Redskins vs. Ravens pre-game thread

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

If we score a defensive touchdown, we'll win.

I'm actually certain that the Redskins are too fundamentally solid of a team to lose a game in which their defense scores. Problem is, the only defensive score that has occurred in a Redskins game this year came off a fumble by our Guard.

It has been that sort of year. When looking for reasons why we don't score points, I think it starts with the fact that the defense and special teams have combined for all of six points by players not named Shaun Suisham, who has his own problems anyway.

I agree with the Jason Taylor part. He actually looked good (on the pass rush at least) against the Giants, and if we stop blitzing so often, I would expect his success to continue.

I think against a lesser line like the Ravens, we'll be able to do a good job of getting pressure on Flacco. If there's anything we've been pretty good at, it's defending the deep ball and that's his forte. I think Landry also gets a pick this game from Flacco forcing one deep.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I think against a lesser line like the Ravens, we'll be able to do a good job of getting pressure on Flacco. If there's anything we've been pretty good at, it's defending the deep ball and that's his forte. I think Landry also gets a pick this game from Flacco forcing one deep.

I'm not sure I'd call the Ravens a lesser line. I don't think they are super talented or anything like the Eagles or the Giants or the Bucs lines are, but they have been incredibly healthy all year and when it comes down to it, thats the type of thing that really starts to matter this time of year.

We've really gotten a lot of pressure on quarterbacks all season long. Pressure isn't the problem, it's that we're not converting the pressures into sacks, and instead of 3rd and 17, the offense spends a lot of time in a much more convertable 3rd and 8 (and then we blitz, which raises the likelyhood of a conversion). Combine that with the fact that we were turnover-averse prior to the bye, and you got a pretty fine line between successful and unsuccessful.

Flacco is a fan of the deep ball, but Rogers is really the only guy in the secondary that can defend it. They could pick on Smoot/Hall all day with the deep ball, and I'm not sure Landry could get over the top in time.

I'd break out the cover two this week if I'm Blache.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

what we still have a chance, the way people were talking i thought that the draft was next week

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

what we still have a chance, the way people were talking i thought that the draft was next week

Sometimes it feels that way. Referencing the other thread, I definitely think that the 6-2 start made me expectations unreasonably high. I was like, "PLAYOFFS BABY, MAYBE EVEN SUPER BOWL RUN" and then in true Redskins fashion, we get shot back down to Earth.

What bothers me is that week in and week out, the Redskins live to shorter my life expectancy due to heart attack. I've never seen a team so inconsistent over the past few years. Sure, we've had some playoff runs, but it's SO frustrating to not field a team in the past 4-5 years that will straight up blow a crappy team out.

Many teams we are the favorite and have been playing dominant football. It isn't the personnel, it isn't the coaching, it's just the way it goes and that's what depresses me the most.

All this being said, I'm willing to be patient with Zorn for at least 3 more years as long as we see progression. Of course everyone wants to win now, but sometimes that just won't happen. This year won't be our year (just being realistic) and I think that right now we're at a definite crossroads. We have a great nucleus of some young players and established stars that we can either build through the draft and a few shrewd FA moves OR we can totally screw it up and then be in rebuilding mode for the next few years.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

I know the feeling TMC it is frustrating as hell watching 20-17 games against Seattle or hsving the ball 41 minutes and losing refrencing the Tampa game 2 years ago or last year cant remember

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Redskins 21
Ravens 14

[afredskinsfan11]

Something about Ole Flaco scares me, but we'll work out of this slump this week and pull away with another close one.

Skins 21
Ravens 20

I would like to make another prediction also.....

Suisham get no attempted FG's and Thrash stays on ST's!

[davy]

I have no idea how we can even be competitive in this game.

Skins 10-28 Ravens

[mredskins]

Please please please win this game at least for all the Baltimore Redskin fans. My life will be hell if we lose this game. It is all I want for Xmas this year! I would even give up the playoffs for this win.

