PFF previews the matchup. Enjoy the game, and Go Ravens (puke)!
There was no need for it. I blame the play caller even more. They should have ran the ball there. It was second and five, and there was tons of time left.
I would actually have one guy on Gronk with help, sort of like bracketing, and have people push him off the line like the Chargers did.
That sounds reasonable. But do you play man or zone with gronk knowing that you have the little shits as I like to call them, those slit guys?my feeling is man against gronk is a mismatch all day.. With big plays..but zone means that the little guys will get in? What do you think?
i completely agree. peyton had a very bad day. i do not suffer under the delusion that it will happen again.
If I was Denver, I would almost think about rushing three and dropping eight into coverage next Sunday and put pressure on the pass catchers. They won't run it too much because Denver will shut it down.
And Denver is a much better team than the one that showed up in NE last time.
I'm thinking he hurt himself the first half. he threw nothing but floaters the second half.
our defense is not as good as it has been in the past. we did not play a particularly good game today. but bb rarely (if ever) allows consecutive bad games. I'm looking forward to playing you guys next week.
indeed... every game has an amount of luck. this game, in particular, had a lot of questionable calls and non-calls. but i think, overall, we played considerably better than the ravens the second half (when it counts). we will play better next week. we never play two bad games in a row.
Vinovich is the devil.
That INT from Flacco was... Favresque. He basically told the safety who he was to throw it to since the snap, Harmon was already moving into his receiver before he started his throwing motion. He had other receivers open but he never cared to go through his progression.
I don't think anyone is disputing that the patriots are a good team, but they still got lucky. It's too separate concepts altogether. Good team, yes. Lucky, yes. One dropped pass on a 3rd down, or one ball bouncing off a receivers hand, instead of being caught, and New England goes home the loser. Luck has a hell of a lot to do with beating a team like Baltimore.
I think your defense are not as great as people are to believe..the only coach that can get into peytons head is BB and that's it..I know peyton is ready for it. Let's face it he knew that the Super Bowl meant going through FB. The only real worry is covering gronk..but this is make or break. But Indy is first so I will focus myself in that task..
pats are a better team than they played today.
Broncos can beat that team too.
No matter Ravens blew it and woulda been nice to play in Denver next week if win tomorrow. Flacco shit bed .... was winning over middle and got greedy and went for TD outside. Weak effort by T. Smith to break it up though.
I said that the first time.. But I think it will not be A hardened team from the broncos.
need indy first...
Patriots got really lucky.
Broncos can beat this team.
Now I'm hoping for a hail mary pass for 6pts
yeah. you are correct. but you have been gracious hosts to this lost traveler this evening.
I'm rooting for a punt return for a TD.
Brady's record TD pass was as perfect as I've ever seen. Flacco's post-season run was great while it lasted, but his two INTs were bad passes, where he just overthrew his receivers.
safety
fair enough. i'll pay better attention next time... but you've been most gracious hosts....for the most part...
Cue the Collinsworth love-fest to Brady in about 30 seconds.
Flacco's a choker! /sarcasm.
Well played game by both sides.
I recommend you go find your own people next week.
Especially on that late int.
Flacco has been throwing a ton of floaty pass this half. That one included.
game over. see you next week, guys....I think.
I guess Denver will have to go win in Foxboro
Well that sux
and so ends the flacco mythos
They need yards, and control the clock. I'd only run once every 4 or 5 passes at this point. Then again, I'm not an NFL head coach
Well shit
rare stupid error by bb
Run the damn ball
rex ryan would be kicking the field goal now.
especially since all challenges are now booth challenges .. why the fuck am i not a consultant for these teams :)
I dunno if we will be so nice next week ..especially if our probability of a win is on the down in the game!! But it's friendly open thread tonight
agreed. makes no sense.
if ne is calling timeout there anyway, why not challenge?
...might as well...
I was thinking that could be intentional grounding. Either way, this is it. They have to get the first to have a shot.
another wasted to.. if im bb i challenge that last play now
refs destroying this game.
What the hell?
lucky bastards.
This is an amazing game - both teams playing great.
fair enough I guess, but a superbowl wouldn't mean as much to me if we didn't go through the great Denver broncos on the way.
Keep running it
wish flacco had shown up past the first 5 min of both halves
I'm going to take the bait here and tell you to f*** off
I'm hoping our defense holds up. I sure would like to come back here next week....
Turn your dang head Melvin. Practically gave that play away.
nice.
Ravens defender completely whiffed on that. Defensible pass... that sux.
The Pats offense is on right now.
generous spot, that
yac
Webb played like shit in the first half Collinsworth.
boo to that wish.
It didn't even look like a fumble in realtime. Going to stay NE ball... I am hoping for a real legitimate turnover on the next play though :)
dammit thats an overturn not a turnover
i'll take 5-8 yd slants all day... it's what made brady famous.
...pretty amazing stat in itself...
flacco's floating everything this half.
First field goal attempt of the game...
Or as the commentators stated..Ravens need points not yards to get past the pats. Brady and co will keep coming till the end..like a bad smell so to speak.
a wee high...
il grande cojones...
Forsett starting to wear NE down
crazy bastards....
harbaugh has large ones
Totally agree it is consistently crap..not allowing a playoff football game. How can any time run their respective teams with calls being called as if it was done by a roll of a die..
Thinking about another mans arm? Not cool bro!! Kidding clearly..but with sanders anything is possible..the man could probably throw, and run the route and catch it in the same play..and he is so talented he could probably cover himself at the same time :)! I think I might be bias..
and given who the head ref is, its no surprise
lot of ticky-tacky crap getting called (both ways)...lot of substantial non-calls. unusual, and disappointing, for a playoff game. refs should not be the deciding factor in a game of this magnitude.
The refs are playing with your emotions .. Not a fan of refs being so influential in games!!
I thought that was the first nail in the coffin..couldn't see the Ravens coming back like the pats would. ..
Strong work, Revis!
drat.
woofarkinhoo!!!!!!!!
sigh
That was pretty. Makes me wonder how Sanders' arm looks...
wow!!!!!!!
....coming off the bridge now...
Man down. We will tell tales of the great Alaskan.
Apparently so! But Brady can't so time to clamp down the middle
Hate the pats. But I approve of that play.
That's okay, Edelman will do it.
Go not Patriots!
Bye guys.The wife says it is time to go to her sister's place.If I'm lucky, I'll see the end of the game.
New England is playing much better run D this half.
true just like that trick play cheap shot not reporting eligible bullshit is working fine too
Doesn't the ref have to announce that through the PA??
Would would he ?? McD's dink and dunk seems to working fine.
Just read this, laughed my ass off.
when's the last time Tom Brady threw a pass over 20 yds
I forget who said "put 10 guys on him". you almost have to.
He's a beast. Denver will have not answer for him if it works that way.
Well crap - i meant 25. Too much math.
I love gronk...in a manly way, of course...
Seems no one has an answer for Gronk.
Best guess is Baltimore has to score another 14pts to win this game.
I hate these ticky-tacky calls. this is the damn playoffs...
Lolz Harbaugh.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
not sure about the math there :)
not insurmountable, but the odds are getting worse...
I hate Gronk so much because he isn't a Bronco :)
You still got one of the best QBs of all time and freak of nature Gronk. This game will get closer.
my team is not playing well today. the timing could not be worse for an off-game.
Like AK said, pick your poison. PMFM is Denver's best player, and he's just plain better at home. Unfortunately, Flacco just doesn't care about playing on the road.
Right. 35 minutes of game play left...
not lookin' good....from my perspective, anyway...
No way this game is over. New England is way too good for that.
gronk is the difference in my rooting for bal. denver has no answer for him. talib maybe?
Given our recent track record in FB, I agree. But the dude don't care where he's playing, chuck the ball up.
Not over yet, man.
well...it's starting to look like I won't be here to pee in the soup next week...
Let's all hope it comes to that.
Still better than playing the Toolbags in Foxboro.
Gotta pick our poison. Still seems better than PFM playing in Boston at 19 degrees.
Yeah... I think it's a lot closer matchup in Denver. But still he's got some play-making abilities right now. Scarey good at times.
Flacco having a helluva game. Kind of dread him coming to town if it all pans out that way.
Spinning the ball == Taunting. ಠ_ಠ
Nice.
well that was fucking dumb
Wow, they're really on the lookout for taunting these days...
What an idiot.
That's balls right there.
Interfered with and STILL MAKES THE CATCH - ALMOST FOR A TD
waste a timeout? draw them offsides for 4th and 1? wth?
Ouch !!
i despised peyton's herky jerky pointing and belllowing and hand motions with colts. hard to watch. funny now i hardly notice it, and when i do its endearing.
Maybe Dubs is right and Vinovich is a Ravens fan.
ah well...refs can't be in perfect position every play.
Gronk complaining about PI is like my two-year-old complaining about not getting to sleep in.
agreed. but gronk is more subtle.
You don't see it that often, you usually see him pushing off against defenders, and lots of non-calls... The defender was up on him like a ladder that time. Bad non-call.
tuck that ball jacoby
Woo Hoo !! New England can commit interference and the Ravens can't.
Yeah, gronk was interfered with for sure.
awful non-call
The probability chart shows 75% Ravens win. Wish that meant something, but those seem to spin on a dime.
