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.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Dec. 24, 2011

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens achieved perfection at home for the first time, and now they’re looking to add to that ledger in the playoffs.

Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes, and the Ravens beat the bumbling Cleveland Browns 20-14 on Saturday to move one step closer to winning the AFC North.

Ray Rice ran for 87 yards and caught a TD pass for the Ravens (11-4), who led 17-0 at halftime and held on.

“I have never been perfect at home in 16 years of football. That’s amazing,” Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said. “As good of teams we’ve had here, we’ve always found [a way] to lose one or two here or there. I think this year we really made a focus on taking care at home. This is the result, us being able to go 8-0 and being able to be sitting where you want to sit at the end of the day.”

The Ravens would win the AFC North by defeating Cincinnati on the road next week. That would also give Baltimore a first-round bye and a home playoff game – two if New England loses next Sunday at home against Buffalo.

“It’s big, man,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We are at our best when we are at (home) and our fans are rocking. So we definitely need a home playoff game, by any means necessary.”

Flacco went 11 for 24 with touchdown passes to Rice and tight end Ed Dickson. He also had a 33-yard run.

Josh Cribbs had a career-high 84-yard punt return for a TD for Cleveland (4-11). But the Browns generated very little offense and were guilty of questionable play calling, bad clock management and untimely penalties in their fifth straight loss.

Cleveland saved the worst for last. Having already burned their three timeouts, the Browns lined up on defense after the two-minute warning with the Ravens facing a fourth-and-2 at the Cleveland 37.

It appeared obvious that Flacco and the Ravens were merely hoping to draw the Browns offside.

As the play clock moved close to zero, Cleveland tackle Phil Taylor jumped across the line of scrimmage to give Baltimore a first down.

“It was the first hard count and we stayed onside,” Taylor said. “The second time, I just jumped. Of course you feel bad, but you just got to move on.”

Said Flacco: “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in position for that to happen. It’s never worked.”

The Ravens then ran out the clock on their eighth straight win over the Browns, including two this month.

“We knew this would be quite a challenge for us,” Cleveland quarterback Seneca Wallace said. “We’re playing the Ravens at home, and they’re playing for everything. I should have played better, and I should have made better decisions.”

Wallace went 19 for 33 for 147 yards in place of Colt McCoy, who was out with a concussion. Peyton Hillis ran for 112 yards, but Cleveland’s offense mounted only one decent drive.

The Browns took the opening kickoff and moved from their own 26 to the Baltimore 30 behind the power of Hillis, who gained 30 yards on six carries. But on a third-and-1, Cleveland inexplicably went to the air, and Lardarius Webb intercepted Wallace’s pass for Mohamed Massaquoi.

Flacco immediately threw deep for Torrey Smith, who drew a 60-yard penalty for pass interference on Mike Adams to set up a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dickson.

Later, a 29-yard throw from Flacco to Smith led to a 48-yard field goal by newcomer Shayne Graham, signed in the middle of the week to take over for the injured Billy Cundiff.

After another Cleveland punt, Flacco directed an 82-yard drive that gave Baltimore a 17-0 lead. Rice slipped behind linebacker D’Qwell Jackson on the right sideline, caught a soft pass in stride and sprinted into the end zone to complete a 42-yard scoring play.

That made Flacco 5 for 5 for 94 yards and two touchdowns on third down.

Cleveland moved deep into Baltimore territory late in the first half, thanks in part to a 30-yard pass interference call against Chris Carr. But with the clock inside 10 seconds and the Browns without a timeout left, Wallace handed off to Hillis instead of spiking the ball, and Hillis went nowhere.

Wallace took the blame, and so did Browns coach Pat Shurmur.

“I need to communicate it better, OK?” Shurmur said.

Time expired before Cleveland could get off another play, and the Browns headed to the locker room after being held scoreless in the first half for the second time this season. The other time it happened was also against Baltimore.

Graham kicked a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter to make it 20-0.