[maroonandblack30]

Record of teams the Ravens have beat this year = 26-44-2 (and they played the Bungles and Browns twice!!!!)

Redskins offense = 13th Ravens offense = 19th

Redskins D = 6th Ravens D = 2nd

I don't understand why everyone is so high on the Ravens and down on the Skins... they are very evenly matched and our Skins play in a much tougher division.

Skins will win 13-10

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by maroonandblack30

Record of teams the Ravens have beat this year = 26-44-2 (and they played the Bungles and Browns twice!!!!)

Redskins offense = 13th Ravens offense = 19th

Redskins D = 6th Ravens D = 2nd

I don't understand why everyone is so high on the Ravens and down on the Skins... they are very evenly matched and our Skins play in a much tougher division.

Skins will win 13-10

good point.

Living in bmore i started to follow the ravens and they are a solid D team with much of the same offensive struggles we have. flacco is decent/serviceable but harbaugh and the coaching staff have really called conservative games keeping the handcuffs on flac to allow their D to win games and give the O good starting position. One thing about flac that has brought a new wrinkle to their O is that the guy can move around and run for 15 if he has to. Heap has been nonexistent and has shown some signs of life lately but the talk radio is talking about cutting him next year (not worth elite TE money).

kevin gregg their do all guy in the middle is injured but this young guy (barron barrett?) has stepped up well in a vital role for their D in allowing ray and others get to the ball carrier.

running game is in shambles, mcgahee is likely gone next year, fb mcclein is a sellers jr. rice has limited to looks.

clayton is starting to break out after hes been labeled a bust as a 1st rd wr.

^^^ all this said means the ravens D must show up (which they normally do) and their O must continue to make just enough plays. Sounds alot like us; D must play solid and inconsistent flat O must show up to make some plays.

We have a chance, this is not the giants, steelers or even the cowboys; we match up well against them and hopefully zorn and co have seen enough of this outside running and blitzing weve seen over the past 5 games to finally gameplan and adjust.

I really like our chances.

go skins!!!

really flac's ability to scramble and improvise on 3rd and longs were we have them covered really scares me. he can keep plays alive.

[hooskins]

Look who the Ravens play bud, strength of schedule.

[irish]

Originally Posted by hooskins

Look who the Ravens play bud, strength of schedule.

Actually when I look at it, outside of the division schedule the Skins schedule hasnt been super tough. The Skins have played the Rams, Browns, Lions, & Seattle (Cinn & SF yet to come). Thats almost 50% of the schedule being really bad teams. The rest of the way the Skins opponents are .491 and the Ravens is .500. IMO, both teams schedules are about equal.

[CRedskinsRule]

We both share one common theme, neither of us have beaten the elites. I think we are the 2 top non elite teams this year and this game will be a bruiser for sure. (PS the Ravens haven't beaten a top 10 defense this year.)

[SBXVII]

Well, even though I was pissed about the Giants loss I have to admit I had them losing it anyway with 6 games left. I had two losses 1 being the Giants and 2 being the Ravens. I figured that we needed to go 4-2 in the end. So since we also lost to Dallas this game means more. Our 2 losses were Dallas and Giants. Now we need to win out.
Matty...you say were not dead yet. I totally want to agree with you but we also are not alive. I think the team is somewhere in the Zombie stage. Good enough to be able to win games but also bad enough to lose them. They honestly look lackadasicle.(sp) <-That, a play off team does not make. Again, I keep hoping some how some where the team gets their crap together and hit on all cylinders putting up a high score that we should hit one of these days. but I think they got nothing.

So....If we can keep the Ravens to below 14 points...we win, we can't we lose.

Skins 17
Ravens 24

I know, I know, but I'm tired of predicting the Skins to blow one out and they not so I'm trying a different tactic knowing full well the Skins look at this board and will get pissed the fans don't have their back and pull one out. LOL.