Steelers 16, Ravens 13 (OT) : Week 18 – Recap & Grades : Offense – One of the least impressive performances of the season in the most important game, this group just struggled to get it going all day long, sputtering out of the gate & never finding their footing for most of the game. Tyler Huntley passes for 141 yards, but throws 2 crucial interceptions, including 1 in the endzone & also rushes for 72 yards on 12 carries, an average of 6.0 yards per carry. Latavius Murray rushes for 150 yards on 16 carries, an average of 9.4 yards per carry, including a 46 yard TD run. They rush for 249 on the ground & average 6.9 yards per carry as a team as they gash the Steelers run Defense all day long but just can’t make them pay in the red zone, settling for 2 FG’s & an an INT. Mark Andrews hauls in 8 passes for 85 yards, an average of 10.6 yards per reception & setting the Ravens single season receiving record in the process. They really missed both Nick Boyle & Patrick Ricard in this game because T.J. Watt was allowed to wreak havoc all day long no matter who was lined up across from him & he wrecked the game, registering 3 sacks on the day. The gameplan went south on numerous occasions but the biggest head scratcher was by OC Greg Roman to pass the ball on 1st down in the redzone which led to the interception in the endzone after Murray had gashed them on the ground the whole game. Calling over 30 pass plays & allowing Watt to continuously feast when the ground game was gashing all day was a major head scratcher. This group has got to get better in the redzone next season & the play calling continues to lack explosiveness or high yardage gains, especially through the air. That needs to improve.
Grade : C
Defense – This group played well all day long, they kept fighting to get stops, they stopped the run & generated a little pressure, while holding the Pittsburgh Offense in check for most of the game. They clamped down in the red zone, holding the Steelers to 3 FG’s until finally allowing the go ahead TD in the 4th quarter when they were just exhausting from spending so much time on the field. Geno Stone records his 1st career interception to force the only turnover of the day & they allow only 244 yards passing by Big Ben. They also allow only 79 yards rushing as a team, including only just 28 on 11 carries by Najee Harris, who also leaves the game before returning in the 4th quarter, an average of just 2.5 yards per carry & only 314 total yards on the day while registering 1 sack on Ben Roethlisberger despite constant pressure. The injury ravaged secondary holds up well for most of the game until it runs out of gas late in the 2nd half & OT. This entire group played well all day long while losing edge rushers Justin Houston for a short period of time before returning & Tyus Bowser to a torn achilles in the 2nd half. Every player who stepped on the field performed admirably, showing the fight that this group has had all season & playing well enough to keep the team in this game. There were no breakdowns in communication like there had been for most of the season but they were carved up in the 4th quarter by the savvy veteran Roethlisberger, who leads the go ahead drives in the 4th quarter & OT w/ his arm. It would of been a great send off of Big Ben to beat him @ home in his final regular season game & the same place where his career began. Instead, he went out the same way he came in – beating the Ravens in Baltimore in dramatic fashion.
Grade : B-
Special Teams – Another solid performance by this unit as they once again are the bright spot of this team & clearly the most consistent of the 3 phases. Justin Tucker connects on both of his FG attempts from 24 & 46 yards out (which ties the game in the 4th) & Sam Koch punts it away 7 times for 268 yards, an average of 38.3 yards per punt – also throws his first career incompletion on a fake punt in the 2nd quarter. Needing to get something going Offensively, you can understand the fake punt call but it was nothing more than a desperate attempt to jump start the Offense & the fact that it didn’t work just about sums up this entire Ravens season. Devin Duvernay returns 5 kicks for 113 yards, an average of 22.6 yards per return & also returns a punt for 0 yards. Duvernay makes his 1st career Pro-Bowl along w/ his ST mate Tucker & TE Mark Andrews. The kick coverage is solid all day long as well, allowing only 95 total return yards by Ray Ray McCloud, 66 via the return game on 3 returns for an average of 22.0 yards per return & 29 on 2 punt returns, an average of 14.5 yards per return on 2 punt returns. This was the strongest & most consistent point of this team all season long, they allowed only 1 kick return TD & 0 punt return TD’s – the coverage was usually solid week in & week out, as well as the return game, ranking among the best in the league in almost every category. When the Offense had it’s redzone issues this group was there to bail them out & when they needed to pin an opponent deep in their own territory or generate good field position, this unit was there when called upon almost everytime.
Grade : A-
Coaching : Coach Harbaugh & his staff might of had this team ready to go but it didn’t translate to what was on the field. The team got off to a sluggish start early & never really got it going in what was the biggest game of the season. The sense of urgency might of been there as well but it wasn’t applied to winning this game, as the message didn’t seem to resonate amongst the team. Either that or this team was just completely out of gas which may have also been the issue & if it was, can you really blame them? The entire coaching staff has been tested this season & even they have run out of messages & speeches to motivate this unit. The players played & they played as hard as they have all season, the fight was there but the results were not, especially Offensively. Defensively the message & sense of urgency seemed to have gotten through as they played like their hair was on fire all day despite wearing down late after being on the field all day long. The lack of talent on this roster, especially in the 2nd half of the season was the ultimate undoing of this entire team & one of the reasons for the 6 game losing streak to end the season, the coaches have definitely made some questionable calls (going for 2 in back to back weeks) but you got the feeling they were made to compensate for that same lack of talent. This game played out differently & coach Harbaugh finally played for overtime, the result however showed you why he probably didn’t play for it before. There were definitely some questionable calls made by this staff this season but this game wasn’t that, this game was just a team that was too beat up to continue the fight. They finally bowed out when the kick went through the uprights, finally ending this brutal season. Back to the drawing board for this entire staff after a long off-season & much needed time to reflect. It just hurts to be swept by Pittsburgh 2 years in a row.
