1-27-09 Broadcast
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
2000 Baltimore Ravens Retrospective
Thugs. Outcasts. Bullies. Malcontents. The 2000 Baltimore Ravens earned every label they were given, including an unlikely one -- champions.
Over the course of 20 games, the Ravens played every down with the weight of the world on their shoulders. Their arrogance belied the inferiority complex that permeated the locker room. Every week was a battle to silence the critics. Every penalty was another subject to dissect under the narrow microscope of the public eye. Every tackle was criticized for its raw violence. Every pass was dismissed as another mistake waiting to happen. The nation was on pins and needles, waiting for the Ravens to fail.
And yet, with every small failure, came a larger victory for the purple-and-black.
Based on their inability to reach the endzone, the Ravens would need to steal touchdowns in order to steal victories. Defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis' unit set single-season NFL records for fewest points and rushing yards allowed, and was one of the league leaders in takeaways.
In an offensive-minded league, the Ravens played a brand of football that was against the grain, emphasizing physicality over finesse.
Lewis entered the season having faced double-murder charges stemming from a January 2000 stabbing at a Super Bowl party in Atlanta. After lengthy proceedings that painted him a criminal in the court of public opinion, Lewis reached a plea bargain that reduced the charges to obstruction of justice.
Despite being absolved of all direct involvement, No. 52 was still Public Enemy No. 1 outside of Baltimore. In stadiums across the nation, Ray Lewis was the leader of a band of thugs.
The team rallied around its fallen leader as he delivered a dominant campaign, garnering AP Defensive Player of the Year honors as his teammates pounded opponents into submission.
An AFC Wildcard victory at home over the Denver Broncos sent the Ravens on the road to face the Tennessee Titans the following weekend. Earlier in the year, Baltimore was the first team to defeat the AFC Central champions in their new stadium, adding another layer of drama to an already-intense rivalry. Appropriately, the man most reviled in Tennessee would have the last laugh. With a late interception return for a TD that sealed the game, Ray Lewis silenced the Nashville crowd. The collective gasp of the entire nation would extend the following week, as the Ravens handily defeated the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship to advance to Super Bowl XXXV.
The Baltimore Ravens were on a collision course with the top-seeded New York Giants, continuing the immortal battle between the Unstoppable Force and the Immovable Object. The Ravens' offensive ineptitude and perceived arrogance made them supreme underdogs entering the game.
However, as they had done all season, the Ravens persevered against all odds.
The Giants were rendered ineffective on both sides of the ball, with their lone TD delivered by WR Ron Dixon on a kickoff return immediately matched by Baltimore WR Jermaine Lewis on the ensuing kickoff. The series of events, sparked by Ravens CB Duane Starks' 49-yard INT return for a TD, marked the first time that three consecutive TD returns were recorded in NFL history.
By the final whistle, the Ravens had thoroughly dismantled the Giants and permanently etched their way into the history books. With a defense that was historic in its own right, their emotional leader would again have the last laugh. With the Lombardi Trophy hoisted high above his head, Ray Lewis bulldozed his way into NFL history, becoming only the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl MVP award -- and the first on the game-winning team.
The final tally read 34-7, but the ultimate victory for the Baltimore Ravens was not reflected on the scoreboard.
Rather, the only number that mattered was one: One Super Bowl ring. One dominant defense. One team left standing. One city of Baltimore.
Over the course of 20 games, the Ravens played every down with the weight of the world on their shoulders. Their arrogance belied the inferiority complex that permeated the locker room. Every week was a battle to silence the critics. Every penalty was another subject to dissect under the narrow microscope of the public eye. Every tackle was criticized for its raw violence. Every pass was dismissed as another mistake waiting to happen. The nation was on pins and needles, waiting for the Ravens to fail.
And yet, with every small failure, came a larger victory for the purple-and-black.
THE FORMULA
The Ravens were anything but perfect. Baltimore's inconsistency on offense was well-documented, having scored no offensive touchdowns for five consecutive weeks. Ironically, head coach Brian Billick was hired for his offensive expertise in Minnesota, having helmed the Vikings' record-setting unit in 1998.Based on their inability to reach the endzone, the Ravens would need to steal touchdowns in order to steal victories. Defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis' unit set single-season NFL records for fewest points and rushing yards allowed, and was one of the league leaders in takeaways.
In an offensive-minded league, the Ravens played a brand of football that was against the grain, emphasizing physicality over finesse.
