Top 5 things that should make Ravens fans worry

#5: Schedule down the stretch
Bengals, Redskins, Steelers, Cowboys and Jags.

#4: The Joe Flacco Show
Please don't hit the rookie wall, Joe. Please. Please, please, please.

#3: Matt Stover
I blogged it a few weeks ago and my opinion hasn't changed: "Aging Matt Stover no longer automatic." Hopefully John Harbaugh stops letting Stover attempt anything that's 45 yards or longer. Let the new kid do it. I'll bother to learn the new kid's name just as soon as Harbaugh starts letting him do his job. Stover's blocked field goal against the Giants was a huge momentum change in a game that ultimately was closer than the final score (30-10) indicated.

#2: Defensive secondary
From a personnel standpoint, the defensive secondary is a clear #1. Samari Rolle is no Chris McAlister, and Frank Walker isn't a guy you want in your starting lineup, not when your flexing your muscle as the best defense of the decade. I'd love for you to prove me wrong, Frank. Please do. In the meantime, I'll try not to remember that you were cut by the New York Football Giants, the same team that demolished Baltimore without even having to test our secondary.

#1: Offensive line
Kudos to Jared Gaither for playing through injuries last Sunday when Adam Terry went down with an injury. If the offensive line continues to suffer from injuries, it could devastate Baltimore's three-headed-monster of a running game, and it'll also put the crosshairs squarely on Joe Flacco. Baltimore's team is built for the playoffs: strong running game and dominating defense. But without an offensive line, that formula backfires quickly.

Happy Thanksgiving (aka Joe Flacco #1)

I am thankful that Brady Quinn is not our QB.

The Joe Flacco Show vs. Terrible Tyler

Joe Flacco extended his lead over Tyler Thigpen.

In case you're just tuning in, I have a bet with my buddy over who will end the season with a higher QB rating: The Joe Flacco Show or Terrible Tyler?

The Joe Flacco Show: 78.7
Terrible Tyler: 77.4

More importantly, the Joe Flacco Show added another victory to its resume. Terrible Tyler added, let's see, two more interceptions and yet another loss.

If you think Terrible Tyler is the better QB, you're nuts. Even though the bet is measured with QB rating, its genesis was an argument over which QB was better, subjective until you actually start paying attention.

The Joe Flacco Show, Baltimore's hottest new drama.

Joe Flacco, Tyler Thigpen and the New York Giants

QB RATING UPDATE
Joe Flacco: 77.2
Tyler Thigpen: 76.3

Despite a loss to the Giants that included two interceptions, The Joe Flacco Show retains a slight lead of Terrible Tyler. Flacco's second interception was especially unfortunate, because the pass literally bounced off Derrick Mason's helmet. Solid pass. Also, I'm starting to realize, as suspected, that QB rating is an incomplete measuring stick for the question, "Who is the better QB?" For example, it doesn't take into account the ground game. Like yesterday, when Flacco was by far and away Baltimore's leading rusher. If you're wondering why we lost, that's not a bad place to start your search.

Quick thoughts on yesterday's loss

• Big ups to Ray Ray for his third interception on the season. Since 2003, Troy Polamalu's first season in the NFL, Ray Lewis has 13 interceptions. Polamalu has only 14, exacly half of Ray's career total (28 picks).
• It's a touchy subject, perhaps, but Baltimore needs to find a replacement for Matt Stover. Like I wrote last week, "Aging Matt Stover no longer automatic." His blocked field goal yesterday put the Ravens in a tough spot early.
• Did you expect anything else? With so many players on injured reserve, and a rookie QB playing on the road against the defending champs, we should feel lucky to have lost by only 20 points. In the first half, the game had the potential to look a lot worse.

Overall, I think Flacco did a respectable job, but Baltimore's defense broke when we could barely afford it to bend. The Steelers escaped with a victory, no thanks to the San Diego Chokers, and now Pittsburgh is comfortably in the lead for the AFC North. One game plus they own the tiebreaker.

Next week vs. the Eagles
Baltimore absolutely needs a victory next week againt the Filthy Iggles. Should not be a problem if Donovan plays like he did yesterday: Donovan McNabb, now with 50% more INTs than Joe Flacco!