Grade : B-
Overall Grade : B-
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GO RAVENS!!
#SeeYouNextSeason

Rams 20, Ravens 19 : Week 17 – Recap & Grades : Offense – This unit played well but stalled out multiple times in the red zone which ended up being the difference in the game. The inability to score touchdowns against a possible Super Bowl contender, ended up being the difference & crucial penalties also factored in as well. Tyler Huntley passes for 197 yards, also throws an interception, while rushing for 54 yards on 6 carries, an average of 9.0 yards per carry. They rush for 165 yards on the ground as a team, as Devonta Freeman rushes for 76 yards on 14 carries, including busting off a long of 32 yards, while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Mark Andrews hauls in 6 passes for 89 yards, an average of 14.8 yards per reception, while also eclipsing the all-time Ravens regular season receiving yards record. The Offensive line is once again the Achilles heel, as Huntley is sacked 5 times, including a game sealing sack by Von Miller on the 2nd to last play of the game & is constantly pressured all day long. The inability to convert long drives into points is the difference in the game, a 15 play, 91 yard drive in the 2nd quarter is the prime example of this, as they settle for 3 on a 22 yard FG. To beat teams Iike the Rams, you have to execute in the redzone & come away w/ TD’s, FG’s will only come back to bite you in the end.
Grade : B-
Defense – This unit was solid all day, they recorded their first pick 6 of the season, as Chuck Clark returns an interception 17 yards for the score on the Rams 2nd drive of the day, also records another interception of Matthew Stafford on a deep pass on the very next possession. They also record a strip sack of Stafford (the only 1 of the day) by Tyus Bowser that is recovered by Justin Houston in the 3rd as they force 3 turnovers on the day. Winning the turnover battle but losing the game is a hard pill to swallow because for the 2nd time in 3 weeks, this group played out of their minds while being undermanned but come out on the losing end. They hold Los Angeles to just 73 yards on the ground but do allow 308 through the air to Stafford, including giving up the game winning drive on a TD pass w/ :57 seconds left. They held on for most of the game, but they broke when they needed to bend which is understandable for a unit that was patchwork & just doing the best they could. They fought hard & that’s all you can ask for. This unit looked terrible last week but rose up to the challenge once again when nobody gave them a chance to even compete on the same field.
Grade : A
Special Teams – Justin Tucker connects on all 4 of his FG’s (22, 46, 46 & 34) to make up for the lack of production in the redzone & Sam Koch punts it away 3 times of 139 yards, an average of 46.3 per punt. Devin Duvernay returns his lone kick return 22 yards & the kick coverage is solid once again, yielding only 36 total return yards to Brandon Powell, 18 on a kick return & 18 on a punt return. They lined up prepared for a fake punt when P Johnny Hekker got ready to punt it away, which was great attention to detail & possibly changed the play call in that situation. The ST unit was prepared just in case it happened & the Rams are known to use Hekker in fake punt situations. That shows how week in & week out this has been the best unit on this team & how little things like being aware or having everyone on the same page or in the right spot can make all the difference. Returns, coverage, fakes, blocked kicks, this unit has seen it all this season but they continue to perform at a high level & they stay ready for anything. The backbone of this team, they came through once again when called upon but this one of the games where you wish they would of been called upon 1 less time.
Grade : A+
Coaching – This was another well coached game against a superior opponent but by no fault of their own, this team fell short once again. The preparation seemed good, the intensity & sense of urgency was also there but the team exerted so much effort early that they ran out of gas later on. The coaches had them ready to go, the players looked primed to compete for 60 minutes & the mood was just right for a huge upset win. However, some crucial mistakes were made down the stretch & that is a sign of an undisciplined team. Discipline has been an issue for the last 2 or 3 years w/ this team & it continues to show up at the worst time, which falls back on the coaching staff for not making it a point to address it. It continues to hurt the squad in key situations or after big plays & it just cannot keep happening. The preparation is not an issue & has rarely been an issue this season w/ the exception of the Dolphins ambush, this team has been ready to play but sometimes just lacks the personel to compete. The heart of this team & the fight that they have shown all season when they continually have been doubted is a testament to the entire coaching staff, there have been some questionable calls but for the most part they have done an excellent job.
Grade : A
Overall Grade : B-
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GO RAVENS!!
#TheReplacements

Bengals 41, Ravens 21 : Week 16 – Recap & Grades : Offense – Josh Johnson passes for 304 yards, 2 TD’s & an INT, while rushing for 10 yards on 5 carries, an average of 2.0 yards per carry. Devonta Freeman rushes for 17 yards on 6 carries, an average of 2.8 yards per carry & a TD, as the running game never really got going at all on the day. Mark Andrews hauls in 8 passes for 125 yards & a TD, an average of 15.6 yards per reception & James Proche catches a career high 7 passes for 76 yards, an average of 10.9 yards per reception. This Offense operated well despite being down to their 3rd string QB, who was signed 10 days prior & the play calling was definitely catered to him & his style of play. The pass protection is better than it has been all season, allowing only 1 sack (Trey Hendrickson) on the day & allowing Johnson room to maneuver. Johnson had the Offense looking as good as it has all season, give or take a few games. The distribution of the football allowed players like Tylan Wallace & James Proche to get involved in this Offense & it was a good sight to see. This unit performed well despite being down their top 2 QB’s & they still fought like they have fought for weeks. Better days are coming for this group, but it’s a rough time right now in all areas.
