For the first time ever, I cheered for the Baltimore Ravens to win a game. I'm a Steelers fan and I've hated the Ravens since they came to Baltimore, but last night I chose the (far) lesser of two evils. Unfortunately my support wasn't enough to carry the Ravens over the Patriots, but I did get to see a great game.
Watching the game, I realized that penalties were really hurting Baltimore, but I didn't think any of the calls were particularly bad (with the exception of one illegal contact call in the 2nd or 3rd quarter on the opposite side of the field from the play). So I was very surprised when I turned on the radio this morning and heard Ravens fans and players complaining about the officiating.
I know in situations like this, the easiest thing for a fan to do is to blame the officials. Or, if you're Bill Simmons, you blame the officials after you win. As a Maryland basketball fan, I'm more than familiar with all the conspiracy theories and the feeling of helplessness that goes along with a tough loss when you didn't get any of the calls. That said, I don't think Ravens fans can complain too much about the calls last night.
The penalty that probably hurt the most was the holding call against Randy Moss on 4th down late in the game. The DB clearly initiated contact on the play, and even though sometimes that penalty won't be called, it's difficult to say that the call was bad.
The bottom line is that the Ravens played their best game of the season (how's that for an understatement?) and had every opportunity to win the game. They lost because they didn't make the plays they needed to at the end of the game. It's tough, but there's no one else to blame.
Other thoughts:
- If you want to beat the Patriots, you're going to have to get a first down in the 4th quarter (other than on your desperation drive).
- Bart Scott should have been kicked out of the game (not that it would have mattered with 45 seconds left), and he should be suspended for 1 game. Allowing players to get away with throwing anything into the stands is unacceptable. There easily could have been an injury from the penalty flag (remember Orlando Brown?), and the league needs to put a stop to behavior like that.
- I'm not sure what to make of the Samari Rolle "boy" comments. Rolle claims that one of the officials called him "boy" throughout the game and says that's why Scott flew off the handle at the end. I don't know whether or not to believe Rolle, and even if it's true, I'm not sure how big of a deal it really is. It certainly doesn't justify Scott's actions.
- For Ravens fans, I'm sure the two "stops" on 4th down that didn't count (first a timeout, then a false start) feel like the '72 Olympics Gold Medal basketball game. Ouch.
- I was really impressed with Kyle Boller. He hung in the pocket under pressure, took a beating, and kept making his throws. The pressure didn't seem to bother him at all. Are we due for another Ravens fan 180 on him?
- If Ben Watson had scored one of the Patriots touchdowns, I would have made the playoffs in my fantasy league.
- I still don't think the Patriots will go 19-0, but I also don't think they'll lose to the Steelers next week. I'm predicting a 16-0 regular season followed by a late round playoff loss.
8 Responses:
I really don't think the Ravens fans are going to do a 180 on a quarterback who threw an inexplicable and possibly game-killing interception.
You should start rooting for the Pats. It feels much better.
Tom Brady has turned into a prick. It's truly miraculous. He went from being a humble sixth-round draft pick to a stuck-up, arrogant, son-of-a-bitch who bites the media hand that feeds him. He's been spending way too much time aroung Belichick
Tom Brady was never humble. He has always been arrogant. He just wasn't dumb enough to show it on TV while he was a 3rd string QB. Now that he is the best thing since sliced bread, he's letting his true self come through.
We love you, Tom!
I think Ravens fans know exactly what Kyle is at this point, and that's unfortunately still an upgrade over McNair, Troy Smith, and whatever rookie/free agent we could grab.
I agree that most fans are blowing the poor officiating out of proportion (and I understand how a Steeler fan would be sensitive to such whining, considering SB XL is still considered stained to many fans). How about not allowing a TO without glancing to make sure the head coach is calling it? How about WHISTLING A FALSE START DEAD instead of throwing a flag, seeing the result of the play, and then informing the referee that you saw a false start. That's the kind of thing that lends credence to conspiracy theories. BLOW THE PLAY DEAD. Don't watch it and then decide if you really saw that guy flinch.
As for the "boy" thing with Samari, that is quite a big deal if it's true. Though Rolle grew up in Miami, he went to FSU and played in Nashville. Depending on his own experiences, "boy" is the functional equivalent of "n----r" in much of the Gulf South.
I don't think Scott will get suspended for the flag throwing incident, though he will likely be fined. Considering the players were complaining to a man about the officiating, I don't think the league wants to draw too much additional attention to the game.
I thought the Winbourne holding was BS, but only because they let Moss and Stallworth push off all day. They'll allow that, but they won't let Winbourne have a hand on the guy's shoulder? Just call a consistent game. If the Patriots' receivers weren't playing like it was -254 celsius, they would have won by 10+. Watson and Moss especially sucked.
The umpire was so reluctant to call the Pats' blatant OL holds that the referee finally called one, from 20 yards behind the play. The orange flag was thrown farther than any of Brady's completed passes.
I agree with everything J-Red said.
As you always should Ben.
For the record, I disagree with the Stomach Punch Game tag. There has to be something on the line for the losing team in a Stomach Punch Game. This falls more into the "Being the 139th Team to Let One Slip Away Against USC" category.
I just heard that the ref who Rolle said called them "boy" is black. That does change my view a little bit...it's still not right, I guess, but it's not quite as Jim Crow as I was thinking before.
Yeah, I learned that too. Surprising how TMQ glossed over that fact in his column today.
In a way, that could make it just as offensive though. A Black head linesman who played in the NFL in the 70's and 80's almost certainly knows that calling a Black player "boy" carries a lot of weight.
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