THE LEADER
In spite of their physical and mental toughness, there were trials that tested the team's will -- none greater than that of their emotional leader, Ray Lewis.Lewis entered the season having faced double-murder charges stemming from a January 2000 stabbing at a Super Bowl party in Atlanta. After lengthy proceedings that painted him a criminal in the court of public opinion, Lewis reached a plea bargain that reduced the charges to obstruction of justice.
Despite being absolved of all direct involvement, No. 52 was still Public Enemy No. 1 outside of Baltimore. In stadiums across the nation, Ray Lewis was the leader of a band of thugs.
The team rallied around its fallen leader as he delivered a dominant campaign, garnering AP Defensive Player of the Year honors as his teammates pounded opponents into submission.
THE JOURNEY
With such an unorthodox approach to the game, no one expected the Ravens to bully their way into the Super Bowl. Yet, with 7 consecutive victories after a 5-4 start to finish 12-4 in the regular season, Baltimore found a way to secure the fourth seed in the AFC, and refused to look back.An AFC Wildcard victory at home over the Denver Broncos sent the Ravens on the road to face the Tennessee Titans the following weekend. Earlier in the year, Baltimore was the first team to defeat the AFC Central champions in their new stadium, adding another layer of drama to an already-intense rivalry. Appropriately, the man most reviled in Tennessee would have the last laugh. With a late interception return for a TD that sealed the game, Ray Lewis silenced the Nashville crowd. The collective gasp of the entire nation would extend the following week, as the Ravens handily defeated the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship to advance to Super Bowl XXXV.
The Baltimore Ravens were on a collision course with the top-seeded New York Giants, continuing the immortal battle between the Unstoppable Force and the Immovable Object. The Ravens' offensive ineptitude and perceived arrogance made them supreme underdogs entering the game.
However, as they had done all season, the Ravens persevered against all odds.
THE TRIUMPH
Despite their lack of production on offense, the Ravens delivered the opening salvo with a TD strike from QB Trent Dilfer to WR Brandon Stokley. With an early 10-0 lead headed into halftime, Ray Lewis would ensure that the Ravens never lost their lead.The Giants were rendered ineffective on both sides of the ball, with their lone TD delivered by WR Ron Dixon on a kickoff return immediately matched by Baltimore WR Jermaine Lewis on the ensuing kickoff. The series of events, sparked by Ravens CB Duane Starks' 49-yard INT return for a TD, marked the first time that three consecutive TD returns were recorded in NFL history.
By the final whistle, the Ravens had thoroughly dismantled the Giants and permanently etched their way into the history books. With a defense that was historic in its own right, their emotional leader would again have the last laugh. With the Lombardi Trophy hoisted high above his head, Ray Lewis bulldozed his way into NFL history, becoming only the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl MVP award -- and the first on the game-winning team.
The final tally read 34-7, but the ultimate victory for the Baltimore Ravens was not reflected on the scoreboard.
Rather, the only number that mattered was one: One Super Bowl ring. One dominant defense. One team left standing. One city of Baltimore.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
AFC Championship Preview: Ravens-Steelers, Round III
THE JOURNEY
September 29th, 2008 -- the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers clash at Heinz Field on Monday Night Football, in rookie QB Joe Flacco's first NFL road game and national television debut. Despite an impressive showing, the Ravens would fall to the Steelers in overtime, 23-20.December 14th, 2008 -- the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers meet in a late-afternoon showdown at M&T Bank Stadium, in a battle for the AFC North divisional crown. A controversial touchdown within the final minute of the game would be the deciding score, as the Ravens would again fall to the Steelers, 13-9.
January 18th, 2009 -- the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers square off one last time at Heinz Field in the AFC Championship game, with a trip to Super Bowl XLIII at stake.
After a 5-11 campaign in 2007 that brought about a coaching change and, in effect, a cultural change, the Ravens were seemingly resigned to a rebuilding year without postseason aspirations. However, the hiring of John Harbaugh as the third head coach in franchise history would prove to be the instant catalyst for a season characterized by growth and filled with pleasant surprises.
With a brand-new team philosophy ("W.I.N. -- What's Important Now") and a unified locker room, the Baltimore Ravens completed the 2008 regular season with a 6-game turnaround, finishing at 11-5 and headed into the postseason as the sixth seed in the AFC.
Two games later, the Ravens advance to the AFC Championship, just one game away from the Super Bowl in Tampa, FL -- the site of the Ravens' first Super Bowl victory, 8 years ago. Appropriately, just as they vanquished two opponents in the playoffs whom they had previously played in the regular season, the Ravens must once again face a familiar foe -- this time, the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers, whom they had failed to defeat twice in 2008 by a mere total of 7 points.