Grade : B-
Defense – Just a terrible day for this unit, as they aren’t able to get any stops all day & are carved up for 575 total yards, including 525 yards passing by Joe Burrow, who also throws for 4 TD’s on the day. Joe Mixon rushes for 65 yards on 18 carries, an average of 3.6 yards per carry, as Cincinnati rushes for 77 yards on the day but they didn’t have to do much on the ground anyway. Higgins hauls in 12 receptions for 194 yards & 2 TD’s, an average of 16.2 yards per reception, as he shreds the Ravens secondary the same way Ja’Marr Chase shredded them back in October. They do sack Burrow 3 times but he also shakes off numerous attempts, including 1 on the first play of the game by Isaiah Mack. The lack of personel in the secondary continues to be an issue for this team, as they are just too undermanned to compete against big play Offenses, despite performing well against Green Bay, but that was an aberration. While the secondary issues are a concern, the run Defense has been solid all season no matter who has been in the rotation. There are some things to build on but the issues in the secondary will continue to be an issue moving forward. How well this group is able to perform will depend on who’s available, who’s healthy & who can step up to make plays.
Grade : C-
Special Teams – Justin Tucker wasn’t called upon to kick any FG’s but he does connect on all 3 of his extra points, which is a given anyway. Sam Koch punts it away 3 times for 133 yards, an average of 44.3 yards per punt, including 1 inside the 20. Tylan Wallace returns 2 kicks for 39 yards, an average of 19.5 yards per return & James Proche II returns 2 kicks for 22 yards, an average of 11.0 yards per return as they fill in for Devin Duvernay. Trent Taylor totals 61 return yards for Cincinnati, as he returns 3 kicks for 45 yards, an average of 15.0 yards per return, also returns 2 punts for 16 yards, an average of 8.0 yards per return. This group is solid again, despite not accounting for any points on the board, making an impact on the return game, while being solid on kick coverage as well. The glue of this team has been this unit & they seem to always be ready, week & week out. The Offense stalled out on a few drives which didn’t allow them to get into FG range, giving Tucker & Koch a day off in that area, which limited their ability to make an impact on the kicking game. These final 2 games may be key for this group as they should see more opportunities to put their stamp on the game.
Grade : A-
Coaching – No amount of coaching could have prepared this team or got any more production out of them then they what they gave. The gameplan was good & the preparation seemed was there, the lack of talent & a decimated roster just made winning this game a very tall task. Facing a team that was nearly at full strength & was on a mission to complete the season sweep w/ this current roster was a mismatch on paper & played put the same on the field. The coaches can only coach, they can’t play or fill in for missing parts on the roster. All of the coaches got good production out of the guys who were on the field for the most part. This game was definitely not on the coaches, they had this team prepared, but no amount of preparation could factor into making a difference on this depleted roster. This was a good job by the entire staff to do the best they could do & get the best out of what they had to work w/ at the time. They have done a fine job so far to even have this team relevant right now & alive in the Playoff chase. This team has been overacheving all season, thanx in part to the ability of this staff to make the most out of what they have. This one definitely doesn’t fall on them.
Grade : B
Overall Grade : C
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GO RAVENS!!
#ClippedWings

Packers 31, Ravens 30 : Week 15 – Recap & Grades : Offense – This group had a great day, as Tyler Huntley commands the Offense for the 2nd consecutive week & once again looks great in doing so. He passes for 215 yards & 2 TD’s, also runs for 2 TD’s on the ground & gains 73 yards on 13 carries, an average of 5.6 yards per carry. Latavius Murray rushes for 48 yards, an average of 6.9 yards per carry. Mark Andrews hauls in 10 receptions for 136 yards, an average of 13.6 yards per reception & 2 TD’s, while Marquise Brown also hauls in 10 passes but for only 43 yards, an average of 4.3 yards per catch. The Offense was hitting on all cylinders & looked great for the 2nd consecutive week, mixing up the run & the pass effectively all night long & taking what the Defense gave them. The pass protection was pretty solid despite being short handed, allowing Huntley to operate but also allowing him to get the ball out quickly most of the time, which was a good job by the coaching staff to give the Offense a boost against a good Green Bay pass rush that only registers 1 sack. This group also scored 30 points for the first time in over a month, after scoring 22 last week, most of them coming in the 2nd half alone. Tyler Huntley gives this team the best chance to win right now & is more than capable of running this Offense no matter how long Lamar Jackson is out. Losing by going for 2 again hurts, but given the way this Offense had all the momentum you get why the 2-point attempt was made. It’s not the decision to go for 2 that was the issue, it’s the play call that cut off 3/4 of the field.
Grade : A-
Defense : This group fought for the entire game despite being extremely short handed. Led by 13 tackles from Patrick Queen & some key stops on 4th down, they played their hearts out against an MVP candidate in Aaron Rodgers. They even got some help from the Packers mistakes like the 2 missed throws by Rodgers that he normally hits on & a few crucial penalties that went the Ravens way also. The secondary played well despite being down all but 1 of their current starters & the pass rush even showed up when needed, registering 3 sacks of Rodgers on the day. On paper, this Defense should of had no chance against Rodgers, especially the secondary that was in shambles the way it was but played like their hair was on fire all night led by guys like Geno Stone, who filled in for Chuck Clark, played every snap, wore the green dot & had this Defense not missing a beat. They do allow 31 points but it could have been more & w/ the personnel that was being employed is actually impressive. They were able to get stops using guys like Kavon Seymour, Robert Jackson, who was playing his first snaps all season, Jordan Richards & even had Anthony Levine, Sr. playing snaps defensively for the first time all season. Overall, this was an overachievement & deserves praise because nobody could have seen it coming. They showed what the heart of a Raven is & toughness that comes w/ being a part of this Defense. No matter the personel the mentality is the same & you could see that shining through & through in this game, it had to make every Ravens fan proud.