The Browns finally scored when Cribbs took a punt on the right sideline, escaped an arm tackle and broke toward the center of the field before outrunning three defenders into the left corner of the end zone late in the third quarter.

“I was wondering where all the defenders were,” Cribbs said. “I saw all the great blocking around me. From there, it was easy. It was just a walk in.”

Cribbs also contributed to Cleveland’s next touchdown, catching a 23-yard pass from Wallace as part of an 80-yard drive that ended with a 9-yard TD throw to Evan Moore midway through the fourth quarter.

The Browns forced a punt, but on a fourth-and-4 from the Cleveland 45 with 4:03 left, a pass to Hillis did not produce the necessary yardage.

Taylor’s jump across the line of scrimmage soon followed.

Notes

• Ravens KR David Reed hurt his left knee and declared himself out for the season. Also, Baltimore OT Marshal Yanda (chest) and CB Cary Williams (concussion) did not play in the second half.
• Shurmur said the Browns sustained no serious injuries. Cleveland closes the season next Sunday against Pittsburgh.

That’s all for today.

BALTIMORE, Md. — Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was thrilled with the gift he received from Browns rookie defensive tackle Phil Taylor at the end of the game: a jump on fourth-and-2 that cost the Browns a chance at a comeback in the 20-14 loss.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been in position for that to happen,” Flacco said. “It’s never worked.”

With two minutes left in the game, the Ravens were clinging to the 20-14 lead and facing the crucial fourth down at the Browns’ 37. Everyone in M&T Bank Stadium knew the Ravens were going to try to draw the Browns offsides.

“In the timeout, we talked about the potential of that happening,” said coach Pat Shurmur. “I’ve seen it, and we had a nice huddle to discuss that might happen. And then you’re out there playing and you can’t do that.”

Sure enough, Taylor bolted off the line and wrecked the Browns’ hopes of tying or winning the game.

“We got them,” Flacco said. “[Coach] John [Harbaugh] was like ‘there’s no way they jump.’ In that situation, we got fortunate.”

Immediately afterward, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson put his hands on Taylor’s head and offered words of encouragement.

“He said ‘hold your head up,’” Taylor said. “It’s tough. Of course you feel bad, but you’ve just got to move on.”

Flacco executed the fake perfectly, then took a knee three straight times to end the game.

“They gave us a first hard count and we stayed onsides,” Taylor said. “The second time, I jumped.”

Jackson defended the mistake.

“We talked about it before the play, but it was the first time he had been in that situation,” Jackson said. “I was telling him, ‘You played a great game,’ and it’s a great learning experience for him. You hate to be that guy. I had my fair share of mishaps today, but you play in this league a long time and things like that are going to happen. You just have to be able to learn from them and try to minimize those mistakes.”

Added cornerback Sheldon Brown: “The only way to learn in this game as a young player is to be out there doing certain things. Unfortunately it happened, but we have to play faster and start faster. You can never point the blame or the finger at one person.”

Jackson said the bright side is that Taylor played the whole season and gained valuable experience as a rookie.

“He’s done a tremendous job all year,” Jackson said.

TDs on Jackson: Jackson gave up the Ravens’ two touchdown passes, a 5-yarder to tight end Ed Dickson and a 42-yarder to running back Ray Rice. Rice caught the ball at about the 25 and ran it in.

“Ray is a great back,” Jackson said. “He understood how I was manipulating a lot of running backs throughout the year. Being in man coverage, I’m able to hug. He took a chance. He got out real fast and once his feet are moving and he’s downhill, I tried to close the gap as quick as I could but it was a great ball by Flacco and there was no chance I was catching him.”

On the one to Dickson, Jackson had his back to the ball when it floated to Dickson.

“I’ve just got to close the air between him and the ball and I’ve just got to do a better job covering,” Jackson said.

