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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Ravens beat Jets: Instant Reaction

Pregame:
Everyone expected the Baltimore Ravens versus New York Jets to be an explosive game, due to the intimidating defenses, as well as their smash-mouth offensive styles. Lightning in the New York area delayed the game for 30 minutes, but that wasn’t even the most electric play before the game. Trash talking and pushing was common before the game, and ESPN captured the clip that represents it all with Jets’ defensive lineman Shaun Ellis trash talking to Ravens’ running back Ray Rice, before Ravens’ injured safety Ed Reed tried to be peacemaker, and break them up. Reed in the middle led Rice to throw a football to the face of Ellis, who had his helmet off at the time. Quickly, Rice jogged back to the Ravens side of the field, but not before former Raven and now Jet linebacker Bart Scott picked up the football and chucked it as hard as he could at Rice. Ravens won the opening coin toss, but deferred to the second half to get their defense immediately on the field.

First quarter:
One quick note, but did everyone notice during the first half, almost every end of the play resulted in a shoving match between the two teams? The intensity between the two teams’ made the electricity feel like an AFC Championship game instead of a Week One showdown. The Jets started their first drive with a first down thanks to a nice Mark Sanchez pass to Shonn Greene on a swing pass, before being unable to move the ball on the next three plays and punting.

Baltimore Ravens first drive was even worse than punting the ball away after five plays. A hard blitz on a Joe Flacco three-step drop and the offensive line attempting to cut block was a bad sign for Flacco. To make matters worse, Flacco focused on Todd Heap, but he was covered well. With Flacco holding onto the ball, Shaun Ellis pummeled Flacco to the ground, as Flacco fumbled the ball, turning the ball over to the Jets at the Ravens 11-yard line.

The Jets’ had the stadium roaring behind them, and inside the red zone, the Jets had an incredible opportunity to put their first touchdown on the board. The Jets’ first play was LaDainian Tomlinson running to the right before being stopped by Ray Lewis. Next, play was a short completion to Dustin Keller, after the Ravens blitzed and got through, but good mobility by Sanchez led to the completion. The Ravens’ game plan for the game was to shut down Braylon Edwards, and that was Sanchez’s next target, but due to pressure he threw the ball through the back of the end zone. If, Sanchez had thrown it to Edwards on a line, it probably would have ended up in a touchdown, as Edwards created separation right before the throw. The Jets had to settle for a field goal, but the Ravens defense had to be pumped up to have their first huge defensive stand of the year.

The next drive for the Ravens was the beginning of the third-and-long successes that they would begin to have all game long. Here is an example:
• 3rd and 9 on Baltimore 31: Flacco pass complete to Boldin to BLT 45 for 14 yards
• 3rd and 13 on Baltimore 42: Flacco pass complete to Heap to NYJ 42 for 16 yards
• 3rd and 3 on New York 35: Flacco pass complete to Heap to NYJ 29 for 6 yards
• 3rd and 28 on New York 47: Flacco pass complete to Rice to NYJ 47 for no gain. PENALTY on NYJ - K. Wilson. Defensive holding, 5 yards, automatic first down.
On the last third down completion, rookie Kyle Wilson held T.J. Houshmandzadeh on a route where Houshmandzadeh was running a lazy five-yard out route. Worst rookie mistake of the day, and could have been lethal for the Jets defense, if Willis McGahee didn’t fumble at the 20-yard line, on a drive that would have easily given the Ravens at least three points. However, the biggest play in this drive was a simple Le’Ron McClain run up the middle for three yards. On this play, Jets’ nose tackle Kris Jenkins tore his ACL and now is out for the remainder of the season and possibly his career. This is a huge blow, as the Jets loved to play with only two defensive lineman, and then use a variety of linebackers to blitz from various locations, and with the effectiveness that Kris Jenkins could hold down the middle, it was very difficult for teams to adjust to the Jets’ blitzing packages.