QB rating: Flacco-Thigpen update

So who's gonna end the season with a higher QB rating: Tyler Thigpen or Joe Flacco?

CURRENT STANDINGS
Terrible Tyler: 76.3
The Joe Flacco Show: 79.7

The Chiefs are at home against the Saints on Sunday, and the Ravens of course play the G-Men. I can't wait for the wheels to fall off the Tyler Thigpen machine. He may have halved Flacco's lead, but Thigpen went home with the loss last week. Suck on that, Tyler.

Joe Flacco, 15-year-old girl?

Ravens FB Lorenzo Neal, 16-year veteran, on his rookie QB:

“Here’s who Joe Flacco is. Our defense is like the most popular dude in school – a senior, the homecoming king. Flacco is like the beautiful sophomore girl he keeps bringing to all the dances, and now she’s his prom date. Everybody keeps saying, ‘Why would he take her?’ But all she does is show up and command attention... we’re two plays away from being 8-1, brother.”

AMEN!

Baltimore Ravens... Super Bowl champs?!!

You know how I know Sports Illustrated's Peter King didn't watch the Ravens game?

He named Ray Lewis his NFL defensive player of the week.

PETER KING: "The third two-interception game of his career keyed the Ravens over Houston at Reliant Stadium. Eight tackles, two picks and two passes defensed."

No disrespect to Ray Lewis, but if it weren't for Haloti Ngata's insane tipped-ball and interception at the one-yard line on first down, Ray Ray's pass-interference penalty in the endzone could have very easily turned into seven points for the Texans. It really doesn't get much more beautiful than Ngata's interception. Simply an amazing play exactly when the team needed it most.

And how about Joe Flacco's 43-yard TD bomb to Yamon Figurs (aka F-16)?!! Right on the heels of Mason's injury. Just another example of the rookie staying cool under pressure. His best receiver goes down with an injury, and Flacco responds with a TD pass to a special-teams guy.

This team looks stupid solid, and never before has Ravens football been so fun to watch on both sides of the ball. Unexpectedly experts are all of a sudden ranking Baltimore amongst the best in the NFL. I'm not saying I disagree with it, but it's shocking nonetheless. How and when did this happen?!! I had zero expectations before the season started, but to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised to see this team win the Super Bowl.

That's right. Super Bowl.

What's going to be a bigger challenge than winning in the playoffs, though, is getting there in the first place. If and when Baltimore arrives in the postseason, it has the formula to win it all.

• Best defense in the NFL, especially against the run
• Solid running game that includes three dependable backs
• Dominating time-of-possession advantage
• Pro Bowl-caliber punter to help with field position
• Veteran leadership and a great third-down possession receiver in Derrick Mason

Like I said, the challenge will be making the playoffs. Here's what's working against Baltimore.

• Depleted secondary (C-Mac out for year)
• Depleted depth on the D-line (Kelly Gregg out for year)
• Limited depth at WR: What happens if D-Mase isn't healthy?
  
• Ridiculous schedule down the stretch (Giants, Eagles, Skins, Steelers, Cowboys)
• What happens when Baltimore's rookies hit the wall?
• Baltimore already has losses to the Steelers and Colts
• Can Joe Flacco win tough games on the road in November and December?
• Aging Matt Stover no longer automatic
  

Win a drill autographed by former Ravens FB Ovie "The Drill" Mughelli

Atlanta Falcons FB Ovie "The Drill" Mughelli is giving away an autographed drill, specifically my autographed drill. That's right. Win my drill, autographed by The Drill. All you have to do is post a photo, video or comment explaining what you need to fix and/or why you want the drill. It's a really nice drill. It's only been used two or three times. I hate fixing stuff.

Enter the contest on Ovie's Yardbarker blog.

Chris McAlister done for year; Samari Rolle to play this weekend

After missing the past six games, Ravens CB Samari Rolle is reportedly ready for action. I saw that this morning on one of them fancy television shows based out of Bristol. Rolle should play this weekend against Houston. Rolle has suffered a spate of bad luck over the past couple of seasons. Lots of injuries, lots of missed time. He'll be a welcome addition to a defensive backfield that now will be without Chris McAlister for the rest of the season.

