Umm…that’s like saying, “we’re two TDs from Flacco not happening from us talking about Petyon and Brady together at last.” Those TDs count just the same. And getting dominated in Special Teams reflects on one team being stronger in one of the three areas of football. I’ve never understood diminishing the importance of special teams.

I didn’t read the whole thread so apologies if it’s been said. But the problem I have with the whole “If you take away those special teams touchdowns then blah blah blah” argument is that if they were just regular returns or touchbacks or whatever, the offense would still have a drive that might very well have ended in points.

Maybe it’s just my perception, but it seems like he needs to be reminded at halftime that Anquan Boldin plays for the Ravens.

He tends to ride the hot hand. Boldin will go HAM one game, Smith the next. I do worry how little he uses the tight ends – that’s one thing Cameron did well – and his OT playcalling Saturday was highly suspect. But Flacco seems a lot more comfortable with this offense.

I will say this about Boldin — he has inconsistent hands. He dropped a ball that cost the Ravens a playoff win against the Steelers two years ago, he dropped a TD against the Pats in last year’s title game and had two drops yesterday (albeit in zero degree weather). He’s certainly capable of making outstanding plays in big moments. But when a ball is on its way to Boldin, I’m never sure how it’s going to play out.

Caldwell mostly seems to be out of Cameron mode, opening up the offense, running crosses and slants, and taking advantage of mismatches.

Maybe it’s just my perception, but it seems like he needs to be reminded at halftime that Anquan Boldin plays for the Ravens.

Just like one in five teenagers in New Orleans

Fantastic.

/still bitter

The Rahim Moore misplay ranks right there with Haruki NakamuraMadieu Williams misplaying the deep throw by Matt Ryan to Roddy WhiteEli Manning to Victoe Cruz earlier this year as some of the worst safety play possible.

fixed

Remove a couple of blowouts over horribly overmatched Denver or KC in the mid-2000′s and those stats look much worse.

Always a fan of removing good games from consideration when the goal is to prove someone’s bad…you can’t lose!

The Texans annihilated them and they were, I believe, healthy at the time. I understand that they were banged up the last few games of the season, but 13-10 over a Byron Leftwhich team?

They weren’t totally healthy, but yeah, they looked bad in Houston. Ravens-Steelers games are crazy. It’s cliche as shit, but you can throw the records and the personnel out. It’s going to be a tight, low-scoring affair most times.

Worth mentioning — Cameron was their OC in both those games.

So the pick 6 earlier doesnt count? Or the fumble that gave them another 3 points?

Remove a couple of blowouts over horribly overmatched Denver or KC in the mid-2000′s and those stats look much worse.

I just can’t see them going on the road and winning v. the Pats absent a Brady injury or a lopsided TO total.

But, again, 18-1. Didn’t see that one coming either.

It’s an example again of why interception numbers show no year to year correlation.

link? Just thinking of someone like Joe Montana in a low risk passing offense…Steve Young with the Niners, too.

I understand there will be variance based on tipped balls, injuries (line giving less protection, wrs hurt meaning less open options), situation (lead vs trail), dropped ints.

But there is definitely correlation based on scheme/skillset/decision making tendencies. Brees high int, Brady low int for example

Even in that SB Dilfer hit Stokely for a long TD.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut

I’m not going through to make sure I avoided every cliche.

Most people don’t write in cliches though. They just give 110%, and leave everything out there on the paper.

It’s an example again of why interception numbers show no year to year correlation.

link? Just thinking of someone like Joe Montana in a low risk passing offense…Steve Young with the Niners, too.

Just click on the fantasy hockey homepage and then join a league, put in the info

Thanks, Cowboy Mike. Jeezus I’m old and stupid.

True, and it also differs greatly with what you are writing. I self-edit while writing and take a quick glance many times, but you’re usually getting a first draft with maybe a few modifications. I’m not going through to make sure I avoided every cliche.

The pieces I have written for magazines or the preseason stuff was more like fifth drafts with major revisions and changes.

How bout Super Bowl winning teams where a QB barely helps them throughout the year

/trent dilfer

Even in that SB Dilfer hit Stokely for a long TD.

I think there is a difference between messing up a name in the heat of the moment or inverting the teams, and talking about a strategy that would involve trying a field goal, making it, trying an onside kick, getting it, trying and making another field goal then winning in overtime, rather than just going for it on 4th and 5 and winning the game.

Yeah, the strategy and tactics piece is what bothers me. Why have a former NFL head coach in the booth if not to dispense cogent breakdowns of these scenarios? Getting that stuff so spectacularly wrong invalidates the entire reason he’s there.