Like Taking Candy From a Fat Kid,
it Takes a Little Luck
This was no small feat. It wasn't even supposed to happen. But somehow, the Ravens sneaked one from right under the nose of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Because I like to focus on the mundane and irrelevant, we begin with the pre-game troop greeting. I suppose this is customary, as much tradition as Faith Hill's ritual "I've been waitin' all day" song that my dad loves so much. Anyways, CBS was playing to the racial stereotypes. After showing a white soldier (of Italian descent?) waving his Terrible Towel, and ripping his camo open Superman-style to reveal what was probably a Hines Ward jersey, the camera cuts to the Ravens fan. An African-American. Not to be picky, or politically incorrect, but it struck me that there must have been some method to the network's editing that night- later, while showing black Dennis Dixon's family on camera, they would pump "We Are Family" through the speakers. It may not have been a conscious decision, but to me, these two things combined seemed inappropriate, although maybe I was just looking for something to criticize.
There was, of course, a larger problem with this troop greeting, which goes as follows- all of the pictured soldiers but that one woman were Steelers fans. To make a fully joking point, [because I have the utmost respect for our troops] I was thinking, "where are the standards for the United States Armed Forces?!" (In actuality, all troops are great people, regardless of their unfortunate upbringings that may have led to faulty choices for sporting allegiances.)
And, before we get to the game, we were stopped another time. This time, it was to "admire" Hines Ward's "charm," "class" and fake-white smile. I am sorry but I just do not buy it, and was glad to know that his NFL peers recently agreed with me, voting him the "dirtiest player in the NFL" in a Sports Illustrated poll. (Of course, we in Baltimore may be forced to reassess this title, after Brady Quinn's dirty, cheap chop-block on a Mr. Terrell Suggs. Thanks to this classless hit, Mr. T-Sizzle did not suit up last night.)
And the Ravens begin the game. Things are looking.... different! And unnaturally good! A 3 and out. Then Willis comes in as the Ravens drive down the field. Haloti Ngata joins the offensive line to complete the Mc-Mansion package, and on a second effort, McGahee scores his 8th TD (6th rushing) of the season. That's what I'm talking about, Willis.
But McGahee would not be the only graduate of "The U" to come up big against the Steelers. Tavares Gooden started making tackles early, and arguably had his best game of the season. Then, the Ravens let Mr. Dixon run. And run. And run. Like Forrest Gump or something! Luckily, a holding call on Mendenhall negated the 31 yd jaunt.
A number of good signs. Jarrett Johnson staring daggers at Hines Ward. Chris Carr holding on to the ball. Chris Carr and Lardarius Webb running decent kick returns. Ladarius Webb making tackles. Yes the Nicchols State grad did what no other Ravens CB or Safety seems able to do. Bring people down. But Foxworth would miss costly tackles as the night wore on. So, too, would Ray Lewis, and even Ed Reed. No one is perfect, but unfortunately it seems like a miraculous feat whenever the Ravens do make a good tackle. Credit goes to Chris Carr for avoiding the temptation of a pass interference call late in the game, but none to Mark Clayton, who made it his business to rack up costly penalties, drop balls, and take up space. (Space, that I think would be better filled, at least temporarily, by newly acquired Mr. Tyree, if not just to remind Mark Clayton he has to work for a living.)
Arguably, both teams are better than their 6-5 records would indicate. Unfortunately, both teams have suffered fourth-quarter collapses, psychological meltdowns, and countless injuries. But last night's game was the fully bruising, bang-up, battle royale it is perennially promised to be.
Another good sign was that until the Ravens' final drive of the game, the play-calling on the offensive side seemed to be much more inventive and varied than it has been in past weeks. Finally, Cam Cameron, the expert, decided to listen to the radio callers, and analysts, and teachers, and firefighters, and guys from Dundalk, and little kids, that have been calling for Le'Ron McClain's number all season long. Ozzie Newsome does not make many stupid decisions, but in addition to numerous other lapses this past off-season, his dismissal of Lorenzo Neal, the fullback, was not advisable. As a result, McClain has been stuck at halfback and hardly had a handoff all season. As last year's leading rusher, McClain was a welcome name returning to Cris Collinsworth's commentary.
Other bad signs? Time management. The Ravens last drive of the game was inexplicably horrendous. Part of this equation was the same old story; penalties. After the Steelers received a costly pass interference call, the Ravens, then within Billy Cundiff's proclaimed field goal range, must have decided the gift too generous. Clayton handed it right back. To be blunt, he put a stupid, ineffective hit on the Steelers, and pushed the Ravens back out of FG range. This see-saw pattern would repeat as the Ravens again advanced, and were again pushed back, this time due to Joe Flacco's exemplary play in the pocket. 5 Sacks in the game - one stat tells a story. And so Cundiff was rushed on, as time expired, and his kick just did not have the distance. Overtime.
Steelers win the toss. It's over. Or is it? Somehow, the Ravens would hold them and force a punt. Then, some terrible offensive-coordination and the Ravens were punting right on back. But it was a story of the unknowns last night, from Pittsburgh's Dennis Dixon stepping up for the concussed Ben Roethlisberger to a Mr. Paul Kruger. The big guy, who had played in just three games all season, anticipated Dixon's next pass, and somehow launched his large frame into the air, coming down with the interception, and even more impressive, running it back to put the Ravens at about the Pittsburgh 35. What a moment.
It looked like the Ravens might once again be cooked, but Ray Rice, dependable as ever, took charge and led his team down to the Red Zone. And then close enough for what should have been an easy TD. The Ravens did not get that, but set up a close-range field goal. Cundiff, we already see, likes to make things interesting, and the ball drifted far right, barely nestling itself between the goalposts. Two arms up. It's good. The game slid by the Steelers by the same margin Cundiff's kick was good.
And, of course, I have no reservations in giving all the accolades (or 99% of them?) to Derrick Mason, because that is just an unbiased and objective fact, and I do not play favorites at all. What a great touchdown pass, and at a key moment. Derrick Mason is a playmaker, and gave Baltimore the extra cushion and confidence they needed, heading into the lockeroom.
(Photo credit: Baltimore Sun)
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