Ravens Recap Week 6
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This just in, Boller got better. A lot better. Look past the stat line last week, because frankly it’s not important. He’s not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. He’s not a fantasy football shark. He doesn’t have to be, not when he’s 15-4 as a starter at M&T Bank Stadium and certainly not when he’s been the signal caller when the game was over for three of the team’s four wins this season. Steve McNair has taught Kyle Boller to be a winner, by any means necessary. If that means driving the team down the field for a game-winning drive, or if it means not making mistakes and letting the defense do their thing, it doesn’t matter. A win is a win; that’s been the philosophy at One Winning Drive ever since the franchise moved here, and it’s worked out pretty well for the Ravens and their fans so far.
What impressed me the most about Kyle Boller’s play on Sunday was his poise. Playing behind a make-shift offensive line that’s starting three rookies, including a supplemental draft pick, proved to be a daunting task against two of the games best pass rushers in Leonard Little and La’Roi Glover. Boller was only sacked twice, but he was hit, hurried, and knocked down a lot more. There were a few times where it looked like he wouldn’t get up, but he did. He showed poise in the pocket and delivered the football. His only interception came off a play where he was blindsided by Little as he was throwing. Truthfully, it was a miracle he got the ball out of his hands.
The Ravens continue to struggle in the red zone, but the team had an improved philosophy and mixed up the play calling. If Jason Brown hadn’t jumped offsides, or held an opposing player inside the 20, the game could have been even more of a blowout. For other good news about the game against St. Louis, see the defense. Wow, what a performance. Looks like they’re back to their old ways even with some major injury issues, which speaks volumes about Rex Ryan’s scheme and ability to adjust.
Looking into this week’s game against Buffalo, the Ravens will face a hostile environment with the hated Willis McGahee returning to Buffalo. Look for McGahee to have a big game as he’ll be playing with something to prove to the fans that hate him so much in northern New York. This simply is a must-win game for the injury-laden Ravens, who may be without star corner Chris McAlister this week due to a knee injury. Let’s say, hypothetically, the Ravens enter the bye week 5-2. The team then has to face Pittsburgh twice, Cincinnati, San Diego, New England, Indianapolis and Seattle. Good news is the Steelers have to play those teams as well (except for the Colts). The division race in the AFC North will come down to the Steelers and the Ravens. As Ravens fans, let’s hope the Steelers wet the bed and the Ravens right the ship coming out of the bye week. The scary thing is the Steelers look like Super Bowl contenders, especially after shutting out the Seahawks, who were their first real playoff-ready competition. The Ravens have yet to face a playoff caliber team and sit at 4-2. It’s a little disheartening to look at it this way, but if you think that Buffalo is an easy place to win a game, just ask the Dallas Cowboys. This team needs the bye week desperately, let’s just hope they get there at 5-2.
