Typically with the Indianapolis Colts, they usually rely on quarterback Peyton Manning to get the job done, which he does with alarming regularity. But as of late, it has been the defense that has saved the day for the Colts, as evidenced by their narrow win over the New England Patriots last Sunday. The Colts would have their hands full Sunday when they went up against a pesky Baltimore Ravens squad at M&T Stadium. Curiously enough, Indianapolis’ defense once again were the heroes as they intercepted a Joe Flacco pass, allowing Indianapolis to remain undefeated, edging Baltimore 17-15.

The Colts drew first blood, going 87 yards on seven plays, capped by a 3-yard TD pass from Manning to tight end Dallas Clark (one-handed, no less!), giving Indianapolis an early 7-0 lead. A pair of field goals by newly-signed kicker Billy Cundiff (46 and 44 yards, respectively) narrowed the Ravens’ deficit to 7-6; a pair of field goals by Cundiff (38 and 36 yards, respectively) sandwiched around a 5-yard TD run by the Colts’ Joseph Addai, allowed Indianapolis to take a narrow 14-12 edge going into halftime.

The third quarter was 15 minutes of ball control warfare, for the most part as no scoring took place. The fourth quarter would find Baltimore tacking on another field goal by Cundiif, giving the Ravens their first lead at 15-14; just over three minutes later, former Ravens kicker Matt Stover put Indianapolis ahead 17-15 with a 25-yard FG with 7:02 remaining in the game. The Colts would ice the win when the Ravens’ Ed Reed fumbled on a punt return with 17 seconds left.

Manning put up un-Manning-like numbers as he went 22-of-31 for 299 yards with a TD and 2 interceptions while Joe Flacco went 23-of-35 for 256 with an INT. Addai rushed 19 times for 74 yards and a score while Ray Rice rushed 20 times for 71 yards while catching 7 passes for 64 yards. Pierre Garcon led all Colts receivers with 6 receptions for 108 yards while Reggie Wayne caught 7 passes for 89 yards; tight end Tom Santi caught 6 passes for 80 yards. Derrick Mason led the Ravens receiving corps with 9 receptions for 142 yards while the aforementioned Rice caught 7 for 64 yards.

Indianapolis (10-0) looks to extend their winning streak to 20 when they travel to Houston to take on the Texans next Sunday while Baltimore (5-5) remains at home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers – also next Sunday.

Week 11: Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens
Monday November 22, 2009 1:00 PM
Line: Ravens +6.0

It’s the NFL. Clearly a win is a win is a win. With the tough slate of games coming up, the Ravens cannot look a gift horse in the mouth and be down on themselves for failing to destroy the Cleveland Browns. Yes it was sloppy, yes it was poorly executed, but that being said, the Ravens still came out of Monday Night with a much needed W. To be sure, a loss in Cleveland and the season is over.

This week the Ravens face the first of two very difficult challenges. In what is usually the second most emotionally draining matchup of the season (behind Pittsburgh), the Ravens are set to face the Indianapolis Colts. Compound the already bitter rivalry with the fact that the Ravens are playing on a short week and this should set up to be the biggest test of the season so far. Although it’s not a must win, it sure as heck will make the path to the playoffs ten fold more difficult if they fail to defend their home turf.

With that in mind let’s take a look at this week’s match up.

RavensGab.com Keys to the Game

Get the Momentum Going

You got a win. That’s step one for getting the season back on track. Now you’ve got to build on that win and keep moving forward. Sometimes a string of victories can spark a big rally and run. A win against Indy will surely give the Ravens the swagger and confidence they so sorely need. I truly believe that a large part of the woes Baltimore has faced over the last few weeks stems directly from their lack of confidence. A confidence which has so characterized this team since its inception.

The Ravens have to use the momentum they built in a win against Cleveland to come out fast and strong and get to the Colts early. If they can get the game in hand early on and control it, then they’ll be in great shape to win and move on to the Pittsburgh Steelers who loom just over the horizon.

Get to Peyton Manning

Winning the one on one battles at the point of attack is the main Key to a Ravens victory. If the defensive front cannot beat their guards and tackles respectively, then Peyton will have all day to throw the ball, and the Colts will win. Beating the Colts means getting to Peyton Manning and forcing him to throw the ball away.

Let’s be clear about this. Manning is the smartest quarterback in the league, if not in league history. He simply does not take sacks. The Patriots game was more of an aberration for Manning than the rule. Under pressure he’s fare likelier to just dump the ball off then to go to the ground. Beating him on Sunday means getting in his face early and often. Keep him off the field.

