DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2015 NFL Season Looking Back: Browns 33 Ravens 30 A View From The Other Side...

...of the mirror.

Sometimes, it's good to get a little 'reverse perspective.'
This was a fun read. Thought it would be nice to share it in exchange for your thoughts.

Clem

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The Breakdown: Eisenberg's Five Thoughts vs. Browns
Posted 2 hours ago

John Eisenberg
Baltimore Ravens Columnist
All John Eisenberg Articles


Five thoughts on the Ravens’ 33-30 overtime loss to the Cleveland Browns Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium:

Ravens Aren’t A Playoff-Caliber Team Right Now
The Ravens have lost three other games in 2015, but none hurt as much as this one. And none of those other defeats said as much, either. Coming into this game, the Ravens could still rightfully believe they were a potentially dangerous team, just off to a poor start; that’s what a primetime win in Pittsburgh does for your confidence. But when you can’t hold a 12-point second-half lead at home against a 1-3 Cleveland team, it’s time to face your grim reality. When your defense can’t stop the Browns offense in the second half, and when “inexcusable” key penalties keep bringing you to your knees, and when you’re winless at home, 1-4 overall and in last place heading into late October, it says things about you that you don’t want to hear. Simply put, this isn’t a contending-caliber team right now.

Loss Is On The Defense


Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith said, “I’ll put this (loss) on the defense.” Who can argue? The Ravens offense put up enough points to win, even while dealing with an injury-riddled pass-catching corps. Yes, it hiccupped late, failing to push the ball into the end zone on a late drive, then opening overtime with an ugly three-and-out. But the Ravens never would have been in such a situation if the defense had held up. Boy, it didn’t. Cleveland quarterback Josh McCown tore the secondary into so many little pieces, piling up 457 passing yards. Using his mobility to escape pressure, McCown completed 18 passes to receivers, 10 to tight ends and eight to backs. White shirts were wide open all day. No, it didn’t help that cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Will Davis were lost with injuries by the start of the second half, putting the depth chart to a test it didn’t pass; or that Elvis Dumervilalso went out with an injury, leaving rookie Za'Darius Smith and special-teamer Albert McClellan as the rush ends on passing downs. But injuries are no excuse, and the Ravens didn’t use it. Cleveland simply was better.

Ravens Beat Themselves With Penalties
For the first time in 2015, the Ravens didn’t commit a turnover (or more than one) in a losing effort. So they didn’t beat themselves that way. But they DID beat themselves with penalties, continuing a maddening season-long trend. Of the 12 flags they drew worth 98 yards, several stood out. When they still had control of the game, leading by 12 points in the third quarter, the defense sacked McCown on a third down in the red zone, seemingly blunting a drive. But Jason Babin drew a hands-to-the-face penalty, giving the Browns a first down. McCown scored two plays later. Then, as the Ravens tried to stop another drive, Babin and Za'Darius Smith each drew an offside penalty, one of which wiped out a sack. Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh called the flags “inexcusable” and “a major problem” and surely something worse under his breath. Whatever is causing the flags – lack of fundamentals, lack of technique discipline, lack of thinking straight – they’re a sign of a team with serious issues. The Ravens can’t win consistently until they start cleaning up the mess.

Offense Needs Forsett, Smith To Return
Knowing the Ravens were without injured receiver Steve Smith Sr., the Browns put eight defenders “in the box,” the idea being to slam the door on the run and dare quarterback Joe Flacco to beat them with his relatively untested pass-catching corps. Flacco made the Browns pay in the first quarter, picking Cleveland apart. Kamar Aiken caught three passes for 73 yards, including a 48-yarder. Jeremy Ross, making a nice debut, caught

two passes for 24 yards. Who needed Smith? As the game unfolded, though, Smith’s absence was keenly felt. In the last three quarters and overtime, the Ravens’ wideouts combined for just three receptions totaling 6 yards. Marlon Brown caught one pass for zero yards. That isn’t going to cut it. The Ravens still moved the ball and scored because Justin Forsett had a huge game with 121 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards. Forsett got better as the game went on. If he hadn’t gone out with an ankle injury on the Ravens’ final drive after carrying the offense into the red zone, their chances of pushing the ball into the end zone – and winning in regulation – were much higher. But with Smith and Forsett on the bench, they settled for three. Needless to say, the Ravens need both back.

