Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago

Playoff picture muddied further with loss by Ravens, other hopefuls 

By Steve Wyche | NFL.com

Senior Writer

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens were hot. Radioactive hot, as in angry; not efficient, effective or dominant. In a game they had to win on Sunday, they lost. In a turn of the clich, they wanted it less than Indianapolis did.

Baltimore turned back the clock and played lights-out defense, forcing three turnovers and holding the rampaging Colts to 17 points -- their second-fewest point total of the season. The problem was that the Ravens scored an uncharacteristic 15.

In turning back the clock, the offense looked quite Kyle Boller-ish -- settling for five field goals (one after having a first-and-goal at the 1) and quarterback Joe Flacco threw a fourth-quarter interception at the doorstep of the end zone.

Ravens running back Ray Rice candidly (and perfectly) summed up the carnage:

"They're used to scoring 30 points a game; we got their worst today," said Rice. "Peyton Manning threw two interceptions and they fumbled the ball on the goal line. We have to score on the 1-yard line. When we get the ball in the red zone, we have to put up points. That team should have been playing from behind. It's football.

"On the brighter side of things, we actually have the Steelers (next week), and they lost today."

Of all that Rice said -- and it was truthful and really insightful -- the most provocative was the part about facing the Steelers. First, it shows you the kind of season it is when a team, even a rival like Baltimore (5-5), is categorizing a showdown with Pittsburgh (6-4) at this point of the season as being on the "brighter side of things."

That the Steelers, whose quarterback Ben Roethlisberger might not be available in Week 12 because of a blow to the head he took in a shocking overtime loss to Kansas City, are just as desperate as Baltimore makes next week's divisional showdown a must-see. Coming into the weekend, it appeared that at least one of these AFC North teams could threaten the division-leading Bengals (7-3) and moonwalk into a wild-card playoff berth.

Now, both of these blood-and-guts playoff staples are on the ropes in a major way, and the Bengals aren't locks to win the AFC North either, not after stumbling at Oakland on Sunday. The Steelers sit a game in back of Cincinnati, the Ravens two, although both have been swept by the Bengals, giving Cincy a sizeable tiebreaker advantage.

"We all understand what needs to happen now," Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason said. "You can't get into the playoffs unless you win 10 games or more. We have to win every game from here on out, point blank. However you cut it, dice it, we need to win every game from here on out. Anyone that thinks that we don't have to win all these games from here on out, they're lying to themselves.

"So if you want to call it pressure, then it's pressure. We need to go out and we need to win every single game."

There are a number of teams this weekend who failed to help themselves -- and there were those that improved their lot -- who've just made a season that has been top-heavy and bottom-weak, much, much more interesting.

In the AFC, surging Miami (5-5), Tennessee (4-6 if it can beat Houston on Monday night) and Jacksonville (6-4) just made Baltimore and Pittsburgh's playoff footing a little more precarious, while Houston (6-4 if it beats Tennessee) could strengthen its playoff position much like San Diego did with its win in Denver. In losing, the Steelers, Broncos and Ravens have increased the importance of every remaining game they play.

And that's how teams get hot going into the playoffs and generate momentum to advance deep into January.

Along with the Bengals, the 10-0 Colts (AFC South) and 7-3 Patriots (AFC East) seem to have decent grips on their divisions. The only real question in that regard comes in the West, where the Chargers, despite their impressive run, are equally capable of letting the reeling Broncos back into the hunt.

In the NFC, the Giants (6-4) thrust themselves back into play by snapping a four-game losing streak, sending Atlanta (5-5) to its third straight loss and putting the Falcons in desperation mode for their remaining six games. The Giants are hardly out of the woods either, especially with the NFC East title likely being up for grabs until the final weekend of the season.

The NFC East-leading Cowboys (7-3) don't have much breathing room with the Giants and Eagles looming -- and Tony Romo does have a dubious history in December.

In the NFC North, the Packers (6-4) are back in play for a wild-card spot after staggering through a few tough weeks in which Minnesota all but seized the division crown. Unless Arizona stumbles (and perhaps even if it doesn't), it should repeat as division champs. Another round of losses this weekend by San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis did nothing but put those teams in position to jockey for some of next year's top 15 picks.

With so many teams still in the hunt, with so much still to play for, the final six weeks are setting up nicely for a fantastic finish.


UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
packerfanoutwest (4h) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (10h) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (10h) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (10h) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (10h) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (12h) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (14h) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (14h) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (14h) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (14h) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (14h) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (14h) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (14h) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (14h) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (14h) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (14h) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I saw that and thought it was kind of lame.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : Packers new locker room is pretty awesome. Great for morale, imo
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Shuffled things on the web server. Hope it makes it faster.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Other times, it's turtle ass
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Sometimes it's snappy, like now.
beast (23-Jul) : I feel like it's loading at the top of the next minute, or something like that.
beast (23-Jul) : Also the thanks/heart takes FOREVER to load, and posting in the shout box takes three times FOREVER!
beast (23-Jul) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
beast (23-Jul) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Yeah, I noticed that too. Is it slow for PackerPeople.com too?
wpr (23-Jul) : I don't know what you IT guys call it but the page loading is very slow for me today.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : SSL might be settled now.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Still working through SSL cert issues
wpr (23-Jul) : Glad to be back
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I think PH original finally working.
dfosterf (22-Jul) : Can tell you are having a fun day Kev
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Yep, I had to manually move them. It'll fix itself after more posts.
Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Same deal with the songs/videos thread, says you replied last but when I go there it's what I posted earlier is last
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
2h / Around The NFL / wpr

9h / Around The NFL / Zero2Cool

9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

22h / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

18-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.