Pats might blow the undefeated season

[moklerman]

Tom Brady's still the luckiest S.O.B. I've ever seen in my life. How many calls can the Patriots get? I lost count of all the ticky-tack crap that they called on Baltimore and not on New England. Brady throwing a ball up for grabs as he's getting sacked and it just floats to the ground. Any other QB has it picked in the same situation. How 'bout the ball that was batted straight up in the air in the middle of the field and 6 Ravens just look at it. Any other QB in any other game get's picked on that play.

Patriots are good, but they're much more lucky than good. This game made me sick. That P.I. against Watson was a crap call. F'in officials decide another game. Even Jaworski, who usually lobbies for the offense, was bewildered by that call. Pitt beats NE next week. Bank on it.

 

[Cardinal Bob]

If you both watch the replay of the late holding call on the Ravens (which I've now seen on SportsCenter 3 or 4 times), you'll clearly see that the Ravens DB hooks Watson with his arm about a yard or two from the line of scrimmage and keeps hooking him for about 5-6 more yards, all the way to the goal line before he lets Watson go. It's definitely defensive holding. If Watson isn't Brady's primary target, maybe it doesn't get called. But he was, and it was.

The Ravens can cry about the refs all they want, but the bottom line is the Ravens made too many mistakes down the stretch and you can't do that against good teams like the Pats and expect to win. The refs didn't cost the Ravens the game, the Ravens cost themselves.

 

[nashman]

bobbling ball NO TD not to mention all the other breaks the refs helped them down the field! screw the pats and the refs its all fixed!

 

[Russ Smith]

wow - i think that's the definition of "close call".

Yep, if they'd called it no catch on the field the review would have upheld that too becaues it was inconclusive. I thought it was a bobble but it was so close can't really argue.

 

[moklerman]

With all the Patriots have accomplished, this game really encapsulates their legacy. They won in the end but for many, the help they got stands out more than anything else. All of these years later and they're still just "the tuck rule" Patriots.

 

[CardLogic]

bobbling ball NO TD not to mention all the other breaks the refs helped them down the field! screw the pats and the refs its all fixed!

In the words of Ravens CB Chris McAlister following the game:

“It’s hard to go out there and play the Patriots and the refs at the same time,” McAlister said. “They put the crown on top of them, they want them to win. They won.”

 

[D-Dogg]

They are who I thought they were, and the Ravens let em off the hook!

 

[Shane]

They are who I thought they were, and the Ravens let em off the hook!

The announcer basically said that last night. The only person that screwed the ravens last night was Billick. With that lam brain timeout.

 

[D-Dogg]

The announcer basically said that last night. The only person that screwed the ravens last night was Billick. With that lam brain timeout.

You mean Rex Ryan...

Stopped twice on fourth down...once negated by Rex Ryan and once by the Pats false starting.

Insane.

 

[82CardsGrad]

You mean Rex Ryan...

Stopped twice on fourth down...once negated by Rex Ryan and once by the Pats false starting.

Insane.

Perhaps... Thought that never would have come into play had Boller not tossed that horrendous INT late in the game, with the Ravens marching and already in Pat's territory... There was not one Raven player within 10 yards of that throw...

 

[cardsfanmd]

Shane,

Your avatar beats all. If this mojo thing is real we are unbeatable with her on our side.

 

[nashman]

^ doesn't change the fact the refs helped the pats down the field and gave them a TD that IMHO wasn't a TD, as he did not have control until he was out of bounds!

 

[cardsfanmd]

^ I am gonna assume that wasn't really directed towards me.

 

[Mulli]

Perhaps... Thought that never would have come into play had Boller not tossed that horrendous INT late in the game, with the Ravens marching and already in Pat's territory... There was not one Raven player within 10 yards of that throw...

Wasn't that throw on third and long and out of FG range? Ravens don't score there in all likelihood anyway. The constant runs on first and second killed more than the one pick IMO

 

[82CardsGrad]

Wasn't that throw on third and long and out of FG range? Ravens don't score there in all likelihood anyway. The constant runs on first and second killed more than the one pick IMO

\

Magahee was owning the Pats... But IMO, even if they had to punt, they would have had a better chance of pinning the Pats deep versus the INT return that put the Pats in MUCH more comfortable field position...

