ESPN: Ravens have "No Hope" in Denver

[Slidemaster]

Y'know, I actually kind of like hearing everyone give the Ravens absolutely no chance. There's always at least one monumental upset in the playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012...ltimore-ravens

[elj1201]

She essentially said Ravens only chance is to hurt peyton.
Come on ashley...

Wow. This is just a poor article.

comments all seem to agree. even bronco fans.


"Wow...can't believe Ashley took Peyton's @#$% out of her mouth long enough to write this article."

ha. oh ashley.

[Bmore]

Both Ravens and Texans are 10 point dogs per Las Vegas.

on any given Sunday....

[JasonM]

Y'know, I actually kind of like hearing everyone give the Ravens absolutely no chance. There's always at least one monumental upset in the playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012...ltimore-ravens

I agree, I don't give a damn if sports writers/bloggers/pundits don't "respect" my team. As long as they have to play the game, the Ravens certainly have "hope".

[ivanbalt]

The media wants Manning/Brady in the AFC championship. The other teams don't really exist.

[jamesdean]

I don't know if I'd use the term "no hope" as the operative phrase but frankly, it's going to be a long shot. Denver is a better football team and they're playing at home. The Ravens will have to play their best game of the year(even better than the Giants game) and the Broncos will have to turn the ball over a couple of times. The Ravens will have to grind it out, chew up the clock and keep Manning on the side line. Otherwise, I don't know how Baltimore can win this game. Hopefully, it will be competitive and go down to the last quarter.

[AFKAR7]

The media wants Manning/Brady in the AFC championship. The other teams don't really exist.

and a Ryan/Rodgers matchup. I get it, don't blame them but I don't worry about what they want.

The networks would hate to see Balt/Houston Seattle/SanFran games the following week. My guess is most NFL fans would feel the same way.

[JohnnyUrulz]

I don't know if I'd use the term "no hope" as the operative phrase but frankly, it's going to be a long shot. Denver is a better football team and they're playing at home. The Ravens will have to play their best game of the year(even better than the Giants game) and the Broncos will have to turn the ball over a couple of times. The Ravens will have to grind it out, chew up the clock and keep Manning on the side line. Otherwise, I don't know how Baltimore can win this game. Hopefully, it will be competitive and go down to the last quarter.

That pretty much sums it up and the chances of this taking place are pretty slim. Certainly there is hope. But hope is not a strategy.

[jessup270]

The way I see it, the Ravens have only two options:

a. The defense defends against the pass at all costs and hopes that the Ravens offense can find a way to put up more points, than Peyton. That translates to a Ravens 48 - 42, win, not likely.

b. Blitz Peyton early and often and I do mean often. I would rather lose to Manning on blitzes, than have him pick you apart all day.

I go with option B.

[JohnnyUrulz]

The way I see it, the Ravens have only two options:

a. The defense defends against the pass at all costs and hopes that the Ravens offense can find a way to put up more points, than Peyton. That translates to a Ravens 48 - 42, win, not likely.

b. Blitz Peyton all day early and often and I do mean often. I would rather lose to Manning on blitzes, than have him pick you apart all day.

I go with option B.

Sounds good to me. I vote for blitzing the hell out of him and at least knock him around even if he is comleting short quick release passes. Much rather lose knowing we did the right thing.

Also time of possession. Last meeting when Ravens got routed Denver had the ball for like 38 minutes. Colts has the ball 37 minutes yesterday. Recipe for losing against Denver. Got away with it vs. indy.

[DJGreg1200]

You guys should've seen the post game show on NFL Network with Tom Waddle and Darren Sharper. They basically barried the Ravens before the players had a chance to shower and change their clothes.

[Baltimore Ravens Lets Go!]

Y'know, I actually kind of like hearing everyone give the Ravens absolutely no chance. There's always at least one monumental upset in the playoffs.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012...ltimore-ravens

I remember as a kid watching the biggest "no hope" playoff game possibly in NFL history in 1965 where both Unitas and his backup Gary Cuozzo were injured and out. In this game the Colts starting HB Tom Matte, who had last QBed at Ohio State where he was basically a running back had to start at the QB position. This was against the mighty Lombardi Packers, one of the greatest dynasty teams in NFL history and it was at Lambeu Field. On the first snap after kickoff, Bart Starr was knocked out of the game, I believe on a hard hit by Lenny Lyles, the ball was fumbled and Don Shinnick, who was playing with a broken arm and a cast on it, scooped it up and ran it in for a TD!