Nothing to do with the game, but I really love the NBC graphics that look like some sort of signage or banner is actually standing on the football field, complete with shadows and people walking behind them. Computer graphics in sports broadcasts just keeps getting better...
Right after Tebow, there were some nut jobs who hated Manning and preferred Tebow as painful as that thought is.
Lol. Can you still see this post of mine I deleted?
No I was agreeing with you. It is about the love of football and watching a game..on the other hand if it was Broncos vs pats..my keyboard warrior within wlild of taken over ;). .. But I am glad you are staying @wordsmeanthings..
Quant' s on IR?! Wtf?!
Just curious, how would you guys rate the HFA at Sports Authority Field?
Hahaha! I used to find it hard to hate Peyton when he was a Colt, but I found a way.
Shows up in big games.
Well it wasn't a Raiders fan, and they were being respectful.
Actually, it does say "open thread"... we just don't usually have any differences of opinion so we don't have many yelling matches in here (which is a real good thing.)
Flacco - I gotta admire the guy.
This gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside :)!!
Threaded it. Beauteous.
What a throw by flacco
Sad Brady = happy me.
Sweet.
Beautiful.
thanks again. I will.
Certainly.
thanks. I prolly shoulda figgered it out sooner...
Well, if there's only one then that was a nice one.
Also... the site the comment threads are hosted on is one of the best sports blogs I've ever seen.. Over halftime, take a minute to go look at http://www.itsalloverfatman.co... and read some of the posts.
That could possibly be the last DPI you'll see called on NE in this game. A token, if you will.
So, New England can commit interference.
Yes, Revis. That was indeed DPI.
No problem. You're welcome to stay.
I really didn't come here to piss in anyone's soup. I thought it was just an open blog on the game...
That explains things. Although I could imagine someone being a Broncos fan that legitimately wanted Denver to travel to Foxboro instead of hosting Baltimore, I just couldn't imagine there was a Broncos fan that would say they hated Peyton...
Fair enough. No harm. At least you admit its hard to hate peyton.. When he is so loveable. Also your man was just picked off..
you know, I didn't realize that. sorry. I just saw the open thread for the ravens-pats....
Well, if Brady buys me a pub, I'll drink with him with a smile instead of a scowl.
Of course they buy .. Who is buying rounds for a guy who could buy the pub/bar. Especially if it's brady.
Two score lead coming
Well, this is a Broncos fan blog.
Curious indeed.
On a Broncos forum?
apparently I'm outnumbered....
I wouldn't really want to share a beer with either, but if they bought, I guess I wouldn't mind.
But at least rivers is a pretty damn funny guy..I would definitely enjoy a beer or two with Mr rivers. But Brady never..
That's really super.
one of the few advantages to living in the communist republic of Massachusetts is we have the (currently) perennial contenders of the pats and the sox....
True
Then why are you here ???
Rivers has him beat in that regard.
Brady is the best ever at whining.
fair enough. hard to hate peyton....but I do.
My condolences.
One day, I'll look back and appreciate how good they've been over Brady's career, but at this point, I root for them to lose. But, I respect them all the same. But, I root for who gives Denver the best odds if there is a difference.
sort of a regional thing... I live here....
You know, I really don't understand how you can root for the Patsies. But, to each their own, I guess.
that's better.... I can go back to beer now...
Actually, it makes me feel better that those are pretty rare on the Broncos.
Not good
That was a terrible missed tackle.
tie game
It's hard to say. I think I'd have to seem some all 22 to see if they've missed some of those calls.
Revis will hold your hand all the way down the field without getting a flag.
Wow the Refs have really figured out what Illegal Contact means now. Too bad they haven't called it on Revis or McCourty yet.
has Doom done a thing thus far?
Yes, but it's not that. It's an attitude thing. Ravens have it, Pats have it. I've yet to see the Broncos display it. The "I'm going to step on your face and you can't stop me" attitude.
I agree. It was a good call this time, and a missed one on the Ravens drive.
Agree. But the Ravens might want to think about having someone cover Gronk. Most of his catches, he has been wide open.
I mean, this was a good call. That was a terrible missed call, though.
actually a good call
Call on Mosely, but there wasn't one on McCourty at the end of the last Ravens drive. That's an awful imbalance on the part of the refs. Awful.
Brady has spent the quarter on the ground
I can say that I hate how good Gronkowski is. That guy makes plays.
Milliseconds from being a punt, and Brady gets it to gronk. They do too well at 3rd downs.
nice! atta gronk!
I mean, honestly, each of these teams has a few bad games, too. But, we could win or lose against either. Neither is a joke. Good teams.
the officials help tom up too?
wake up, dadgummit.
Damn the luck.
