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That was the difference right there. You flip those numbers and we win that game IMO. Every time we got sacked, it put us in a 2nd or 3rd and long we couldn't overcome or it took us out of FG range and forced a punt or forced another FG. We don't settle for FGs and punts if we don't get sacked 5 times in that game. On the other side, the Ravens don't get all those points if they were sacked 5 times instead of only 1. The Ravens pass rush continued to destroy the momentum of our drives the entire game, which is what a good pass rush is supposed to do. It seemed like whenever we got sacked, it was at the worst possible time when we could least afford one. Some of that is on Ben, some of that is on the Oline, some of that is the Ravens just have better pass rushers.
I particularly remember one play in the 2nd half where the Ravens overloaded the left side and Beachum and the RB (can't remember who was in at the time) both went for the outside rusher and let one of the inside rushers come through untouched. How is Ben supposed to do anything when that happens? Hell, Peyton just falls to the ground when a free rusher comes through unblocked. This board would implode if Ben ever did that. At least Ben tries, and sometimes even succeeds, to make something from nothing. Can you imagine Peyton behind that Oline performance last night? He would've spent half the game in the fetal position. That's not to say Ben couldn't have avoided at least 2 of those sacks by simply getting rid of the ball quicker or throwing it away.
The Ravens did a good job of moving Suggs and Dumervil around to give different looks...something Lebeau used to do regularly. That's not entirely Dicks' fault either...we simply lack the elite pass rushers we are usually known for. When our best pass rusher was sitting on the couch for the first few games of the season, that says a lot about what Dick has to work with in terms of personnel for "exotic" blitzes. Collinsworth pointed out a couple of times when we tried our infamous MLB stunt blitz and every time it failed miserably to provide any pressure. Is that poor play calling? Poor talent? Proper preparation from the Ravens? A combo of all 3?
On another point and a little off topic, we had 3 top 2 offensive players in 3 different skill positions in the entire league. Think about that for a second. It was the first time that happened in over 40 years, yet we're one and done in the playoffs. Obviously, one of those 3 didn't play in the playoff game and who knows what would've happened had he played but to have such prolific talent and lose to some of the worst teams in the league and get held to under 20 points in ANY game should be embarrassing with the offensive talent we had. To lose one of those players and sputter miserably on offense should be an indication we were winning in spite of the coaching and play calling because obviously, we don't have the game plans to overcome the loss of talent. As much as I hate to admit it, a prime example of this is the *Pats. It seems like no matter who they plug in at RB or WR, they get the job done and keep winning. They aren't just winning because they have better players than everyone else, they win because of proper coaching and game planning for whomever is in there, otherwise they would struggle with such mediocre players at skill positions. Line up our offense on paper against the Pats and aside from Gronk (who missed a ton of games the last couple years), it's insanely one-sided in our favor. Line up our offense against the Seahawks and again, insanely one-sided. Yet, those are the two best teams in the league. One because of their defense but both because of good coaching, good play calling, and good game planning.
Clearly we were outcoached and outplayed on both sides of the ball and we absolutely didn't deserve to move on in the playoffs. It seems to be a theme nowadays that it looked like the other team wanted it more than we did. I think the worst part is it's frustrating as fans that for at least 5 years now we watch the same **** game in, game out and year in, year out and nothing changes. What's the definition of insanity again?
Anyway, that's my rant after sleeping on the loss. Until next season...
I particularly remember one play in the 2nd half where the Ravens overloaded the left side and Beachum and the RB (can't remember who was in at the time) both went for the outside rusher and let one of the inside rushers come through untouched. How is Ben supposed to do anything when that happens? Hell, Peyton just falls to the ground when a free rusher comes through unblocked. This board would implode if Ben ever did that. At least Ben tries, and sometimes even succeeds, to make something from nothing. Can you imagine Peyton behind that Oline performance last night? He would've spent half the game in the fetal position. That's not to say Ben couldn't have avoided at least 2 of those sacks by simply getting rid of the ball quicker or throwing it away.
The Ravens did a good job of moving Suggs and Dumervil around to give different looks...something Lebeau used to do regularly. That's not entirely Dicks' fault either...we simply lack the elite pass rushers we are usually known for. When our best pass rusher was sitting on the couch for the first few games of the season, that says a lot about what Dick has to work with in terms of personnel for "exotic" blitzes. Collinsworth pointed out a couple of times when we tried our infamous MLB stunt blitz and every time it failed miserably to provide any pressure. Is that poor play calling? Poor talent? Proper preparation from the Ravens? A combo of all 3?
On another point and a little off topic, we had 3 top 2 offensive players in 3 different skill positions in the entire league. Think about that for a second. It was the first time that happened in over 40 years, yet we're one and done in the playoffs. Obviously, one of those 3 didn't play in the playoff game and who knows what would've happened had he played but to have such prolific talent and lose to some of the worst teams in the league and get held to under 20 points in ANY game should be embarrassing with the offensive talent we had. To lose one of those players and sputter miserably on offense should be an indication we were winning in spite of the coaching and play calling because obviously, we don't have the game plans to overcome the loss of talent. As much as I hate to admit it, a prime example of this is the *Pats. It seems like no matter who they plug in at RB or WR, they get the job done and keep winning. They aren't just winning because they have better players than everyone else, they win because of proper coaching and game planning for whomever is in there, otherwise they would struggle with such mediocre players at skill positions. Line up our offense on paper against the Pats and aside from Gronk (who missed a ton of games the last couple years), it's insanely one-sided in our favor. Line up our offense against the Seahawks and again, insanely one-sided. Yet, those are the two best teams in the league. One because of their defense but both because of good coaching, good play calling, and good game planning.
Clearly we were outcoached and outplayed on both sides of the ball and we absolutely didn't deserve to move on in the playoffs. It seems to be a theme nowadays that it looked like the other team wanted it more than we did. I think the worst part is it's frustrating as fans that for at least 5 years now we watch the same **** game in, game out and year in, year out and nothing changes. What's the definition of insanity again?
Anyway, that's my rant after sleeping on the loss. Until next season...