Go No Huddle

One can only hope that Cam Cameron finally sees what the rest of Baltimore has seen over the last few games. The no huddle offense is working. Every time Joe opens up the no huddle the Ravens look collected, together and they seem to be able to move the ball well. I understand that many times you want to control the clock and keep the time of possession game in your favor, but against a team as explosively dangerous as the Colts, a conservative approach will get you beaten, and badly.

Take Notes from Miami

Want to know how to beat the Colts? Look no further than the Indianapolis v. Miami game from earlier this season. Tony Sparano showed every team in the league the step by step blue print on how to beat Peyton Manning. Miami may have lost that game, but that’s only because they failed to properly execute their own strategy.

You beat Peyton by keeping alive long drawn out sustained drives using a no huddle attack. Chad Pennington kept the Colts offense off the field for almost 45 minutes of the game. That’s absolutely absurd. Miami proved that without Peyton’s rhythm he can’t win. To beat the Colts this weekend, the Ravens must execute a similar game plan.

Contain Dallas Clark

The biggest mistake that the Ravens can make on Sunday is to spend all of their resources defending Reggie Wayne. While it is undoubtedly true that Wayne is the Colts’ number one receiving threat, is you spend too much energy boxing him out, it allows Dallas Clark to chew you up from the inside.

Clark is arguably one of the best TE’s in the league. He has sure hands, good vision, and is an absolute safety blanket for Peyton Manning. The Ravens can beat the Colts by containing Reggie Wayne, but they must keep enough backside presence to prevent Dallas Clark from extending drives.

Play Solid Defense

Despite what the average fan may ask for on every down, the Ravens cannot go blitz happy against this Colts offense. They did that last year and Peyton torched them big time. To beat the Colts you have to through a lot of cover two at them and mix in the heavy pressure packages once you get Peyton off his game.

If Greg Mattison under estimates Peyton’s talent, the Ravens will pay for the mistake all day long. Blitzing him left and right allows him to pick apart your secondary.

Come Out Fast and Strong

This is the one area where the Ravens have been consistently failing since the Minnesota game. I’m keeping here as a key to the game because until they figure out this aspect of their game plan, they will continue to struggle against lesser opponents, and lose to the better ones.

Ravens Gab Predictions

Jonathon Scruggs
I’d very much like to say that this Ravens team is riding high off a huge divisional win and that the Colts and Manning will buckle under the pressure of playing a hungry and nasty Baltimore, but that simply isn’t the case. The Ravens are a team struggling t find themselves, while the Colts are the hottest team in football.

I believe the Ravens are good enough and strong enough to beat anyone they face, but until they work out the kinks mentally, they will struggle to bring down the big opponents.

Ravens 9 — Colts 27

Matt Jergensen

Baltimore must get off quickly today against the undefeated Colts. If not it could be a long day.

Football has a lot to do with matchups and the Ravens over the years simply don’t seem to match up well against the Indianapolis Colts. Their defense is small but quick and they seem to close gaps quickly and keep the Ravens out of the endzone. On offense they have one of the best in Peyton Manning who has torched the secondary plenty of times. Even though on paper this Colts team isn’t the best that we’ve seen come in here they have found ways to win in close games and shoot outs this season.

Any hopes for a New England hangover are wishful thinking. Baltimore defense is hurting with injuries to key players and the Ravens offense needs to find its early season mojo. It all adds up to a Colt win as they return to their birthplace.

Ravens 17 – Colts 30

Gene Winner

Indianapolis is on a roll and our Ravens have a lot going against them. They don’t match up well against Indy’s passing attack and to compound issues the secondary has struggled all year. Obviously getting pressure on Manning is a priority. The Ravens also lost DE Terrell Suggs who is a key element in their defense.

Another bad trend is that the Ravens offense is inconsistent as evident against Cleveland in Monday’s game. The unit has yet to decide whether they are a running team or a passing team. Joe Flacco is getting frustrated as defenders are taking away the deep routes. In this game they need to re-establish their identity by pounding the ball with all three of their running backs. The run must come first and then they can take advantage of Indianapolis’s depleted secondary.

The Ravens will play better than expected and let’s hope they pull out an upset. But, at this time in the season Indy is playing better and they have the weapons to expose our secondary

Ravens 17 – Colts 21

Welcome to week eleven of the NFL Regular Season. Before each game RavensGab will take a look at the various Ravens players poised to make a significant fantasy impact, and provide the strengths and weaknesses associated with each based on current trends and matchups.

