Upcoming playoff game with Ravens 1/15/2012

[HPF Bob]

Early weather forecast for Sunday:

Cold, cloudy, mid-30s, 10% chance of precip, wind under 10 MPH.

In other words, weather should not be a factor any more than it was for the game in Cincy.

On the field, I think the big key will be how to stop Ngata. Meyers will have his hands full and may require some help. But if he can open holes in the middle, that will make everything else a little easier for the offense. On defense, contain the TE. I think we'll be solid in every other area but other teams have gashed us with throws to the TE and that is a big part of Flacco's gameplan.

Rice and Foster should cancel each other out so it will come down to which team can move the ball through the air.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Rice and Foster should cancel each other out so it will come down to which team can move the ball through the air.

Not exactly our recipe for success.

[WMH]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/pos...laying-injured

Ravens safety Ed Reed has received criticism lately for not playing up to his usual high level.

"I had a stinger hurt me this year so bad in my right shoulder to where now it has affected my deltoid (muscle in the shoulder) and my scapula," Reed told the AFC North blog. "My shoulder has just been hanging on the last couple of weeks. You could see how it has affected me for the most part. I think I've missed one tackle for four games straight, one in each game."

Reed hasn't been listed on the injury report the past four weeks, so this is the first time that this is being revealed. While a nerve impingement has limited his ability to tackle for the past few years, he has struggled to make tackles more this season. That was evident when he missed a tackle in the regular-season finale on Bengals backup running back Bernard Scott that resulted in a touchdown.

This injury could have an impact in Sunday's divisional playoff game against Houston. Reed will need to help out in run support against the Texans, the NFL's second-ranked rushing attack in the regular season that led all playoff teams last weekend with 188 yards on the ground. But this injury could limit Reed's effectiveness.

[barrett]

I hate to say it, but I think this week is more about the Ravens than it is about what we do. They can look like the best team in the NFL when they throw the ball well and get Suggs after the QB. I may not have seen a team look better all year than they did in week 1 vs Pitt. But their loss to the Jags on MNF was about as bad as a playoff team played all year. And they are rarely inbetween.

I think we will run the ball well enough and play enough D to be close either way. But if Baltimore plays their best, I don't think we can win. If they don't and we can play with a lead, we may be playing next week.

[WMH]

I see three key positive changes for us over one glaring negative between this game and the week 6 matchup.

Postives
1) Dre
- Him being on the field will be a huge factor. Load the box, and Yates has shown he will chunk it deep to Dre. He has been hesistant to do it without him, but in the 2 games they have played together, Dre has 9 catches for 187.

2) Barwin/Reed swap spots
- Week 6 was the first game post Mario, and this game, Reed was plugged into the weak spot. This is reverse from where they are now, and seeing the production from Barwin over the last 10 weeks, this has worked out well for us.

3) Vickers
- As long as Yates doesn't have to throw him the ball, this is an ideal game for Vickers to earn his paycheck and then some. I have a feeling that he is going to be a huge factor in the run game.

Negative
1) Yates
- Can the kid keep it up? He wasn't asked to do too much in the Bengals game, but might need to drop back more than 20 times if we can't get the run game going. Does he sphincter up? He showed incredible poise (after the first 2 drives), but will going on the road, in the playoffs, prove too much for him?

[NBT]

Sooooo...both teams rely on their defense stopping the run. The emphasis then swings to the QB/WRs/TEs. Ravens advantage with Flucco. Texans advantage with Dre. Young Yates is going to have to mature in a hurry in the passing game if we are to win Sunday.

For us then, the secondary is going to have to step up, and Barwin-Reed are going to have to get after Flucco. Cushing and Ryans will have to plug up the run holes.

Right now 35-40% chance seems to be about right.

If Kubiak can work real hard with the kid, and Dre, OD, and Dreesen and Casey can have huge games we can win. I just don't have that much confidence in Jacobe Jones and Walter.

[edo783]

Don't be surprised if we play a bit loosey goosey and let the ball fly more than one might normally expect. Get the defense backing up a bit and then the ground pounders can likely get going better than they did in game one.