“Nothing refocuses the attention like Ravens Steelers.” Narrator: Those words have been very true over the last 20+ years. Regardless of who each team has, or if they are contenders or not there is one conclusion. Every game between these 2 teams is an instant classic. Marylander: There is no greater rivalry in the NFL than BALTIMORE VS PITTSBURGH!
CHARM CITY BEASTS
Starring Lamar Jackson, Devonta Freeman, Marquise Brown, Mark Andrews, Alejandro Villanueva, Brandon Williams, Patrick Queen, Odafe Oweh, Marlon Humphrey, with Justin Tucker, and John Harbaugh. Guest Appearances by the Salty Marylander
Season 2 Episode 12: WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS TEAM?
Created by Bragging Rights Sports
Narrator: Yes it’s that time of year, no that time of year when everyone is focusing about Christmas, IT’S THIS TIME OF YEAR! When it’s us against the elements, us vs the Media, and us vs Odds. IT’S DECEMBER FOOTBALL! What the Ravens do over the next 6 games will set the table for the playoffs. They have overcome injuries, a difficult schedule, and have won 8 of 10. Even at 8-3, Baltimore still has plenty of questions. “We’ve done nothing yet!” Marylander: That’s right John Harbaugh! We still have demons to exorcise! Narrator: Save the energy for the game. As I was saying, now that the calendar has turned to December, that means any questions about this team will either be answered or remain the same all month. Harbs himself said that one of those issues was offensive execution. (No he wasn’t in favor of it) He did say that we have to finish drives, and we have to protect better since teams are trying to figure us out. Not to mention at practice on Thursday it was said in stone that he was a huge fan of Hallmark Christmas Movies. Remember how the Ravens Media Team did a segment on if Harbaugh could choose any actor to play him in a movie? They doubled down on it. He says that the stories in these movies are incredible. Planet LJ was on the same page as Harbs and Greg Roman when it came to offensive execution, after throwing a career high 4 interceptions against the Browns on Sunday Night, he has gone back into his training lab and improved his passing game. (We hope) In his words Jackson played like a rookie excluding the moments when he needed to make a play in order to win. “I’d rather have a game like this now, rather than in January.” he told the media earlier this week. I agree with that since he is saving his MVP form for the playoffs I guess. Patrick Queen on the other hand may have had his best game of the season Sunday Night. Whether it was stopping Chubb or Hunt, or making key plays at the right time he didn’t disappoint. Maybe having the Linebacker GOAT in attendance boosted his confidence. Queen himself said that “Ray Lewis being there helped me a lot.” (He’s more of a Bart Scott or Ed Hartwell kind of player but it still works) With the defense back in sync even without Calais Campbell, Wink Martindale has said that this is only the beginning. “We are going to have to back it up if we have any chance of going far.” And they know it.
This upcoming matchup has playoff implications on both sides. Not only are the Ravens trying to hold onto the #1 seed, they are headed to uncharted territory. You want to know why? Styx: “Oh Mama, I’ve been fearing for my life from the long arm of the law. Lawman has put an end to my run and I’m so far from my hope. Oh Mama, I’ve been hearing you crying, you’re so scared and all alone. Hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don’t have very long. YEAH!” Narrator: It’s because the Boys in Purple are making their annual trip to Heinz Field to take on the Steelers. They may be 5-5-1 plus have no true direction thanks to the decline of Big Ben and their Offensive Line, but you can never take Mike Tomlin and his team seriously. Especially after he called out Chase Claypool for blasting music at practice. Their internet sensation said it would be a positive effect but the Bullfrog of a coach told him, “I run the practices not you.” I wonder how bonkers this would have become if JuJu Smith Schuster hadn’t gotten injured.