Their two previous meetings were marked by controversial calls that directly impacted the momentum of each game; Jarret Johnson's personal foul penalty extended a Steelers drive that would result in a TD that sparked Pittsburgh's eventual comeback in the first game, while the second game's infamous TD catch by Santonio Holmes speaks volumes in itself.
THE KEY
Just as penalties played a factor in both games, so too did physicality, as both teams flexed their muscles and lived up to their hard-nosed reputations. In both meetings, neither team had a true offensive advantage as old-school defensive football was on display, as with every Ravens-Steelers game.The Ravens' and Steelers' bread-and-butter on offense has traditionally been the ground attack, and this season is no exception. However, even with a healthier Willie Parker in the Pittsburgh backfield, the stingy Ravens defense has not allowed Parker to have success against them throughout his entire career. On the other side, Baltimore's Le'Ron McClain has found a measure of success against the Steelers' stout defense this season, but will likely struggle due to the wear-and-tear of having played 17 straight weeks without a bye.
Though defense will rule the day, this rematch will be decided by turnovers, with the team committing the fewest mistakes, walking away the victor. Rookie QB Joe Flacco has been mistake-free this postseason, having yet to take a sack nor commit a turnover en route to becoming the first rookie QB to win two road playoff games in NFL history. However, the Steelers have been the bane of Flacco's existence this season, having posted his worst performance of his young career against Pittsburgh in their Week 15 matchup. Flacco will need to stay true to the team's formula for success by taking care of the ball and making smart throws. However, managing the game will not be enough against the Steelers, and Flacco will need to make plays to ultimately put points on the board that will win the game. This meeting will be the biggest test of Flacco's development as a QB, and the biggest priority will be to protect the football to ensure that his team punches their ticket to Tampa in two weeks.
Should Flacco avoid costly mistakes, the onus will be on Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger to deliver in what will likely develop into a high-pressure, clutch situation. Though Roethlisberger is masterful at keeping plays alive and thrives under pressure, he must be conscious at all times of All-Pro FS Ed Reed's location, or risk throwing an interception that will likely lead to the game-winning score.
In the biggest game of the season for both teams thus far, there is no room for error -- especially for the team that wishes to play in the biggest game of their careers in two weeks.
THE GLORY
On Sunday, two identical teams in the same division with the same goal will square off. Both teams will beat their chests and pound their counterparts into submission. With pride, glory, and an opportunity to compete for the sport's richest prize on the line, a mere whistle will not be enough to contain the seismic activity after each snap. The game will be a lesson in physics, brutality, and athleticism, as the nation will learn the limits of the human body when subjected to the human equivalent of a car crash.Every inch will count. Every second will be one more step towards the sport's biggest stage. Every tackle, every catch, every throw, every run -- every play will make history.
This Sunday's game is the football equivalent of a heavyweight title bout. This is the age-old battle between the Unstoppable Force and the Immovable Object.
For Ravens and Steelers fans, this Sunday is the real Super Bowl.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
theFRANCHISE Radio - 1/13/09 Broadcast
(Note: Spitz B's "Last Love" can be found on his Soundclick page)
1-13-09 Broadcast
Be sure to tune in next week for music by:
112
50 Cent
Jaheim
T.I.
Lupe Fiasco
Ciara
Kanye West
Kidz in the Hall
AND MORE!
theFRANCHISE Radio -- Tuesdays, 1PM-3PM, 91.3FM, WVUD-Newark: the Voice of the University of Delaware!
(Preview of next week's show coming soon!)
1-13-09 Broadcast
Be sure to tune in next week for music by:
112
50 Cent
Jaheim
T.I.
Lupe Fiasco
Ciara
Kanye West
Kidz in the Hall
AND MORE!
theFRANCHISE Radio -- Tuesdays, 1PM-3PM, 91.3FM, WVUD-Newark: the Voice of the University of Delaware!
(Preview of next week's show coming soon!)
Monday, January 12, 2009
AFC Divisional Round Recap: Ravens Reverse Titans' Fortunes
When the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans squared off, both teams were unable to manufacture points despite one team's statistical dominance over the other. In the end, costly mistakes by the home team and its starting QB and a late-quarter comeback would propel the away team to a surprising 13-10 victory.
Sound familiar?
In a rematch of their Week 5 contest, the sixth-seeded Ravens and the top-seeded Titans put on a repeat performance in the AFC Divisional Round, but with reversed roles and the opposite outcome.
