Ravens’ Historic Playoff Run Last Year Gives Baltimore Hope for Super Bowl Push

As the 2010 NFL playoffs roll around, one team often gets hot at the right time during the postseason and, in many cases, has taken the success to a Super Bowl run.

Last season, the Baltimore Ravens faced those odds after facing quite a bit of adversity.

First off, nobody went out on a limb to say rookie quarterback Joe Flacco could make enough clutch plays on offense to put the team over the top.

To top it off, the Ravens defense was thought to have lost its luster, with many of the veterans aging fast, and could not keep up speed with the rest of the league.

But what nobody can take away from a team is its confidence, the same confidence that drove the Ravens into the playoffs and to find success in the AFC.

With a dominating defense, along with enough offensive magic, the Ravens pulled out wins over the Dolphins and the top-seeded Titans before falling short to rival Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.

Baltimore has been in this wild card position enough to not show any fear or doubt in the team. Entering the postseason as a wild card team, Baltimore rode the momentum when they captured their first Super Bowl title.

Why can’t the Ravens contend for a spot in Miami this year? Whether the fanbases around the country want to admit it, the Ravens inspire fear, not joy, in their opponent. You can’t say enough about veterans Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who have been there and done that.

The offense has continued to grow with Flacco at quarterback, especially with the emergence of Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice, who had 2,000-plus yards from scrimmage.

Though this season’s record is a step back from last year’s regular season, six of the losses have come to playoff teams, five of them by 10 points or less. Baltimore has proved they can compete with the best the league has to offer, but turnovers and penalties have cost them.

Yet no team should doubt the Ravens’ strength when they play to their potential (fewer than eight penalties a game) and can run the ball effectively like they have the past month with the three-back tandem.

Most importantly, you still need to consider the defense, which was off to a rocky start but finished in the top five in total defense once more.

As the 2010 postseason begins in Foxborough, the Baltimore Ravens realize it is a new season, a fresh start in order. The team knows the damage they can make in the playoffs and have no doubts in their mind they can take another run to the Lombardi trophy.

 

Matt Miselis is a Baltimore Ravens Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com. Feel free to shoot him an email at miselism29@hotmail.com .

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Report: Denver Broncos’ Brandon Marshall Benched For Season Finale Vs Chiefs

The Denver Broncos’ playoff hopes took a huge blow today after head coach Josh McDaniels said receiver Brandon Marshall will not play in the final game of the season.

The Denver Broncos, currently with an 8-7 record, are one of the many teams still alive for an AFC playoff birth.

Starting the season 6-0, the team has lost seven out of the last nine, and needs a win along with help from other teams to enter the postseason.

But McDaniels revealed Marshall—who is believed to have injured his hamstring during practice this week—will not line up against Kansas City, saying “several other players will play Sunday with injuries worse than Marshall’s.”

Marshall and McDaniels had their issues earlier in the season, but improved the relationship when the Broncos got off to the hot start.

With the Broncos now fighting for their playoff lives, they are now in a much tougher position, with Marshall being the most targeted player on the Broncos offense.

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Should an NFL Team Consider Making Mike Leach an Offensive Coordinator?

Moments ago, Mike Leach, former head football coach of the Texas Tech, was fired by the university amid allegations of mistreating receiver Adam James after a concussion.

With the Internet and media worlds going off via Twitter, Facebook, and other Web sites, what I can tell you for a fact is that Mike Leach won’t be a head coach next season. Though he is a hot candidate that some universities could be interested in, they would be taking on a coach who would be filled with much drama.

So as the news broke, an idea came to me: Should an NFL franchise make him an offensive coordinator?

There is nothing to hide about his ability to coach, as his offense has led the nation in passing for most of the decade.

The master of the passing game, Leach will find a job in a year or so, but would he take a job to be an offensive coordinator on the next level if a team took a chance on him?

You may think to yourself that there is no chance a team would take on an offense like Leach’s and turn it into an NFL-style playbook.

Yet, I’m sure nobody saw the Wildcat entering the NFL, and now being the copy-cat league that it is, a majority of teams use it.

Facts are facts, and the NFL has turned into a passing league, with many draft picks consisting of quarterbacks, receivers, and offensive lineman.

With the league turning into one where you need a good quarterback to win a championship, it would be interesting to see Mike Leach get some job on a NFL team and see if his master offense can work on opposing defenses.

After all, with the way the defenses have changed and with the way cornerbacks can cover wide receivers, it may not be a bad idea for a general manager to take a look at him.

