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Fans Get Game Balls After Ravens’ Perfect Season… |
BALTIMORE (WJZ)– The Baltimore Ravens earn their way to the playoffs this year, and the team wants fans to know they couldn’t have done it without you. That’s why they put some lucky ticket-holders in the spotlight Thursday. Kai Jackson has more on the big surprise. Baltimore Ravens fans are passionate with Purple Pride. But it’s more than just spirit even broadcasters admit that fans can bring pain to opponents. When the Ravens beat the Browns at home on Christmas eve, it capped a perfect season at home– eight wins, no losses. “On behalf of the players and the coaches, we are giving the game ball to the Ravens fans for this 8 and 0 season,” John Harbaugh, head coach for the Ravens, said. Thursday, Coach Harbaugh made good on his promise. “I just wanna say what a pleasure it is to accept this on behalf of all Ravens fans and I’m honored to be here to represent,” Ravens fan Delray Smith said. Three fans were chosen at random to receive actual game balls in used in the Ravens victory over Cleveland. “Well, that’s about what I feel like right now, I got a game ball! Thank you very much to the Ravens!” Billie Armstrong, another Ravens fan, said. A perfect season at home is a tough thing for any team to achieve even when they hitting all cylinders. Yet, Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh says he gives a great deal of credit to Ravens fans. And fans give that credit back to the Ravens. “It’s just an honor and pleasure to sit up there every week and watch these guys play. And I guess the twelfth man really is important for you guys,” Ravens fan Michael Shue said. The Ravens have won 18 of their past 19 games at M&T Bank Stadium. Not much else going on in the NFL world today. Posted in 1, baltimore-ravens, John Harbaugh | Comments Off
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Baltimore Ravens hang on to AFC North lead after… |
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith had a simple view of Saturday’s game.
“Well, this week we won,” he said. “At the end of the day, that’s all that matters. We know there are things that we have to improve upon. We have shown we can do it. It’s just a matter of us being consistent.” The Ravens escaped Christmas Eve with a 20-14 win over the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. In doing so, Baltimore had its second consecutive lackluster game – the Browns had an opportunity to take a late lead – following last week’s 34-14 loss to the Chargers. “I don’t know if it is a concern, but obviously you do want to play better,” wide receiver Lee Evans said. “At the end of the day, you do have to find a way to win 
Cleveland Browns free safety Mike Adams (20) gets tangled with Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith as Smith goes up for a catch in the first half of Saturday’s game in Baltimore. Cleveland was charged with a pass interference penalty on the play (AP PHOTO – NICK WASS) games. We were able to do that today, and we can build on that. Next week, our job is just to win one more.” The Ravens (11-4) head into next week’s road game against the Bengals needing either a win or a Pittsburgh Steelers loss to win the AFC North. Doing so would allow the Ravens to play host to their first home playoff game since 2006 and would give them a first-round bye. They finish the regular season 8-0 at home, the first time they’ve been perfect at home. “(Having a home playoff game is) Big, man,” Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We want a chance at winning, and you’ve got a better chance to do it when you’re at home. And our fans, like I said, I consider myself to be a player of the people, and we are our best team when we’re in M&T and our fans are rocking. So, we definitely need a home playoff game by any means necessary.” The Ravens appeared ready for a home playoff game when Lardarius Webb intercepted Browns quarterback Seneca Wallace to give his team the ball at their 36-yard line. The first offensive play resulted in a 60-yard pass interference penalty that put the Ravens at the Browns’ 4-yard line. Three plays later, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco hit tight end Ed Dickson for a 5-yard touchdown and an eventual 7-0 lead. Just 5 minutes and 48 seconds into the game, the Ravens had a big defensive play and a lead. Shayne Graham made a 48-yard field goal about nine minutes later to give the Ravens a 10-0 lead. The Ravens signed Graham earlier in the week because Billy Cundiff has an injured calf. Graham added a 43-yard field goal with 5:54 remaining in the third quarter. “I thought (his performance) was good, especially on the field goals and the extra points,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He did a nice job of knocking it between the poles. It’s not easy to do that, coming into a new operation.” The Ravens scored again slightly more than six minutes into the second quarter on a 42-yard touchdown reception by Ray Rice that gave them a 17-0 lead. “I saw man coverage from the get go,” he said. “I said, ‘If I get a step on him, I got him.’ There is only one negative in that play, and that is if the safety plays it. So, it’s either the ball is on you fast or it’s a home run.” After Graham’s field goal made the score 20-0, the Browns began their comeback. Their first points came on an 84-yard return punt for a touchdown by Josh Cribbs with 3:07 remaining in the third quarter.The punt return for a touchdown was the second allowed by the Ravens this season, tying a franchise record. The other came Oct. 30 by the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson. “We wanted to pin the ball over on the left sideline and we didn’t,” Harbaugh said. “We kicked (Cribbs) a ball that we don’t kick very often, and I think when you give a returner like that an opportunity like that in space, in those kinds of conditions, he made us pay for it. “It was not good coverage, it was not a good punt, and we have to do better than that. That’s really what got them back in the game.” Wallace hit tight end Evan Moore for a 6-yard touchdown with 8:30 left in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 20-14. Needing a touchdown to take the lead, the Browns received the ball at their 27-yard line less than two minutes later. The Browns drove to their 45-yard line, but couldn’t convert a fourth-and-5 pass by Wallace. Baltimore needed one “Oh my gosh” play