The Ravens really looked flat at the start of this game as they were down 17-3 at the half and they never made it a game.  Joe Flacco continued to struggle yesterday completing 20 of 35 passes for 189 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 pick-offs.  Ray Rice was busy in this game carrying the ball 13 times for 67 yards (5.2 ypc) and he also caught 9 passes for 60 yards (6.7 avg).  It’s too bad the Ravens fell too far behind to keep running the ball because Rice was looking good.  Derrick Mason led the way in the passing game for the Ravens yesterday with 64 yards on 4 catches (16.0 avg).  The Ravens finished up with 270 total yards in this game on offense (87 rushing, 183 passing).

It’s too bad that the offense was awful because the defense didn’t play too bad.  Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe had a great game to lead the way for the Ravens in this game with 10 tackles including 1 tackle for a loss.  Ray Lewis was also busy as usual with 8 tackles and 1 pass defense.  Ed Reed pitched in with 2 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 INT (he returned in 38 yards before losing a fumble to Dallas Clark).  The Colts finished up with 275 total yards on offense (42 rushing, 233 passing) in this game.  This game hurts a little extra as Indianapolis is the city that stole the Colts from Baltimore.

The Ravens destroyed the Patriots yesterday with defense and a punishing running game on offense.  The Ravens jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first quarter before choking out the Patriots the last three quarters.  Joe Flacco didn’t do much yesterday as he completed only 4 of 10 passes for 34 yards with 1 INT.  Ray Rice was on fire running the ball for the Ravens carrying the rock 22 times for 159 yards (7.2 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Willis McGahee pitched in with 62 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.1 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 1 pass for 13 yards.  Le’Ron McClain also got in on the action with 4 carries for 8 yards (2.0 ypc) with a TD run.  The Ravens finished up with 268 total yards on offense (234 rushing, 34 passing) as they possessed the ball for 32:21.

The defense was outstanding for the Ravens yesterday as Ray Lewis led the way for them with 13 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 2 QB hits.  CB Domonique Foxworth (10 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and safety Dawan Landry (10 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 INT (67-yard return)) really played well for the Ravens against the Patriots yesterday.  Ed Reed (INT), Chris Carr (INT) and OLB Terrell Suggs (fumble recovery) all made huge plays to help the Ravens dominate this game.  The Patriots finished up with only 196 total yards on offense (64 rushing, 132 passing) yesterday.  The Ravens will now play the Colts in Indianapolis this Saturday Night.

The Baltimore Ravens (9-7) were in a must-win situation on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders (5-11), and they pulled it out to inch their way into the AFC Wild Card spot.  It wasn’t exactly a pretty win, but the Ravens did what they needed to do to get themselves into the playoffs and that is all that matters.  Willis McGahee is the biggest reason why the Ravens got that Wild Card spot, as he put the Ravens on his back and ran them to victory.  McGahee finished with 167 yards and 3 touchdowns on only 16 carries.  Joe Flacco was not at his best, but he did not turn the ball over and finished with 102 yards on 11/19 passes.

The Ravens defense played very solid, giving up only one touchdown.  They also forced two turnovers, which proved to be the difference maker as the Ravens had zero turnovers.  They got a little bit of luck too, when Charlie Frye left with an injury and JaMarcus Russel was forced to take over.  Russel was the one who accounted for both turnovers, throwing 1 interception and losing a fumble.  Frye was pretty effective against the Ravens before leaving, going 18/25 for 180 yards and a touchdown.  None of that matters now though, because the Ravens got the win and are in the playoffs.

The Ravens should have won this game yesterday in Pittsburgh but the usually dependable Derrick Mason dropped a ball in the end zone that he probably would catch 99% of the time.  Joe Flacco was so-so as he completed 13 of 25 passes for 166 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT yesterday.  Ray Rice led the way on the ground for the Ravens yesterday with 141 yards rushing on 30 carries (4.7 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 14 yards.  Derrick Mason led the way in the passing game for the Ravens yesterday with 7 catches for 77 yards (11.0 avg).  TE Todd Heap had a solid game with 2 grabs for 37 yards (18.5 avg) and both catches went for TDs.  The Ravens finished up with 323 total yards on offense (175 rushing, 148 passing) in this game.

CB Chris Carr led a good effort by the Ravens’ D yesterday with 9 tackles, 1 pass defensed, 1/2 a sack and 1 QB hit.  Ray Lewis (fumble recovery) and Domonique Foxworth (interception) also had big plays for the Ravens’ D yesterday.  The Ravens finished up with 286 total yards on offense (48 rushing, 238 passing) in this game.  The Ravens are now 8-7 on the season.

The Baltimore Ravens (8-6) are a much better team than the Chicago Bears (5-9) and they proved that on Sunday.  Joe Flacco did a great job leading the way offensively, and helped the Ravens pull away in the 3rd quarter with 2 touchdown passes within 2 minutes of each other.  He finished with four touchdown passes and 234 yards on 21/29 passes.  Ray Rice gave Flacco a lot of support running the ball.  He didn’t need a ton of carries to be effective, rushing for 87 yards on 16 physical carries.  An impressive game for the Ravens offense, but their defense gave them a huge lift as well.

The Ravens were able to force 6 turnovers against the Bears, getting 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles.  They completely shut down Jay Cutler and the Bears passing game.  Cutler only threw for 94 yards on 10/27 passes and had 3 interceptions.  Caleb Hanie came in for Cutler late in the game and it only took 5 passes for the Ravens to pick him off as well.  They didn’t do too great stopping the run giving up 122 rushing yards, but they did force Bears’ running back Matt Forte into 2 fumbles, recovering 1.  This was a dominant game for the Ravens.