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Ravens Buck the Broncos; Look to Bludgeon Bengals

Patrick Delaney Written by Patrick Delaney, Thursday November 05 2009
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To quote Clark Griswald in Christmas Vacation, "Hallelujah, holy sh*t!"  We've been waiting all season for a defensive effort like the beat down the Ravens enacted on the Denver Broncos last Sunday in Baltimore, Mary-land. 

 

From the very first play of the game when linebacker Jarrett Johnson sacked Kyle "Jason Lee look-a-like" Orton, it was apparent that Ray Lewis and Company were playing with an unrivaled-in-2009 intensity.  It was refreshing.  It was also interesting...considering it came on the heels of some reports (ie. unreliable sports blogs - UNLIKE this one) that Ray Lewis, at the expense of defensive coordinator Greg Mattison's credibility, started calling the defensive plays in the second half against the Minnesota Vikings. 

 

I mention it because it's worth reporting - the Ravens came back in a big way during the second half in the Metrodome, and all year the players have been publicly supportive of Mattison.  Coach John Harbaugh runs a very tight ship when it comes to what is said to the media.  Just ask any reporter -- his press conferences and interviews are bland, vanilla, cliche-ridden, and much like the Yankees' 27th World Series: BORING. 

 

Regardless...something got shaken up this week...meetings were held...game plans were changed...and it's my personal belief that Ray Ray had some input as to what the coaching staff could do to play to the defense's strengths. Or at the very least…what the coaching staff could do to hide the defense’s weakness (aka. the secondary). 

 

As has been said all week – it was by far the most complete game of the season. It was light years more satisfying than the Cleveland beat down because, well, that was Cleveland; and this was an undefeated Broncos club that had former Ravens coordinator Mike Nolan at the defensive helm. It had week one savior (and former Ravens Super Bowl hero) Brandon Stokley lining up in the slot. And it had girlfriend-beating, cop-inducing, and Anita Marks love child Brandon Marshall anchoring the receiving corps. 
 
Somebody find Ladarius Webb some playing time! I mean, if that’s the kind of performance we see from the secondary when Frank Walker is made inactive…we may have to stick with that philosophy. 
 
 
Now we face the Cincinnati Bengals. In the Queen City. Which is, in fact, the third largest city in Ohio. That’s right…third. But wait…another interesting fact: Cleveland is the second biggest behind…Columbus! And you thought Columbus was only famous for it’s NHL franchise. 
 
 
Unfortunately, I was correct in predicting that the Bengals were going to give us fits this year. Quarterback Carson Palmer is back, his receivers are still great, and they’ve got a rejuvenated Cedric Benson running the ball. What I DO like about this game, though, is that Cinci is wildly unpredictable. You might get the Bengals that routed the Bears, or you might get the Bengals that almost lost to the Browns. The law of averages is on our side. To wit, let’s take a look at their games since week three:
 
 
Week 3 – great come-from-behind win against the Steelers at home
Week 4 – terrible win at home over Cleveland (would have been a tie if Palmer hadn’t lobbied to Marvin Lewis to go for it on fourth and 11 with time winding down in OT, and it was a QB scramble on a broken play that set up the winning field goal)
Week 5 – last minute, but gutsy nonetheless (and playing for their defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, who had just lost his wife unexpectedly) win versus the Ravens in Baltimore
Week 6 – laid a turd at home in a 13-point loss to the Texans. 
Week 7 – smoked the Bears at home by 35.
Week 8 – Bye.
Week 9 – By my calculations, they’re due for another turd. 
 
 
And I want nothing more than to believe that last week’s Ravens defensive effort against the Broncos wasn’t a one-hit-wonder. I want nothing more to believe that the Ravens defense is back – that Mattison and his players have finally found common ground in what has been up to this point an uneven, unspectacular, and at times, unwatchable defensive performance. 
 
 
It is still mind boggling that my worries lie with the defense, and that I haven’t even mentioned the offense. Cool Joe Flacco seems to relieve that anxiety. Despite “top-notch” receivers. Despite Brandon Marshall. I no longer fear our offensive production. As long as linebacker Terrell Suggs backs up his claim that the Bengals loss taught them something, we’re looking at a win on Sunday and at least a 2nd place tie in the AFC North. And one week later, we can now root for the Broncos. 

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