Ravens vs Bengals GDT: Let's Win One for Art

RavensTillIDie

VS

And so it Begins, Again - Week One
Baltimore Ravens (0-0) VS Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)
Date: Monday, September 10th, 2012, 7:00pm EST
Location: M&T Bank Stadium
Channel: ESPN/WJZ

Now, usually I would start this thread out with some 'lulz', as is the tradition with our forum. However, due to the recent passing of Arthur Bertram Modell, I have chosen to break with tradition and do something a bit more tasteful this go-around.

Let's begin to imagine a world without Modell, a world in which football never came back to Baltimore. What would we do on Sundays? Who would we turn to? Where would our refuge be?

For me, personally, you know what got me through 15 long, painful years of sitting through the topsy-turvy roller coaster we call the Baltimore Orioles? Knowing that no matter how bad the Orioles sucked that day, week, or year, I still had the Ravens to turn to on Sunday come the fall.

I cannot possibly imagine growing up in a town without football; without seeing the color purple adorn the bodies of male and female alike across the great city of Baltimore on the evening prior to a game. I cannot fathom a point in time in which seething hate for the black and gold didn't run through my veins. I cannot begin to envision a reality in which a poster of Brian Billick holding up the Lombardi trophy wasn't pinned to the wall of my room for the past eleven years.

But let's branch out further from our individual selves, for as a fan of a franchise, you are merely part of a much greater collective. Thus in re-examining the life of Mr. Modell, one must take into account the principle of six degrees of separation. Where would the players be without Modell? Would we even know the name Ray Lewis? What about JO? Reed? Sizzle? Stover? The list goes on and on. The point is, would any of these guys be household names without said team in Baltimore? Maybe. But thanks to Art, we will never have to find out because they already are.

Let's even look past the players. What about the front office? Does Brian Billick ever get a head coaching job outside of Minnesota? If not in Ozzie, then whom do we place our trust? Would Mike Smith or any of the other twelve former Ravens assistants currently occupying head coaching jobs either in the NFL or at the NCAA's highest level ever get said opportunity? Who truly knows. But one thing is for certain, none of them would be in the position they are currently in without the team that gave them all their first big break, and that team wouldn't exist without Art's vision.

And you could continue this trend with the trainers, the towel boys, and any number of the personnel that obtained their jobs through the Ravens' organization. You could go so far as to say this applies to Joe Shmoe who sells water bottles outside the stadium, Billy Bob who owns a store devoted entirely to Ravens' merchandise, Peggy Sue who advertises half off Sundays at her bar in Canton, or any of the thousands of business owners brought to Baltimore through our beloved franchise.

It's easy to simply say "rest in peace" and "we lost a great man today", but that is truly an understatement. Chances are, you wouldn't be registered on this FOOTBALL forum without Art; you might not even care about the game without his contributions to it. Hell, for all we know, you might have even become a soccer fan...for shame. But no, you are here, reading this gameday thread of all things. And come game day, you will once again have the pleasure of going to the venue of your choosing, whether that be your house, the bar, or the stadium itself and kicking back and enjoying another amazing season brought to you by the purple and black. But this season, when you kick your feet up, pop open a Corona and recline in your chair, remember who granted you this one day of solace a week. Remember who it was that gave you the opportunity to root for such a wonderful franchise. Remember, remember the sixth of September.

So as the Raven's march out onto the field this Monday night, heavy hearts in toll, let them bear not the weight of the world on their shoulders by themselves. Remember, Arthur in some way, shape or form, affected us all. Whether in the stadium, in Baltimore, or thousands of miles away, cheer, cheer your heart out! For every pass, every run, every tackle let the Ravens know it matters. Let Art know that he didn't just build a franchise, he built a community, a family. Let the grieving members of the Modell family see it was not they alone who lost a father, but the game of football and its entire constituency. Let the world know Art made a difference. This Monday night, let Art get one last look at his legacy from beyond the grave. This Monday night, let's show what it TRULY means to live, act, and play like a Raven! This Monday night, let's win it for the man who started it all; let's win it for Arthur Bertram Modell.

