I don't usually talk fantasy in these threads but I'm SOOOO glad I switched SDs defnse with Baltimores the morning
Mark Sanchez and Dennis Dixon both made their first career starts against Baltimore on nationally telivised games, and Clemens also made his first start against Baltimore.
double that, I had to run out to buy a christmas gift. NFL.com stat lines don't always tell the whole story, how's Dixon looking?
I know NBC is getting paid millions to promote that movie, but they're really getting disgusting about it. The broadcast is not so much about the game as it is about getting plugs in about MICHAEL OHER, who, DID YOU KNOW, has a movie about him!!!!???? They've overdone it in previous weeks, ruining the in studio analysis with annoying promos all over the place, but they've outdone themselves tonight with the Ravens and MICHAEL OHER playing. Anyway, Baltimore made two key mistakes that didn't end up hurting them. Both involved bad clock management. 1)After the long completion to Clayton put them in the red zone, they ran a play right before the two minute warning when there was absolutely no reason to do so. The smart play was to let it go to the two minute warning, and then run another play. The officials made a mistake in letting about three extra seconds go off the clock there. The play ended with 1:52 or 1:53 left, but the clock was allowed to tick to 1:49. 2)After they realized Pittsburgh was trying to run out the clock (astonishingly conservative, even with an inexperienced QB. Consider that you're down a TD and the Ravens get the ball to start the second half), they called a timeout, but let about five extra seconds tick off after the play where they called the timeout. It didn't end up mattering, because the Steelers got a first down and successfully ran out the clock (and after they got the first down, they again were far too conservative. They had a chance at a field goal), but those mistakes can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing.
one more thing: I was surprised at how unprepared Colinsworth and Michaels were. The late hit early in the game by Zbikowski was a perfect opportunity to mention his boxing while at Notre Dame. It was an interesting factoid that they whiffed on. I mentioned it before the game. :wink:
Ray Lewis is an animal. It's nice to see him still play at such a high level. The Ravens are making too many mistakes out there, makes me think that Pittsburgh will eventually steal this one.
I don't understand why they were so surprised that Baltimore went for it. I thought it was absolutely the right decision with only 3:30 left and two timeouts.
