Ravens Grind Out A 20-12 Win Over The Bucs

Well that was just as disgusting a football game as I expected. The first quarter had all the looks of one of those crippling December losses the Ravens have had over the past 5 years or so where they play down to the level of inferior competition and dig themselves too deep a hole to climb out of. Luckily Lamar found his stride and Marty Mornhinweg came to his senses and kept the ball on the ground in the 2nd half. The defense held it together and did a great job closing it out. Marlon Humphrey was a goddamn STUD and has been all season and he should be the CB the whole league is talking about. Dude is carrying the best defense in the league.

But let’s not kid ourselves. This was hardly a dominating performance. The better team did win, but I’m not coming away from this game any more impressed than I did after a loss in Kansas City last week. The Bucs are a bad football team, especially when it comes to defending the run. We should be able to gash them up and down the field and it’s silly that we took so long to do so. This offense has a relatively homogenous playbook with Lamar under center and it’s nonsensical to try to act otherwise. Doesn’t mean it’s not an effective playbook, just means we should stick with what works.

There’s plenty we need to clean up before we go to Los Angeles and try to beat a scorching hot Chargers team next Saturday. Mainly Lamar has gotta protect the football better. We can maybe chalk up the fumble to the weather, but he’s made a habit of that so far. He’s started 5 games and put the ball on the ground 9 times. NINE TIMES! He’s gotten away with a couple of throws that easily could have been picked off too. We all know what he’s capable of doing with his feet, but he’s gotta continue to get smarter about protecting the football.

Alright having said all that, still a good job to get a W today in tough conditions. 8-6 and still in control of a playoff position. Now I guess we sit back and see if 1st place in the AFC North falls in our laps. Go not Steelers!!!!