SNF Live-Blog: Redskins @ Ravens, 1st Half
Sunday, December 07, 2008
I said I'd make it up to you for the Ravens fans photo. I suppose Christy Cooley will do, won't she?
I'm actually looking forward to this game because I've not had an opportunity to watch Joe Flacco, really. So it will be interesting to see the Ravens with an actual offense. That said, I don't like seeing the Ravens in the playoffs; they always remind me of Modell's scummy little move and there's not really anything compelling or interesting about them as a team to outside observers.
That doesn't mean they're not a good team and that what they're doing under a first-year coach isn't impressive.
Skins will get the ball first, as Houska will kick to Rock Cartwright; they'll start at the 28 yard line.
Antwaan Randle El, game show host in training. Jason Campbell starts with a pass that's a bit short to Santana Moss. Hits Cooley on the next one, who makes it out to the 40. Campbell is hit as he throws, and Ed Reed comes up to dive for it....NICE PICK BY REED! Been doing that for a while.
First thing Flacco does is hit Derrick Mason right in the hands for 20+. First and 10 at the Skins' 29. Willis McGahee burrows in for a couple yards. Jason Taylor deflects the next pass.
There are enough players from the U in this game to make this a reunion. Portis, Moss, Lewis, Reed, McGahee...Ray Rice, the rookie from Rutgers, busts up the middle into the Skins secondary. First and goal! Flacco hands off to Le'Ron McLain, who barrels in for the TOUCHDOWN! Matt Stover's kick is up and good, 7-0, Baltimore.
Jeez, that was quick.
Houshka kicks off to Cartwright, who brings it back out to the 30. Portis gets four yards on his first carry, and 2nd and 6 at the 34 is incomplete to Randle El. The Ravens D hits Campbell as he's throwing and it falls short, so a 3 and out. Better than a pick, though...Ryan Plackenmeier's punt is partially blocked, and the Ravens will start with good position in their own territory.
On 2nd down, Flacco just throws it out of bounds when he has nothing to go to.
"He went to Pitt, didn't own a car, transferred to Delaware, didn't own a car, and he got to Baltimore and still didn't own a car. Someone recently gave him one." - John
"Was it a Bentley?" - Al
Flacco tries to run for it himself but is short on the 3rd down rush. The Ravens have to punt it away, and it's fair caught by Randle El at his own 11.
Clinton Portis gets the carry, and rumbles around, dragging Ed Reed with him to the 21, and THE BALL IS LOOSE! Ed Reed picks it up, runs, spins away from a player, and gets in the end zone!
Hold on, Washington's gonna challenge this and it looks like they're gonna get it back. Oh, wow, it stands! TOUCHDOWN, RAVENS! Stover's kick is up and good, 14-0 Ravens, thanks to Ed Reed being a ballhawk.
Nice, early hole to have to dig out of.
Wow, I'm not used to seeing good defense......I only watch Brian Russell. - SSReporters
I still think Portis' elbow hit the ground beforehand. Cartwright only gets out to the 17 yard line on the kickoff.
"For what it's worth, Cartwright just tried to stay warm." - Al, as the returner didn't think he was tackled and ran to the end zone. Portis maybe gets a yard on 1st down. One yard from Portis on 2nd down. Campbell hits Devin Thomas right in the numbers on 3rd down and picks up 17 yards. First down at the Skins' 37.
Portis isn't getting a damn thing. He gets hit behind the line of scrimmage and it's obvious the Ravens' D wants to make Campbell have to throw to beat them. The Auburn grad hits Santana Moss for eight or nine yards on 2nd down. Mike Sellers gets to the outside, jumps over the corner and crosses midfield for the first down by slipping a Ray Lewis tackle. First at the 45, and that'll be moving back to midfield on a delay of game penalty.
"He can even get into the end zone backwards; forward, sideways, backwards, any way you want to go in." -- John on Ed Reed
That's what your mother said last night! (cue bad Sean Connery impression) - Jay
The pen is mightier than the sword, Alex! Speaking of pens, here are the NSFW photos (as if any of you are working anyway) of Minnesota Viking dong shown on Fox earlier this afternoon.
Screen pass to Portis gets shut down by Ray-Ray and them for a loss of 1. Campbell scoots out at the 49 as the play breaks down, and it'll be coming back....Baltimore declines the illegal shift penalty to make it a 3rd and very long -- and down goes Campbell. Jim Leonard and Ray-Ray deck him at the Skins' 42. Plackenmeier's punt is downed at the B-more 16.
McGahee fumbles on first down and it goes out of bounds at about the 9 to start. Nice. McGahee gets back to the 11 on the next carry. 3rd and 15 goes to Ray Rice, who gets to the 20, but here comes the punt team. Skins start at 32 after the punt is downed. 1st down incomplete to Portis. Dr. Don't Know finally gets some room on the outside and gets to a bit past the 40, gets a first down. He carries it again for about four more yards. Campbell has another pass batted down on 3rd down, and Plackenmeier's gonna come out again.
