Here’s staff writer Antonio Barbera with a nice take on why the Ravens won’t let up against the 0-12 Colts at home…
“Trap game?” Not this week, as the Ravens looked poised and focused in a division win against the Cleveland Browns.
After Baltimore’s strong performance against San Francisco on Thanksgiving, many feared that the Ravens might once again fall victim to the “trap game” against an inferior Browns team. So far this season, the Ravens have twice lost to teams with losing records, first Jacksonville, 1-5 before facing Baltimore in Week 7, and then Seattle, 2-6 before facing Baltimore in Week 10. Both games came on the road, and both were following impressive victories. Baltimore had beaten Houston handily the week before falling to the Jaguars, and had won a last-minute thriller in Pittsburgh before losing to Seattle. This game seemed to be the perfect storm for another such falter, with the Ravens coming off an emotional win, being on the road, and playing a team lower in the standings. This time around, however, the Ravens were ready, and their secrets to victory weren’t complex.
One key reason the Ravens were successful on Sunday is that they were able to run the football at will. In Baltimore’s three losses this season, Ray Rice has averaged only 8.7 carries a game for 32.7 yards. Against Seattle, Rice was handed the ball a measly five times. These numbers seem impossible, considering Rice’s talents and importance to the offense. Meanwhile, in the Ravens nine victories this season, Rice has averaged 92 yards per game on 20.2 attempts. Against a weak Cleveland run defense, the Ravens played to their strengths and fed Rice 29 times for 204 yards. Rice’s first carry, a 30-yard rush on the team’s first offensive play, set the tone for how the Ravens would play against Cleveland. Even backup runner Ricky Williams carried the ball 16 times for 76 yards, part of a 290 rushing yard day for the offense. As difficult as it is to hear for some Ravens fans, this team’s identity is still based on running the football effectively and passing off of play action, which has been one of quarterback Joe Flacco’s strengths so far in his career.
On defense, the Ravens stifled the Browns already weak offense by dominating against the run.
After struggling to contain Peyton Hillis last season, the Ravens held him and the rest of the Browns to 59 yards on 17 carries. In losses to Jacksonville and Seattle, Baltimore allowed 132 and 119 total rushing yards, respectively. By stopping the run, the Ravens put the ball into quarterback Colt McCoy’s hands, which was a welcomed sight.
By stopping the run and running effectively, the Ravens were able to dominate time of possession, 37:34 to 22:26, and eventually wore down the Browns.
Some other notes from the game:
Lardarius Webb continues to make big plays. The cornerback leads the Ravens’ with four interceptions, is fourth on the team in total tackles and has two touchdowns to his name, after returning a punt 68 yards for a score against Cleveland. It is good to see that Webb has completely recovered from the ACL injury he suffered in 2009. Webb’s interceptions and tackles totals are both career highs with four games yet to play this season.
The Ravens’ defense has played well collectively in Ray Lewis’ absence. Lewis missed his third consecutive game Sunday, and the Ravens have won all three. Linebackers Jameel McClain, Dannell Ellerbie and Albert McClellan have filled the void left by the 12-time Pro Bowler. It seems likely that Lewis will miss Sunday’s game and will look to play next at San Diego on December 18th.
This weekend, the Ravens play a familiar foe under unfamiliar circumstances. The Indianapolis Colts come to town Sunday, still winless on the season (0-12). Quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who made his first start of the season last week, will lead the Colts. Orlovsky had decent success in his first start, throwing for 353 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the New England Patriots. The Ravens will have to keep that in mind as they try to maintain their goal of earning the AFC’s number one seed, and avoid yet another potential “trap game”.
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