This time, Kerry Collins would be the QB to make the crucial mistakes to cost his team the game, not rookie Joe Flacco. This time, the Titans offense would run roughshod over the Ravens defense, yet fail to put points on the board when necessary. This time, the Titans defense would render the Ravens offense virtually ineffective until the final quarter.
This time, the Titans would have no one to blame but themselves for the loss, rather than the Ravens.
To be fair, Collins played reasonably well, as he completed 26 of 42 passes (61.9%) for 281 yards and a QB rating of 71.6. However, his second-quarter INT thrown to former Titans CB Samari Rolle in Baltimore territory was one of several mistakes made throughout the game that marred an otherwise great team performance. The absence of C Kevin Mawae proved to be great when two snaps on crucial possessions were mishandled. Additionally, key fumbles by the Titans in the red zone took away scoring opportunities on promising drives, giving the Ravens new life.
Though the Ravens were able to control the clock in their last meeting, Baltimore's three-headed monster was nowhere to be seen this time, as Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee provided minimal gains while banged-up rookie Ray Rice was used primarily as a blocker. Instead, the Titans' dynamic duo of Chris Johnson and LenDale White would help Tennessee win the time of possession battle, but failed to be the difference-maker in spite of their numbers.
The Ravens defense limped through the majority of three quarters, yet managed to provide key stops that would give their rookie QB every opportunity to keep them in the game. The turning point came when Flacco converted a crucial 3rd-and-2 with a long completion to Todd Heap to keep the drive alive; the play was marked by a delay of game penalty that was seemingly missed by the officiating crew, as the ball appeared to have been snapped a full second after the play clock expired.
In spite of the penalty, Tennessee's defense still allowed Baltimore to advance the ball on that play as well as an additional 20 yards in the plays that followed, giving veteran Matt Stover enough range to complete a 43-yard kick that would prove to be the game-winner.
With the victory, Joe Flacco became the first rookie QB in NFL history to win two road playoff games, and the Ravens advance to the AFC Championship game to face the second-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Thus far, the Steelers have defeated the Ravens in two close games this season, both with questionable calls that directly impacted the finish. Their third meeting will prove to be epic, as the Ravens have only beaten the Steelers once in their last 8 meetings in Pittsburgh, while the Steelers are 2-4 in their last six AFC Title games.
Regardless of statistics, records, and other measurable quantities, the only numbers that will matter on Sunday is the score when the clock strikes zero. The road to Tampa goes through Pittsburgh, and both the Ravens and Steelers will relish every moment of it, from kickoff until the final gun.
Sound familiar?
In a rematch of their Week 5 contest, the sixth-seeded Ravens and the top-seeded Titans put on a repeat performance in the AFC Divisional Round, but with reversed roles and the opposite outcome.
This time, Kerry Collins would be the QB to make the crucial mistakes to cost his team the game, not rookie Joe Flacco. This time, the Titans offense would run roughshod over the Ravens defense, yet fail to put points on the board when necessary. This time, the Titans defense would render the Ravens offense virtually ineffective until the final quarter.
This time, the Titans would have no one to blame but themselves for the loss, rather than the Ravens.
To be fair, Collins played reasonably well, as he completed 26 of 42 passes (61.9%) for 281 yards and a QB rating of 71.6. However, his second-quarter INT thrown to former Titans CB Samari Rolle in Baltimore territory was one of several mistakes made throughout the game that marred an otherwise great team performance. The absence of C Kevin Mawae proved to be great when two snaps on crucial possessions were mishandled. Additionally, key fumbles by the Titans in the red zone took away scoring opportunities on promising drives, giving the Ravens new life.
Though the Ravens were able to control the clock in their last meeting, Baltimore's three-headed monster was nowhere to be seen this time, as Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee provided minimal gains while banged-up rookie Ray Rice was used primarily as a blocker. Instead, the Titans' dynamic duo of Chris Johnson and LenDale White would help Tennessee win the time of possession battle, but failed to be the difference-maker in spite of their numbers.
The Ravens defense limped through the majority of three quarters, yet managed to provide key stops that would give their rookie QB every opportunity to keep them in the game. The turning point came when Flacco converted a crucial 3rd-and-2 with a long completion to Todd Heap to keep the drive alive; the play was marked by a delay of game penalty that was seemingly missed by the officiating crew, as the ball appeared to have been snapped a full second after the play clock expired.
In spite of the penalty, Tennessee's defense still allowed Baltimore to advance the ball on that play as well as an additional 20 yards in the plays that followed, giving veteran Matt Stover enough range to complete a 43-yard kick that would prove to be the game-winner.