Grade : B-
Special Teams – Justin Tucker connects on his only FG attempt from 38 yards & Sam Koch punts it away only once all game, a 42 yarder. The kick coverage is solid against a unit in Green Bay that ranks last in the league in Special Teams, coverage wise & return wise. Devin Duvernay returns 4 kicks for 101 yards, an average of 26.3 yards per return, while allowing 76 return yards on 5 returns, including 47 by Amari Rodgers on 2 returns, an average of 23.5 yards per return. This unit does it’s job week in & week out & continues to do so, they are solid in every aspect consistently because of the continuity & familiarity that they have together. Most teams in this league don’t even have a solid kicker, let alone an entire unit that is reliable week in & week out. They have proven that they can be trusted when called upon & the culture seems to trickle down no matter who is snapping the ball or holding it. John Harbaugh’s resume as a Special Teams coach & the culture that he has brought to this unit since he has been here has always lept this team strong in this area during his entire tenure. Sometimes this group goes quiet, depending on what the Offense does but they stay ready & can always be a key weapon whenever they are called upon. Grading this unit from week to week is like grading a straight A student every semester.
Grade : A
Coaching – This was a good job by the coaching staff to prepare this team mentally for what they were going to face in a Green Bay team that is fighting to win the NFC & had a QB playing at an MVP level. Coach Harbaugh had the team ready to go as did the entire coaching staff, this tends to happen when there is a big game for this team as they seem to always play up to their competition & down to their competition but that’s a conversation for another day. The game plan was pretty solid & you can tell there was a real attention to detail & a strategic approach to what needed to be done. They realized what they were up against, prepared for it & game planned for it well despite a few mistakes here & there, this team played disciplined for the most part. The blame could lie on John Harbaugh for going for 2 again but in the grand scheme of things, you can understand why the call was made. The play call was the issue but the fact that the players backed up the call after huddling up to discuss it, let’s you understand how united this team is & what the adversity has done to bring this team even closer. All that being said, there still should of been a better play call but you like the fearlessness in the coaches to continue living on the edge & going for the throat instead of dying a slow death. This team has heart & continues to fight till the end, that’s the one bright spot in a season that has been a war of attrition.
Grade : B-
Overall Grade : B+
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GO RAVENS!!
#FightingSpirit

Browns 24, Ravens 22 : Week 14 – Recap & Grades : Offense – A tale of 2 halves as the offense was stagnant in the 1st half before Lamar Jackson leaves w/ an ankle injury but catches fire in the 2nd half under Tyler Huntley, who passes for 270 yards & a TD, also rushes for 45 yards on 6 carries, an average 7.5 yards per carry. Devonta Freeman rushes for 64 yards on 13 carries, an average of 4.9 per carry, as this group rushes for 118 yards as a team on the day. Mark Andrews hauls in 11 catches for 115 yards & a TD & Rashod Bateman has his break out game w/ 7 catches for 103 yards & should of had a TD if it weren’t for a weird call by the refs that made no sense. The Offensive line held up for the most part but some elusiveness from Huntley also helped out as he avoided numerous rushers all day & made plays w/ his legs as well as his arm. This group is just as banged up as every other unit on the team but they finally put up over 20 points for the first time in over a month & they did it through the air as Huntley spreads the ball around to 6 different receivers & looks good running the Offense despite not practicing w/ the first team. This group continues to fight all day & shows tons of heart as always despite being undermanned & they are going to have to do a lot more of it down the stretch because no matter who is under center the pressure will continue to come & the running game can’t be leaned on anymore to carry the load. The wise move would be to sit Lamar moving forward until he is ready to go because this Offensive line is in no shape to guarantee his protection right now. Tyler Huntley can run this Offense if need be & he has proved that so far this season, he looks much more poised as a pocket passer & in the state that this Offense is in right now, is probably best suited to run it right now.
Grade : B
Defense – This unit played well despite being undermanned as well, down all but 2 starters in the secondary they hold up well in the passing game & once again shut down a potent Browns running attack despite losing Calais Campbell in the 1st quarter. They hold Cleveland to 100 rushing yards as a team, including only 59 by Nick Chubb on 17 carries, holding him to 3.5 yards per carry & allow only 190 passing yards by Baker Mayfield as the beat up secondary takes it’s lumps early but is able to clamp down later on, even recording an interception for the first time in 3 weeks when Anthony Averett grabs his 3rd of the season. The communication seems to be better than it has in recent weeks & it’s almost as if the injuries have everyone communicating more than before. The pass rush generates zero sacks & has left a lot to be desired over the past few weeks, they can’t generate consistent pressure so it continues to fall on the linebackers & secondary to do their job even more than they had to before. The injuries are really starting to show up & rear their ugly head now as we approach the final quarter of the season & what this unit has left will define if this team is able to make a Playoff run or succumb to their casualties & attrition. WE may see some new wrinkles from this unit as they look for new ways to get pressure or create turnovers because that’s been something that has been lacking all season. This team is battle tested & the Defense has stepped up in recent weeks despite the injuries, if this unit is able to hold up it will be a huge contribution to a team that’s looking for any help it can get.
