26
Jan
2012
This is why Ray Lewis might be the best teammate in the NFL (VIDEO)
(Image via NFL.com)
Ray Lewis has long been a controversial figure in the NFL, but no one can argue the man’s ability on the field as one of the finest linebackers of our generation. But the thing that perhaps makes Lewis even more special are his innate gifts as a leader, and his undeniable ability to motivate his teammates around him to be better.
As we watch yet another Ravens defensive coordinator get plucked away for an NFL head coaching job in Chuck Pagano (after Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan and Rex Ryan before him), you can’t help but wonder if it really hasn’t been Lewis who has been the true guiding force of the Baltimore defense all along. Not taking anything away from Pagano, but with guys like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed in that locker room, it feels like almost anyone could step in and coach this unit to the playoffs.
The latest proof of Lewis’ status as the unquestioned leader of the Ravens comes from his post-game locker room speech immediately following their gut-wrenching AFC Championship loss to the Patriots. Watch and listen as Lewis drops into preacher mode to put things into perspective, congratulating his teammates on a job well done this season, telling Joe Flacco “you played your ass off” in the loss and to keep his head up, while also exhorting them all to get back to work and become stronger as a team.
For this clip, Lewis’ speech has been set to Ravens season highlights, as extra motivation for sad Baltimore fans everywhere.
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
16
Jan
2011
Ravens flail as Steelers come back to win; Antonio Brown does his best David Tyree impression (VIDEO)
Antonio Brown makes the catch of his life on Saturday
As expected, yesterday’s AFC Divisional Playoff between the Steelers and Ravens was a knockdown, drag-out fight that went down to the very end, with Pittsburgh storming back for the 31-24 win. Baltimore stunned the home crowd in jumping out to a 21-7 halftime lead, but the Ravens stumbled in the second half … badly. Baltimore had THREE turnovers in the 3rd quarter that allowed the Steelers back into it, followed by two huge dropped passes down the stretch that could have helped win the game for John Harbaugh’s team.
The biggest drop came with 4 minutes remaining, after the Ravens had a punt return TD taken off the board by a holding call on an obvious flop by Steelers’ Will Allen. But Baltimore still had the chance for a go-ahead score after Joe Flacco led his team downfield and inside the ten. Faced with a 3rd and goal from the 6 yard line, Flacco looked to his Pro Bowl receiver Boldin in the end zone:
That’s simply a catch that Boldin needs to make. Instead, the Ravens tied the game at 24-24 with 3:54 remaining … way too much time for Ben Roethlisberger to work with. And Roethlisberger – along with his receiving corps – came up huge when it mattered most.
With just over 2 minutes remaining, the Steelers faced a seemingly insurmountable 3rd-and-19 at their own 38. Roethlisberger decided to chuck it up to rookie WR Antonio Brown, who came up with the catch of his young career:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
11
Nov
2010
Thursday Night Football is BACK!
(Image via NFL.com)
It’s a great time of year to be a football fan. No longer do we have to endure the endless din of the baseball season, and the NBA is just getting started, so the gridiron gets center stage for the next few months. And the midway point of the season also brings the return of Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network. Which means we get one more night of the week where we have an excuse to drink, and we don’t have to endure crap like Grey’s Anatomy on television.
Tonight we get a good one, with two 6-2 division-leading teams facing off in and inter-conference battle. With the Falcons vs Ravens, we get to see Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Roddy White, Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice, Michael Turner, Ray Lewis & Tony Gonzalez (to name a few), so there will be no shortage of star power on the field. Should be a great match-up, and White – who leads the NFC in receiving – is expected to play. But both teams come into tonight with very little rest since their last game, so we’ll see if that has any effect on their play.
For those of you without NFL Network – which seems to be a healthy percentage of homes out there, you can watch the game live online here.
13
Dec
2009
VIDEO: Derrick Mason incredible catch, hit & run
This gets my vote for play of the day (even though it came in one of the most boring, lopsided games of the day).
Ravens WR Derrick Mason hauls in the pass from Joe Flacco, gets sandwiched by two Lions defenders, somehow stays on his feet & scampers 62 yards for the score:
