Good game-changing drive there by the Ravens. It's the Patriots who are struggling in the red zone for a change. I started out wanting the Pats to win, but after watching Belichick's ugly face on the sidelines, I just really want to see them lose at home.
I know people are down on Schaub, but you hear how the announcers were talking about abandoning the run first mentality? That's what we needed to do last week before the game got out of hand. The Pats were selling out on the run on first down and we had success on first down when we threw it. Until the Pats are forced to shift out of their gameplan, that's how you have to attack them. Kubes and Co. never really learned that lesson, at least not until we were down by 25. Ravens may be catching on quicker.
True... but we should still be better at running the ball. Ravens have better talent/size at WR and Flacco has a bigger arm... they can definitely abandon the run with more ease than the Texans can. Texans need to be as complete a team as possible... need to be able to run and pass on any given down. Teams should not be able to gameplan or sell out against any one aspect... and if they do have that ability, we aren't good enough.
It doesn't matter how good throwing the ball is on first downs. The only thing that matters is Time of possession. Time of possession. Time of possession. Signed, Kubes.
The Ravens defense is much more prepared for the hurry up than any other team that has played the Patriots... including the Texans. Its amazing how much "confidence" is playing a role in this game. Brady not confident against the Ravens, ever... but confident against the Texans always... regardless of the style of defense out there.
the ravens have been flagged on 2 questionable helmet to helmets, and the pats excused on the exact same thing. for starters.
Pollard was definitely a helmet to helmet. The hit on Pitta was below the helmet, but still caused the head to snap back. Refs are less likely to call that penalty on tight ends regardless. Pats have a terrible secondary without Talib.
all the garbage with receivers essentially being enabled to draw a 15 yard penalty by lowering their helmet into the defenders helmet is ruining the game. annoys the crap out of me...there's nothing the defender can do on 9 out of every 10 of those calls.
Not to mention that the refs are going to be more protective of the "little guy". Its why tiny college players (ahem, Manziel) now have legitimate future NFL prospects as they will be well protected. You still can't deny that defenders have been using their helmets as weapons for years... and that it needed to stop. If they got rid of helmets all-together, you would immediately see a less physical game on both sides (but you would have too many inadvertent head-injuires)
Boldin is a big reason why I wouldn't mind at all if the Ravens won. I love the way he plays. Heck of a second half so far by the Ravens.
Oh look, a QB throws the ball where only his guy can catch it...on the goal line! What is this magic trickery I see!?! -Texans fan.