Grade : B-
Special Teams – Another terrific effort from this group as Justin Tucker connects on all 3 of his FG attempts, as he connects from 50, 42 & 55 on the day & performs a beautiful onside kick that is recovered by Chuck Clark & gives the Ravens life late in the game. Sam Koch punts it away 5 times for 228 yards, an average of 45.6 yards per punt, Devin Duvernay returns 3 kicks for 54 yards, an average of 18.0 yards per return & the kick coverage is solid all day long as they allow only 55 total return yards, including 15 on 3 kick returns by JoJo Natson, for an average of just 5.0 yards per return. This unit is the backbone & continues to help out in any way they can, they are the one bright spot that has shined all season long & having Justin Tucker is a weapon that can help the Offense when they go stagnant. The coverage has been excellent, the kicking has been excellent & the value that this unit brings is immeasurable. Week in & week out this team continues to lean on this group to not have any breakdowns & they have not disappointed, give or take a few breakdowns in kick coverage, they have been the unanimous MVP of all the units on this team. They will be leaned on even more going forward as the Offense may need them to bail them out in the kicking game as we come down the stretch.
Grade : A
Coaching – This was a good job on by the coaches to make in game adjustments, especially regarding the Offense & they approach that was taken after losing Lamar Jackson & being able to regroup after falling behind by 3 scores. The coaching staff has been solid all season despite the injuries & for the most part has done a good job in terms of managing the game based on their personnel. The Offense took off in the 2nd half & started to find a groove, thanks in part to the coaching staff making the proper calls in game & also making the correct adjustments when needed. THis was particularly hard on the coaching staff as well because they had just faced this team 2 weeks ago & the chances of beating them again in their house were already slim before Lamar Jackson left the game. Yet, the communication was there & the coaching staff found a way to get turn the momentum in the 2nd half & that comes down to communication & knowing your opponent. Even when falling behind they never wavered & the entire team seemed prepared from the get go, it just never manifested. Still some work to do as a whole, but this staff continues to do more w/ less. They will definitely have their hands full going forward but they’ve been up to that challenge all season.
Grade : B
Overall Grade : B-

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#TheWalkingWounded

Steelers 20, Ravens 19 : Week 13 – Recap & Grades : Offense – Another game where this group failed to score 20 points, the 4th game in a row that has occurred & once again most of the blame falls on Lamar Jackson despite being sacked 7 more times to make it 37 times he has been sacked this season behind an Offensive line that just continues to struggle in that area. Jackson leads the way on the ground & through the air, passing for 253 yards, 1 TD & 1 crucial interception in the endzone & leads an 8 play, 60 yard scoring drive in the final minute but the 2-point conversion fails. He also rushes for 55 yards on 8 carries, an average of 6.9 yards per carry. Devonta Freeman also rushes for 52 yards on 14 carries, an average of 3.7 yards per carry & a TD, which comes on a 99-yard TD drive. Marquise Brown grabs 5 passes for 55 yards, an average of 11.0 per reception. The lack of production the past few weeks has to be a concerning issue going forward as this team has had trouble protecting the QB, incorporating different players into the Offensive scheme & making adjustments in game. There has been a drop off in production the last few weeks & that has got to change because the Defense has some major injuries, which was the reason for the 2-point conversion attempt to win the game. The play call was spot on but the execution was flawed & that 1 play decided the final outcome.
Grade : B-
Defense – This unit played well in the 1st half but crumbled the rest of the game which has been a recurring theme in most of the games this season. They allow 321 total yards on the day but only 85 on the ground as they stuff the run for most of the game just as they have for most of the season. The run Defense has been the best part of this group & they held firm in this game despite allowing more yardage on the ground in the 2nd half. The secondary was shredded in the 2nd half as well, as Pittsburgh stormed back to score 17 unanswered points, ultimately taking the lead late. They allow 2 TD passes by Ben Roethlisberger & only register 1 sack despite getting pressure for most of the game & the secondary took the hit for it. The pass rush not getting hole continues to plague this group because it leaves the comers one on one for too long & they are losing the battle most of the time. The injuries continue to pile up as Marlon Humphrey now joins the list of Ravens on IR, as 3/4 of the starting secondary is now gone. Teams will continue to pick on the backups going forward so the pass rush & the run Defense will be relied upon even more then they already were.
Grade : B-
Special Teams – Justin Tucker hits on both of his FG attempts from 35 & 28 yards out & Sam Koch punts it away 4 times for 203 yards, including 1 inside the 20. Devin Duvernay returns 2 kicks for 61 yards, an average of 30.5 yards per return & also totals 12 yards on 2 punt returns. This group has been the best unit on this football team all season, their reliability has been a huge part of keeping this team together. They are the glue & the backbone, they continue to have solid outings, week in & week out – from the snaps to the holds & the kicks to the kick returns & kick coverage. They do give up 79 total return yards to Ray Ray McCloud, who returns 3 kicks for 46 yards & 4 punts for 33 yards. S As a former Special Teams coach, John Harbaugh has to love the way this group performs week in & week out, every player on this unit does their job & that has been the case all throughout the Harbaugh era. You get the feeling that Duvernay is overdue for a long return as every week he comes closer & closer to returning one all the way.