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens
November 22, 2009, 9:00 pm Cleveland, OH
Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy/Windy

Joe Flacco, QB (Week 10: 155 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT)

Against a hapless Browns defense, one would have expected Joe Flacco to have a pretty solid day numbers wise. Even with no touchdowns, throwing for 250+ yards would have secured at least ten points in traditional fantasy leagues. That wasn’t the case however, and for the third consecutive week, the Ravens Offense simply has not been able to get anything going. Whether it’s the effects of lingering injuries, the offensive lines’ in ability to give him time, or his receivers not being able to get separation, Flacco has seemingly regressed the last few outings.

Against the Colts this weekend, Flacco is an emergency start only. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis might just tee off on the Ravens if the TE’s aren’t used to support Michael Oher and Jared Gaither respectively. That doesn’t exactly translate to big offensive production numbers.

Prediction: 180 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT

Ray Rice, RB (Week 10: 89 yds Rush, 15 yds Rec, 1 TD)

Week in and week out, Ray Rice is demonstrating why he is to be considered one of the best all around offensive weapons in Fantasy Football. If you were lucky enough to have the foresight to pick him up in your draft or on a clever trade, good on you.

The Ravens will need to control the clock and run the ball to beat the Colts. This translates into a monster amount of touches for Ray Rice. Whether on the ground or through the Air I’d expect a big day out of the mighty might running back.

Prediction: 100 yds Rush, 60 yds Rec, 1 TD

Willis McGahee, RB (Week 10: 35 yds Rush, 0 yds Rec, 0 TD)

One of these days, Cam Cameron is going to have to realize that McGahee is a down hill runner. You give him enough touches to build momentum and he is like a freight train. Hard to bring down. He had 35 yards of total rush against the Browns, but against the Colts, the sheer necessity of running the ball 30-40 times in that game will likely contribute to more touches by McGahee. This is especially true if Cam finally does what we’ve all be screaming for him to do and run the no huddle from moment one.

Prediction: 40 yds Rush, 10 yds Rec, 0 TD

Le’Ron McClain, FB/RB (Week 10: 10 yds Rush, 19 yds Rec, 0 TD)

McClain has come into his own as a solid fullback. Several of the blocks he made for Ray Rice were down right nasty. It clearly shows why Cam and John Harbaugh had the confidence to draft him and give him a roster spot on this team. As a half-back however it remains to be seen week in and week out just how high his fantasy value will be. Against the Browns it was very lows, but as with Willis McGahee he could enjoy an increase in production.

Prediction: 30 yds Rush, 35 Yds Rec, 0 TD)

Todd Heap, TE (Week 10: 43 yds, 0 TD)

Heap had a so/so outing against the Browns. In the weeks to come there is perhaps only one more game in which would could expect a gimmie for players like Heap. Fantasy Football wise its tough to see players like Heap go into a game with massive potential only to fall short due to bad quarterback play or bad offensive line play.

This week Heap as listed as Questionable and is going to be a game time decision. Start with Caution.

Prediction: 35 yds, 0 TD

Derrick Mason, WR (Week 10: 78 yds, 0 TD)

It’s hard to make receptions when the following three things happen: 1.) Your Offensive Line has another bad performance, 2.) You’re QB is having a down day, 3.) The corner assigned to you is holding you all day long up and down the field. Sound familiar? With the schedule rapidly increasing in difficulty, this is likely to be the case for Derrick Mason for the rest of the season. He’s always the best options for Wide Recievers on this thin Ravens unit.

Against the Colts it all depends on if Flacco can get him the ball. With the injuries to the secondary, if Flacco has time to make plays happen. Mason could be set to have a big day.

Prediction: 85 yds, 1 TD

Mark Clayton, WR (Week 10: 0 yds, 0 TD)

Clayton couldn’t get separation from and he couldn’t get open. Couple that with the poor play from the QB and the offensive line and its no wonder he was only targeted twice.

The Colts (like the Browns) cannot cover the pass very well outside of about 15 yards. If Clayton can find a way to get separation and stay open, Flacco should reward him handsomely with any number of targets, unlike the two he had all day against the Browns

Prediction: 45 yrds, 0 TD

Kelley Washington, WR (Week 9: 0 yds, 0 TD)

Washington was targeted less than five times, but for an explanation as to why he had zero yards of total offense, see, Clayton, Mark.