Short Takes
Harbaugh had never lost to the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium … Ross had a strong debut as the kickoff and punt returner. His highlights included a 46-yard kickoff return and a 17-yard punt return … Sam Koch did an excellent job of punting toward the sidelines to keep Cleveland’s Travis Benjamin from having a chance to break a return …The Ravens have struggled in short yardage situations, but on third and goal at the one in the third quarter, Flacco took the snap from center and easily cleared the goal line … The Ravens were up by eight and in position for a field goal just before halftime when an illegal block penalty on Darren Waller pushed them back, forcing Justin Tucker to try a 51-yard field goal attempt, which he missed. Those three points would have helped in the end, needless to say. It was another example of the penalty bug exacting a toll.


http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/arti...4f-ad06a5d2c679

p.s. spend a few moments in their message board, and you'll swear you're right here....

All of that may be true, but you're right Clem, that article could easily have been written about the Browns (without the part about a successful running game).

I didn't go to their message board, but I did read responses to stories at The Baltimore Sun. People were screaming for the heads of Ozzie and Harbaugh. I couldn't help thinking about how many here would kill to have Ozzie as the Browns GM. I guess the grass is always greener in someone else's yard.

Daaaaang... it only took 2 posts for both contributors to make BOTH my points for me.

This could be the shortest thread in DT'ers history!
Easy work for me, yo.




LMAO!

I went, as suggested, and rather enjoyed myself. The names had been changed to protect the guilty (there are no innocents in baltimore), just the same kneejerk fans with the same kneejerk issues.

I think the difference is battered fan syndrome. We legitimately own it, they have no right to claim it. We are kneejerk, doom and gloomers because of the last 16 years.

They're screaming for heads after a 10-6 season with a playoff birth. Amateurs.

I loved that win yesterday, even if I was sure we'd find a way to lose right up until the last kick.

Go Browns!

...end thread.

I saw a #FIREEVERYBODY and oddly felt right at home.

I live here in Bears territory and am around a lot of their fans on a daily basis. I hear the same stuff from them as I hear on here. We arent the only train wreck in town, just the most consistent.

Had a co-worker that went to the game, she still swears the Barnidge catch hit the ground. Said the whole stadium was losing their collective minds over that call. I even sent her the video to show that it didn't and she is still in denial. She's a Cowboys fan but her husband is a Ravens fan...

I don't think it hit the ground, but I was surprised Harbaugh didn't throw the red flag on the spot and on it being a touchdown. I thought he was down inside the 1-yard line. His shoulders were on the goal line, but the ball was between his legs when he was downed. Oh well, about time we got a break.

Guys, let's not get into the conspiracy stuff. Usually we get bad calls (some the NFL admits were bad) and either no-calls, but in this instance - the video is 100% clear cut evidence that ball never touched the ground.

How you could deny it after watching the video is a testament to how blind people are when their team loses, or just a lack of common sense lol.

The ball never touched the ground, your friend is biased. I had a great string of expletives I wish I could remember about baltiwhore fans while listening to the boos.

He was not touched until after the reception, when he had the ball in his hands and over the goal line. He was knocked to the ground before securing the ball, but not touched again until after.

Reviews are automatic for scoring plays, so no flag needed.

Forgot about that - thanks for clarifying.

I just loved watching their fans cry into their beers, and the look of hopelessness on their faces after the rats 3-and-out in OT.

Is that correct? I thought Harbaugh was the coach when we beat them in 2007. LOL, was it that clown Billick?

Harbaugh took over in 2008.