Nearly Impossible to Pick the RAVENS PLAYER OF THE GAME

by Borat
Before yesterday, JOE FLACCO was 2-6 against the Steelers — 0-6 when Ben Roethlisberger has played and 0-2 in the playoffs — with a 53 percent completion rate, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. Against all other teams, his W/L record is 34-13 — 4-1 in the playoffs — with a 65 percent completion rate, and he has twice as many touchdowns as interceptions, 54-27. Also he had lost five fumbles against the Steelers in 8 games, and only five total against everyone else in 47 games. Yesterday Flacco passed for 224 yards including 3 TDs was sacked only once and did not fumble. His Passer rating was 117.6.

ED REED has ten INTs in his past 11 regular season games. He has 13 multi-interception games in his career including one in the playoffs. Yesterday he intercepted Roethlisberger twice inside the Steelers Redzone (The 1 and 5 Yard lines) halting two long Pittsburgh drives.

In the past 51 games only one man has gained more than 100 yards rushing against the Steelers. That player is RAY RICE who has done it twice. Ray Rice has only had eight games in his 56 game career in which he rushed for 100 yards and two of them have been against one the stingiest run defenses in league history. Yesterday he carried the ball 19 times for 107 yards including a TD and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. He had 23 touches including his four pass receptions totaling 149 yards from scrimmage averaging 6.5 yards from scrimmage and scoring 2 TDs.

TERRELL SUGGS had 3 sacks yesterday and now has 12.5 sacks against the Steelers QBs since 2008. He also forced a fumble recovered by Haloti Ngata which led to the Ravens 2nd TD putting them ahead 14 to 0. He later forced another Roethlisberger fumble in the 4th quarter at the Steeler’s 9 yard line leading to a 30 yard FG and the Ravens final points. For dramatic justice, Suggs ended the game with his 3rd sack of Roethlisberger for a 7 yard loss.

RAY LEWIS intercepted his 31st regular season career interception yesterday. He is the only player in NFL history with at least 35 Sacks and 30 Interceptions. He also had 7 tackles including one for a loss and forced a 4th quarter fumble.

HALOTI NGATA had only 2 Primary Tackles yesterday but one of those was for a loss (Rashard Mendenhall) and a forced fumble which he recovered at Pittsburgh’s 18 yard line. On the next play Flacco completed an 18 yard TD pass to Ed Dickson giving the Ravens a commanding lead of 29 to 7. On the very next scrimmage play he deflected the pass which led to the Ray Lewis interception. He also recovered another fumble forced by Terrell Suggs in Steelers territory leading to the Ravens second TD.

Strong Consideration should be given to the entire OFFENSIVE LINE. It is often said that the team that wins First Down – wins the game. Yesterday the Ravens averaged 15.4 yards on eleven 1st Down Plays. They gained 120 yards on 9 First Down Rushes (13.3 YPC) and 49 yards on 2 Pass Plays (24.5 YPPlay) in the first half.