Against the Colts, the only way Kelley has a big day is if the Offensive line plays like it did in week’s one through four as opposed to week’s five through ten.

Prediction: 35 yrds, 0 TD

Steven Hauschka, Billy Cundiff K (Week 10: 0 PAT, 0/0 FG (00 yds)

The Steve Hauschka era is officially over in Baltimore. Although he was good kicker with a strong leg, the pressure was simply too much and got to the kid. This week the Ravens turn to Billy Cundiff to get the job done. If you’re thinking about picking up Cundiff off the waiver wire, you could do worse. The kid is likely to be facing a number of field goal situations in his first outing as a Raven.

Prediction: 2 PATs, 3 FG (36/40 yds)

Defense (Week 10: 2 INT, 1 FF, 4 Sack, 1 TD)

The Ravens Defense played very well against the JV squad that is the Cleveland Browns. That being said, a shutout in the NFL is no small feat and the Ravens should be commended on a solid performance. Especially the Secondary.

This week is a whole different story. The Colts feature probably one of the best quarterbacks of all time and an offense that is legendary for its potency. Do not start the Baltimore Ravens defense this week. They may show up to play but the risk/reward is too high. There are better options out there likely still available on the Free Agent market

After a victory in Cleveland on Monday night the Ravens have a short week to come up with a game plan to try to stop QB Peyton Manning from exploiting their inconsistent secondary. The Ravens offense in Cleveland was lackluster and the unit is still trying to find consistency. Indianapolis has momentum after an emotional victory over New England this past Sunday. With a 9-0 record all is going well except there is some concern with some key injuries in the secondary.

More than a game isn’t it?
Let’s be honest, for many Baltimore fans the sight of the horseshoe and uniform of their beloved Baltimore Colts now used by Indianapolis evokes feelings of betrayal and resentment. Because of this bad history this game has a little more riding on it besides the Ravens playing for their playoff hopes. Fans would like nothing more than a decisive victory for their City, for the Ravens and for their Baltimore Colts.

OFFENSE: Quarterback Peyton Manning is having a tremendous season with sensational numbers and is able to move his offense at will. Manning has his veteran receivers to go to in WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark; both are putting up huge numbers. Manning also has some young receivers in second year pro Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie who are excelling well. The offensive line is holding up well with fourth year pro Charlie Johnson who has proven to be the correct choice to start at left tackle. The line has allowed only 8 sacks this year.

At the running back position Joseph Addai is having a below average season due to the fact he has been fighting injuries. Rookie RB Donald Brown is a good change up for the team as he is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. The team is ranked 29th in the league averaging around 89 yards per game.

Lately: The offense is potent and a challenge for any defense; they are averaging over 29 points per game and are 1st in passing yards averaging around 315 yards per game. Manning is putting up MVP numbers. The running game could be better, but because defenses are focused on the passing attack, the Colts have had success with delays, draws and screens.

DEFENSE: DE Dwight Freeney and DE Robert Mathis lead this defense upfront combining for over 17 sacks. Middle LB Gary Brackett leads a fast line backing core that are skilled in coverage and a disciplined unit.
In recent weeks the Colts have been dealt with a string of injuries in the secondary. Safety Bob Sanders is out for the season along with CB Marlin Jackson. In addition, veteran CB Kelvin Hayden is expected to be sidelined with a knee injury for a few weeks. The Colts now are relying rookie CB Jerraud Powers and CB Jacob Lacey to fill in. LB Tyjuan Hagler has been also placed on IR. The team ranks at the top in only giving up 15 points per game and 14th against the run allowing an average of 108 yards per game.

Lately: DE Freeney and DE Mathis have been dominant. The defense has been dealt a bad string of injuries in the secondary most recognizably Safety Bob Sanders who was placed on IR.

MATCH-UPS: Chalk It Up!

Ravens defensive game plan: The Ravens defense hasn’t given up a point in six quarters. But don’t be fooled, four of those quarters were against the Browns. The Ravens porous secondary doesn’t match up well in this game because of the Colts precise passing attack. The bottom line is the defense has to pressure Manning with different looks and aggressive blitzing schemes. The secondary must play for containment and eliminate the penalties.