to ice the game. Facing fourth-and-2 with 1:57 left, the Ravens were able to draw an encroachment penalty against Browns defensive lineman Phil Taylor as the play clock ticked toward zero. So, was there a play called? “Come on, you guys can figure it out,” Flacco said. “The play clock was at two seconds, and we hadn’t snapped the ball yet. It works sometimes, I guess. We got them. John (Harbaugh) was like, ‘There’s no way they jump.’” Flacco kneeled on the next three plays to end the game and lead the Ravens into their regular-season finale against the Bengals. All four of their losses have come on the road. “Big game next week,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. “It’s no secret. It’s up to us to go out and finish what we’re trying to finish.” Leave your comments on the news below. Posted in 1, baltimore-ravens, Cleveland Browns, Ed Dickson, Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh, Josh Cribbs, Lardarius Webb, Lee Evans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Ray Lewis, Ray Rice | Comments Off
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Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver Boldin to Miss Two… |
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver “He will be back for the playoffs, whichever round we have The Ravens (10-4) have clinched a playoff spot and are tied Boldin, the team’s leading wide receiver with 887 yards on “We’ve got two tight ends that are really good, so we’re To contact the reporter on this story: To contact the editor responsible for this story:
If you like reading our blog, remember to bookmark it. Posted in 1, Anquan Boldin, baltimore-ravens, Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh, Lee Evans, Pittsburgh Steelers | Comments Off
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Baltimore Ravens Coach & Players Share Their… |
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Ravens fans are hoping for a win this Christmas Eve. But what does the holiday mean for the coaches and players? Jessica Kartalija finds the Christmas spirit is alive and well. This holiday season, the Ravens say playing in the NFL is a gift in itself. “Too many guys can’t be a NFL player, so you’ve got to feel blessed,” Pernell McPhee, defensive lineman. The team says Christmas is time spent with their biggest fans. “It’s a very important time to spend with family and friends and to give back, most importantly to people who are less fortunate,” said Michael Oher. “It’s about family, you get gifts, and you really want people to show expression of love for everybody,” said Chris Carr. “Christmas to me means the celebration of the birth of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. That’s what it means. No greater celebration than that,” said Coach John Harbaugh. Memories of Christmas past are kicking in for punter Sam Koch. “We used to—on Christmas Eve–go to my grandma’s, and it was a way to get the family together and see each other,” said Koch said. “When I think of Christmas, I think of a time to be around family, and relax and yeah, think about how fortunate we are and try and help other people out there who might not be in the same situation we are,” said Joe Flacco. For Matt Birk, his kids are the center of attention. “Now, with six young kids at home, there’s nothing like Christmas morning,” Birk said. Ravens rookie Torrey Smith is looking forward to starting a new holiday tradition. “It’s a time to realize how thankful you are for everything from family, to football to life in general. I’m excited, and it’s the first time I’m on my own and my family is coming to Baltimore to celebrate it with me,” Smith said. Every player we spoke with expressed their appreciation of being in the NFL, saying it’s their responsibility to help others less fortunate. Leave any suggestions in the comment box. Posted in baltimore-ravens, Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh, Matt Birk, Michael Oher, Sam Koch | Comments Off
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Ravens back in first place, in position for… |
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh arrived for work in a good mood Tuesday morning following the San Francisco 49ers’ victory Monday night over the Pittsburgh Steelers. And with good reason: The Ravens moved back into first place with the Steelers’ loss. “He was coming in: ‘Did you see that game? Who won?’” quarterback Joe Flacco said about Harbaugh. “OK, we all know who won the game. We know you’re way more excited now than you were two days ago. You could definitely tell he was excited, and we should be. We’re obviously in a better position because of what happened.” The 49ers’ win over the Ravens’ AFC North rival put the Ravens (10-4) back in first place in the AFC North and into the second seed in the playoff standings. The Ravens’ embarrassing 34-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night knocked them out of first place in the division for a day, and they fell from the top-seeded team in the AFC to fifth. Now, they’re second behind the New England Patriots. The Ravens own the tiebreaker edge over the Steelers (10-4) after sweeping the annual series. They are in position to earn a first-round bye and a home playoff game provided they win their final two regular-season games against the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. “Man, it was a fun to watch,” Harbaugh said. “It was pretty cool. The fact that if we win both games now, we will win the division, that means a lot. That’s really meaningful. It’s a tough league, and we have to win every week.” However, the Ravens would have preferred to not require assistance. “It’s a gift, but we wish we didn’t have to get it that way,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. The Ravens are 7-0 at home heading into their home game Saturday against the Browns. And they’re undefeated in their previous games against Cleveland and Cincinnati this season. “We’ve just got to take care of business,” Suggs said. “We’re playing two teams that know us very well, two division foes, so it’s going to be interesting. We’ve got to get back to doing what we do best, and that’s playing Ravens football.” Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news. Posted in 1, baltimore-ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Joe Flacco, John Harbaugh, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers | Comments Off
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