Leonard brings the return out to the 27 yard line, but it'll go back a bit thanks to an illegal block in the back. Ravens start at their own 9, and McLain gets nothing on the carry. He gets it again on 2nd down and he'll be lucky to have 2 yards on that one. Flacco goes for broke on 3rd down, aiming for Mark Clayton past mid-field, and he and the corner get tied up and fall before the ball gets there.
Sam Koch boots it towards Randle El at the sidelines, but it winds up going out of bounds.
Campbell hits Randle El for 17 on the first play, and the Skins are already at the Ravens' 40. He throws the next one low, at the feet of the receiver -- but it won't matter, as defensive holding is called on Ray Lewis, earning Washington an automatic first down. Campbell rolls out and hits Devin Thomas for a few more yards. 2nd and 5 at the 31. Another pass deflected, this one by Jim Leonard. 3rd down's incomplete, looking for Randle El again. FG team's coming on. Shaun Suisham will try from 48, and it's not close.
God, Zorn looks like someone pissed in his cereal right now. - Anonymous
He reminds me of Coach Buzzcut from Beavis and Butt-head. I expect him to yell "KICK ME IN THE JIMMY!" at someone.
Flacco aims for Mason and the ball gets knocked out. 2nd down and 10 goes to Rice, who gets up to the 41. Another incomplete pass and Flacco is 1-7, and it's fourth down. Koch punts, Randle El is tackled at the 18. Moss makes the catch for 9 on first down; Betts then picks up the first down. Portis is on the sidelines, possibly with one of many nagging injuries. Campbell goes Air Mail for Moss, but Fabian Washington stays with him and gets a hand on the ball. Betts gets nailed for nothing by Haloti Ngata. Campbell slips a tackler, dishes it off short to Mike Sellers, who gets six or seven. Not enough for the first, and an illegal formation call on the Skins to boot. Declined, and it's 4th down.
The short punt gives Baltimore good field position, but they'll be moved back thanks to a holding penalty.
I guess you have to leave Oakland, if you want to have a good career. - 49er16
Fabian Washington is learning that, and Nnamdi Asomugha will too as soon as he can escape the Black Hole. Hopefully neither Darren McFadden nor JaMarcus Russell will be too wrecked by the time they're able to leave.
And the NBC cameras show the man much of Cleveland considers the Devil. Flacco goes deep again on first down and Todd Heap comes down with it for a 30 yard gain. Complete rainbow ball. McGahee gets a couple yards. The 2nd down pass to McLain is tipped.
A shot of Cam Cameron, whose woeful 1-15 as head coach in Miami last year will soon be forgotten by Rod Marinelli and the shitpile that is the Detroit Lions. Cameron's real first name? Malcolm.
Flacco runs to the left, but he's short of the first, and, well, punting is winning. Fair catch by Randle El at the 11. The Sportsman of the Year is in the luxury suites, and John and Al are waxing rhapsodic about Michael Phelps' love of football. I'd think he'd be paying more attention if he actually did, but then again, he probably is a fan, otherwise, he wouldn't show up wearing a jersey and a Ravens cap.
The Skins keep killing themselves. 3rd and 1 turns into 3rd and 6 after a false start. Follow that up with another false start, this one on Moss. Zorn looks like he just swallowed something nasty. Somehow, Mike Sellers had all the room in the world to get a first down...and that's because there was offensive holding. 3rd and 15 at the 4 -- and a short out to Santana Moss means he gets 26 yards, most of it after the catch, for a first down.
Portis picks up another first down on the next play, and the Skins are now close to midfield. He gets completely stuffed on the next carry attempt. 2 minute warning.
"Sellers runs up to the 45, setting up a very big 3rd and short." - Al, when the play resulted in a 4th down. He did correct himself.
Ravens start on their own 7 after the punt. McGahee runs for two or three, and another play will mean the end of the first half. Kneel and that's it: Baltimore's up 14-0 at the half. Yawner so far, though. See you in the second half thread.
Labels: Al Michaels, Baltimore Ravens, John Madden, Live-Blog, NBC Football, NFL, Washington Redskins
67 Comments:
Now if you just use the Skins Cheerleader who was in SI Swimsuit for second half picture, all will definitely be forgiven (Ana something, dont remember last name)
Is AA at this game?
They could shorten the player introductions by having anyone who went to the U not say it.
"You talking about having zip."-John Madden
Nice shot of Jim Zorn's Manning Face.
If AA is at the game he's probably gone back inside to buy 5 more beers for himself.....it will be a long night.
Greg Blache Cover 2 + Skins crappy tackling + Skins awful OL = home for the holidays
"That's not for father's Ravens offense." - John Madden
"This is not your father's Raven offense." - John Madden.....the Ravens were formed in the mid-90s so....
OK, Mickey D's. We get it. You want us to have your inedible chicken plastic. Sorry, ain't happenin', so take your nuggnuts crap and shove it.
Jeez Sarah Palin thinks Terrell Suggs attended a lot of schools.