Key Defensive Injuries: Both teams are dealing with injuries on defense. Indianapolis has secondary losses and the Ravens just lost DE Terrell Suggs who out dealing with a knee ligament injury. With the loss of Suggs the defense will have to get creative to win. Second round pick DE Paul Kruger will be playing in place of Suggs. For strategic purposes we might see more involvement from linebackers Barnes and J. McClain to mix things up. DE Ngata has missed 2 games in a row with a sprained ankle and hopefully he can get back in the line up.

Ravens Secondary vs. WR Reggie Wayne: CB Washington and CB Foxworth will have to have their best day in order to stop WR Reggie Wayne and their young talented receivers. This is a game where Ed Reed needs to provide a spark in the secondary.

TE Dallas Clark vs. ? The Ravens will be watching the game film of New England who had success against tight end Dallas Clark. New England did a good job in coverage and jamming Clark at the line to throw off his routes. The Ravens may go with Chris Carr or possibly CB Webb to covers at times. A linebacker on Clark is a difficult assignment.

Joseph Addai vs. Ravens D-line: You would think the Ravens may have the upper hand in this battle; Addai is struggling with injuries and has not found his grove yet. The Colts are designed to pass and the running game is not a high priority with Manning at the helm. However, the Ravens D-line is with out DE Terrell Suggs and at times has struggled in run defense.

Ravens offensive game plan: Run the ball! It seems logical that the best way to beat Indy is to get keep Manning off the field. Unlike last year, a methodical bruising running game and taking time off the clock has not been a priority. This game it should be. The Flacco and the passing game will have openings, Indianapolis has back ups in the secondary. Flacco must be able to exploit this weakened secondary.

Dwight Freeney vs. Jared Gaither: DE Dwight Freeney is having a dominant season and LT Jared Gaither will be put to the test with protecting Flacco. We’ll likely see some help from Heap and McClain or an unbalanced line to slow down Freeney.

DE Mathis vs. RT Oher: Michael Oher will have a challenge in blocking DE Robert Mathis. Oher has stepped up well to many challenges this season.

Kicking Game: The Ravens finally released kicker Steven Hauschka and signed Billy Cundiff this week. Former Raven Matt Stover comes into this game as member of the Indy Colts and has kicked in Baltimore is whole career. Stover has the edge in this match-up because of his familiarity with the stadium.

Time to Step Up: Time to step it up, this game is crucial. The implications of a loss could mean the Ravens season is close to being over. The Ravens need to have a game where both the offense and defense are clicking. Plain and simple the team must eliminate penalties as well; they can’t afford mistakes against good teams. The offense must commit to the run in order to open up the passing game for Flacco. Ray Rice is vital but getting RB McClain along with McGahee involved and going back to an unbalanced line wouldn’t be a bad idea either. The defense has to continue to hit hard and play smart in the secondary.

Terrell Suggs has a slight MCL tear. This injury is similar to the one Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu suffered in the season opener and would keep Suggs out for a significant period.

This injury comes at a crucial time as the Ravens (5-4) are fighting for a wild-card spot and desperately need to put together some wins against very tough opponents. Baltimore will host the Indianapolis Colts (9-0) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) in its next two games.

Clearly this is the most damage that the Cleveland Browns have inflicted on an opponent all year.

Brady Quinn was fined an undisclosed amount but that really doesn’t do much for me. It was a punk move, plain and simple. None of that helps the Ravens defense which could certainly use Suggs during a crucial stretch in their schedule as they attempt to stay alive in the Wild Card race.

The Ravens signed Billy Cundiff to be their new kicker, the team announced Wednesday.

The addition of Cundiff comes one day after the Ravens released Steve Hauschka, who missed three of his last seven field goals and had an extra point blocked.

Cundiff, 29, has made 66 of 89 career field goals (74.2 percent). He last played for the Cleveland Browns (beating out Matt Stover in a workout), but he was released Nov. 3 after Phil Dawson recovered from a pulled right calf muscle. Cundiff converted all six field goals for the Browns this season.

My ability to pick the new kickers is just as good as Steve Haushcka’s ability to kick clutch field goals. I picked Gano before the season and thought Nugent would get the nod this week.

It remains to be seen if Billy Cundiff is the long term solution or not. But my gut feeling is there is a reason he’s on his ninth team in eight seasons in the NFL.

Did anyone not see this happening?

Ravens kicker Steve Hauschka was cut by the Ravens on Wednesday, one day after missing a 36-yard field goal and getting an extra-point blocked in a 16-0 win over the Cleveland Browns.