'Course, with Brady, it probably wouldn't matter anyway...

 

[Mulli]

\

Magahee was owning the Pats... But IMO, even if they had to punt, they would have had a better chance of pinning the Pats deep versus the INT return that put the Pats in MUCH more comfortable field position...

'Course, with Brady, it probably wouldn't matter anyway...

Magahee stopped killing them towards the end I think. OT: I was surprised how interesting Shula seemed when they let him talk about the game. Or maybe it was just good to have SOMEONE actually talk about the X's and O's.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Magahee stopped killing them towards the end I think. OT: I was surprised how interesting Shula seemed when they let him talk about the game. Or maybe it was just good to have SOMEONE actually talk about the X's and O's.

No doubt! I have always been a Shula fan anyway, so any chance I have to hear the man comment on the game is always a bonus! That said, was it me or did his commentary seem to angle towards supporting the Ravens??

 

[Renz]

Wasn't that throw on third and long and out of FG range? Ravens don't score there in all likelihood anyway. The constant runs on first and second killed more than the one pick IMO

That pick was a 3rd and 14 play from NE's 30 yard line. An incompletion makes it about a 47 yard FG attempt. Stover is one of the better kickers in the league, so there's a fairly good chance that he makes it. Horrible pass.

 

[Mulli]

That pick was a 3rd and 14 play from NE's 30 yard line. An incompletion makes it about a 47 yard FG attempt. Stover is one of the better kickers in the league, so there's a fairly good chance that he makes it. Horrible pass.

It was a horrible pass. The wind was picking up about then.

 

[cardsfanmd]

That pick was a 3rd and 14 play from NE's 30 yard line. An incompletion makes it about a 47 yard FG attempt. Stover is one of the better kickers in the league, so there's a fairly good chance that he makes it. Horrible pass.

I agree the pass was horrible and inexcusable, but I doubt Stover makes that kick. The wind here last night was unbelievable, I would say between 40-50mph.

 

[Mulli]

fanmd, you think Billick is in trouble? I know they are injured and went 13-3 last year , but that offense is almost inexcusable.

 

[D-Dogg]

That pick was a 3rd and 14 play from NE's 30 yard line. An incompletion makes it about a 47 yard FG attempt. Stover is one of the better kickers in the league, so there's a fairly good chance that he makes it. Horrible pass.

That would have been into the wind...he wouldn't have kicked from there.


Still, horrid pass.

 

[cardsfanmd]

fanmd, you think Billick is in trouble? I know they are injured and went 13-3 last year , but that offense is almost inexcusable.

Its a really interesting situation.

On one hand, you have a coach who has guided his team to the playoffs 4 out of 8 years and has an overall record of like 75-50. In today's NFL that is normally someone who is very secure in their job.

On the other hand (a very heavy one), he has benefited from many things during his tenure here. First, the D and ST have been the strengths of the team, while his offensive has been pathetic. Not only does his offensive coaching leave something to be desired, but also his drafting. He leaves the D picks up to Rex Ryan, while he does the O (Newsome has final say, but normally goes with the recommendation). Since he has been the coach the Ravens have wasted first day picks on Travis Taylor (1st round), Kyle Boller(1st round), Devard Darling, Mark Clayton and Musa Smith to name a few.

Billick has also had the most dominating defensive player of my era here. Lewis brings more to his team than any player in the NFL IMO. All you have to see to know it is his entrance into B'more's home games---its unreal. Ray has brought in loads of great FAs because all of the players love him.

Personally, I would say his rep as an offensive mastermind was never earned. How hard could it have been to score with a healthy Culpepper, Moss, Carter, Reed, Robert Smith and a good line? There are a lot of unhappy fans with Billick here in B'more, but I dont see Modell even considering letting him go unless someone offers Rex Ryan a HC job.

 

[Mulli]

I heart Ray Lewis. I used to hate him, but I love the guy now.

 

[D-Dogg]

I heart Ray Lewis. I used to hate him, but I love the guy now.

He's one of my very very favorite players in the league. Always has been.

If you could bottle up his intensity and fury, the terrorists would be defeated with just a sniff.