Beating the Browns is the sweetest sauce

Waiting For Next Year and Blogimore Ravens had a little wager on yesterday's game, which is one of the many reasons why yesterday's comeback victory was so sweet. Instead of dealing with Shaun's fat a$$ for a week, they'll have to deal with Ray Ray.

What else was nice about yesterday's victory?

Braylon Edwards: Thanks for dropping that pass, B.



Field position: The Ravens didn’t dominate field position, or at least not special teams, but Baltimore did enough to keep Cleveland’s back against the wall. I have no idea why Baltimore kept kicking it to Joshua Cribbs, especially late in the fourth.

The running game: The Ravens had 3x more rushing yards than Cleveland (193 to 64). Ray Lewis dominated Jamal Lewis. I counted at least four or five reunions between the pair. Baltimore chewed up the clock, which it has been doing week after week.

The defense: Joe Thomas needed help all day against T-Sizzle, who sealed the victory with his late-game Pick 6. Baltimore’s D forced five-straight three-and-outs in the second half. Ray Lewis, Trevor Pryce, Haloti Ngata. Imagine how good Baltimore’s defense would be if it still had Kelly Gregg? He’s better than Shaun Rogers.

The poise: Down 14 on the road in the second half, Cam Cameron, Joe Flacco and the defense put 24 unanswered points on the board. The play calling and execution were both sloppy at times, but there was still a lot of poise out there. Cameron didn’t abandon the running game, a la Billick.

Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton: Derrick Mason has played mistake-free all year long. Joe Flacco’s favorite target is catching balls in traffic, and the rookie QB is getting production out of guys who in past seasons were largely silent (e.g. Mark Clayton). The only guy making zero noise is Todd Heap.

Tonight, tonight, tonight!

Gotta cheer for the Washington Redskins, folks.

If Washington beats Pittsburgh tonight, Baltimore and the Steelers will be tied for first place. Pittsburgh owns the tiebreaker, but they also play the Colts next week on short rest. We play the Houston Texans.

Baltimore's second-half schedule is brutal, but Pittsburgh is no different. After the Colts, Pittsburgh plays the Chargers, Patriots, Cowboys, Titans... and of course the rematch with Baltimore. Neither team has very many "gimme" games left. Baltimore has a very real shot of making the playoffs.