Ouch, that one will sting. Funny thing is, I think I’ve written that three or four times this year. The Colts tried so hard to give the Ravens a victory Sunday, but they just wouldn’t take it. In fact, they kepy trying their hardest to give it back to Indianapolis. It was a game eerily reminiscent of the team’s loss to the Colts in the 2006 playoffs.
It’s really hard to figure out why a team as talented as the Ravens continues to flounder. They lost a golden opportunity to steal a win Sunday, and it would have also meant catching up to the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into their showdown. It looks more and more likely that the Ravens won’t catch the Steelers and will have to win five of their final six to beat out a host of teams for the final playoff spot.
Quarterbacks: Joe Flacco looks shaky at times and the interception he threw late in the fourth quarter cost the Ravens the game. You have to wonder whether the lack of a big-play wide receiver is actually causing Flacco to regress. There are just way too many times that Flacco looks down the field and no one is open. The fact that Demetrius Williams saw action in the second half might be an admission by the coaching staff that the current crop of wideouts aren’t getting it done. Grade: C-
Running backs: Ray Rice had a decent game and Willis McGahee ran hard in limited action. McGahee was very close to losing a fumble, and he also couldn’t make it in the end zone in two tries from the one-yard line. Still, a lot of that can be blamed on the offensive line. Grade: B
Wide receivers: Derrick Mason had a big day after struggling in the first quarter, but the rest of the group was MIA. Kelley Washington has gone from a big third-down option to barely seeing the ball. Mark Clayton continues to prove he is nothing but inconsistent and a No. 3 wideout. Williams saw the field in the second half with the Ravens looking to make more big plays in their passing game. Grade: D+
Offensive line: This group did an outstanding job protecting Flacco, who was rarely pressured in the pocket. That said, they didn’t get it done on the goaline with the game on the line. To not be able to push back one of the smaller defensive front sevens in the NFL on first and goal from the one-yard line is embarassing. Grade: C-
Defensive line: Without Terrell Suggs and going up against one of the top pass-protection units in the NFL, the defensive line struggled getting to the quarterback. They also didn’t do a very good job of clogging up the running lanes on the Colts’ patented stretch plays to the outside. Haloti Ngata was a non-factor other than the cheap, costly 15-yard penalty he was assessed. Paul Kruger made a nice stop for a big loss while Kelly Gregg looks stronger with each passing week. Grade: C
Linebackers: Ray Lewis had some huge hits, but it might be the tackle that he missed on the goaline that will be most remembered. Ravens fans have to hope that it was the lower leg injury that was bothering Lewis in the second half and not just a sign of him beginning to slow and wear down. Jarret Johnson was his usual steady self, while the rest of this unit was never really a factor. Lewis is still a star, but he isn’t the amazing player he used to be. It’s time the Ravens get him a quality linebacker who can stuff the run, cover the tight end and take some of the burden off of him. Grade: C-
Secondary: The Ravens gave up some big pass plays as expected, especially on the first drive, but this unit overall did a nice job. Ed Reed saved Domonique Foxworth by hauling in an interception on what would have been a touchdown to Reggie Wayne. Foxworth and Washington both struggled at times, but fared well enough with such little pass rush on Manning. The Colts backup tight end probably hurt the Ravens more than anyone. Grade: C+
Special teams: Billy Cundiff made five field goals in his debut, but it will be the one he missed that everyone will remember. Cundiff missed a 30-yard chip shot by about that same distance, and the kicks he did make mostly snuck just inside one goal post or the other. The Ravens did not do much on their punt and kickoff returns, and Reed’s lateral/fumble at the end of the game cost the Ravens an opportunity at what could have eventually been a very long, game-winning field goal attempt. Grade: D
Coaching: Oh boy. Hang with me here. The coaching was flat-out atrocious. The Ravens should have given the ball to their best offensive player on the goaline or given Flacco and his large frame another shot at a quarterback sneak. Instead, Willis McGahee was stuffed twice, and the second time was a result of a poor exchange from the quarterback to running back. That confusion wouldn’t have happened with the starting running back in the game. The Ravens also used the same fullback dive to Le’Ron McClain one too many times. I don’t mind giving it to him in short-yardage situations, but at least change up the formation. It cost the Ravens a first down on a critical third-down play in Indianapolis territory.
John Harbaugh later cost the team in a huge way when he wasted two timeouts by challenging a play that was clearly ruled correct (actually, the ball should have been spotted a half-yard forward of where it was). The terrible decision cost the Ravens huge chunks of time. The offense could have gotten the ball back with more than a minute and 30 seconds on the clock in great field position needing just a field goal to win. All this talk about discipline is completely out the window, as it’s apparent Harbaugh is losing his team, especially Ed Reed. The coach has told him time and time again not to lateral the ball, but the safety just ignores him. Reed was trying to make a play, and who can hardly blame him when the coach is allowing minutes to run of the clock at the end of the game. Nonetheless, I’d be surprised to see him back returning punts anytime soon. Grade: F