Steelers game moved to later start: As a result of the NFL’s flex scheduling, the Browns-Steelers game Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium has been moved from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Cribbs TD: Wasted in the loss was Josh Cribbs‘ career-long 84-yard punt return for a touchdown that pulled the Browns to within 20-7 in the third quarter. It was his third career punt return for a score and 11th total return touchdown of his career, which is the fifth-most in NFL history. It was his first punt return for a touchdown since the 2009 season opener, when he returned one 67 yards against Minnesota on Sept. 13. Cribbs has totaled 20 career touchdowns; two rushing, three on punt returns, seven receiving and eight on kickoffs.

“It felt great,” said Cribbs, who was questionable for the game with a groin injury. “‘I saw all of the great blocking around me. From there, it was easy. It was just a walk in.’”

Hillis sensational: Browns running back Peyton Hillis followed his 99-yard game in Arizona with a 112-yard effort against the Ravens’ second-ranked run defense. Heading in, the Ravens had allowed only eight 100-yard runners in its previous 81 games and 10 in its past 98 games. One of those was Hillis’ 144-yard outburst here last season.

“It was tough [this season] because I knew I was hurt and I was injured and trying to go back out there and trying to play when you’re not 100 percent is tough because you know you really can’t help your team,” he said. “Then a lot of people are doubting you or thinking that you’re not trying to play hard. I love this team and I love going out there and playing football. It?s what I love to do. I don’t like people questioning that because my heart’s big and I want to do great things for this team.”

Hillis hobbled off for one play with an ankle injury but came right back in.

“My ankle popped there for a second,” he said. “I got a little concerned, but it wasn’t hurting. So they just took me to the sideline and cut off the tape and [re-taped] me then I was fine after that. I was just a little worried and concerned I didn’t hurt anything, which I didn’t.”

Hillis passes: Hillis tried to make something happen on back-to-back passes in the fourth quarter, but Wallace threw too short to him on third-and-5 at the 45 because of pressure by Ed Reed and Paul Kruger, and he was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-5.

“I think they were pretty much playing zero coverage there toward the end trying to hurry up and get the ball out,” Hillis said. “The second one that came to me, I caught and maybe I could have made something happen, but the defender was on me pretty quick. And the first time, if the ball got to me I think something great would’ve happened. But Seneca did a great job. He threw off his back foot there but he made a lot of crucial throws throughout the whole game, so you’ve gotta be proud of him about that.”

Maynard superb: Punter Brad Maynard recorded three more punts inside the 20-yard line. On the season, he has placed 30 of his 75 punts inside the 20 and has zero touchbacks. His inside-the-20 total is the second-most in Browns history. Bryan Wagner holds the record with 32 in 1989.

Draft order: The Browns’ draft order ranges from No. 3 to No. 9. Here are the scenarios:

If the Browns lose to Pittsburgh and finish with a 4-12 record:

They draft No. 3 if Jacksonville beats Indianapolis and Minnesota beats Chicago.

They draft No. 4 if Jacksonville beats Indianapolis and Chicago beats Minnesota.

They draft No. 4 if Indianapolis beats Jacksonville and Minnesota beats Chicago.

They draft No. 5 if Indianapolis beats Jacksonville and Chicago beats Minnesota.

If the Browns beat Pittsburgh and finish with a 5-11 record:

They draft anywhere from No. 6 to No. 9, depending on several outcomes.

Plain Dealer reporter Tony Grossi contributed to this report.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Gotta run!.

What are your opinions.

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.

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas can’t think of anyone he’d rather spend Christmas Eve with than Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.

Suggs always gives Thomas his best battles of the season, and Thomas considers him one of the best — if not the best — outside linebacker in the NFL.

“We’ve got to make sure it’s not the Terrell Suggs show,” Thomas said. “He’s going to make his tackles, he’s going to get a sack every now and then, but you’ve got to do whatever you can, whether it’s doubles, chips, run-action, play-action, you’ve got to make it a tough day — otherwise he’s going to make it tough on you.”

In the first meeting Dec. 4, a 24-10 Ravens win, Suggs had four tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and a pass broken up.