Second Quarter:
LaDainian Tomlinson ended the first quarter with a long 21-yard run, which was the biggest of the game, and gave the Jets hope to take a ten-point lead and huge momentum in the new stadium. However, after the long run the Jets offense is lackluster and forced to punt. The Baltimore Ravens suffer the same fate, as they are forced to go three-and-out before punting.

Jim Leonhard was the factor on this drive as the Ravens punted from their own 13-yard line, and although Sam Koch boomed a 56-yard punt, Leonhard returned it 32-yards to the Ravens 37-yard line before being brought down by Koch. The Jets gained a first down and fifteen more yards thanks to a horse collar personal foul on the Ravens. The Jets were once again in the red zone but were kept out of the end zone and forced to kick another field goal. After the kick was completed, the Jets’ Wayne Hunter was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing the Jets to kick off from the 15-yard line and the shoving and pushing after plays ended.

The Ravens were stuffed until another third down penalty on the Jets. Antonio Cromartie was flagged for defensive pass interference on a deep pass to Derrick Mason, moving the ball all the way up to the Jets’ 35-yard line. However, after another 3rd and long completion from Flacco, the Ravens made another mistake. Flacco threw deep and to his left for Anquan Boldin in the end zone but was picked off by Cromartie, who returned the interception to the Ravens 31-yard line for 66 yards. Jets were in prime position for a three-score lead, but Shonn Green fumbled and Dawan Landry recovered it.

Ravens had the ball with four minutes left in the first half, and they were down six to zero. On another 3rd down conversion, Flacco threw a deep 27-yard completion to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and through penalties and another short completion to Derrick Mason, were attempting a 46-yard field goal. The Jets placed Braylon Edwards on the field goal blocking unit, and as he jumped over the offensive line, had a chance to block it, however he missed and landed right under kicker Billy Cundiff for a running into kicker penalty, and giving the Ravens a first down. This was a tough coaching decision, as they had to give up three guaranteed points after the made field goal for the chance to score a touchdown. On 3rd and 10, Flacco threw a deep pass to Houshmandzadeh in the end zone, however Kyle Wilson grabbed his arm, and was flagged for defensive pass interference, giving the Ravens the ball at the one-yard line. On third down, Willis McGahee punched the ball in for the only touchdown in the game, and to give the Ravens a seven to six lead into the half.

Third quarter:
The Ravens were able to start with the ball in the second half but they weren’t able to do much with it as the Jets’ defense continued to contain Ray Rice, and they limited the Ravens to only one first down. However, the Jets weren’t able to do anything either as they were forced to go three-and-out, but in a surprising coaching move, LaDainian Tomlinson started the second half as Shonn Greene was forced to sit on the bench. Also, Jerricho Cotchery dropped a pass that would have given the Jets more momentum, but he slipped up on one of his best opportunities.

On the next Ravens possession, on 3rd and seven (almost every big play is on third down), Flacco threw a 38-yard completion to Anquan Boldin, who jumped right over rookie Kyle Wilson, and showed him how the NFL is different than college. Later in the drive, Flacco connected with Boldin again for a 27-yard gain, putting the Ravens into the end zone. However, the Ravens’ didn’t have any good chances to score a touchdown and were forced to settle for three more points.

The Jets next drive, was three straight runs by Tomlinson, and the Ravens forced a three-and-out, but the big message was sent on a 3rd and 2, with Tomlinson running the ball, Ray Lewis blew up fullback Tony Richardson, and forced Tomlinson to the outside, where he was tackled by cornerback Chris Carr for a loss of a yard. Interestingly, on the punt from Steve Weatherford, Ravens’ returner Tom Zbikowski tried to pull a Devin Hester and ended up tackled at the Ravens one-yard line. On 3rd and 10 for the Ravens, Flacco threw a deep pass to Boldin and got a defensive holding penalty (more penalties) on Antonio Cromartie to move them out of the end zone but were forced to punt after the inability to move the ball for another first down.

Fourth Quarter:

The Jets finally showed some life, with Brad Smith running the ‘Wildcat’ formation, ran an option with Tomlinson for a 22-yard gain, and the first sign of life for the Jets anemic offense in the second half. Unfortunately for the Jets, the offense went three-and out after that, and was forced out of field goal range due to a 3rd down sack by Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson. Positively though, Weatherford pinned the Ravens at the two-yard line, which led the Ravens to a quick three-and out and punt. Jim Leonhard showed his dangerous returning skills, as he returned the punt for 22 yards to the Ravens 35-yard line, and in great scoring position.

With the Jets prime to score, they go three-and-out and force Nick Folk to sneak a field goal inside the bars, to put them down by one, ten to nine.

With about ten minutes to go in the game, the Ravens needed a long drive, to keep the Jets from gaining the momentum to take the lead. On 3rd and 10 from the Ravens 27-yard line, Flacco completed a pass to Boldin for 13 yards. On 3rd and 2 from the Ravens 48-yard line, Flacco completed another pass to Todd Heap for five yards. After that first down, the Ravens failed to move the ball and were forced to punt, but pinned the Jets inside their ten-yard line.

With the clock running low (six minutes), Tomlinson broke another long 18-yard run to give the Jets some room to operate. However, on the 3rd down, Haloti Ngata smashed Mark Sanchez for an eight-yard sack, and to force the Jets to punt. On the subsequent possession, Flacco’s first pass was a beautiful 35-yard gain to Todd Heap, who made an excellent diving grab. The Ravens’ ran the ball three consecutive times to gain a first down and put the clock underneath two minutes. After backtracking the ball, the Ravens punted to the Jets 18 with 1:37 to go.

On the Jets last chance, Damien Woody continued the theme of the night by committing a penalty to push them back five yards. Next, Sanchez threw a decent nine-yard pass to Tomlinson (another interesting decision to keep Greene out of the game). After that, Sanchez attempted a pass to Tight End Dustin Keller, who was absolutely drilled by Ray Lewis over the middle to send the bone-chilling message that they are still playing the almighty Ravens’ defense. Although the big message, Sanchez completed a pass to Braylon Edwards for a first down (their first third down conversion of the game!) with 57 seconds left. After two more incomplete passes, Sanchez on third down, threw the ball to a wide-open Jerricho Cotchery, who dropped another pass. As a Ravens fan, this was the one play that could have made the game much more interesting. On fourth-and-10, and the Jets final chance to keep the game alive, Sanchez threw a pass to Keller over the middle, and unknowingly he ran out of the ball to stop the clock, but he ran out of bounds before reaching the first down, which turned the ball back over to the Ravens, giving the Ravens the win.

Postgame:
As an avid watcher of Ravens’ football games this is the first time that I have seen the Ravens as the beneficiary of penalties, as they usually have tons of calls against them. The Ravens’ secondary was excellent during the game as they held Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery to a combined three catches for 27 yards. On the opposite side, I was shocked that Darrelle Revis was guarding Derrick Mason and not Anquan Boldin. I assumed going into the game that Revis would be guarding Boldin, but I assume that the Jets thought Cromartie’s big size would be a better fit against Boldin. Credit has to go out to Joe Flacco for continually attacking Cromartie, who didn’t look like his former Charger self, and first round draft pick Kyle Wilson. Also, credit has to go out to the Ravens’ offensive line for keeping the Jets’ blitzers off Flacco for as long as possible. Statistically, this was the closest beat down I have ever seen. The Ravens dominated in almost every category, such as:
• Ravens led Jets in first downs 20-6
• Ravens were 11 for 19 on third downs, Jets were 1 for 11
• Ravens gained a total net yards of 282 yards to the Jets 176
• Ravens had five penalties for 38 yards, while Jets had 14 for 125, including six first downs
• Time of Possession: Ravens 38:32, Jets 21:28

That wraps up my coverage of the Ravens’ mild upset of the New York Jets, but I thought they would be able to pull it out. Next week the Ravens take on the Cincinnati Bengals, in what should be a great offensive battle.

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