(Nativity Advent Spiral playing) This game in particular means a lot to Ravens Tackle Alejandro Villanueva. Being a former Steeler himself, the Army Ranger has known that organization for a long time and Mike Tomlin as well as the Leader of Men showed him the love of the game when he first arrived there. Now being on the other side of the Ravens Steelers rivalry like Rod Woodson, Mike Wallace, and a few others before him. (I wish Le’Veon Bell was still in B-More so he could get a taste of this rivalry, maybe he could if the Ravens bring him back to the practice squad) it feels like water under the Clemente Bridge as Yinzers would call it. He said ”There is truly an emotional component of going back to Pittsburgh, it’s a city that I’ve lived the longest in my life; I had all four of my kids there; I went to school in Pittsburgh.” He also compared this rivalry to Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona because he grew up in Spain. In my opinion this is the NFL’s version of Yankees vs Red Sox, any time these teams meet it’s an important game. No matter who is good or not there always is something on the line. In this case Pittsburgh has much more to play for than the Ravens. One more loss may take the Steelers out of the playoffs completely. Even if Baltimore has a strong advantage on paper, we all know those Yinzers will make it hard on them all evening long. The current tally between Harbaugh and Tomlin since 2008 has been 15-14 in favor of Pittsburgh, if the Ravens win it will be tied at 15 with the #1 seed is still maintained. This weekend the Ravens are once again being superstitious in terms of uniforms. Last week was a Blackout, this week is a Whiteout. (It’s fitting since they are playing 2.5 hours West of Penn State) Hopefully they can win in that combo considering what happened the last time they wore all White.
Serious Narrator (Rocky II Conquest playing): I’m sorry that I’m now shouting because this game like most years in this hated rivalry is super serious. In the heart of the Mustard Palace, the Ravens look for the early edge against a Steelers team that is now doing everything in their power to win. Early in this game, the Baltimore offense went right to work. They picked the Steelers D apart until they got down inside the 15. Following a sack and delay of game, the Ravens were forced into a 3rd and long, looks like they have to settle for a field goal as Marylander: AAAAAAAAAAH! What kind of idea was that to throw into harm’s way? Is that Lamar or Brett Favre right there? Serious Narrator: As expected the Ravens defense would help out the struggling offense, they made sure that Najee Harris had no room to run. Just like most times in this rivalry, points would be hard to come by. Thats because both Don Martindale and Keith Butler did excellent jobs during the week in terms of scheming their opponents. Then another element that is expected in this rivalry showed up, REFBALL! Normally it would be Pittsburgh benefitting from terrible calls in these games, but early on that wasn’t the case. All the Yinzers in attendance were livid at the officials for not calling a helmet to helmet hit on Chuck Clark, and giving TJ Watt an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. To be fair, both of those were legit calls, it’s only a matter of time before the NFL returns the favor to their opponents. For now the Ravens take advantage of those controversial calls and go on a 16 play, 99 yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. Even as the Leader of Men and his crew storm back for a field goal before halftime there is hope for all Marylanders. (The Bengals already lost, and the Browns are on their Bye Week, should be a perfect chance at a firm lead in the division)
In the 2nd Half this is where both teams would try and take it to another level. We know that Big Ben is a fighter especially in these games. I’ve seen this movie too many times to know that he is probably going to pull a rabbit out of his hat in the end. For now however the Ravens can extend their 4 point halftime lead to 7. Not to mention their domination up front against Najee Harris and the Pittsburgh O-Line was growing. Baltimore has a chance to march their rivals out of their own building. Looks like the AFC North is theirs for the taking. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) Oh but the Football Gods have plans for Ravens fans once again. You know how REFBALL bit the Steelers in the 1st Half, they must have been told by the ghosts of Myron Cope to start making bad calls on the Ravens. For example, a missed call against Joe Schobert who clearly was grabbing Devonta Freeman’s face mask. If they make that call the game is at least 13-3. Marylander: We all know what’s going to happen, the NFL is going to give the Rooney Family and all of the Yinzers false hope once again.