R.I.P. Mr. Modell

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johndeere1707 · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 5283

Who Dey
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ceejay · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:46 pm Post subject:

Fantastic GDT man, enjoyed every bit of it. classy as usual and very heartfelt. I am pumped for this game and I can't wait for OUR team to win this for Art!

Onto other business....

KiddKillah · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 1911 Location: Baltimore, MD

Bengals - 20
Ravens - 31
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RAY RICE

Kudos 2 Mike Matt 2011 On The Sig

johndeere1707 · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 5283

diamondbull424 · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 10016 Location: Baltimore, MD

First off RTID... FINALLY!! Laughing

Second off, wonderful post and definitely worth the wait. And speaking of wait, this game I am so ready for. Honestly I'm very interested to see how the passing attack does against the Bengals secondary... which has been a top 10 passing defense for years. And while they didn't look like they were at that level during preseason, neither did our passing defense.

I'm not expecting us to produce much of an exterior pass rush in this game either with the Bengals having two talented OTs and us having had issues with our pass rush beating guys 1on1 in the preseason. I think Ngata will have to be disruptive to really bring the defensive pressure to Andy Dalton.

There are a lot of variables in play, but I'm going to say this is more of a medium scoring affair. I'll say...

30-17, Ravens.
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Blind arrogance sows the field of it's own destruction. - Commander Greil, Fire Emblem

diamondbull424 · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 10016 Location: Baltimore, MD

Oh and Torrey Smith against the Bengals secondary, unless Leon Hall is able to return quickly to his former self, I can't see that secondary being able to contain Torrey deep. Whereas on the otherside, while AJ Green is the more unstoppable player, he'll be guarded by Lardarius Webb, a top 5 CB in this league, and it's likely that he'll receive a lot of attention from our safeties as well. So it'll be much harder for him to produce than Smith.

This head to head Torrey Smith vs. AJ Green matchup is probably just what Torrey Smith will need to really propel him forward with the national audiences. If he produces big and Smith does not, the media will probably really start to give Smith hype going forward.
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Blind arrogance sows the field of it's own destruction. - Commander Greil, Fire Emblem

drd23 · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:12 am Post subject:

I have 7 thoughts after reading that OP:

1) About time that football is really back!

2) I don't like needing for win for something - be that a recently deceased person, a player's milestone game, a retiring player etc

3) I don't think I'll ever really know what its like to have my team leave my city because sporting clubs don't move cities in Australia (we aren't big enough for there to be cities without teams)

4) While Modell made a fair few mistakes in his time involved in the NFL, I think that his overall impact was a positive one

5) Great writing RTID

6) Corona? Really? I thought you were better than that RTID Laughing

7) I think that this game will be pretty close

23-20 Ravens
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db424 on the sig!

Flaccomania · Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 16537 Location: Parkville, MD

Ravens 27
Bengals 17

Flacco: 24/33, 286 yards, 2 TDs
Smith: 6 catches, 96 yards, TD
Boldin: 7 catches, 84 yards, TD
Rice: 19 carries, 86 yards, TD; 5 catches, 43 yards

Jimmy Smith: 1 INT
Bernard Pollard: 1 FF
Upshaw: 1 sack
Ngata: 1 FF
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Why not Michael Jordan?

coordinator0 · Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 5873

HokieRaven5 · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:01 pm Post subject:

diamondbull424 · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 10016 Location: Baltimore, MD

DontTazeMeBro · Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 20501 Location: 321

So stoked it's finally almost here.

I think we get a big statement win and have everyone talking about how impressive our no huddle was Tuesday morning.

Bengals 13, Ravens 31
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FlaccoForever · Joined: 12 Jul 2011 Posts: 280

wackywabbit · Joined: 20 Dec 2009 Posts: 3842

I do really like the idea of going with the Oher-KO combination at tackle. However, I do not like the idea of Bobbie Williams as a starter. He looked like our worst lineman in preseason.