“I think we did a pretty decent job, but he’s a guy that you don’t really shut out in a game,” said Thomas, a four-time Pro Bowler. “You just try to minimize his impact because he’s such a good player that he’s going to get his plays. You’ve just got to make sure that he doesn’t take over the game. That’s kind of the key with him.”

Suggs has 13 sacks this season, tied for fifth in the NFL and tied for third in Ravens history. It tops his previous career high of 12 in 2003. His 13 career sacks against the Browns in 17 games are his second most against any team. His seven forced fumbles against Cleveland are his tops against any team.

“He’s right up at the top of the class, there’s no question,” Thomas said. “He’s such a disruptive force — run and pass. . . . That’s why he fits so well with the Ravens because they like those guys that are kind of the jack of all trades.”

– Mary Kay Cabot

What are your opinions.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Anquan Boldin will miss the final two National Football League
regular-season games after surgery to repair a slight tear in
his knee cartilage, coach John Harbaugh said.

“He will be back for the playoffs, whichever round we have
to play in,” Harbaugh said yesterday after Boldin’s procedure.
“It will be a little tighter if we have to play in the first
round.”

The Ravens (10-4) have clinched a playoff spot and are tied
with the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the American Football
Conference North division heading into this weekend’s games. If
they finish the season with the second-best record in the AFC,
they will get a first-round playoff bye.

Boldin, the team’s leading wide receiver with 887 yards on
57 catches, will be replaced by rookie Torrey Smith and veteran
Lee Evans for the Ravens’ games against Cleveland and
Cincinnati. They will be the first games Boldin has missed in
two years with the team.

“We’ve got two tight ends that are really good, so we’re
going to go out there and still attack and do everything we know
how to do,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. “Obviously, we’re
going to miss Anquan, but it’s an opportunity for him to get
better and hopefully he’ll come back strong.”

To contact the reporter on this story:
Nancy Kercheval in Washington at
nkercheval@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at
msillup@bloomberg.net

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Feel free to leave your comments below.

That’s all the news for today.

The Baltimore Ravens are in control of their destiny in the AFC North and
the race for a first-round bye. Maintaining that edge, though, will likely be
difficult if they turn in another lackluster performance.

A matchup with the ailing Cleveland Browns on Saturday would appear to give
the Ravens a good chance to stay on track for the division crown and the No. 2
seed, with Baltimore having dominated the series of late.

The Ravens (10-4) have put themselves in control with a sweep of division
rival Pittsburgh and a victory over Houston on Oct. 16, giving them a leg up on
those 10-4 teams.

Baltimore, though, missed out last week on a chance to move ahead of the
Steelers and Texans, both of whom lost. With a playoff berth already wrapped up,
the Ravens were blown out 34-14 in San Diego.

Pittsburgh fell 20-3 to San Francisco on Monday night, and Houston was upset
28-13 at home by Carolina.

“It’s a gift, but we wish we didn’t have to get it that way,” Ravens
linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “We’ve just got to take care of business.”

Baltimore, winner of nine in a row at home dating to last December, appears
to have a good chance to do that with Cleveland (4-10) visiting M&T Bank
Stadium. The Ravens have won seven straight over the Browns, tied for the
longest win streak against an opponent in team history. They’ve also won seven
consecutive games over the New York Jets.

Baltimore’s latest victory in the series came Dec. 4 as Ray Rice ran for a
career-high 204 yards in a 24-10 win. Ricky Williams added 76 yards rushing as
the Ravens piled up 290 on the ground.

Cleveland has made adjustments as it looks to slow down Rice. The Browns
allowed 147 rushing yards in a 14-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 8, but limited
Arizona to 74 in a 20-17 overtime defeat last week.

“The goal (is) to make sure we minimize his effect on the game,” coach Pat
Shurmur told the team’s website. “We’ve done some things schematically to help
us, and we just keep emphasizing that everyone has to play better. I’ve seen
that.”

At 3-4 on the road, winning this game might prove vital to Baltimore’s
chances of accomplishing its regular-season goals. The Ravens close out their
schedule at Cincinnati on Jan. 1.