Grade : A
Coaching – Great job by the coaches to have the guts to go for 2, even though the situation may have dictated it anyway. Losing Marlon Humphrey left the team w/ just 1 healthy corner (Chris Westry) left to play & that was not a chance that Harbaugh wanted to take heading into OT. That decision was backed by the players as well as the entire coaching staff so you already know that everyone was on the same page. The communication late in the game must of been flowing because there was no hesitation when the time came to try & go for the win. The preparation also seemed to be there but the lack of personnel just makes it hard to compete in some areas no matter how good the coaching is or could be. This game was well coached for the most part but the 1 thing that stands out is the lack of in game adjustments by the coaching staff as teams continue to employ the same strategies & are finding success in doing so. Back to the drawing board as they try to solve the issues that have hindered this team on recent weeks. Injuries have made everyone on this staff’s job even harder but they have not wavered & continue to rise up to the challenge.
Grade : B+
Overall Grade : B-
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GO RAVENS!!
#WalkingWounded

Ravens 16, Browns 10 : Week 12 – Recap & Grades : Offense – Just an ugly performance by this unit, as they fail to score more than 16 points for the 3rd game in a row & turn the ball over 4 times but still get the win in a tough Division game on Primetime. Lamar Jackson rushes for 68 yards on 17 carries, an average of 4.0 yards per carry to lead the way on the ground but is terrible through the air, as he passes for just 165 yards, 1 TD & a career high 4 interceptions. He just does not look right coming off of his illness last week as his game was just not the same, however he still mad enough plays to win the game, including a 13-yard TD pass to Mark Andrews where he extended the play long enough w/ his legs to hit find him in the endzone. He is sacked twice & pressured for most of the night but the Offensive line does a better job then they did in previous weeks. It held up for most of the night but the Ravens also used a heavy backfield w/ extra blockers for most of the night. Devonta Freeman carries it 16 times for 52 yards, an average of 3.3 yards per carry & Andrews leads the way in the passing game as he hauls in 4 receptions for 65 yards & a TD. Overall, it was enough to get the job done but only thanks to the Defense which bailed this group out all night. Too many turnovers & missed opportunities made this game way closer than it should of been, mostly due to Jackson & his 4 picks which allowed Cleveland to hang around longer than they should of. This unit needs to start getting healthy & getting on the same page, they have struggled the last few weeks due to certain Defensive schemes that they just haven’t had an answer for & that is an issue that can not go unnoticed.
Grade : C
Defense – Another solid outing by this group which makes 2 weeks in a row that they have held a team to less than 17 points, they register 2 sacks & recover 2 fumble, 1 that they force on a strong hit by Odafe Oweh. They also generate more of a pass rush than in previous weeks & also bottling a strong Cleveland running game, that came in #1 in the league all night long. They hold Nick Chubb to just 16 yards on 8 carries, an average of 2.0 yards per carry & Kareem Hunt to just 20 yards on 7 carries, allowing only 40 yards rushing on the ground, without DT Calais Campbell, making it a group effort as Patrick Queen has 2 tackles for loss, the Defense totals 6 on the night. The secondary holds up much better despite being down some key members, allowing only 247 yards passing to Mayfield, while keeping him under pressure for most of the game. They give up just 262 yards of total offense, one of the lowest outputs allowed all season. This group has really stepped up in recent weeks allowing less big plays & communicating more as a unit all around. They will be called upon moving forward as the Offense looks a little out of sync due to the schemes that opposing Defenses are running. This Defense has been picked up by the Offense for most of the season, now it’s their turn to return the favor & start clamping down, as it starts to get colder they will be relied on even more down the stretch against a slew of DIvision opponents.
Grade : A
Special Teams – Death, taxes & the Ravens Special Teams unit. This group is solid again, just like usual as Justin Tucker connects on all 3 of his FG’s from 52, 25 & 49 yards out & Sam Koch punts it away 3 times for 136 yards, an average of 45.3 yards per punt. Devin Duvernay returns 3 punts for 36 yards, an average of 12.0 yards per return, while the coverage is solid, allowing only 12 total return yards, 15 by JoJo Natson & Demetric Felton loses 3 yards on the only punt return. This group hasn’t had many bad games or performances in not only this season but in recent years as well, since the Harbaugh era & even in earlier years, this has been one of the most consistent units on this team. Cleveland was deep in their own territory for most of the night due to a few punts by Koch, who also had a touchback & solid coverage on returns. There is never any glaring issues in this phase of the football team due to the veteran leadership & also coach Harbaugh’s history as a Special Teams coach.
Grade : B
Coaching – The coaching staff once again gets their props for this one, even though the better decision might have been to go w/ Tyler Huntley because Lamar looked like the effects from his illness were lingering, they stuck w/ their guns & that’s respectable. Overall the entire staff seemed to be on the same page as usual & had a good gameplan on both sides of the ball, the Offense just had trouble executing & holding up their end. The adjustments that needed to be made were made & there seemed to be communication on every level throughout the entire game. The attention to detail & preparation led to a huge win & it seemed as if all the coaches knew what was on the line. The sense of urgency was there despite the players not executing, the coaches did put together the correct game plan & took the correct approach going into the game. This coaching staff deserves all the credit in the world for having this team where it is at this point in the season, they have overachieved & continue to do so. Coaching has kept this team afloat & that is a testament to this entire organization’s mentality & culture.
Grade : A-
Overall Grade : B
🏈🏈🏈
GO RAVENS!!