With the victory, Joe Flacco became the first rookie QB in NFL history to win two road playoff games, and the Ravens advance to the AFC Championship game to face the second-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Thus far, the Steelers have defeated the Ravens in two close games this season, both with questionable calls that directly impacted the finish. Their third meeting will prove to be epic, as the Ravens have only beaten the Steelers once in their last 8 meetings in Pittsburgh, while the Steelers are 2-4 in their last six AFC Title games.
Regardless of statistics, records, and other measurable quantities, the only numbers that will matter on Sunday is the score when the clock strikes zero. The road to Tampa goes through Pittsburgh, and both the Ravens and Steelers will relish every moment of it, from kickoff until the final gun.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
AFC Wild Card Round Recap: Ravens Run Wild Over the Dolphins
The sixth-seeded Baltimore Ravens entered the AFC Wild Card round screaming like a banshee, and exited much in the same way in a resounding 27-9 road victory over the third-seeded Miami Dolphins.
In a rematch of their Week 7 contest that marked the turning point for both teams, the Ravens came out on top by virtue of their victory in the turnover department; Baltimore's defense forced five turnovers, highlighted by two Ed Reed interceptions including one returned for the game's first score.
Though the Ravens' offense began on a sour note with a Le'Ron McClain fumble, the Dolphins only managed a field goal and would fail to score for much of the game. Miami's vaunted Wildcat offense was rendered ineffective by the Ravens defense for the second time this season, with RB Ronnie Brown managing only 19 yards on 12 carries as the Dolphins' leading rusher.
Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron leaned heavily on the ground attack, as QB Joe Flacco was unable to move the ball as efficiently as in recent weeks. Le'Ron McClain finished the day with 75 yards and a TD, while Willis McGahee reeled off an impressive 48-yard run en route to McClain's score. Despite completing only 9 passes on 23 throws, Flacco was masterful in his elusion of the Dolphins' pass rush, taking no sacks and also committing zero turnovers.
Although the Dolphins managed to get in the endzone on a Chad Pennington TD pass to Ronnie Brown in the final quarter, Miami's fate was seemingly sealed when kicker Dan Carpenter's PAT was blocked. On the ensuing possession, Flacco would score on a QB draw to secure the lead and the Ravens' victory.
Pennington, known for his efficiency all year, was victimized by the Ravens defense and threw 4 uncharacteristic interceptions; the Dolphins had only turned the ball over an NFL-record-low 13 times in the regular season, while the Ravens' defense led the league in interceptions with 26.
With the Dolphins' magical season over, the Ravens advance to the AFC Divisional Round and travel to Nashville to face the top-seeded Tennessee Titans in a rematch of their Week 5 meeting, which the Titans won 13-10 on a last-minute drive highlighted by a controversial roughing-the-passer call.
In a rematch of their Week 7 contest that marked the turning point for both teams, the Ravens came out on top by virtue of their victory in the turnover department; Baltimore's defense forced five turnovers, highlighted by two Ed Reed interceptions including one returned for the game's first score.
Though the Ravens' offense began on a sour note with a Le'Ron McClain fumble, the Dolphins only managed a field goal and would fail to score for much of the game. Miami's vaunted Wildcat offense was rendered ineffective by the Ravens defense for the second time this season, with RB Ronnie Brown managing only 19 yards on 12 carries as the Dolphins' leading rusher.
Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron leaned heavily on the ground attack, as QB Joe Flacco was unable to move the ball as efficiently as in recent weeks. Le'Ron McClain finished the day with 75 yards and a TD, while Willis McGahee reeled off an impressive 48-yard run en route to McClain's score. Despite completing only 9 passes on 23 throws, Flacco was masterful in his elusion of the Dolphins' pass rush, taking no sacks and also committing zero turnovers.
Although the Dolphins managed to get in the endzone on a Chad Pennington TD pass to Ronnie Brown in the final quarter, Miami's fate was seemingly sealed when kicker Dan Carpenter's PAT was blocked. On the ensuing possession, Flacco would score on a QB draw to secure the lead and the Ravens' victory.
Pennington, known for his efficiency all year, was victimized by the Ravens defense and threw 4 uncharacteristic interceptions; the Dolphins had only turned the ball over an NFL-record-low 13 times in the regular season, while the Ravens' defense led the league in interceptions with 26.
With the Dolphins' magical season over, the Ravens advance to the AFC Divisional Round and travel to Nashville to face the top-seeded Tennessee Titans in a rematch of their Week 5 meeting, which the Titans won 13-10 on a last-minute drive highlighted by a controversial roughing-the-passer call.
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