Conservative vs. Aggressive

[tigercruise]

Note the difference between the first half and the second half? 13 out of 16 first down plays in the 1st half, Rice up the middle.

Enter the Ravens in the 2nd half. Played like they wanted to win - and did. Played balls out. THAT'S how you win football games. Go Ravens!

Joe Flacco rules!

[Steveg85321]

I'm thinking that style in the first half may have been what set up the effectiveness of the way they attacked in the second half.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I'm thinking that style in the first half may have been what set up the effectiveness of the way they attacked in the second half.

I disagree. The play in the first half almost cost them the game. There's simply no excuse for that nonsense. Establishing a balance between running and passing is one thing. Running almost exclusively on first down, especially when Rice was only averaging 2-3 yards, was absurd. And to try to say it helped set up something in the second half is even more absurd. If the Ravens D hadn't stepped up BIG TIME throughout the game, the first half predictability would have sunk the ship for sure. Please don't try to defend or justify or glorify it. It was what it was -- it stunk.

[OriginalColtsFan]

Here's the REAL irony of the day, IMO:

The Falcons played one really good half of offensive football, and lost the game by 4 points.
The Ravens played one really good half of offensive football, and won by 15 points.

That's the way the ball bounces sometimes.

(And the reason for the big difference? Because the Falcons couldn't toe the line on defense for 4 quarters the way the Ravens did.)

[cprenegade]

The switch in offensive philosophy was clearly the difference in the game. New England didn't expect it, and couldn't handle it. Maybe the switch was predicated by Alib being out of the game. Who knows. But the clear difference was trying to not be so conservative and going after the game. New England doesn't have a great defense. Trying to feel the game out was only playing into their hands. By taking control the Ravens dictated the game.

[ChippewaJoe]

Of the Ravens five 1st half possessions, their best starting point was the 14, averaging the 11. Pats averaged their own 30. Very reminiscent of the game at Cincy (in that regard). And then there was the wind. And a couple of drops.

That said, I was wondering where Leach was during that time.....and SOME sort of motion or deception.

It did help that NE was down a couple DBs (those are the breaks). They got a bit TOO pass happy on that 3-and-out late....

On the other side...the defensive hits began to take their toll on the NE receivers. Hell, Ellerbe caught the ball better with his broken mitts, while they were dropping it with the expectation of another pounding.