It’s not like Leach isn’t well respected. Former and current players coached by Leach came to his defense right away after the allegations came out. Though his antics can sometimes make you scratch your head, the NFL is all about respect.

If you are not respected as a coach, you will have a difficult time in making your plan come into action.

However, with the reputation and the mastermind Leach is, it is quite possible that players would buy into the new offense if it can produce results on the field.

Leach built a Texas Tech program that had no identity into a rising powerhouse, especially after the defeat of rival Texas last year.

There is no doubt that Leach will be back into coaching, but there is no time frame as to how long it will take for him to be back in the college ranks.

But while he is out there on the market, it would be really interesting to see him get a shot as an NFL offensive coordinator, and possibly make his offense a new trend in the NFL for years to come.

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

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The Coaches Got It Right: Why Ray Rice Deserves His Pro Bowl Selection

As the 2010 Pro Bowl results were released last night, I was anticipating to see the list for the first time, looking to see some surprising players make it in, or some that were left out.

Most importantly, I wanted to see if the coaches and players that made up two-thirds of the voting put Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice on the roster. After all, being the biggest target on the Ravens offense has as much to do with the Ravens having their postseason chances still a possibility.

Ray Rice, Chris Johnson, and Maurice Jones-Drew were nominated for the AFC running backs. One back who feels was left out in the cold was Cincinnati Bengal Cedric Benson, who had a career year and led his team to a division crown.

There was some speculation that Rice wouldn’t get in, and would have been replaced by the likes of Benson. However, his stats alone show why he is deserving.

Through 15 games, Rice is second to Chris Johnson in all-purpose yards with 1,952, with eight total touchdowns. Rice’s play in the beginning of the year has earned himself as the most targeted player on the Ravens offense.

While on the ground, he has put up 1,269 yards, which includes 141 yards on the Pittsburgh Steelers, which snapped the streak of the longest amount of games without a 100-yard rusher.

Rice is also a vertical threat on the receiving end. He leads the Ravens in receptions with 74 and is second behind Mason in yards with 683.

Though defenses have much film on Rice’s play-making ability, he still finds a way to get in the open field and break tackles.

He may be the smallest player on the field, currently at 5’8″, 210 pounds. However, he is not affected by that at all.

Rice has proved in the 2009 season he is the Ravens most valuable player this season, making a difference in Baltimore this season.

Pro Bowl type players execute when they are needed most, and Rice has continued to do this all season long.

So before you say Ray Rice is not deserving of a Pro Bowl selection, look at his body of work this season.

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

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Report: Mike Shanahan Removes Himself from Buffalo Bills Coaching Vacancy

As the coaching vacancies across the football world continue to heat up, Mike Shanahan is the top candidate on the list.

The Washington Redskins have initiated a great deal of contact with Mike. The Dallas Cowboys could be interested if Jerry Jones lets Wade Phillips go. Also, the Chicago Bears may be interested, assuming Lovie Smith gets the boot.

These three franchises have represented the NFL for quite a long time, and that interests Shanahan.

However, the Buffalo Bills apparently don’t fit his standards.

According to a few sources, especially Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News, head coach Mike Shanahan has removed himself from consideration for the Bills job. The Bills’ front office had had multiple contacts with Shanahan since the search began last month.

The Bills will be forced to turn elsewhere, after failing to bring in Shanahan, or even Bill Cowher, who declined their offer as well.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

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Breaking News: Ben Roethlisberger Inactive Vs. Ravens With Concussion

In the disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday, Pittsburgh held their breath when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went down with a “concussion-like injury.”

The entire Steelers staff, lead by head coach Mike Tomlin, wanted to observe Roethlisberger’s progress, and would make a decision as to whether or not No. 7 would play.

Earlier this week, Roethlisberger was rumored to start against the Baltimore Ravens, their division rivals, on Sunday.

Many tests were taken throughout the week, making sure Roethlisberger could hold his own in a match up like this.

As of Friday, he was determined a game-time decision. But that did not last long, according to Fox Sports .

According to FOX.com, Roethlisberger will not play against their rival Sunday, in what could be the biggest game of the year.

Both the Steelers and Ravens are fighting for playoff spots, and with the blow already to Troy Polamalu, they are taking it safe by resting their quarterback this week.

Due to Charlie Batch requiring season-ending surgery earlier this week, former Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon will make his first career start.

