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Post by alienrace on Dec 27, 2023 11:50:59 GMT -5
The last of the "gauntlet" games for the Ravens. Honestly, I think the Ravens should blow them out. The Dolphins are banged up, and have played one of the easiest schedules possible, feasting on a lot of bad teams. They've only beaten one team with a winning record - Dallas (who is horrible on the road). However, I'm quite concerned about a letdown. And Tyreek Hill is worrisome. Ravens will need to be focused and not take them lightly. I see they are only 3.5 pt favorites, so that should tick them off a bit.
Should they lose, it's pretty likely then they'll need to beat the Steelers in week 18 to even win the AFCN, which obviously should not be a problem, but the Steelers would love nothing more to stick it to the Ravens. It's a given that the Browns crucify the Jets, and I would expect them also to clobber Cincy. Both Cincy and Steelers are playing for pride at this point.
Lots of other big games with huge implications, league wide. Going to be a wild finish for sure.
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Post by ivanbalt on Dec 27, 2023 12:26:21 GMT -5
If they don't beat Miami, I'd give it a 50/50 shot with the Steelers. Harbaugh and the rest of the team forget how football is played when Pittsburgh is the opponent.
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Post by Rael on Dec 27, 2023 15:50:00 GMT -5
The last of the "gauntlet" games for the Ravens. Honestly, I think the Ravens should blow them out. The Dolphins are banged up, and have played one of the easiest schedules possible, feasting on a lot of bad teams. They've only beaten one team with a winning record - Dallas (who is horrible on the road). However, I'm quite concerned about a letdown. And Tyreek Hill is worrisome. Ravens will need to be focused and not take them lightly. I see they are only 3.5 pt favorites, so that should tick them off a bit. Should they lose, it's pretty likely then they'll need to beat the Steelers in week 18 to even win the AFCN, which obviously should not be a problem, but the Steelers would love nothing more to stick it to the Ravens. It's a given that the Browns crucify the Jets, and I would expect them also to clobber Cincy. Both Cincy and Steelers are playing for pride at this point. Lots of other big games with huge implications, league wide. Going to be a wild finish for sure. This makes sense but we have bad mojo with Miami. They got Billick fired and have beaten us in times they had no right to beat us. On paper, we should crush them. Paper doesn't play the game.
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Post by alienrace on Dec 27, 2023 16:16:46 GMT -5
This makes sense but we have bad mojo with Miami. They got Billick fired and have beaten us in times they had no right to beat us. On paper, we should crush them. Paper doesn't play the game. That's exactly what has me nervous. Then again, we've obliterated them a few times over the years as well. Let's hope paper covers rock This article has tons of videos from the 49'ers game. Seeing some of this stuff replayed, is just mind blowing - www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-defense-gameplan-49ers-dolphins-macdonald-zone-humphrey-hamilton-week-16
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Post by pickle20 on Dec 28, 2023 13:20:55 GMT -5
Interested in seeing Flacco tonight vs the Jets. He's thrown 7 INT in 4 games but everyone is focused on his 3-1 record. Jets have a good defense, I expect a few INTs tonight. If the Jets had anything resembling an NFL QB I'd be taking the Jets to at least cover.
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Post by alienrace on Dec 28, 2023 14:28:23 GMT -5
He's thrown 7 INT in 4 games but everyone is focused on his 3-1 record. Well he's also thrown for more yards and more TD passes than anyone else in the league over the same stretch
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Post by pickle20 on Dec 28, 2023 14:31:53 GMT -5
He's thrown 7 INT in 4 games but everyone is focused on his 3-1 record. Well he's also thrown for more yards and more TD passes than anyone else in the league over the same stretch Pretty sure Sam Howell did too at one point. It's a great story no doubt, but there are signs it won't last. For the Ravens sake, I hope it doesn't.
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Post by alienrace on Dec 28, 2023 15:21:23 GMT -5
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Post by Rael on Dec 28, 2023 16:01:16 GMT -5
This is good news. The Ravens generally do a decent job of shutting down a number one receiver. Unlikely that it will be a complete shutdown but not having Waddle on the other side frees up some resources to devote to Hill.
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Post by pickle20 on Dec 28, 2023 17:27:14 GMT -5
Hill has been gimpy lately. I’m wondering if he finishes the game.
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Post by pickle20 on Dec 28, 2023 20:37:21 GMT -5
Second Browns drive and Flacco is lucky he doesn’t have 2 interceptions already. But he is looking good.
