I went to the Ravens/Browns game yesterday thanks to Ticketmaster having some extra seats available. Despite being in the very last row, I was really excited as this might be the only Ravens game I get to this year. Plus, while the picture seems like the seats might suck, I don’t think there’s a bad seat in Cleveland Browns Stadium.
After going to eight games and only seeing two wins last year, I was weary of making another drive to see them play, but this Ravens team just seems different. I was so excited when the Ravens drafted Joe Flacco, but never expected him to play this year. Sure enough, 8 games into the season, the guy is playing pretty well and helping to lead the Ravens to the same number of wins (5) as last year with eight games remaining. Yesterday’s game just showed how much he’s improving with each game. He still drove me nuts when missing wide open receivers down field, but that should come at some point. He threw some great passes into really tight places when it mattered yesterday, and the conversion of a third-and-long (16, I think) deep in his own territory kick-started the Ravens comeback.
The diminutive Ray Rice – who I was touting as a serious running threat this year after seeing him in training camp – came up huge yesterday, rushing for 154 yards on just 21 carries while filling in for Willis McGahee. It’s a shame that Le’Ron McClain is getting the short-yardage TDs in the red zone after Rice’s efforts, but I’ll take it. That combo worked for the Steelers a few year back when Bettis got all of the TDs after Duce did all the hard work, and if it keeps working for the Ravens, so be it. The dude is exciting as hell to watch…when he’s not dropping kickoffs, that is.
The biggest thing for me yesterday didn’t really revolve around the rookie players as much as it did the Ravens rookie head coach – John Harbaugh. For all of the question marks surrounding his hiring…you know, “can this young guy control a veteran-laden team”, or “is an untested coach going to be able to turn this franchise around after a 5-11 season?”, yesterday’s come-from-behind win definitely showed me that the Ravens have a turned the page in a lot of ways.
With the team trailing the Browns by 14 in the third quarter and the momentum clearly going against the Ravens, I was guilty of thinking this Ravens team was the same one I’d been watching for the last decade. A team that would let their heads get too into the game. A team that would give up and throw fits at the first sign of adversity (or maybe throw flags into the crowd). Down 14 and watching Flacco get sacked deep in the Ravens territory on 2nd down to set up a long 3rd down, the Ravens offense did something none of us fans were expecting. They got the 3rd-and-long…on a pass! I think it was an 11-play drive in total, topped off with a McClain rushing TD that brought the Ravens to within 7.
From there, the game was all Ravens. Some strong defensive plays, and the incompetence of Browns receiver, Braylon Edwards, who failed to bring in a perfect pass from Derek Anderson gave all of the momentum to the Ravens, who would take the lead after a 60-yard run by Rice set up Matt Stover’s 3rd, and final, field goal of the day. Once the Browns were forced to take their game to the air, the Ravens started blitzing and forced Anderson into errors – one of which was a pick-six by Terrell Suggs. 24 unanswered points later, the Ravens were in cruise control.
The amazing thing was that the Ravens didn’t give up. The drive, spirit, and discipline displayed in their comeback showed me that John Harbaugh’s philosophy is coming to fruition. This same team under Billick would’ve folded immediately when things started going against them. While the Ravens realistically may not make the playoffs without 11 wins, the fact is that this team has put itself in the position to win in 7 of its first 8 games this year. Each game has shown an improvement, albeit against some less-than-stellar teams. With the Ravens coming into this season as a team dubbed with the ole “rebuilding” tag, they’ve outperformed everyone’s expectations, and with a half of the season to play, their season still has endless possibilities.
It’s amazing that this team, led by a rookie head coach, quarterback, and yesterday, running back, could even be in this position. Here’s to a great second half of the season. I hope this team continues to improve because they’re finally playing exciting football! Go Ravens!