Ravens @ Redskins GDT (Week 14)

[drd23]

When: Sunday, 12/9/12, 1:00 PM
Where: FedExField (85,000)
TV: CBS | WJZ
TV Crew: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Rich Gannon (analyst)

Injury Lists
Washington Redskins

Questionable LB London Fletcher (ankle); DeAngelo Hall (knee/ankle); OT Trent Williams (thigh)

Probable WR Pierre Garcon (foot); P Sav Rocca (right knee); CB Josh Wilson (shoulder)

Baltimore Ravens

Out LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle); TE Ed Dickson (knee)

Doubtful CB Jimmy Smith (abdomen)

Questionable Terrell Suggs (biceps); CB Asa Jackson (shoulder); CB Chris Johnson (thigh)

Probable CB Chykie Brown (ankle); LB Josh Bynes (thigh); SS James Ihedigbo (calf); WR Jacoby Jones (ankle); FB Vonta Leach (ankle); DE Pernell McPhee (chest); SS Bernard Pollard (chest); FS Ed Reed (shoulder)



Three Match-Ups to Watch:
1. Ravens Run D vs Redskins Run O
The Redskins boast a league leading rush offense, averaging more than 167 yards per game. Rookie RB Alfred Morris is tied for 3rd in the league in rushing yards with 1,106. He also has rushing 6 TDs. RGIII leads all QBs with 714 yards (59.5 YPG) and 6TDs on the ground himself. The Ravens defense on the other hand has somewhat struggled, giving up the 10th most yards on the ground (although only at 4.0 YPC, which is 9th best in the league). The Ravens will not only have to keep an eye out for RGIII scrambling, but play smart, consistent defense and stick to their assignments against the read-option, which they are sure to see a lot of.

2. Ravens Passing O vs Redskins Secondary
The Redskins are giving up 299 YPG through the air this season, with is 6th worst in the league. Coupled with the fact that they are struggling to generate pressure on the QB (the Redskins have generated just 21 sacks for the season, good for 27th league wide), Cam Cameron will surely be looking to exploit this by calling for a lot of deep routes and hoping that Joe can hit Torrey a few times on those long routes to capitalise on this. It will be up to Joe to change things up and not overthrow Torrey as he has done for most of the season.

3. Special Teams
The Ravens currently have the best Special Teams of all time (if you put any stock in Football Outsiders metrics) while the Redskins have been downright bad, particularly when a punter is on the field. Could we see another Punt Return TD by The Afterburner?
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db424 on the sig!

[DontTazeMeBro]

I like RG3. Don't trust him as a pocket passer. I think if we keep him in the pocket(not easy) and don't bite on that fake off the zone read we can shut him down, at least through the air.

I think we score a TD or two in the 1st quarter. Slow it down, have a string of 3 and outs. Score another TD late to take back the lead we surrendered.

Ravens 27, Redskins 24
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[diamondbull424]

The read option honestly doesn't scare me much. It would scare me much less if Suggs wasn't hurt. But Upshaw has had such great success with those "college"/gimmick plays to this point that I think any read option run to his side will be shut down... now Kruger.. well, that's another story entirely. It pains me to think we might be seeing him out there on running downs again, you just have to hope his recent play will see him having the confidence to get constant penetration into the backfield and stop plays because his ability to contain the edge just isn't there.

With our offense, I think we see Flacco have his biggest away performance of the year. I think he and our receivers are in sync and they go out of their way to destroy the Redskins offense (prediction below). More importantly however, I think Cam Cameron does a better job of trusting in our running game more... meaning, running the football when we're in those 3rd and 3 (or less) situations more than he did last game. I still expect to see a similar carry% breakdown for Rice/Pierce.. and I don't think that should change.

For some reason, I think Ed Reed gets an interception in this one... like Flacco going off, I sort of have that feeling that Reed gets a pick as well.

I think RG3 has success passing the ball and running it, but running it from the pocket (not read option). Redskins should move the chains for plenty of yards. I doubt we stop Morris completely... but Terrence Cody has been simply dominant inside for the last couple games. Perhaps this is because of Suggs impact or not, but we'll see. Peas has also been doing a much better job of stopping the run inside lately- again, this could be because Suggs was so good at keeping the outside contain (along with Upshaw/McClellan), so again, we'll see. I love the Redskins right here. They're a nice test for us to see just how good we are with our earlier season flaws. They bring much of what I'm unsure about with this team to the forefront with their strengths.

Anyways, my prediction for the QBs:
RG3
23/32, 315 p-yds, 45 r-yds, 1 p-TD, 1 r-TD

Joe Flacco
28/41, 407 p-yds, 4 TDs

I also think we see a special teams touchdown in this one. Be it by Sam Koch, Justin Tucker, or the Afterburner.

Oh.. and with the game tied, RG3 drives the Skins' down the field for a field goal.. leaving only 1:34 left in the game. Ravens have are left with only 1 TO remaining. Flacco drives us 84 yds for the game winning TD.

Final score
Ravens: 41-37

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[turtle28]

Should be a fun game. It's nice that the redskins finally have reason to believe we can compete with the Ravens. I haven't felt that way since 05 and we played you guys at fed ex. You won but it was good competitive game.

I can't wait for this game!
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mike23md

[ravens_rool28]

Ravens 27
Skins 24

I can see Reed trolling RG3 into at least 1 pick, maybe 2. I think Bonecrsher gets a sack, and a few nice ball-jarring hits on the WSH pass catchers. If we can keep their run game from gashing us, we should be able to take this but that's a pretty big "if" imo.

Should be a good game either way, and I could see it going either way. If we do win though, I hope it's ugly as hell so the haters can continue hate.

NFL GEN after an ugly Ravens win..


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[diamondbull424]

[BaltimoreTerp]

Even if we win, I just know I'm going to have serious RG3 envy at the end of this.
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"The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.”

[DontTazeMeBro]

Anyone else just crack up at Gameday Morning trying to figure out how we are 9-3? I love this team so much.
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[daboyle250]

Redskins gets some breathing room, as this is a blow to their defense.

[JROD82891]

[sp6488]

[coordinator0]

[SnA ExclusiVe]

I'll see you guys after the game Not going to be posting in here today during the game so I'll post my thoughts afterwards!

Hopefully we win.
No Suggs = No pass rush.
No pass rush = RGIII having all damn day to throw against a defense known for blown coverages.
RGIII having all damn day to throw against a defense known for blowing coverages = I'm a saaaaaaaaad panda
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[sp6488]

RE: Upshaw

One of his biggest strengths this season has been his gap discipline and his ability to "stay home" on numerous reverses, end-arounds, roll outs or other plays where flow is reversed. Much has been made of RGIII and the skins being able to take advantage of JPP who is clearly a better player than UPshaw. That being said, JPP's biggest weakness is still that he is raw and his technique can be undisciplined, relying on his elite physical tools. HE is the exact type of player who can be exposed by the zone read or option pitch. Forcing him to crash the play early and get out of position shouldn't work nearly as well against upshaw from what I've seen this season.
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[SnA ExclusiVe]