Post by prossman on Dec 22, 2008 23:30:07 GMT -7
Mick Shots: One Last Look Back
Posted by mickshot at 12/22/2008 7:00 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com
* OK, with 3:42 left to play Saturday night, while the Ravens might have already rushed for 106 yards, they needed 34 attempts to do so, meaning they were averaging just 3.1 a carry. That is some stout defense, and believe me, the Ravens were more than willing to just run the ball three more times and suck all three timeouts away from the Cowboys leading 19-17 on that possession. Then comes the double whammy, consecutive runs for 77 and 82 yards – 189 in two plays – and each run taking exactly 18 seconds.
* Since the Cowboys-Eagles game has been moved to a 3:15 p.m. (CST) start, the Eagles will know exactly where they stand before kickoff on Sunday, meaning if they have a chance to gain a playoff spot by beating the Cowboys. No matter what happens in the Monday night game with Chicago and Green Bay, the Eagles will at least need Tampa Bay to lose at home to Oakland to have a shot.
* Want to pour a little more salt in Saturday night’s wounds? Baltimore’s longest play of the season had been a two 70-yard Joe Flacco passes, one to Mark Clayton and one to Demetrius Williams. And they run for 77 and 82 on consecutive plays? Go figure.
* Two plays that will make you sick to remember from Saturday night, costing the Cowboys 10 points. First, the Cowboys inexplicably overloading their left side attempting to block a Matt Stover 40-yard field goal attempt, allowing punter/holder Sam Koch to take the snap for a nine-yard gain and first down, which led to Baltimore’s first touchdown of the game and a 16-7 lead. I mean, looked like there were only three guys to the Cowboys’ right, a welcome mat to run. And No. 2, Bradie James getting called for the late hit on the sideline of Le’Ron McClain after a seven-yard run, moving the ball from the 37 to the 22. The Ravens would gain just five more yards, making an easy 35-yard attempt for Stover. Without the penalty, Stover would have been kicking from 50 yards out for those three points.
* Oh wait, let me get this one off my chest. Why was it OK for the Ravens to light up Jason Witten after catching his 21-yard touchdown pass in the end zone unsuspectingly three steps later, leaving him limping off badly and never to return after cutting the deficit to 26-24? You realize a 15-yard penalty for a late hit there, and the Cowboys are kicking off from the 45, and surely would have attempted an onside kick with three timeouts left.
Mickey Spagnola
Posted by mickshot at 12/22/2008 7:00 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com
* OK, with 3:42 left to play Saturday night, while the Ravens might have already rushed for 106 yards, they needed 34 attempts to do so, meaning they were averaging just 3.1 a carry. That is some stout defense, and believe me, the Ravens were more than willing to just run the ball three more times and suck all three timeouts away from the Cowboys leading 19-17 on that possession. Then comes the double whammy, consecutive runs for 77 and 82 yards – 189 in two plays – and each run taking exactly 18 seconds.
* Since the Cowboys-Eagles game has been moved to a 3:15 p.m. (CST) start, the Eagles will know exactly where they stand before kickoff on Sunday, meaning if they have a chance to gain a playoff spot by beating the Cowboys. No matter what happens in the Monday night game with Chicago and Green Bay, the Eagles will at least need Tampa Bay to lose at home to Oakland to have a shot.
* Want to pour a little more salt in Saturday night’s wounds? Baltimore’s longest play of the season had been a two 70-yard Joe Flacco passes, one to Mark Clayton and one to Demetrius Williams. And they run for 77 and 82 on consecutive plays? Go figure.
* Two plays that will make you sick to remember from Saturday night, costing the Cowboys 10 points. First, the Cowboys inexplicably overloading their left side attempting to block a Matt Stover 40-yard field goal attempt, allowing punter/holder Sam Koch to take the snap for a nine-yard gain and first down, which led to Baltimore’s first touchdown of the game and a 16-7 lead. I mean, looked like there were only three guys to the Cowboys’ right, a welcome mat to run. And No. 2, Bradie James getting called for the late hit on the sideline of Le’Ron McClain after a seven-yard run, moving the ball from the 37 to the 22. The Ravens would gain just five more yards, making an easy 35-yard attempt for Stover. Without the penalty, Stover would have been kicking from 50 yards out for those three points.
* Oh wait, let me get this one off my chest. Why was it OK for the Ravens to light up Jason Witten after catching his 21-yard touchdown pass in the end zone unsuspectingly three steps later, leaving him limping off badly and never to return after cutting the deficit to 26-24? You realize a 15-yard penalty for a late hit there, and the Cowboys are kicking off from the 45, and surely would have attempted an onside kick with three timeouts left.
Mickey Spagnola