The Game Ball Thread: Wk 16 at Ravens

[SeoulSoxFan]

This is a sweet, sweet win. One of the most satisfying regular season wins in a long time. 
 
Patriots actually beat Ravens at their own game, by playing tough, hard-nosed football on both sides of the ball, that turned into a laughter late.
 
With tremendous joy and glee, here are the game balls!

• Logan Ryan: 2 INT, just a baller
• Entire OL: makeshift line with Mankins at LT and Joe Kline starting mostly keeps Brady upright, and mauls for running lanes all game. 
• LGBT: what has gotten into Blount? Running harder and faster than he has all season. Extra points for awesome Lewis dance in the end zone

Honorable mention to Ridley for the Clock-Killing drive, and Slater & the rest of the ST for coming back strong (Ghost, Allen, etc.)
 
Happy Holidays everyone!
 
P.S. All the Baltimore fans blaming this on the refs can choke on a crab cake.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

1st star: Logan Ryan
2nd star: Edelman
3rd star: Blount and his choreographer
 
HM: Broncos passing game

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

Defense. Clap, clap, clap. Defense. Clap, clap, clap.
 
D get's the gameball. Awesome game by the whole squad.

 

[Stitch01]

Everyone.  That was fucking great, I hate the fucking Ravens.
 
Beat the bills with a skeleton crew then get healthy for two weeks.

 

[axx]

Flacco

 

[RoyHobbs]

This was the very definition of opportunistic D. Like I said in the game thread, this was a throwback to early '00s Patriots football.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I want to hear it for Hightower, who has been really good the past 3 weeks. The whole fucking D was good except for maybe Gregory. The Pats show once again that they are a team that could beat anybody on any given week...and we all know they could lose to anybody on any given week as well. We all know that's technically true of any team in the NFL, but I think you still understand what I mean.
 
I thought the OL was fucking amazing, as well. What a job by Scarnechhia. I don't know how I could possibly back such a statement up, but if there's a better OL coach in the history of the NFL, I would love to see him.

 

[bankshot1]

Flacco's knee brace
 
Logan Ryan
 
Everyone else on the Pats sideline
 
Jim Nantz
 
great team win

 

[SMU_Sox]

Game ball goes to those or us who went heavy on NE today. Kidding aside... our OLine. Decimated by injuries and comes up big. Perfect? Hell no. Good, yes.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

I want to hear it for Hightower, who has been really good the past 3 weeks. The whole fucking D was good except for maybe Gregory. The Pats show once again that they are a team that could beat anybody on any given week...and we all know they could lose to anybody on any given week as well. We all know that's technically true of any team in the NFL, but I think you still understand what I mean.
 
I thought the OL was fucking amazing, as well. What a job by Scarnechhia. I don't know how I could possibly back such a statement up, but if there's a better OL coach in the history of the NFL, I would love to see him.

I though Hightower was slow as usual in pass coverage, has hands of stone, and that the OL could have committed some fewer penalties (yes I realzie some of them was a referee issue).

 

[McBride11]

Hightower. Strong run D. Good blitzing. And pass coverage?!?

 

[Corsi]

 

 

[Jnai]

Hard to imagine that this team, which lost maybe 10 of it's top 11 players from last year's AFC Championship Game squad, is back on top the AFC East and at worst a 3-seed in the playoffs.
 
Game ball to Belichick. What a wizard this guy is.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

What will Shaughnessy write about this week?

 

[Ed Hillel]

I though Hightower was slow as usual in pass coverage, has hands of stone, and that the OL could have committed some fewer penalties (yes I realzie some of them was a referee issue).

 
Of course you did.

 

[mascho]

What will Shaughnessy write about this week?

 
Celtics blew a lead yesterday...

 

[Stitch01]

Hard to imagine that this team, which lost maybe 10 of it's top 11 players from last year's AFC Championship Game squad, is back on top the AFC East and at worst a 3-seed in the playoffs.
 
Game ball to Belichick. What a wizard this guy is.