#BattleTested

Ravens 16, Bears 13 : Week 11 – Recap & Grades : Offense – This group performs well despite missing some key starters, including Hollywood Brown & Lamar Jackson. The loss of Jackson was huge but Tyler Huntley was able to fill in admirably despite finding out he was starting on the way to the bus, as he leads a late 72-yard TD drive to seal the win. Huntley showed lots of command while in control, as he passes for 219 yards & an INT, also rushes for 40 yards on 16 carries, an average of 3.1 yards per carry. Devonta Freeman rushes for 49 yards on 16 carries, an average of 3.1 yards per carry, including the game winning TD. Mark Andrews hauls in 8 receptions for 73 yards, an average of 9.1 yards per reception. They total 299 yards of Offense on the day while using backups in key positions.This Offensive line does well in run blocking but is horrible in pass protection as they allow 6 sacks & force constant pressure all day on Huntley. The play has got to be better from a pass protection standpoint, that has really been one of the main issues all season & just continues to be a problem week in & week out. Missing the players that they were & still finding a way to score the go ahead TD in the final 2 minutes was impressive any way you slice it but the pass protection needs to improve for this unit to strive, the pass rush has just been overwhelming to them at times.
Grade : B-
Defense – This might of been the best effort by this unit all season, they hold Chicago to 353 total yards, including just 92 on the ground, also limiting Justin Fields to 79 yards passing & 23 yards rushing before he left w/ a rib injury. They force a huge fumble on a sack by Tyus Bowser which led to a huge FG before the half. Bowser has 2 sacks on the day. 1 of which seals the game on the final play as well as records 5 tackles. They do allow 2 TD passes to Andy Dalton, including a 60 yarder to Darnell Mooney on a screen in the 3rd quarter which gave the Bears their first lead & a 49 yarder to Marquise Goodwin that puts them ahead again late in the 4th, as Chris Westry was beat on a double move but those were the only 2 big plays allowed on the day, as for the most part this group got the job done. They hold Chicago to 2 for 11 on 3rd down, but also give up the big TD to Goodwin on 4th & 11. They register 3 sacks & perform well against the run w/ the secondary being the only weak link but only due to 2 big plays. No miscommunication on this day as despite only having 3 healthy CB’s this group still held up well & got some key stops when they needed too. The LB’s have their best performance of the season as well, as they were all over everything thrown their way & defended both the run & pass as well as they have all season, registering 4 tackles for loss as well.
Grade : B
Special Teams – Another solid performance by this unit as they prove to once again be the backbone of this team. Justin Tucker connects on all 3 of his FG attempts in a windy environment & sketchy field conditions as he connects from 35, 27 & 46 yards on his 32nd Birthday. Sam Koch punts it away 6 times for 260 yards, an average of 43.3 yards per punt & 1 touchback. Devin Duvernay totals 69 return yards, returning 2 kicks for 19 yards & 2 punts for 50 on the day. The kick coverage is solid again, as they allow only 21 total return yards on the day- 4 by Jakeem Grant Sr. & 17 by Khalil Herbert. Jaylon Ferguson partially blocks a punt by Pat O’ Donnell in the 4th that gives the offense good field position late to kick what at the time was the go ahead FG. This group continues to do it’s part as they have been a huge part of this teams success so far. Keeping them in games w/ solid coverage, clutch kicks & smart plays. No real room for any complaints here, it’s rare that this group has any issues, in fact they have made game changing plays like the block by Calais Campbell in Week 5 & Ferguson in this game.
Grade : A
Coaching – A great rebound game for this coaching staff as a whole, after the embarrassment of their last game & having to deal w/ some key injuries or illnesses to some major players, they were able to scheme up a game plan that got the job done despite the circumstances. They definitely had this short handed team ready to go in the elements & made some adjustments from last week that proved to be key in the end. The decision to run a cover zero on 4th & 11 that allowed the would be winning TD was crucial because it allowed the Offense more time instead of dying a slow death. This team was mentally & physically prepared this time around as they played w/ a different intensity & looked more rested coming off the 10 days of rest. There was focus & preparation this time around & the sense of urgency was there as well. The entire coaching staff was on the same page & was ready for whatever was thrown at them, they were able to lead this team to victory w/ some crucial decisions & that comes down to communication by all the coaches, they never wavered when things got dark & that was passed over to the entire team. This was a coaches game in every sense of the word, they were tested but when the time came to coach, they did just that.
Grade : A
Overall Grade : A-
🏈🏈🏈
GO RAVENS!!
#GutsAndGlory

Dolphins 22, Ravens 10 : Week 10 – Recap & Grades : Offense – Just a terrible performance by this group, as there were no adjustments made all night long by the coaching staff in terms of the play calling, when they knew what to expect coming into this game. Lamar Jackson rushes for 39 on 9 carries, an average of 4.3 yards per carry & passes for 238 through the air, including a TD & an INT, he is also sacked 4 times. He is flustered all night by a Cover Zero Defense that for some reason baffled the entire Offense & coaching staff. Devonta Freeman rushes for 35 on 10 carries, an average of 3.5 yards per carry but the Offense is stagnant all night long, as they are never able to make any adjustments to the Cover Zero coverage that Miami ran 40 times! Yes, 40 times!! Rashod Bateman grabs 6 passes for 80 yards, an average of 13.3 yards per grab. The Offensive line was paper thin, as the Miami Defense just kept Blitzing & Blitzing all night long, while the coaching staff once again had no answers.
Grade : D
Defense – This group played well enough to keep them in the game despite a couple huge breakdowns in coverage that led to scores. This continues to be a an issue & has been all season, the continuous lack of communication & breakdowns have led to big plays nearly every single week & it never gets better. They generated a little more pass rush wise registering 4 on the night, including another by Odafeh Oweh has one of sacks & they allow 350 total yards, including 290 yards combined by 2 different QB’s & fail to force a turnover again. They did well to stop the run, allowing only 60 yards on the ground but Miami ran it sparingly as the air attack was working better. The major problem was the 2 breakdowns in coverage which ended up being the difference in the game. More work to do for this group, they simply aren’t forcing turnovers or getting many sacks & that is not the recipe for success.