BOOM! (Pennsylvania Polka playing) MOM IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN! Serious Narrator: It’s at this moment when Big Ben turns the clock back to the 2010 AFC Championship. In just 2 plays, the Steelers found the endzone but couldn’t tie the game because Chris Boswell shanked an extra point. The Ravens would get the ball again, as they drove deep into Pittsburgh territory and had a chance to take their lead up to 8 points. Only to be stuffed on a 3rd and short. It’s ok because they at least got a field goal out of this. Even with a 4 point lead, the Ravens certainly can’t make it easy on themselves again. Roethlisberger was in complete control and took advantage of Chuck Clark suffering a concussion which removed him from the game. Now down to 2 backup safeties Baltimore needed to do something to stop the bleeding. For the moment they did, holding the Steelers to another field goal. Planet LJ is trying to keep up and the Ravens have a chance to extend their lead, that was until yet another false start prevented them from moving the ball. By the way they had 9 false starts in this game. It’s like watching the Penn State Iowa game all over again except the QB isn’t knocked out of the game. (Lamar though clearly isn’t 100% healthy either) Thus the fears of Ravens fans are coming true, they once again have no answers for the great Leader of Men. Many are saying this is because of injuries but that doesn’t explain the full story. It’s one of those things that wakes up a Ravens fan at night, how many times has this happened where the Ravens blow a lead to Big Ben? At least 10 times. (It was the same with Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes too) But there is a feeling this will be different, I know it. “Roethlisberger throws to the right, it’s tipped in the air and INTERCEPTED!” BEEP! (I KNEW IT!) Yep, anytime the Ravens think a win is theirs against the Steelers, the officials most likely take it away. In my opinion no, Baltimore did not get robbed. That was a legit PI call, Anthony Averett admitted that in the postgame press conference. Wouldn’t you know it, that 2nd chance allowed Pittsburgh to take a 7 lead with 2 minutes left. How can this get worse for the Ravens? CRACK! (Marlon Humphrey out for the year) Oh No, Oh No, OH NO! Why did it have to be Marlo, he’s the only reason their secondary is relevant with all of the injuries that they have had. Plus Chuck Clark could be out for a while too. Now they are down to their 3rd, 4th, and 7th string corners, and their 3rd string safeties. Just stop with the injury nonsense. There is still plenty of time for a comeback, and why not. Even if TJ Watt sacked Planet LJ for a 4th time, the Ravens still made up for it by converting a 3rd and 15. With 15 seconds and no timeouts left Baltimore has a chance to get into the endzone and force an interesting decision. “Jackson goes for the endzone, (HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!) caught by Sammy Watkins for a Touchdown!” You know Lamar can be frustrating to watch at times but Holy Cow, can he master the 2 minute drill. High End Talent is going to be the key to this game. Which leads to the question of what they will do on the extra point. Considering that their entire starting secondary is possibly out for the season, and Big Ben has scored 17 4th Quarter points against Wink Martindale’s defense, they have no choice but to go for 2. Normally I wouldn’t do it, but in this case, DO IT JOHNNY! “Jackson for the win, he throws it to the right and it’s DROPPED!” (DRAMATIC MUSIC!) Really, all of that flash and dash to lose like that. I mean who is blocking TJ Watt on that play? Roman you better be sent to the doghouse after the game. (Its fitting because that’s where they are going next week) PAUSE
I had a feeling this would happen. I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but there was part of me that felt like when Big Ben and GM Kevin Colbert announced that this was going to be their last season that the Ravens would lose this game. You may be asking yourself, why do you think that? It’s because any time that a team has a franchise icon about to go into retirement, it rallies the entire squad. I don’t think the Ravens blew this game, the Steelers earned it, and it probably saved their entire season and Tomlin’s legacy in Pittsburgh. In fact the Steelers went through the same thing in 2005 when both Jerome Bettis and Myron Cope were retiring after that year. That team went on to win the Super Bowl as a 6 seed. The good news is that the Ravens still control their own destiny in the AFC North but their hopes of getting the #1 seed is most likely gone. This was the game they needed to basically lock down the division title. Now it gets even harder. Next week they play the Browns in Cleveland, that team is hungry to get payback on Baltimore for what happened last week and over the last 25 years, good luck there. Week 15, Green Bay, they are fighting for the #1 seed in the NFC, Week 16 Cincinnati, IN CINCINNATI! With a potential division title and playoff spot at stake, and that’s not including the Rams and Steelers at home to end the season. To be honest if they don’t change up their offense and use Lamar more in the running game, Roman is going to end up like Cam Cameron was in 2012. That’s also considering the fact that the Roman Empire is probably going to be the Head Coach of the Chicago Bears. It’s too early to rip the coaching and conditioning staff, but if they don’t get their act together in this final push. It will cost them their reputation in the future. Pittsburgh you earned this win, you put Harbaugh right back in his place from 2008-2010. Hopefully this loss will make the team stronger even with all of the injuries that they have. That’s all I can hope for as the final games await us on Charm City Beasts. (Lamar walks out of postgame press conference, it’s Giannis in Toronto after Game 6 all over again) Marylander: COME ON CAN THESE GUYS NOT FORCE ME TO RAGE LIKE THIS EVERY WEEK!
Bragging Rights Sports 