Stats on Pats Weekly - Ravens Wings Clipped in Fourth Quarter, New England 27, Baltimore 24
Article by Raleigh Dugal, southcoast247.com correspondent
For two weeks in a row now, a B-List quarterback has picked the New England secondary cleaner than a hypochondriac’s toilet seat. On a night where the Pats were blighted by dropped passes by sturdy dependables like Randy Moss and Ben Watson and Lawrence Maroney looked more like Lawrence Welk, Baltimore somehow let the upset fritter away in an emotional meltdown that might just be representative of coach Brian Billick’s failures since their 2000 Super Bowl victory.
Watson dropped an easy pass in the end zone on the opening drive, forcing the Pats to settle for a Gostkowski field goal. Kyle Boller answered with a four yard strike to the geriatric Derrick Mason to take the lead, followed by a Stover field goal in the second quarter. The Patriots had to resort to bruiser Heath Evans for a short yardage TD to put the game at 10-10, and they really lucked out when Kevin Faulk stripped a pick from Ed Reed to keep Baltimore from putting up any more points before the half.
Ray Lewis and the Ravens swarmed the Pats' receivers all night
The rest of the game was the Willis McGahee show. Though he didn’t quite live up to Tony Kornheiser’s sickening praise that he was “running like the best back in the history of the National Football League,” McGahee shredded the Pats’ D for 138 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots couldn’t key on him because Kyle Boller suddenly remember he was an NFL quarterback, and must have, in fact, been taking notes on A.J. Feely’s clinic last week. Boller completed 15 of 23 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, his true colors flew when he loosed a pass into the heart of three New England defensive backs, and James Sanders finally did something with his life and picked it off. Baltimore clutched desperately to a 24-17 lead through most of the fourth quarter as sour-grape Don Shula watched longingly from the booth. With time running out the Ravens halted Brady’s signature game winning drive twice, but one play was called back on an errant time out by Baltimore’s defensive coordinator and the other on a blatant hold of Ben Watson.
Right then is where Baltimore lost the game, their minds, and their dignity. Brady tossed a go-ahead TD to Jabar Gaffney, while the best of ESPN cried for a replay of an obvious catch. Then Bart Scott drew two personal fouls, leading to a Patriot kickoff from the Baltimore 35 yard-line and a desperate Hail Mary that stopped short just a couple yards shy of an upset.
Everyone wants to talk about character this year in the NFL, especially in regard to the steam-rolling Patriots. But seriously, when was the last time you saw a professional athlete cry on the field in the middle of a game? Shame on Baltimore for acting like Little Leaguers who just lost the championship. More shame on the Patriots for their sham of a running game, and thinking even they’re ace corps of receivers can blow by opposing secondaries without keeping them honest.
Who the hell knows what’s going to happen with Pittsburgh.
Biting your nails? E-mail Raleigh@southcoast247.com
For two weeks in a row now, a B-List quarterback has picked the New England secondary cleaner than a hypochondriac’s toilet seat. On a night where the Pats were blighted by dropped passes by sturdy dependables like Randy Moss and Ben Watson and Lawrence Maroney looked more like Lawrence Welk, Baltimore somehow let the upset fritter away in an emotional meltdown that might just be representative of coach Brian Billick’s failures since their 2000 Super Bowl victory.
