what game were you watching. I'm pretty sure we had a +2, 2 INT's and FR to 1INT

ed reeds fumble

[Boulderraven]

You people crazy to think playoffs they are 5-5 team heading for 8-8. They just arent good enough, what else do you need to see. They can't handle pressure or bigtime moments in games, that makes them average instead of 12-4.

[RockGod]

You people crazy to think playoffs they are 5-5 team heading for 8-8. They just arent good enough, what else do you need to see. They can't handle pressure or bigtime moments in games, that makes them average instead of 12-4.

If they keep up the win one lose one streek you will be correct. I think they'll finnish 9-7 with a small chance of 10-6 neither of which I think will get them in the playoffs.

[Boulderraven]

Problem is the Ravens are good ever other season and next year they will play a 3rd place schedule and the Ravens will make improvements and be back in the playoffs as usual...every other year that is....Reason is fat Ozzie looks at his team that made the playoffs the year before and does little to improve it while other teams around the league get better, look for the trend to continue...festivus in 2010, this year is dead, and will be ended officially next week for those hanging on again by the Steelers like last season.

[BmoreBrawla]

Hey, if we're going down, we can at least take Pittsburgh down with us! :kewl: The season is never over if Pitt is still on the schedule.

[BlackSunday]

Hey, if we're going down, we can at least take Pittsburgh down with us! :kewl: The season is never over if Pitt is still on the schedule.

Not quite on a par with Henry V or the opening scene of Patton, but it's a start.

BS

[psuasskicker]

Um, we had a +1 differential...Reed's "fumble" at the end was our 2nd TO.

This is approximately as relevant as saying we hadn't allowed a 100 yard rusher when the Giants tore us a new one last year.

This team has far bigger problems than losing close games this year. We have several holes already needing to be filled, and are about to have several more. The disaster of this game isn't that we lost or how we lost. It's that weeks like this still leave people believing we're a couple players short, then cause the FO to try to patch up a couple spots next year, and completely ignore the fact that we need to go into rebuilding mode very badly if we want to avoid being mired in suckitude for the next three to five years.

- C -

[Carey]

^Still waiting on that article bud......But the season is pretty much over because of the fact that this team routinely doesnt make the plays needed to win games. You miss a 30 yard field goal, you get shut out at the 1 to a team that cant stop the run, an ill-advised pitch to end the game. This is simply and above average team. This team would need to go at least 5 and 1 down the stretch and im not confident that have the mental make up to do that

[Greg]

Not trying to be a defeatist just looking at the big picture. We're 5-5 overall and 5-4 in the conference. We can't beat good teams and we have a very tough schedule.

Nonsense. Denver and San Diego are both good teams.

We can't beat elite teams, yet, and we were in every game save one. Every loss could have turned on a single play.

And our schedule WAS tough, now we have the Steelers and GB in front of us and I think we can beat both. The rest of the schedule should be easy and this team has beaten every easy team they have faced.

[Dunk]

I have grevious doubts about our head coach. He is acclerating his bad tactical decision making during games. He has made some bad strategic decisions: Mattison and Stover to start with. I don't believe he has control over the players: they are inconsistently prepared from week-to-week. How could he not get the team up for the Bengals? Simply put, I think Harbaugh is over-matched and will not last long. I hope to proven wrong, but there are clear trends otherwise.

[mojorob]

Well I'm nowhere ready to give up on this season. The Ravens still have a chance to make the playoffs. 5-1 will give them a shot from here on out. Cincy has a relatively week remaining schedule and it looks like they would have at least 10 wins and the tie-breaker over the Ravens.

The Ravens will need help and they could use some tonight with a Titans win over Houston. I will be in my seat at the game Sunday night and I hope the following earlier games go like this. Giants beat the Broncos Thanksgiving night;Buffalo beats Miami;Colts over Houston;Carolina over the Jets;Niners over Jacksonville;KC over SD. Because NE beat the Ravens,it would be best for them to go on and win the AFC East .

Hopefully all of the "help" games will turn out and the Ravens can smash the Steelers. From there it will be week by week with all of the help that the Ravens can get.

[OriAl]

Not over yet, but the Ravens cannot give away any more should/could-have-won games.