General manager Ozzie Newsome said the team will sign a new kicker — possibly Mike Nugent or Billy Cundiff — before Wednesday’s practice.

“I’m definitely disappointed,” Hauschka told The Baltimore Sun about a half-hour after the team made the announcement. “I appreciate the opportunity that they gave me here. I wish I had done better with a couple of the kicks there. But I don’t have any regrets. I’m just going to keep playing and working hard, and I think I’ll be on a team sooner or later.”

So we now have the first mistake of the John Harbaugh era.

I guess in hindsight what I have trouble understanding is that they knew a young kicker would have his share of struggles. In fact, let me quote Ozzie Newsome;

“We entered the season knowing that we would have to go through some growing pains with Steve,That happens with most new kickers in the NFL. But, for where we are as a team today, we need more consistent production from our kicker. Every one of our players has to step up to a Ravens’ level of play and that was not happening for Steve right now.”

So did the front office think that the team would be strong enough to overcome those growing pains? And if the plans were to contend once again wouldn’t a veteran kicker have been still valuable to this team?

So where do they go from here? I’d bet former Jet Mike Nugent gets the call.

Last night the Ravens returned to the national stage in hopes of snapping a five-game losing streak on Monday night and keeping pace with the Wild Card race in the AFC.

Things looked ugly between the two division rival for the first thirty minutes. The Ravens offense bumbled its way through the first half with miscommunication, and an inability to move the football. However, it took just two plays within the span of 17 seconds in the third quarter for everything to change.

Ray Rice scored on a 13 yard run and Safety Dawan Landry caught a tipped pass and returned it 48 yards for the touchdown.

That was all Baltimore needed to move to (5-4) to get past an inept Cleveland (1-8) squad as they head into an important home game next week against the undefeated Indianapolis Colts.

Aside from the sloppy play on a rainy night in Cleveland injuries were perhaps the biggest concern of the night. Haruki Nakamura was carted off the field in an air-cast after the opening kickoff. But the biggest potential loss might be Terrell Suggs.

Suggs was hit low by Quarterback Brady Quinn as Baltimore attempted to set up an interception return by Chris Carr. Suggs has been diagnosed with a sprained knee and did not return though is availability for this Sunday is certainly in doubt.

If there were any positives to draw from this miserable Monday contest, the Ravens defense did shut out the Browns, their first since 2006 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defense also has held opponents scoreless for the last six quarters. But the shut out feels hollow because the Browns were so horrid on offense. Brady Quinn rarely went downfield and any attempt to use burner Joshua Cribbs in the Wildcat formation came up empty. The Brown rarely threatened which helped mask the Ravens own offensive issues.

But division wins on the road are hard to come by and Baltimore will take it as they look ahead to three crucial games on their schedule.

Coach John Harbaugh said it best, “This three-game stretch coming up is everything to our season.”

Points to Ponder

What does this offense need to do to score?

Clearly the book is out on how to defend Baltimore. Drop both safeties to guard against the deep ball. Take away the slants and comeback routes. Stay home to protect against Ray Rice screens and middle dump offs.

Now it’s time to adjust and re-scheme and this is where Cameron must adjust his game plan and mode of thinking. I totally understand what he’s trying to do in becoming a more pass oriented team but it’s even come to a point where I can predict what plays they are running and that’s never a good thing. They need some level of unpredictability and having Ray Rice throw a lefty halfback option on third down isn’t it.

This offense NEEDS to go No Huddle to start their first drive next Sunday. They need to establish a rhythm and tempo among the whole unit. Flacco needs to lead this group. He has regressed the past few games to where his calmness is seen as complacency. Where’s the urgency?

The first half last night gave me flashbacks to the days when Baltimore was an expansion team. They burned all three time outs due to disorganization and sloppy execution. How do you come out of a time-out and get a delay of game penalty? False starts. Missed assignments. Simply bad football.

There seems to be little cohesiveness or unity among these guys. Let’s not forget that the third down conversion rate was atrocious (4-14) again. What saved them was an ability to run the football. Something that the staff seems to want to get away from.

Has the defense improved?

Not really. Sure they have held the opposition scoreless in the past six quarters. But that’s more to the Bengals wanting the run the ball and control clock and a terrible game plan and execution by the Browns.

But I should give them credit. The pass rush was better and therefore so was the coverage. They could press up since Quinn only threw the deep ball late and even then he couldn’t keep it in bounds. If anything it could be helpful for their confidence as they held the punchless Brownies to 86 rushing yards and even fewer passing yards (74).