"Duke and Donna, his parents...Duke and Donna, his kids"-Al, obviously paying more attention to his betting odds for tomorrow than his notes for the game.
Actually 18 is fatherhood age in Baltimore. Sign that used to be up on billboard in Baltimore to discourage teen pregnancy :" A baby costs $ 785 / month. How much is your allowance ?"
Isn't Baltimore the STD capital of America.
He didn't own a car?
Wow........useful info.
Actually Al's wrong about transfer rule. If you transfer down a division even from I-A to I-AA you dont have to sit out.
"Is it a Bently."- Al
Probably more like a Pinto
"You are going to lose those battles"
Coming from Madden as the replay shows Flacco FLATTENING Fletcher.
Could you imagine "Flaver of Love" with Flav's mom.
Wow, I'm not used to seeing good defense......I only watch Brian Russell.
That's a crap call
"Flacco still didn't have a car when he came over to the Redskins..."
Wait, what? Was I the only one who heard that?
I bet AA is ponding the beer hard right now.
yeah......thats a bs TD. His elbow was down
How many more times are we going to hear the words "Ball Hawk"?
Stay classy, Rock Cartwright.
About Ed Reed: "He can even get into the end zone backwards; forward, sideways, backwards, any way you want to go in." -- Madden
That's what your mother said last night! (cue bad Sean Connery impression)
Momma's Boys...a show so bad that even Fox knows better.
that is a pretty big dick on the vikings player.
Skins got a gift on that fwd progress call.
I'm not sure AA will show up to blog tomorrow with this 1st quarter.
Ravens got an entire gift season when they "won" that Super Bowl
His name is Tom Crean, Mr. Michaels
is AA at the game?
If he is he's probably drinking heavily.
The Redskins, like Plaxico Burress, are shooting themselves.
Yeah, jg. 34-7 Routs are total flukes.
That seemed like a bad call.
Down with black people!
This day just keeps on getting better and better and better for the Eagles. You want to talk about a dream day...
God, Zorn looks like someone pissed in his cereal right now
"Look at the defensive secondary." - John Madden
doesn't matter how difficult the coverage is for a rookie John, it's still no excuse to overthrow the receiver like that
Howie Do It looks fun........maybe because I love pranks.
Bazooka
That season was a going away gift for Modell. And the only uniform Ray Lewis should be wearing is a orange prison jumpsuit saying "Georgia Dept of Corrections"
I guess you have to leave Oakland, if you want to have a good career.
Art "Judas" Modell isn't dead yet?
Did you hear how Al Michaels just said Art Modell "mooooved" the team?
"They are man beaters, instead of zone beaters."-John, while wearing a wife beater.
Now I'm bored with this game....
Art Modell = Bob Irsay
They are REALLY milking this Michael Phelps thing.
Is it just me, or does Michael Phelps look like a retard any time he laughs?
Cue Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek and Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery, please!
Michael Phelps and Ray Lewis = Match Made In Hell
Correction: Momma's Boys is a show so bad, even MyNetwork TV won't carry it!
His face betrays nothing, but with every flag Zorn dies a little on the inside
Yea at least if SI was gonna choose an overexposed athlete for Sportsman of year, they should have gone with Tebow for his charity work instead of Phelps.
You guys need to get the clip of ESPN's Bowl Selection Special from about 9:35 ET to 9:45 ET. Holtz gets absolutely railed by May and Herby. It is hilarious. Unbelievably funny. Please get this clip up AA or whoever is taking over for him.
Let's see...
3rd & 1: false start on the TE
3rd & 6: false start on the WR
3rd & 11: holding penalty wipes out a 1st down.
Who do these guys think they are, the Browns!?!?
Check that, unlike the Browns, they actually make a 1st down
As for Modell, if that little scumbag makes it to the Hall, does anyone think he'll make his induction speech in person (in front of a slew of Browns fans).
I don't know if anyone is watching, but the ESPN Bowl Special is the best television I've seen in years. Lou Holtz and Mark May are the most entertaining people on television.
Dr. Lou and MayDay are on one side of the desk doing their thing, and Lee and Kirk are on the other side, mouths agape, just enjoying the ride.
It's fucking amazing...
I see Brett is watching...awesome, eh?
Jansen's out of the game. Skins OL just got better
Just an FYI - the Raven's kickoff guy is Hauschka, not Houska or Houshka.
Advice for Bob Costas, never talk in that creepy high-pitched voice again.
"That said, I don't like seeing the Ravens in the playoffs; they always remind me of Modell's scummy little move"
Geez, I love it when people get so fired up about Modell moving the Browns. Where was all this outrage when Irsay pulled the same stunt a decade earlier and moved the Colts out of Baltimore? At least Cleveland was assured of a quick return to the NFL and they were allowed to keep their name and logo (or lack of a logo, as it was)
"and there's not really anything compelling or interesting about them as a team to outside observers."
Other than the best defense in the NFL and an emerging offensive unit, yeah, nothing, I guess. Bias much?
Yeah, that'll do just fine, S2N...