Probably a four seed with a loss to the Bills, hopefully we don't find out

 

[Corsi]

Honorable mention:
 

Patriots center Ryan Wendell turns to a reporter & says "Go interview Josh Kline." Vet proud of the rookie.
 

https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/414928054793027584

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Brady: "I know that no one picked us to win today. Zo [Zolak] - did you pick us today?"
 
LOL

 

[bankshot1]

What will Shaughnessy write about this week?

Thornton got off light, Bettman will up the suspension to 25 games 

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Today's was not only Raven's biggest loss/margin at home, it was also "the most lopsided loss in six seasons under coach John Harbaugh" 
 
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/tag/_/name/2013-week-16-ne-at-bal

 

[Super Nomario]

I thought the O-line largely struggled in pass protection - Brady didn't take many sacks, but a lot of that was Brady - but they came up huge in the running game late. Blount and Ridley ran like maniacs, too.
 
The early-season secondary was back. Baltimore was 0-6 with 1 INT and 1 DPI drawn on "deep" passes today. Smith had one nice run-after-catch play, but other than that Baltimore had to keep converting first down after first down ... and they couldn't do it. Ravens were 5 of 17 on third- and fourth- down. Ryan obviously stood out with the two picks, but Talib, Arrington, Harmon, McCourty, even Tavon Wilson all made plays.
 
Run D was solid, too. The final numbers (28 carries for 121 yards) don't sound that great, but Taylor had a couple long runs in garbage time. Rice and Pierce combined for 21 carries for 71 yards.
 
Also, Gostkowski was huge. 2 of 2 on FGs in windy conditions, 5 touchbacks in 7 tries. Nice game for Ryan Allen, too.

 

[McBride11]

Honorable mention:

https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/414928054793027584


Also excellent. Besides Ngata knocking down that pass, he seemed to have a very quiet game. Means Kline did well.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

I want to hear it for Hightower, who has been really good the past 3 weeks.

I'll take my penance here -- I've been on a Hightower witch hunt, but thought he played very very well today. Tough too...came back to play well after taking a hard shot

Edit: that's a "witch" hunt

 

[ShaneTrot]

I though Hightower was slow as usual in pass coverage, has hands of stone, and that the OL could have committed some fewer penalties (yes I realzie some of them was a referee issue).

You may want to ask for a seeing-eye dog for Christmas. He was instrumental in stuffing the run, blew up a 4th down play and tipped a ball that led to an interception.
 
Really liked the physical play on both sides of the ball. Fun to see. Made Baltimore look tentative and unprepared and Baltimore needed this game desperately.

 

[Eric Ampersand]

Game ball? The New England Patriots.

 

[RedOctober3829]

I want to single out Jamie Collins.  He's come a long way this season.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Run D was solid, too. The final numbers (28 carries for 121 yards) don't sound that great, but Taylor had a couple long runs in garbage time. Rice and Pierce combined for 21 carries for 71 yards.

 
Is it me or having Siliga stabilized the run D?
 
SS put up a +2.6 run D via PFF before today's game (vs. -18.8 for Chris Jones and -5.3 for Vellano.) I think Pats may have found a depth rotational DT for next year in Siliga.

 

[Mooch]

Arrington, Blount, Minitron, Siliga.

 

[Super Nomario]

 
Is it me or having Siliga stabilized the run D?
 
SS put up a +2.6 run D via PFF before today's game (vs. -18.8 for Chris Jones and -5.3 for Vellano.) I think Pats may have found a depth rotational DT for next year in Siliga.

I think you're right. SIliga's emergence has also made Hightower look better (doesn't have to shed blockers on the second level all the time) and Chris Jones / Vellano (don't have to play at the nose and get double-teamed).

 

[GLOSS]

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

They love leaving Brady hanging on high fives

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Honorable mention:
 
https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/414928054793027584

 
Josh Kline can snicker at Suggs today:
 

 
Terrell Suggs: "I have to watch the tape. Scratch that. Burn the tape."

 

[smokin joe wood]

I agree with all of the praise for the offensive line but I wouldn't include Cannon. Multiple penalties and missed assignments. Get well Seabass.