This immediately helped even the odds somewhat, even though the Packers at least had a legitimate NFL backup who played the rest of the game named Zeke Bratowski, he wasn't future HOFER Starr. The Colts would have actually won that game in regulation 10-7, but the officials blew a call on a game tying FG that clearly missed (photographs show this). The Packers went on to win in OT 13-10. The next year the NFL extended the Goal post to the way they are now and painted them yellow.

So there is always hope.

[codefool]

The way I see it there was two plays in the first game that changed the complexion of the game.

The first being Flaccos fumble on the first Ravens offense drive. If he didn't fumble maybe the offense would have gotten some contintuity that day.

The second being the pick 6 at the end of the first half. That would have made it a closer game at halftime and who knows what could have happened.

If I remember this was the first game post Cam and the defense was essentally a second string defense that game. I think Suggs was out or injured, Nagata was pretty banged up and the secondary was mostly replacements and it was Chykie Brown's first start. Yet the defense still did a pretty good job containing Peyton in the first half.

All it takes is two or three plays to go the right way and then who knows.

[Fang]

The way I see it there was two plays in the first game that changed the complexion of the game.

The first being Flaccos fumble on the first Ravens offense drive. If he didn't fumble maybe the offense would have gotten some contintuity that day.

The second being the pick 6 at the end of the first half. That would have made it a closer game at halftime and who knows what could have happened.

If I remember this was the first game post Cam and the defense was essentally a second string defense that game. I think Suggs was out or injured, Nagata was pretty banged up and the secondary was mostly replacements and it was Chykie Brown's first start. Yet the defense still did a pretty good job containing Peyton in the first half.

All it takes is two or three plays to go the right way and then who knows.

Great points. I think the Ravens could sneak up on the Broncos. It seems the team is as healthy as it's been since week 1. Plus like you said, Cam had just been fired that week and the team, to me at least, seemed deflated that week. If the offense doesn't turn the ball over it's going to be a close game.

[codefool]

I remeber a media that gave the Ravens zero chance at Adelphia vs the Titans back in January 2001.

[bmore_ken]

I don't know if I'd use the term "no hope" as the operative phrase but frankly, it's going to be a long shot. Denver is a better football team and they're playing at home. The Ravens will have to play their best game of the year(even better than the Giants game) and the Broncos will have to turn the ball over a couple of times. The Ravens will have to grind it out, chew up the clock and keep Manning on the side line. Otherwise, I don't know how Baltimore can win this game. Hopefully, it will be competitive and go down to the last quarter.

I agree. When you look at Denver's defense vs Indy's and Peyton vs Luck, it's easy to see this is a much tougher game than yesterday's. I don't know about the no hope thing. As long as there's time on the clock, there's hope.

[RavnFreek]

I hope they print this one off and post it in the locker room.

[Steveg85321]

I cannot agree that there is NO hope. The Ravens are definitely trending in a different direction than the last time these teams met, getting key defensive players back and getting the new OC's contribution into the gameplan. Also, some of the Broncos might just lose some of their edge due to the thrashing they gave the Ravens here. But it is surely a long shot to think the Ravens pull the upset, and would require a dramatic letdown by Denver and a mighty effort by Baltimore, with one or two guys playing out of their minds.

The media wants Manning/Brady in the AFC championship. The other teams don't really exist.

I don't think this factor can be overlooked at all. There is no question that the "fates" favor a Denver/NE AFC championship, and the officials will no doubt have that in their minds. No excuses; I'm just saying.

[RavnFreek]

Sounds good to me. I vote for blitzing the hell out of him and at least knock him around even if he is comleting short quick release passes. Much rather lose knowing we did the right thing.

Also time of possession. Last meeting when Ravens got routed Denver had the ball for like 38 minutes. Colts has the ball 37 minutes yesterday. Recipe for losing against Denver. Got away with it vs. indy.

It has been shown that if you CAN get to Peyton he starts to buckle. The problem is getting to him. Coverage has got to be spot on, he's not going to run so we dont need to worry about him taking off down field. Just play good solid football. Remember 2006 the Ravens held Manning to no TDs. Trouble was the Ravens didnt score any either.

[CajunRaven]

Any given Sunday! A very tough task ahead, but if they play well, they can win.

The lady is an idiot.