“We’re playing two teams that know us very well, two division foes, so it’s
going to be interesting,” Suggs said. “We’ve got to get back to doing what we do
best, and that’s playing Ravens football.”

Suggs, who has a career-high 13 sacks, chased down Colt McCoy for one of
those, but the Browns quarterback likely won’t play this week. McCoy has been
out since taking a hit to the head against Pittsburgh earlier this month.

The controversy surrounding Cleveland’s failure to check McCoy for a
concussion has led the NFL to put certified trainer in every press box. McCoy
still had symptoms of a concussion Wednesday and has yet to be cleared to return
to the field.

“Like anybody that wants to play, he’s anxious to get back out there,”
Shurmur said. “But he understands there is a process that you have to go through
before he will be able to play again.”

With McCoy out, Seneca Wallace is expected to start again after he threw for
226 yards and a touchdown versus the Cardinals. His 76-yard scoring pass to Greg
Little gave the Browns a 17-7 third-quarter lead, but they couldn’t hold it and
suffered a season-high fourth consecutive defeat and sixth in a row on the road.

Wallace’s one start against the Ravens came in the team’s most recent trip
to Baltimore on Sept. 26, 2010. He threw for 141 yards and a TD in a 24-17
defeat, while counterpart Joe Flacco passed for three touchdowns.

Flacco has eight TDs and one interception over his last six matchups with
the Browns, who might need a strong performance from Peyton Hillis to help snap
their losing streak.

In his fourth game since returning from an injured hamstring, Hillis ran for
a season-high 99 yards and a touchdown last week. He rushed for a then-career
high 144 yards in Baltimore last September but has been held to a combined 80
over the past two matchups.

The Ravens might have a new kicker for this game as Billy Cundiff is dealing
with a sore left calf. On Wednesday, the team signed Shayne Graham, an 11-year
veteran who has played for six other teams.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

What are your opinions.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP)—The Baltimore Ravens dipped into the past Wednesday
to address an ongoing problem with their kicking game, signing Shayne Graham as
a possible replacement for injured Billy Cundiff.

Cundiff has a sore left calf and has struggled this month. He missed a
36-yard field goal Sunday night in a 34-14 loss to San Diego and is 2 for 5 in
December.

That prompted the Ravens to add Graham, who worked out with Baltimore last
week. Graham has played for six teams, most recently the Miami Dolphins earlier
this season.

Graham, 34, was cut in training camp by the Ravens last summer.

“The positive thing about bringing Shayne is that we know him and he knows
us,” special teams coach Jerry Rosburg said. “He’s obviously an NFL-caliber
kicker. We knew that when he was here and he’s proven that since he’s been
gone.”

Cundiff made the Pro Bowl in 2010 but has missed nine field goals this year
and is 1 for 6 beyond 50 yards. Baltimore is chasing the AFC North title, so
it’s quite possible Graham will be pressed into action Saturday against
Cleveland.

“He’s a real plus for us because we know we’re bringing in a guy that is
not only a quality NFL kicker, but has been in the NFL environment and
understands playoff caliber football at the end of the season,” Rosburg said.
“We expect him to come in here and add that veteran experience.”

Cundiff remains on the 53-man roster. Baltimore placed linebacker Chavis
Williams (foot) on injured reserve to make room for Graham, an 11-year veteran.

“It’s nice to actually come into this locker room,” Graham said. “A lot
of these guys were in camp when I was here a couple of years ago. A lot of the
guys are familiar with me.There’s a lot of good guys here, so it’s a real smooth
transition for me. Having the operation here, the snapper and holder, those guys
are phenomenal. So, I couldn’t ask to be in a better position or be around a
better bunch of guys.”

Cundiff did not practice Wednesday and Graham kicked well, but there are
still no guarantees Graham will get the call against the Browns.

“We added him to our roster just to make sure we had a kicker,” Rosburg
said.

