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Cleveland Browns Fall to the Baltimore Ravens: Fan… |
The Cleveland Browns suffered another disappointing heartbreak against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Eve (12/24/11). The end of the first half certainly has fans scratching their heads. Why the Browns did not attempt a field goal is beyond comprehension. Browns’s coach Pat Shurmur looked like he was going to explode when the team did not go for a field goal. Shurmur is saying that he is responsible for the communication breakdowns that happened throughout the game. However, speaking of the particular play at the end of the first half, Shurmur said, “I never would have called a run in that situation with that much time.” Seneca Wallace took the field as quarterback for the game because Colt McCoy is still out with his concussion. Wallace really looked a lot better last week. He had a few good passes in today’s game, like the excellent touchdown pass to Evan Moore, but he seemed far less confident in this game than he did in the Arizona game. Wallace has been in the NFL for nine seasons, but he really seemed to be carrying a rookie confidence around with him today. This is the thing that the Browns do not need, especially when playing a team with the talent of the Ravens. Going into the second half with no points on the board looked really terrible. Then, finally Josh Cribbs saved the day by running an 84-yard touchdown off of a punt. It was a truly remarkable play. This play was not a game-saver, but it definitely re-energized the Browns and gave the fans a little hope and confidence. Should we even discuss the fourth quarter? Specifically that play where Wallace passed to Hillis when they should have just kicked the ball. This was another head-scratching play that is becoming all too characteristic of the Browns. Then, with two minutes to go in the game, Phil Taylor just had to go offsides. The Browns had one more chance to actually do something, but him going offsides completely eliminated their chances of a last ditch effort. Had he not gone offsides, the Browns would have had two minutes (I know not much, but at least it would have been something) to at least attempt to score a touchdown. The Browns will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers for their last game. If they expect to add another win to their record, they are going to have to stop with the careless mistakes and put forth more focus. R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow. Posted in 1, baltimore-ravens, Cleveland Browns, Colt McCoy, Josh Cribbs, Pittsburgh Steelers | 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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Seneca Wallace Will Be Cleveland Browns Starting… |
When the Cleveland Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, December 24, 2011, they will be doing it with Seneca Wallace at quarterback. There is a good chance he will play the role of QB in the final game against the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week as well. Colt McCoy is still out because of the concussion he sustained due to the head on collision courtesy of James Harrison. He is still having recurring symptoms from this injury and until he is fully recovered from this injury, it is simply not safe for him – or the other players – for him to be out on the field. McCoy will not travel with the Browns either. He will stay home and rest and focus on recovering. Since Wallace is going to be taking over the role of quarterback for the remainder of the season, he has to start acting like a starting quarterback. According to his teammates. He is falling into the role well. “I think he’s more vocal in the locker room and on the field,” said Joe Thomas, a left tackle for the Browns. “When you’re the starter, you’re the coach on the field, not only calling plays but getting everybody lined up correctly, making sure the formation’s are correct, the personnel is right. You’re kind of the designated rah-rah guy. When things are going south, you’re the guy that needs to stand up and get everybody in a positive direction.” Wallace has acknowledged that he is just the backup quarterback and that he is afraid to overstep his boundaries. However, he needs to lose this mentality as it could hold him back. He is not the backup at this moment. He is the starter for the remainder of the season and he needs to think like a starter. He has played in nine NFL seasons and has earned his time on the field. In the Arizona game, Wallace showed that he has what it takes to make plays. He definitely gave the Browns some new energy. The only thing the Browns need to work on right now is keeping that energy throughout the entire game because that energy definitely faded by the end of the third quarter. If Wallace can keep throwing good passes and keep his men energized, the Browns just might have a chance to defeat the Ravens. R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen is a lifelong Browns fan who grew up in a household of Browns’ fans. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and still lives there. Regardless of the trials and tribulations the Browns have been through, she remains loyal, albeit honest about her home team. Follow Rose on Twitter @Rose_Kitchen Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. That’s all the news for today. |
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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:
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Ravens to Lose Anquan Boldin for Final Two Games:… |
If the Baltimore Ravens are going to finally break through and win their division, they are going to have to do it without their best wide receiver. The Ravens will lose Anquan Boldin for the final two games as a result of torn cartilage in his knee. This is a significant loss for a team that is looking to win their division and earn a playoff bye. The Ravens are currently 10-4 and tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the AFC North. The Ravens have the tiebreaker but won’t have an easy time winning the final two games. For an offense that is already less than stellar, this is a tough loss for the Ravens. Boldin will have minor surgery to repair the torn cartilage. While surgery on the knee is usually really serious, Boldin shouldn’t require an extensive coverage. In fact, he is expected to return for the playoffs. Apparently, the injury has been lingering and it was decided that now was the best time to get everything fixed. Baltimore did not disclose which knee was injured. However, the team did announce that Boldin will be ready for the playoffs. That is a good thing for this team, but it could make winning the division difficult. Boldin has 57 catches and was on track for a 1,000 yard receiving season. He is one of the best threats in the Baltimore passing game. Without him, Lee Evans should get more action in the final two games. Baltimore still has Joe Flacco and Ray Rice so they should still be able to move the ball. However, losing a receiver like Boldin at this point in the season can’t be easy. Baltimore has played seven playoff games in the past three seasons and all of them have been on the road. This team knows more than any other how important it is to get a home playoff game. The Ravens were on track for that until they lost to the San Diego Chargers. They still control their destiny. If they beat the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals in the final two weeks, they will win their division and earn a bye. They are still good enough to do that. However, losing Boldin is definitely a blow. Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. What do you guys think about this. Posted in 1, Anquan Boldin, baltimore-ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Joe Flacco, Lee Evans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Ray Rice, San Diego Chargers | Comments Off
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