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Post by Rael on Dec 28, 2023 21:42:46 GMT -5
Joe, Joe, we had a deal.
To be honest, I like watching him. He is in a state of pure joy and he seems like a good guy.
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Post by pickle20 on Dec 28, 2023 22:01:28 GMT -5
Starting to hope we don't have to face him in the playoffs. Last thing I wanna do is get knocked out by Flacco.
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Post by Rael on Dec 28, 2023 22:09:42 GMT -5
Starting to hope we don't have to face him in the playoffs. Last thing I wanna do is get knocked out by Flacco. the logical part of my brain does not compute the idea that Flacco could beat us.
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Post by pickle20 on Dec 28, 2023 22:12:39 GMT -5
Starting to hope we don't have to face him in the playoffs. Last thing I wanna do is get knocked out by Flacco. the logical part of my brain does not compute the idea that Flacco could beat us. I don't think so either. But these kinds of things tend to happen to Baltimore fans.
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Post by alienrace on Dec 29, 2023 9:26:11 GMT -5
While Flacco is a great story, and probably deserving of comeback player of the year, after watching last night's game, I don't think he is well equipped to beat the Ravens. The Dolphins and Bills are probably the bigger threats, IMO. Flacco wouldn't have gotten away with a lot of what he did last night against Baltimore's secondary. Now granted, he didn't have Cooper, and Moore went out with an injury as well, leading to him having to throw a lot of contested balls simply because nobody left on the team could get separation. Baltimore's pass rush would make him very uncomfortable back there.
That said, I'm happy for Joe, looks like he's having a great time out there. Some of his throws/plays were excellent, and a couple were the usual "what the hell were you thinking Joe?" types. He seems to be the same ole Joe, but with more of a got nothing to lose gunslinger mentality going on.
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Post by pickle20 on Dec 29, 2023 9:29:40 GMT -5
I was thinking the same thing. Doubtful he's able to rack up those yards and TDs against the Ravens defense.
The Jets defense looked like it was "pack it in" mode. Njoku had tons of space to operate and run after the catch.
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Post by Rael on Dec 29, 2023 11:15:20 GMT -5
Of all the AFC teams, I think the Bills scare me the most. Much like the Ravens, when they are good they are exceptionally good, but they throw in a clunker every now and then.
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Post by alienrace on Dec 31, 2023 16:43:30 GMT -5
One of the most dominant and impressive games in Ravens history. Amazing adjustments to counter the Phins quick passing game.
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Post by Evil Yoda on Dec 31, 2023 16:53:42 GMT -5
One of the most dominant and impressive games in Ravens history. Amazing adjustments to counter the Phins quick passing game. When it looked like Tagovailoa would be able to do whatever he wanted I got a little nervous. But the defense firmed right up and Jackson then conducted a clinic.
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Post by Rael on Dec 31, 2023 16:58:49 GMT -5
Now do we rest starters for two straight weeks? It backfired the last time.
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Post by Evil Yoda on Dec 31, 2023 17:27:41 GMT -5
Now do we rest starters for two straight weeks? It backfired the last time. I wouldn't, based on last time. But I'd give them less playing time, rotating in some guys who don't play a lot (and who, every year around this time, might be playing their last few games professionally).
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Post by Rael on Dec 31, 2023 17:55:36 GMT -5
Now do we rest starters for two straight weeks? It backfired the last time. I wouldn't, based on last time. But I'd give them less playing time, rotating in some guys who don't play a lot (and who, every year around this time, might be playing their last few games professionally). Not an easy decision. Imagine being the coach who gets Lamar hurt on the fourth play of the game.
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Post by alienrace on Dec 31, 2023 18:03:41 GMT -5
No chance Lamar plays, but some others might get a quarter or so.
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Post by Evil Yoda on Dec 31, 2023 19:44:25 GMT -5
It looks very much like they lost Chubb for the year. "Source" within Dolphins organization says they fear a torn ACL. They of course won't know for certain until they make an image.
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up2
Full Member
Posts: 1,866
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Post by up2 on Dec 31, 2023 19:57:00 GMT -5
Now do we rest starters for two straight weeks? It backfired the last time. It's a long, long season and this is a game of attrition. I probably wouldn't play our starters, or if so, for any long stretches at all. I realize what happened last time, but I seem to remember it was a three week rest, not two from playing. I wouldn't want to be the coach that lost his star QB to injury in a game that has no meaning a week before playoffs begin.
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