Baltimore's AM 1570 today reported that Chris McAlister will be placed on injured reserve and undergo knee surgery. Chris McAlister is the best CB in team history. This season is no different. Baltimore has a very real shot at competing for the AFC North, but it's going to be a lot more difficult with Fabian Washington, Frank Walker and Samari Rolle steering a ship that doesn't include C-Mac.

Get well soon, Chris.

I just made a bet with my buddy

Who will end the season with a higher QB rating: Tyler Thigpen or Joe Flacco?

$50 and the loser has to do the Ray Lewis dance and post it on YouTube.

Each QB must play at least five more games; otherwise, the bet is void. Flacco starts with an eight-point advantage (75.6 to 67.6) but Thigpen and the Chiefs have a much easier schedule down the stretch (e.g. Raiders, Broncos, Bengals, Dolphins).

Unibrow and the Mightiest Midget

Joe Flacco! Ray Rice!

Fact: That is not Joe's real eyebrow.

Keep the Bills in Buffalo!

Before my love affair with the Ravens, I was a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan. In fact, I was a Bills fan for twice as long as I've been a Ravens fan. Both of my parents are from Buffalo, and despite four-straight Super Bowl losses, the 1980s and 1990s were good times to cheer for the Buffalo Bills.

Jim Kelly. Thurman Thomas. Andre Reed. Bruce Smith. Cornelius Bennett. Steve Tasker. Don Beebe. And those are just the guys I was able to remember without resorting to Internet research. Pretty impressive considering my memory is shot. Is it possible to experience an onset of Alzheimer's in your 30s?

Anyway, there is a great Bills-related note in this week's Monday Morning Quarterback: Peter King writes that former Bills QB Jim Kelly is on a mission to buy the team and keep it in Western New York forever.

Kelly, the former Buffalo quarterback, thinks he has a group together that's wealthy enough to buy the Bills from 90-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, and he'd be dedicated to keeping the Bills in Western New York for the rest of his life... if Wilson or his family would sell to anyone for a little bit below the market, they'd sell to a man who quarterbacked the team to its greatest run in history and whose every fiber will be dedicated to keeping the team in the area.

Please keep the Bills in Buffalo!

Buffalo's economy needs the Bills, and so does its psyche. The Bills aren't the only game in town, but it's pretty close. They have the Sabres in the NHL and a minor-league baseball team called the Bisons. That's about all there is to do in Buffalo, at least so far as I can remember.

If the team moves to Toronto permanently, a move that has been suggested by pundits and businessmen alike, that might hurt me more than if the Ravens left Baltimore. Baltimore can survive without football. We've done it already. I'm not so sure about Buffalo.

By the way, the above paragraph is not meant to suggest that I would ever endorse or be happy with the Ravens leaving Baltimore. So pipe down and get back in your seat, OK?

Purple is a good look for you

I haven't been this excited for Baltimore football since immediately prior to the 2006 playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, and I've never once been this excited about our offense.

Joe Flacco! Cam Cameron! Countless running backs!

The past two years have been largely frustrating, and during that time I vented my frustrations on more than one occasion.

• Sometimes I've been reasonable: I've given our defensive secondary the benefit of the doubt because of the many injuries.
• Other times I've been right: I called for Billick's head two weeks before last season's nine-game losing streak started.
• Many times I've overreacted: Apologies to Terrell Suggs, Willis McGahee and Ozzie Newsome, all of whom I've blasted in the past.

Ray Lewis to sign five-year deal?

According to Pro Football Talk, Ray Lewis and the Ravens are close to a five-year contract extension. $16 million in guaranteed money is a lot for a dude who is already 33 years old, but it's a small price to pay for God's Linebacker.

Ray Ray has achieved Cal Ripken status. That means that he can do no wrong, and also that the organization can do no wrong in keeping #52 in Charm City for as long as possible.

Ray Lewis is easily one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the NFL, the inspiration for a defense that has remained on top for the better part of a decade, and unquestionably the best player in the history of the Ravens. You could make a case for Jonathan Ogden, but the encore to J.O.'s retirement is an offensive line that is playing better than it was last year. That's a pretty big hole in your case, don't you think?

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.