 

[JMDurron]

Logan Ryan - those weren't catches that I'd expect every DB to make (PS - shame on you, DMC), but he made two excellent quick-reaction INTs.
The entire Offensive Line.  I did not believe in them.  One more week like this, and I will.
Joe Flacco.  He was completely incapable of hitting his open WRs early in the game, his injury was a key factor that I feel no sympathy for whatsoever.  It's about damn time it happened to a Patriots opponent when the Patriots actually played them, and mattered in the game.  

 

[Euclis20]

I agree with all of the praise for the offensive line but I wouldn't include Cannon. Multiple penalties and missed assignments. Get well Seabass.

 
If only...he's been on IR since October.

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

Flacco was horrific. But we were due after Campbell and Tannehill playing out of their minds two weeks straight.

 

[Kliq]

Flacco's knee was obviously bothering him in the first half, which stopped him from getting in a rhythm and put Baltimore in the hole early. Great job by the defense all-around, Duane Harmon and DMC made some really good plays on the ball, and Ryan was obviously clutch. Nink and Jones put good pressure on Flacco, and I thought Siliga made some nice plays. Good win to re-establish the faith in New England after last weeks debacle.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

I agree with all of the praise for the offensive line but I wouldn't include Cannon. Multiple penalties and missed assignments. Get well Seabass.

I was expecting them to pull off the helmet and 61 jersey and Shaggy from Scooby Doo would be dripping with sweat. We've seen Cannon better than that. Hopefully it was a one week aberration.

 

[Kliq]

They love leaving Brady hanging on high fives

 
Pretty Much
 
 

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

You may want to ask for a seeing-eye dog for Christmas. He was instrumental in stuffing the run, blew up a 4th down play and tipped a ball that led to an interception.
 
Really liked the physical play on both sides of the ball. Fun to see. Made Baltimore look tentative and unprepared and Baltimore needed this game desperately.

1) I don't celebrate Christmas
2) Never said anything about the run
3) Should have caught it

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

Not getting enough love:
 

 

[mpx42]

I really hope Vereen is okay. The offense kind of fell off a cliff after left the game...Bolden just doesn't replace that skillset.

 

[dcmissle]

What will Shaughnessy write about this week?

 
 
Since Francesa's ass will be in hiding till Friday -- and I expect few if any of the 16 ESPN *experts* to post -- here is an early Christmas present:
 
http://bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/ron_borges/2013/12/plenty_of_punch_in_patriots
 
Some of us were channeling BB in the Ravens thread earlier this week -- the RUNNING game.  I will happily take 142/175 every single week.  That's the way you go after these guys, especially on the road.
 
It was a lot of fun being there, in the company of more than a few Pats fans.

 

[Van Everyman]

1) I don't celebrate Christmas
2) Never said anything about the run
3) Should have caught it


A good rule of thumb is that when you are more negative than Ron Borges, it's time to take a break:

Having established the physical tone desired, the Patriots then took the ball away from the Ravens three plays after Blount’s touchdown when the much-maligned Dont’a Hightower made a beautiful play on a pass intended for Jacoby Jones, perfectly executing his drop and thus being in position to tip Joe Flacco’s pass, which was intercepted by rookie corner Logan Ryan at the Patriots 47.

 

[Rico Guapo]

1) I don't celebrate Christmas
2) Never said anything about the run
3) Should have caught it

 

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Joe Flacco.  He was completely incapable of hitting his open WRs early in the game, his injury was a key factor that I feel no sympathy for whatsoever.  It's about damn time it happened to a Patriots opponent when the Patriots actually played them, and mattered in the game.  

 
Flacco wore a knee brace for the first time and all the excuses come out from the media covering the game. Brady's been wearing one for 4 years and not a fucking word.

 

[mikeford]

Not to mention Flacco has sucked all year well before donning the knee brace

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

1) I don't celebrate Christmas
2) Never said anything about the run
3) Should have caught it

You really think that poor hands is a legitimate grounds for criticism of a linebacker? He made a great play just to get a hand on it.

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

Not to mention Flacco has sucked all year well before donning the knee brace

 
Yes, when your game is primarily based on throwing the ball up for grabs and hoping your WRs pull them down or draw a flag then you are going to have long, extended periods of sucks.  And like we saw last year, occasional hot streaks when everything is going your way.
 
Basically, I'm saying that Flacco sucks