They also turned Cleveland over and made them pay as a result. That’s another element that’s been missing over the past several games. Winning the turnover battle is crucial to wining games.

Is Hauschka finished?

YES. In fact I wouldn’t be shocked if he were cut already. He may have the physical tools to be a pro kicker but mentally he’s as soft as tissue. His follow through was poor on that little chippy he missed early and even though the snap was bad on the extra point his kick was still low. He just hasn’t recovered from the Vikings miss.

Now just imagine the mood at M & T in just six days when Matt Stover returns to kick for the hated Colts. Stover will probably be available in a few weeks but imagine the PR nightmare if the Ravens were to re-sign him. I can’t see it happening.

What about the new MNF broadcast team?

Let me start by saying I have always enjoyed Ron Jaworski and John Gruden has been a pleasant addition as well. I was really excited that the higher ups at MNF decided to go for analysis over comedy. For the most part I think they work well with Mike Tirico and they put on a good show.

However, I grew tired of the Cleveland lovefest quickly. Gruden is from Ohio and Jaws played at Youngstown State so it shouldn’t surprise me that they waxed nostalgic about everything Browns. Even to go so far as to show a Gruden letter written in crayon to his favorite team.

How sweet.

But his comment about Baltimore throwbacks being old Cleveland Brown jerseys had me reaching for the mute button and wanting to put a size eleven into the television screen.

The theme this season is about the tradition of MNF yet there was NO mention of the Baltimore Colts. No mention of how they were taken from the city. No mention of the proud tradition that was interrupted due to a drunk owner’s whims. Instead we got a three second blip of Johnny Unitas in the opening credits? For some reason the nation still views the Ravens as some sort of expansion team on par with the Panthers, and Jaguars. Which for me only reopens the idea of why the Colts are still the Colts and why the records, history, and colors weren’t left behind just as Modell did?

Yet the nation is still supposed to mourn the fact that current Brown team is an inept franchise led by a moronic owner that was in danger of having last night’s game blacked out. It’s a double standard that I have trouble digesting.

Was Quinn’s hit illegal or just dirty?

Yes it was since he got flagged for it. Did he mean to do it as a way to hurt another player? Hard to say. Quinn couldn’t do much right yesterday so it’s hard to figure that he’d be able to complete this task if he really wanted to hurt someone.

Either way Suggs may be out a few games and it couldn’t happen at a worse time.

Who was the offensive player of the game?

Ray Rice rushed for 89 yards on 20 touches and provided the only offensive score of the game (AGAIN). Derrick Mason and Todd Heap pitched in with a few catches but I’m really concerned with the receiver situation.

Are they not getting open because they can’t get separation or is it the patterns they are running? I feel like I’ve asked this question before.

Who was the defensive player of the game?

I think you could give a few votes here. Ray Lewis was very solid anchoring the middle. Lardarius Webb has transitioned well with more reps and Dawan Landry looked the best he has all year.

The next few games will show if this group has improved or was just helped by facing a putrid opponent.

Ravens Gab site editor, Matt Jergensen gives the three minute skinny on tonight’s Monday night matchup with the Browns.

Week 10: Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Monday November 16, 2009 9:00 PM
Line: Ravens -6.0

Ok, so last week didn’t go as we all would have hoped. Statistically it was the worst effort the Ravens have put forth this season. It was sloppy, it was ugly, it was down right depressing.

But let’s not focus on the negatives right now, let’s focus on the positives and the challenge the Ravens have before them. Last week the Bengals shot out to a 17-0 lead heading into the half. It looked to many as if the Ravens were facing the fate of the Chicago Bears (a 45-10 rout). However, the Coaching staff looked deep into their players, adjusted the game plan and the Ravens managed to come out and shut out the Bengals for the final 30 minutes. If the offense had been able to generate some more momentum, and if Steve Hauschka makes his pivotal kick, the Ravens could likely have won this game in a nail biter. But that didn’t happen, so everyone from Ozzie Newsome down to Paul Kruger has to put the game behind them and move on to this week’s match up.

Make no bones about it, the Browns will likely come out hungry and thirsting for an upset. On paper it may look like the Ravens will roll to another victory, but history shows us that you can take no team lightly. Last year the Giants were cutting a bloody path through the NFL, it seemed as if no team would be able to bring down the towering juggernaut. That is, until they reached Cleveland on a cold and blustery Monday Night. Cleveland dug deep, took a stand, and managed to bring down the mighty Giants. If the Ravens fail to learn this lesson and begin to dwell to heavily on the Colts looming next week, it could be a long tense night.

