(Miami by Will Smith playing) “Yeah, Yeah Yeah. Uh, Miami! South Beach, Bringing the Heat, uh.” Narrator: Ah the flashbacks to the holiday seasons of both 2006 and 2019 when the Ravens were the world beaters of the NFL. It doesn’t matter that those 2 teams failed against an AFC South team on a 70 degree Saturday Night in their 1st playoff game, those times were fun for the fans while it lasted. Speaking of Miami, that’s where the Ravens are going this week for a primetime showdown against the Dolphins on Thursday Night. All I can say is, they better not overlook these guys the way they did with the Lions.
CHARM CITY BEASTS
Starring Lamar Jackson, Le’Veon Bell, Marquise Brown, Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams, Marlon Humphrey, John Harbaugh, Greg Roman, with Don Martindale, and Eric DeCosta. Guest Appearances by the “Salty Marylander”
Season 2 Episode 9: A Complete Drowning in the Atlantic
Created by Bragging Rights Sports
Narrator: With the way the Ravens have played this year it can seem routine. Another game, another comeback. I know they aren’t trying to do this on purpose but I think they are trying to play with the media because of their narratives around Lamar and not being able to come back. Planet LJ himself said that I’m not trying to do this every week, I want to play with a lead all game long. If I have to come back from holes like this I’ll do it. Part of the reason for Baltimore having to try and pull out the near impossible every week is defensive struggles. Luckily they only had one bad quarter against the Vikings and had miscommunications early on but they fixed them in the 2nd Half. Wink Martindale said after the game that we need to start communicating better if we want to stop getting burned all of the time. They have fixed their tackling issues compared to their last game against the Bungles, but overcoming adversity is a specialty in Baltimore. Another question surrounding the team is why does the offense have issues in the 1st Quarter of games. The Roman Empire explained it as, sometimes we take what the defense takes us, if it doesn’t work early on, don’t worry about it. In my opinion Roman has been honest for the issues this year unlike last year. (The real problem with the offense last year is no longer here) He seems more relaxed and allows Lamar to do his thing.
The former prodigal son of Pittsburgh Le’Veon Bell spoke to the media for the 1st time this season 2 days after the Minnesota game and said that both Coach Harbaugh and Lamar have made him and fellow former Steeler Alejandro Villanueva feel at home in Baltimore. That’s what a good organization can do. Harbaugh himself said that those 2 have mentored many of the younger players on the offense and have made them stronger as the year goes on. I honestly can’t wait for when those 2 come back to Heinz Field in Week 13. It will be like when Rod Woodson came back for the 1st time in 1998 all over again. Unlike the past few games, the Ravens now enter their home away from home. Miami, Florida for a showdown on Thursday Night against the 2-7 Dolphins. A team that has been injured all season, and have been underachieving expectations. This for sure sounds like a statement in the making. Baltimore has won 8 of 9 against Miami, Lamar is playing in his hometown. This should be an easy victory as Marylander: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! The Marylander is outraged thanks to the result of this game. Please try again later. PAUSE.
Narrator: Now I understand why Harbaugh wanted the NFL to postpone the game because of an unplayable field. He didn’t want to see any of his players injured, plus they were on a short week and played into OT. To be honest this game should never have been played, the fact that they didn’t prepare the field at Hard Rock Stadium at all in the 4 days leading up to the game is proof that the Dolphins should build a new stadium. Why? Because even if it rains for 3 straight days before the game, and there are flood warnings, you should prepare the field right? No, the grounds crew trolled the Ravens the same way they did to the Jets in the 1982 AFC Championship game at the Orange Bowl. In my opinion this was the worst playing surface the Ravens have played on since their preseason game at Veterans Stadium in 2001, the difference was, Brian Billick got his wish when they cancelled the game, the difference here is that the game at the Vet was a preseason game, this one wasn’t. Unless there is severe weather in the area the NFL will postpone the game, there is no way they will do this because of a bad field. In my opinion Harbaugh is identical to James Franklin at Penn State. Underprepared, full of excuses, and can’t manage a game clock. Harbs you better get your act together unless you’ll be outta here just like Franklin most likely is at PSU. It’s fitting that Harbaugh’s contract is also up at the end of the year. PAUSE.
Narrator: To be honest this game was the worst game they have played since the London game against Jacksonville in 2017. An easily winnable game on paper, and they were victimized by a horrible field and bad play calling. In fact Harbaugh tried getting the league to postpone that game as well, AND LOST TOO! When are you going to realize that you can’t control what Roger Goodell does Johnny! Here’s a better idea, instead of whining about the field, how about you take fault for the fact that you were underprepared just like the playoffs the last few years. Also I think this is the first time all year that I have been angry at Greg Roman. How many times was he unaware of what Brian Flores was going to call on defense. It also doesn’t help that both Ben Powers and Tyre Phillips are hot garbage in terms of pass blocking. All I can say is this, why did you abandon your game plan after the first drive? Devonta Freeman ran the ball effectively on the opening drive and you rarely used him the rest of the game. You better change things quickly unless Planet LJ and Hollywood will throw you under the bus for the lack of adjustments. Here is what I cannot stand about this game in terms of offensive play calling and adjustments. They made the Miami Dolphins a team that lost to the JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS of all teams, and has perhaps the worst defense in football look like the Gritz Blitz Falcons from 1977-1980. The fact that they couldn’t stop that Sticky Sand blitz and had Lamar run for his life is going to cause everyone to panic going forward. Don’t worry G-Ro there are still 8 games left and even if that schedule is hard on paper I think if you can make adjustments and start moving the ball early in the game it should work well for the team going forward. The only other thing I can say is you better adjust to Sticky Sand because other teams are going to run that play until you figure it out. PAUSE.
Narrator: The only positive that came out of this loss was the defense played pretty well excluding the final drive of the game. To be honest the Ravens should have gotten shut out. Their only 2 scoring drives happened because of penalties and they couldn’t stop Sticky Sand all night long. It also doesn’t help that the weather was 80 degrees with 95% humidity which led to many guys on both sides cramping. The fact that they weren’t ready for the field and humidity causes great concern going forward. Do you think this team can win one playoff game with how they have played this year? They got sacked 6 times, missed 2 field goals, gave up a safety, allowed a defensive touchdown, and punted 8 times. This Ravens team is the product of an elite QB ravaged by injuries around him, and they confirmed it for a National Audience. This was the game they needed to win to take total control of the division. Now it gets harder, next week they play in Chicago, the last time they played there they faced a Tornado. Who knows what the weather will be like. And after that 5 of their last 7 games will be against division rivals, with the Packers and Rams sandwiched in between. I know there is a long way to go and this league has been full of crazy upsets this year, but my goodness this is rough, when you lose to a team that you were heavily favored to beat it should cause great concern. Not the Ravens, they always have this kind of game every year against a team they should crush, but it only makes them stronger. Thank god, the rest of the division is stuck in mediocrity so we are still in 1st place.
Bragging Rights Sports 