The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers will square off in one of the NFL’s more heated rivalries Sunday Night.

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

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Breaking News: Terrell Suggs, Troy Polamalu To Miss a Month?

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, two bitter rivals, are fighting for playoff supremacy this year. While the Steelers currently hold a wild-card spot, the Ravens are one game out with a tough schedule ahead.

However, both teams took a major blow this week, each losing one of their stars: Troy Polamalu for the Steelers and Terrell Suggs for the Ravens.

What at first seemed like injuries that would keep the stars out for at least two weeks have changed pretty quickly. According to Sunday NFL Countdown , both stars may miss up to a month with their injuries.

Polamalu re-injured the same knee he hurt in the opener. Suggs has a minor tear in his knee after a block put on by Brady Quinn.

The Ravens-Steelers rivalry is renewed for the first time this season Sunday and, unfortunately, neither of these stars will be performing on the field.

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

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Breaking News: Darren Sharper Inactive Against St. Louis

Safety Darren Sharper has been one of the better defenders in the league this season. At the top of his game in 2009, Sharper nears the league best in interceptions, and is a key component in the Saints improved defense this season.

With a difficult run coming up in the schedule, especially against the New England Patriots, New Orleans wants to continue perfection heading into that Monday night showdown.

That could be the reason why the Saints are shutting down Sharper this week. According to Sunday Night Countdown, safety Darren Sharper is inactive against the Rams with a knee injury.

Surely the Saints can defeat the lowly St. Louis squad without Sharper, and is resting him for the stretch run into the next half of the season.

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

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Breaking News: Brian Westbrook Inactive for Game Against Dallas

Nearly two weeks ago, Brian Westbrook sustained a concussion against the Washington Redskins on Monday Night. Because of that injury, he did not play against the New York Giants, as he was not ready even a week after the injury.

Heading into the Eagles’ Sunday night showdown against Dallas, Westbrook was expected to play, according to sources within the locker room. However, those plans have changed, as the Eagles will be without their playmaker.

According to Sunday NFL Countdown, Andy Reid is cautious of Brian Westbrook’s injury, which will keep him out against the Dallas Cowboys.

The second straight game missed for Westbrook means receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin will have to be a great deal of the offense just like last week in the victory over New York.

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com.

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Miselis Edition: Week Nine NFL Predictions

Here are week nine NFL predictions, Miselis style. Note: These predictions are not based on the spread, but simply as to who will win the game.

As the NFL season hits the second Sunday in November, we have some intriguing division matchups, along with a few must win games this weekend. Before the predictions starts, here are my automatics:

Green Bay @ Tampa Bay

Washington @ Atlanta

Kansas City @ Jacksonville

Detroit @ Seattle

Carolina @ New Orleans

The predictions are now underway!

Arizona@ Chicago: 1.00 PM on FOX

One of the more crucial match ups of NFC teams, this needs to be a must win for both sides. Arizona comes into Chicago with a disappointed loss over Carolina. Six turnovers for Warner? Chicago enters Soldier Field with a win over the Browns, but is still in need of a win with the NFC playoff race getting tougher.

The Bears defense held the lowly Browns to six points last game, even with Cutler not playing to his potential. Warner will need to put his last game behind him, and enters a hostile environment in Chicago. Devin Hester will need to be Cutler’s man against a Cardinals team that is one of the best against the run. Anquan Boldin will need to have a solid game as well, in order for Fitzgerald to avoid double teams.

Final Verdict: The Cardinals are the favorite for many heading into the game, but with the game at Chicago, the Bears are a difficult team to beat on their turf.

Prediction: Chicago 24  Arizona 23

Baltimore @ Cincinnati 1.00 PM on CBS

Just about a month ago, the Cincinnati Bengals shocked the Ravens in Baltimore within the final seconds. Coming off a huge victory over no longer undefeated Denver, the Ravens head to Paul Brown Stadium to face a rested Bengals team. The defense was much improved for the Ravens, and will have to continue that success against Carson Palmer, who has been most successful against Baltimore.

Rookie Laudarius Webb was a factor through special teams, along on the defensive side against the fast Denver receivers. He will need the same impact in tomorrow’s matchup. Maybe this point means nothing, but is it interesting that the Bengals two losses have come at home against teams with winning records.

Joe Flacco is poised for a better game, as stats show he is much better on the road.

Cedric Benson, who had a field day against Baltimore in the first meeting, will have to continue the success if Cinci has a chance. Carson Palmer should have a pretty good day, but will the Ravens defense make careless mistakes in the final minutes like they did last time?

Final Verdict: Another must win game for the Ravens. They know how much a win against a tough division opponent is, and for now, they get the nod.

Prediction: Baltimore 24  Cincinnati 21

Houston @ Indianapolis 1.00 PM on CBS

A division rivalry renewed. The two best teams in the AFC South face off, with what should be a high scoring affair. Indianapolis avoids the upset against San Francisco, but has faced the injury bug this week in the secondary indefinitely, specifically Bob Sanders.

Matt Schuabb and Andre Johnson will certainly have a big connection, with the Colts secondary depleted. However, who’s to say Peyton Manning won’t be successful against a young defense like the Texans?

Dallas Clark will need to be a factor as he normally is, specifically a touchdown reception to lay the pressure off of Reggie Wayne.

Final Verdict: I really want to pick the upset here, but knowing Peyton Manning, he can overcome anything in the regular season.

Prediction: Indianapolis 28  Houston 27

Miami @ New England 1.00 PM CBS

The Dolphins come to face New England for the first time this season, coming off their win against the New York Jets. Miami was able to use the Wildcat effectively against New England, which will need to continue this time around.

Tom Brady and company come off the bye week, and had two weeks to prepare for the new improved Dolphins.

Ronnie Brown will need to bounce back after the game against the New York Jets.

The game should be within a ten-point range, yet Randy Moss and Wes Welker are facing two rookie corners. Is trouble bound to happen?

Final Verdict: With Brady being undefeated after the bye week, and the Patriots at home, I’ll give New England the advantage.

Prediction: New England 26  Miami 14

Tennessee @ San Francisco 4.15 CBS

Vince Young and the Titans head into San Francisco after winning their first game last week against Jacksonville. On the other side, the 49ers came close of pulling the upset to Indy, but did not have enough offense to do so.

The key match up to watch will be Vince Young against one of the better defenseman in the league, Patrick Willis. Young was solid in his first start last week, but he is facing a 49ers defense that held the Colts to 18 points.

The Titans are one of the worst teams against the pass, which bold well for quarterback Alex Smith.

Final Verdict: Being the disciplinarian Mike Singletary is, it will be tough for the 49ers to lose three straight games. For that, I give them the edge at home.

Prediction: San Francisco 23   Tennessee 13

San Diego @ NY Giants 4.15 on CBS

Former first round draft picks Philip Rivers and Eli Manning face off in a showdown in the Meadowlands. Both teams could use the win, especially the Giants, who have lost three straight to good teams.

Each team’s biggest weakness has been the secondary, which will aid to Rivers and Manning’s success.

The difference? The line on both sides of the ball. The Chargers offensive line has been hurt by the injury bug, and is going up against one of the best defensive lines in football. On the other end, the Giants line is one of the better cores in the league, and the Chargers defense has trouble of getting to the quarterback.

Final Verdict: The Giants will not lose their fourth straight game, especially at home. Giants get the victory

Prediction: New York 28  San Diego 20

Dallas @ Philadelphia 8.20 PM on NBC  

The clash of the top teams in the NFC East hits Sunday night football. With two convincing wins last week, the Cowboys and Eagles fight for first place supremacy.

Each team has a strength heading into the game. For the Cowboys, it shall be the defensive line, facing an Eagles offensive line that has trouble when facing great deals of pressure.

The Eagles offensive weapons get a slight edge over the Cowboys secondary, which can be vulnerable at times. The game is also taking place at Lincoln Financial Field, also in favor of the Eagles.

Final Verdict: One of the top games of the weekend, the Eagles get the victory being at home with the crowd being a great factor.

Prediction: Philadelphia 28  Dallas 23

Pittsburgh @ Denver  8.30 on ESPN

The NFL week will end with a classic match of two of the top teams in the AFC. The Broncos, coming off their first loss in Baltimore, return home to face another AFC North team: the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh will follow in the footsteps of what their rival did last week: Stop the run, and force Kyle Orton to beat them down the field. For the Broncos, receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal will need to bounce back after being shut down last week.

How shall the Broncos rebound against a Steelers offense that can be potent like the Ravens were last week?

Final Verdict: Both teams have tough schedules ahead, but the Steelers defense will do enough to hold down Denver for another week.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 27    Denver 16

 

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com. He is also a Baltimore Ravens writer for FanHuddle.com.

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