“If they call on me, I’ll be ready,” Graham said. “I really don’t know
what the expectations are. I hope (Cundiff) gets healthy as soon as he can. All
I can control is what I’m asked to do. If I’m asked to go out and play, then I
go out and play and play my best to help these guys win. If it’s for one week,
it’s for one week. If it’s for two, it’s two.”

The Ravens don’t need uncertainty at kicker with the postseason rapidly
approaching, but they couldn’t afford to take a wait-and-see approach with
Cundiff.

“We’re just trying to win a football game this week,” Rosburg said.
“That’s what really important to us.”

Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh arrived for work in a good mood Tuesday morning following the San Francisco 49ers’ pivotal 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 of 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 puts the Ravens (10-4) back in first place in the AFC North and seeded second 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 ranked second in the playoff seeding behind the New England Patriots.

The Ravens own the tiebreaker edge over the Steelers (10-4) after sweeping their annual series earlier this season. They are now 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,” outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said.

The Ravens are 7-0 at home heading into Saturday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium 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.”

What are your opinions.

All season long the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have been battling back and forth for the lead in the AFC North. On Sunday night the Steelers retook the lead in the division-for now-when the Ravens lost to the San Diego Chargers by a score of 34-14. The loss drops the Ravens to 10-4 while the Steelers have a record of 10-3.

The best part about the Ravens usual choke job is that earlier this week I wrote my thoughts on Flacco whining about his team being disrespected by the media. It seems that Flacco believes that he and the Ravens deserve more attention than the Steelers, the New England Patriots and especially Tim Tebow. Then in typical Flacco and Ravens fashion they went out and proved exactly why they don’t get the respect the other teams do.

Nobody is perfect. The Green Bay Packers lost for the first time today and even the mighty Tebow couldn’t overcome the Patriots today. Championship caliber teams only allow this to happen once or twice though. The Ravens have now lost four times to teams they should have beaten. The first loss was against a Titans team that just lost to the previously 0-14 Titans. Loss two was to a 4-10 team and all the Ravens managed was a measly, meaningless touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Next the Ravens lost to a Seattle Seahawks team that is currently 7-7 but most agree it would be a joke if Seattle were a playoff team. Then finally the Ravens lost yesterday to a Chargers team that has some talented players that are finally playing well but a Ravens team aiming for the number one seed should not be beat by 20 points by anybody.

The Steelers have a half game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North but they have yet to play this week. Pittsburgh will play the Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers. If the Steelers beat the 49ers they will move a full game ahead of the Ravens. If the Steelers lose in San Francisco then the Steelers will move back into a tie atop the AFC North but the Ravens hold the tiebreaker.

The big question for the Monday night game is Big Ben. The Steelers quarterback has been suffering from an ankle injury and is questionable for the game. Roethlisberger did manage to practice the last two days and some theorize now that the Ravens have lost and the Steelers can get the division lead that Roethlisberger will try to play.

On the opposite side of the ball James Harrison will be out for the Steelers after being suspended one game for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy two Thursdays ago. Playing in Harrison’s place will be Jason Worilds. Worilds is just a second-year player but has started the last four games in LaMarr’s Woodley’s place. Woodley will be back in the lineup on Monday so that allows Worilds to move to Harrison’s spot.

The Steelers need to win the game not only to hold the lead in the division but also to try and grab the number one overall seed in the AFC. Currently the Patriots are the number one seed because today’s win over the Denver Broncos gives them a half-game lead over the Steelers until the Monday Night game. If the Steelers are victorious over the 49ers then the Steelers will pull even with the Patriots and the tiebreaker would give the Steelers the number one seed.

Sources:

Denis Poroy, Philip Rivers leads San Diego Chargers to 34-14 rout of the Baltimore Ravens, The Washington Post

The last several generations of Lee Andrew Henderson’s family were Pittsburgh born and even though he was born in Alabama he has been a long time fan of the Pirates, Steelers and Panthers. Lee Andrew Henderson can be found on Twitter @LeeAHenderson

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