Five Things We Learned from the Ravens' 33-14 victory over New York Giants
Baltimore Sun reporter/blogger Matt Vensel analyzes the Ravens' big win over New York.
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1. The Ravens, your 2012 AFC North champions, aren't done yet
During their recent three-game losing streak, it felt as if the Ravens might not win another game. Their luck, that 4th-and-29-caliber magic, had run out. They seemed to have reached their breaking point with injuries. The offense, both before and after the firing of coordinator Cam Cameron, was taking one step forward and four or five steps back. The defense, which had a lengthy injury report filled with excuses, had gotten picked apart by an all-time great (Peyton Manning), an up-and-coming star (Robert Griffin III) and an over-the-hill feel-good story (Charlie Batch). The special teams unit was solid, but no longer superlative. No one was outwardly expressing panic or doubt, but there were plenty of frazzled nerves inside the Castle these past couple of weeks. A samurai sword couldn't cut the tension in the locker room.
But during Sunday's 33-14 win over the equally desperate New York Giants, a performance that was cathartic in its dominance, an entire city of distraught but still hopeful Ravens fans let out a collective exhale. The Ravens, who clinched their second straight AFC North title, are still kicking. They started fast against the Giants, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter, and took a 24-7 lead into halftime. They sustained drives on offense and short-circuited them on defense, turning up the heat on Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Three field goals by Justin Tucker put the game out of reach in the second half, and the Ravens coasted to their 10th win of the season. I'm a big numbers guy, as you have probably figured out by now, but I will concede that they don't always tell the story. This was not one of those days, though. The Ravens outgained the Giants, 533-186, in total yards. They ran 81 plays and hogged the ball for more than 39 minutes. They were 11-for-18 on third down and held the Giants to just two first downs on 10 third-down plays. Joe Flacco had more than twice as many passing yards as Manning. The Ravens, for the first time since the second half of their comeback win over the San Diego Chargers, looked like a team that deserved to be in the playoffs -- and also like one that should be feared once they begin. This win should be celebrated -- as should the hard-earned, well-deserved division title -- but let's not kid ourselves by saying that the Ravens should definitely be viewed as Super Bowl contenders again. The Giants deserve some of the credit for an absolutely inept performance Sunday, and the Ravens have been maddeningly inconsistent from quarter to quarter and are capable of following this win up with a performance equally as inept in the season finale in Cincinnati. The Ravens are who we thought they were two months ago: a talented but flawed team that will be tough to beat in the playoffs, as long as they don't beat themselves. But as we see every year, anything can happen once you are in the playoffs. The Ravens are in, and they will play at least one home game at M&T Bank Stadium. They aren't done yet. |
Comments (4)
Add / View comments | Discussion FAQGet a life Cam. How insecure must you be to say the things you say about the Sun staff.
Hope your lump of coal and your copy of Playboy was enough to get you through the holiday.
Cam: The game against the Giants, as great as it was, doesn't erase the horrendous plasy of our offense the prior 3 weeks. Life doesn't work that way in sports, at work or in school. It happened and there is legitiimate cause for concern.
However, there is also reason for hope. Let's see what happens this week against the bengals although I don't ecpect the coaching staff to tip their hand going into the playoffs. And then, into the playoffs. Perhaps your suspicions are correct and the onconsistencies we've seen will change into something that we can depend on (offensively) and build on. WQe have to have a modicum of confidence that most Sundays we'll get competent, high level QB play. The team has a right to expect that. Nobody expects 533 yards of offense every week, but we need more consistency than what we've seen this year. Perhaps things will get better. Time will tell.
Matt, 1st thing I learned about yesterday's game v Giants is that NFL's bi polar team, Giants packed iit in early, how does a team that beats Packers and 49ers look that bad. 2nd maybe Flacco is not as bad as everybody in Baltimore believes and he is at his best throwing the ball down the field. 3rd and get ready for this one, Ravens defense did just fine w/out Lewis,Suggs,and one arm Ed Reed. Shame about Webb not being able to play . So there you have it, Ravens in the playoffs yet again and Harbaugh holds on to his job for another year.