Grade : B-
Special Teams – This group was good but could of been better. Justin Tucker misses a huge 48 yard FG that would come back to haunt him, Sam Koch punts it away 8 times for 321 yards, an average of 40.1 yards per punt, including 4 inside the 20. Devin Duvernay returns 1 kick for 21 yards & 1 punt for 9 yards, as the return game was never really a factor on the night. Solid coverage as well as Miami totals just 10 punt return yards on 2 returns – 6 by Jalen Waddle & 4 by Jovan Holland. No trick plays allowed like last week but the missed FG loomed large all night as a 2 score loss could of been cut to 1 & who knows what the outcome would have been. Overall, just an ordinary day for this unit, as it usually is. The lack of a big play but this group has been the theme all season w/ the exception of the kicking game.
Grade : B-
Coaching – This is where all the criticism lies this week. The lack of preparation & planning as well as the game plan left so much to be desired, I don’t even know where to start. This team was clearly overlooking the Dolphins & made the crucial mistake of thinking about 2 years ago & the blow out win instead of concentrating on the task at hand & treating this just like any other game. Then on top of that there were no adjustments made to the strategy being employed by Miami despite them using the same Defense over & over & the offense not being able to stop it. In weeks past this staff has been great at making in-game adjustments but this time they seemed lost & confused w/ no answer as to how to counter punch despite having the personnel to do so. The entire staff needs to take a look in the mirror & do some soul searching as does this entire team. When you are as banged up as this team is, you cannot afford to lose games that you just give away because you couldn’t adjust mid game. This was a winnable game that became a nightmare because the coaching staff didn’t give this team the best chance to win.
Grade : D
Overall Grade : D+
🏈🏈🏈
GO RAVENS!!
#SomethingFishy

Ravens 34, Vikings 31 (OT) : Week 9 – Recap & Grades : Offense – Another spectacular day for this group after another slow start as Lamar Jackson leads the charge as he rushes for 120 yards (his 10th career 100 yard rushing game, tying Micahel VIck) on 21 carries, an average of 5.7 yards per carry & passes for 266, as well as 3 TD’s & 2 INT’s – 1 of which was a tipped pass by OLB Anthony Barr which he also intercepted in Overtime. The offensive line had a solid day, despite allowing 3 sacks & pressure most of the but was very strong in the run game as Devonta Freeman rushes for 79 yards on 13 carries, an average of 6.1 yards per carry & Le’Veon Bell rushes for 48 yards on 11 carries, an average of 4.4 yards per carry & also rushes for a TD. The passing game is once again solid, as Marquise Brown has another fantastic game – hauling in 9 receptions for 116 yards, an average of 12.9 yards per reception. The running game wore down the Minnesota front like down the stretch & delivered when called upon to close the game out. Still work to be done in the trenches as this group looks to get healthy but overall a pretty good performance by this group. The slow starts have got to get fixed moving forward, this team already has 3 comebacks from double digits, can’t keep making that a habit.
Grade : A-
Defense – Oh man, so many things to fix w/ this group but the most glaring is that they continue to give up big plays in both the run & pass games. Dalvin Cook rushes for 110 yards on 17 carris, an average of 6.5 yards per carry, including a 66 yard burst early in the game as well as Justin Jefferson hauling in a 50 yard TD bomb from Kirk Cousins previously. They allow just 318 total yards but the 2 big plays were crucial in Minnesota taking the lead, despite holding Cook to just 44 yards rushing the rest of the way & Cousins to just 187 passing on the day, this group still continues to miss tackles & have communication issues on the back end. They sack don’t register any sacks & do not force any turnovers either, basically just getting key stops when they needed too. Coverage, tackling & getting pressure on the QB are the major issues that stand out w/ this unit. They will have to improve moving forward because the Offense cannot keep bailing this team out the way it has, it simply isn’t sustainable.
Grade : C
Special Teams – This group had an unusually rough day as they were outplayed for probably the first time all season. They allow a 98 yard kickoff return by Kene Nwangwu to start the 2nd half – he returned 2 kicks for 121 yards in the game, an average of 60.5 yards per return & runs 9 yards for a 1st down on a fake punt. Being a former special teams coach, John Harbaugh cannot like the way things unfolded w/ this usually solid unit. It’s rare that they have agame like this, so there should be no reason to panic moving forward but it is definitely something that stood out as it kept Minnesota in the lead. Justin Tucker connects on both of his FG attempts, including the game winner from 36 yards out. Sam Koch punts it away 3 times for 125 yards, an average of 41.7 yards per punt & Devin Duvernay totals 38 return yards.
Grade : B
Coaching – Another resilient win by this gutsy team & that is directly a testament to the entire coaching staff. They have been great at making adjustments in game but the slow starts are a little bit of a head scratcher. The preparation seemed good, things just didn’t go the way they were supposed to early but once again, the coaches were able to communicate what changes needed to be made & get the job done. There needs to be a little bit more urgency to start faster but that’s more or less on the players then the coaches. The evaluation of talent has also been there as the players who have been asked to step up continue to do so. The focus of this coaching staff moving forward will be to keep this team grounded no matter how much it continues to win. The injuries can show up at any time so it’s been a good job by this entire staff to keep this team focused & that showed up on Sunday.
Grade : A
Overall Grade : B-
🏈🏈🏈
GO RAVENS!!
#BreatheAgain