Lucky SOB Edelman.
my god there were 7 ravens there and edelman got it?
Surprised that Edelman got that back. Must have been quite the fight.
phew....
Agree about the big boy pants, but the Broncos aren't going anywhere against any of the remaining teams anyhow if they cannot figure out how to play well in big games.
I think those are valid concerns. I would add their offensive line to that list as well.
I'm all for the Ravens winning so we can play at home. But if we play them, they impinge on what i see as the Broncos biggest weakness this year. The inability to put on the big boy pants when its time to strap up. The Ravens do it really well. This Broncos team just hasn't quite figured it out yet.
Revis AND McCourty
Yeah. That should have been interference.
flacco has looked terrible since first two possessions
The Broncos have a very good run D. Honestly, no running back scares me with this D.
Broncos 'D better be taking notes on this Justin Forsett guy... his shortest run is about 4yds.
How is he not penalized for that? He should be tossed!
i think the ravens pass rush and stout run defense could cause headaches if the broncos survive indy and bal wins today... still eff the pats.
Nah. Wish for whatever you want. We fans at home have nothing to do with what happens at a game.
My gut tells me to be careful what I wish for but, I will have fun enjoying the show anyway!
Plus unlimited holding by his O Line.
I'm gonna run out of old #7 by halftime if this keeps up....
just one per quarter though. there are limits. hes also permitted two uncalled intentional groundings.
That's OK today, no ?
I don't always like taunting as a rule, but you can't talk into a guy's face and expect no consequences like that.
Maybe Vinovich is just a fan of the Ravens?
So, Brady is allowed to take a swing at a ref. Noted.
That is going to be taunting, I think.
After he tried to push the guy off him all petutantly.
Brady so mad he couldn't even stand up correctly. That was hilarious!
He's more like a Matryoshka doll, always a smaller bitch inside.
Successive sacks, and good coverage on the passing play before.
He got a well deserved and nicely placed knee in the face
Sweet
Brady needs to stop being a whiny brat. He's not some priceless china doll. He got sacked and he needs to deal with it.
The Baltimore defense had a good series.
double ack
ack
Yup. Our ST suck. It's Peyton's fault. Those Colt's ST sucked, too.
These teams are pretty evenly matched. They almost had identical ratings by Football Outsiders.
something not uttered during bronco games "both teams' special teams are very good"
browner is a tool... coulda called offsetting also could call pats for late hit on the ravens lineman
perhaps his arm hurts from the first two drives...
Turning for NE now.
the hell was that throw?
that was an ugly pass....
matt patricia looks like mark ruffalo in foxcatcher
They talk up Flacco and then he throws that ugly floater. You can tell that he doesn't have the same arm strength that he used to. Oops wrong narrative.
"This statement on the commissioner was brought to you by the NFL commissioner's office."
It's always like that during playoff games.
That drive setup by a key 3rd & 8, where a Ravens defender would have had a hand on Brady, had he not been held by the Patriots line.
Well, I'm definitely going for the Ravens. 2012 or not, Denver's better off playing at home. But I won't fret facing the Patriots.
I hate seeing the offensive holding that keeps defenders from getting to Brady
The key is to put 10 guys on Gronk.
well, it seems you're a glass-half full kinda guy....
There are no opposite sides on a game like this. Whoever loses, it's glorious.
apparently we're on opposite sides this time, my friend...
I guess Revis sucks at Chess.
This is glorious.
this sucks....
Ravens 14. Pats 0. This is a nice surprise to the start of the game.
The ball clearly slid on the ground before he had grip control.
Either way revenge would be on the menu for something ;) but yes of course, would rather play at home. As I said, I'm superstitious, just want to win tomorrow. But anytime Patriots lose is a happy occasion in general.
I'll rather face the 6th seed at Mile High than the 1st seed at Foxboro. Plus, I want revenge for 2012.
If nothing else, if Patriots end up winning and Denver ends up winning, maybe we and Broncos can see a few more flaws and ways to beat the Pats...
BB using a Microsoft Surface to file his complaint with the league office already... or else they're getting paid to use those things, nobody uses a Surface tablet willingly...
Yah, I'll refrain from rooting for anyone other than Broncos this weekend because I'm superstitious and also know even if Broncos and Ravens both win that'll be a very tough match-up, too.
was going to say I predict the Cowboys-Packers game should be highest scoring this weekend, but... with way Ravens just started (that looked too easy) maybe it'll be this one instead. Gosh.
It's not often you see BB defense being surprised like this so early in a game.
Damn that looked easy. Let's go Ravens I think.
I wonder how long until we see the first Gronk illegal push-off that the refs mysteriously don't throw a flag on. #NotThatImJadedOrAnything