With that in mind let’s take a look at this week’s match up.

RavensGab.com Keys to the Game

Pick Yourself Up

We know that every man on that squad has to be feeling down. They just lost whatever hope they had of winning the division by dropping an embarrassing game to Cincinnati. But this is the NFL, you can’t stay down long, just the same as you can’t rest to long on your laurels. Failing to come ready to fight this week in Cleveland will not only cost the Ravens the game, it will cost the Ravens the playoffs.

Every game from here on out for the rest of the season has got to be their last stand. Each week will have massive implications for the rest of the season and the playoff picture. The team cannot afford another let down, even in the face of stiff competition. To proceed into January and February, winning starts here.

RUN!

So you want to beat the Cleveland Browns? Here’s the secret: Run the ball. The key to putting this game away early is to pound the Cleveland Defense and weaken them to the point that they just can’t fight anymore. Keep the Cleveland Offense off the field for as long as possible and this game will be a cake walk. Rely on Ray Rice, rely on Willis McGahee, rely on Le’Ron McClain and roll right over this team.

Possess the Ball

This is where the Ravens failed the worst last week in Cincinnati. They simply could not keep the ball in their own hands long enough to get anything done. Credit Carson Palmer and Credit the Cincinnati defense for running a perfectly executed game plan.

This week against the Browns the Ravens cannot let down in this department. Look, we all know Cleveland does not have a great offense. They weekly merry go round of quarterbacks is down right embarrassing. That means to beat the Browns handily, the Ravens Offense must march on long sustained drives and allow their defense to stay rested to pick apart the Browns game plan. Possessing the ball equates to winning games.

Contain Joshua Cribbs

If the Browns have one shinning beacon in their beleaguered unit, its their special teams play of Joshua Cribbs. He’s fast, agile and smart. He’s capable of getting into the end zone on any kickoff/punt situation, so you must account for him and plan accordingly. He won’t go down easily, but the last time the Ravens faced off against the browns this was not an issue. To win on Monday they must count on a repeat performance.

Mix up the Game Plan

If there’s one glaring weakness I’ve seen in certain Ravens games, its their inability to run a balanced offense package. Although it is important to attack teams at their weakest point, be it the run or the pass, it I also important to keep teams guessing what you’re going to do. Sure we know that the Bengals can’t defend the pass very well, but if they’re ready for that they can succeed, the trick is to exploit their weakness, but keep them unsure of how you will attack. The best example of the Ravens succeeding on this front was against the Broncos. In that game, the Ravens were able to run a very balanced attack with an almost equal division of run plays and pass plays.

Beating the Browns easily will start with running a balanced sound attack plan. Run and Pass and keep the defense guessing.

Come Out Fast and Strong

The Ravens have got to come out like the burning fires of hell and torch this Cleveland Browns team for having the sheer audacity to exist. They cannot suffer another slow start. The Ravens worst fault as a team is their inability to get going early. If they have any hope of winning the big games, and making it to the playoffs, they must get going from moment one.

Beating the Browns starts here. Put this team away early and roll to victory.

Ravens Gab Predictions

Jonathon Scruggs

The Ravens are 0-5 in recent Monday Night Football history. The Browns have nothing left to prove, they are simply the spoiler from here on out. Although this team seems like a JV squad on paper they will beat you if you underestimate them.

That being said, I simply cannot foresee the Ravens dropping this game. There is simply too much on he line for this team to throw up a let down game

Ravens 27 — Browns 9

Matt Jergensen

Baltimore has it’s work cut out for them in the second half of the season. But if there is one thing that we can draw hope from for this Monday’s contest is that John Harbaugh coached teams win the games they are supposed to against inferior competition.

Brady Quinn is back under center and that helps the defense as he won’t throw deep that often. The key is containing their only offensive weapon in Joshua Cribbs as he will be featured more in the offense. Get up quick and they should be fine.

Ravens 30 – Browns 13

Gene Winner

The Ravens are heavily favored and the Browns look to be the spoiler in this game. This is a national stage for the Browns and they will be motivated to win their first home game.

The Ravens will have to get off to a fast start and needs the offense back in rhythm. Its time for the Ravens defense to stop worrying about schemes and start making those signature Raven plays with an aggressive hard hitting mentality

Ravens 29 – Browns 10