Open Thread - Bengals @ Ravens (Game #1)

WHO-DEY!!!

What’s the illness? Didn’t see it mentioned on Baltimore Beatdown.

ESPN’s John Clayton reports that McGahee will play today.

Richard Skinner examines his best season opening games

Chick Ludwig writes how the Bengals often struggle against young QBs.

Pragmatic talks a little smack!

Stripe Hype examines today’s game, much more broken down than I could ever do.

The inactives, not including the three already listed as out on the injury report, are Corey Lynch, Frank Davis and Jason Shirley.

The reason the Bengals de-activated Lynch is because the Bengals wanted to be bigger up front. Not sure about Shirley.

Frostee Rucker will start ahead of Antwan Odom.

Curnutte’s Blog

Bengals.com

Writes Curnutte at the bottom of this post.

Arkansas State 83, Texas Southern 10

The media finally criticized the Cowboys for their long history of “unsavory” signings. They even carted out Emmitt Smith (with his beard nicely dyed by Just for Men) to defend his former organization while Troy Aikman said the signing of Pacman Jones was an embarrassment. Of course, ESPN could not get through a report on criminality in the NFL without mentioning the Cincinnati Bengals (ignoring the recent spate of arrests by the Chargers and Jaguars organizations).

For a moment I thought ESPN was doing some real journalism…

The list of Baltimore inactives, via James Walker’s blog

QB Troy Smith
DT Kelly Gregg
LB Tavares Gooden
CB Evan Oglesby
OT Oniel Cousins
OG David Hale
WR Marcus Smith
OT Willie Anderson

Again, via James Walker’s blog

Despite heavy rains in the area Saturday due to Tropical Storm Hanna, the field conditions at M&T Bank Stadium are ideal this morning. The skies are clear with expected temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s by game time, while the storm will affect cities more to the northeast today.

While he didn’t put Lewis on the hot seat, he says of Lewis:

“I’m not going put on this list, but I think he’d be devastated if he’s not fired, because wearing those Bengals stripes, is kind of like wearing prison, coaching gear.”

Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon.

No reason explained, though.

Bengals – Black jerseys, white pants
Ravens – White jerseys, black pants

Bengals choose tails, the coin flip is tails and the Bengals DEFER! Bengals will kickoff, then receive in the second half.

Certain “issues remain to be resolved”, forces him to wear “Johnson”.

Handoff to Ray Rice on the left, scoots across the turf for about 4-5 yards.

Flacco has empty backfield, drops short, and hits Heap. HE FUMBLES AND THE BENGALS HAVE THE BALL!!

Got the helmet on the ball.

Perry gets the hand off, hit at the line of scrimmage. No gain.

Palmer, with off-set I, drops back, and pressured. He scrambles to his left, then gets sacked. The guy Levi Jones was blocking, got to Palmer on the final drop back step.

I thought the Bengals were supposed to be a professional team. This does not bode well at all.

I think the OL gave him enough time to throw it awayt

Palmer in shotgun, with Reggie Kelly and Kenny Watson flanking him. Palmer is pressured immediately, has to move up in the pocket, falls down and gets sacked.

There was just too many Ravens defender blitzing for the protection scheme to account for it.

Get rid of the ball, idiot.

Go for the Safety?

Man, Palmer and the Bengals play calling (Bratkowski) need to:

1) Recognize the blitz
2) Call quicker passing routes to get rid of the ball quicker.

So it wasn’t the one.

Handoff to McClain… gains four yards.

Two missed tackles, one in the backfield, one at the line of scrimmage.

Once again, the BEngals can’t tackle

Flacco drops back into the endzone, rolls out right, passes to Derrick Mason and a nice hit on Joseph coughs the ball up. Incomplete.

Flacco drops back, fakes the throw and hands off to Ric, missed tackle by Dexter Jackson at the line of scrimmage. This allows Rice to turn the corner and nearly pick up the first down. Nice stiff arm by Rice. Ravens punt.

Make the tackle. A rookie just straight armed that hard?

After a beautiful 39 yard punt.

Hand off to Chris Perry (I wrote that before the play happened), goes to the right side, breaks out of an ankle tackle and gains 3-4 yards.

Had he cut to his left rather than his right, that would have been a big gain.

Palmer hands off to Perry, in I formation, on the right side (good line blocking), picks up about five yards.

Off-sides call gives the Bengals five yards and a new second down.

Handoff to Perry, off Eric G. and Williams, good blocking again at the line, picks up a 1.9 yards.

Punch it up the guy.

Palmer sneaks, picks up the first down.

Palmer, in single formation, three WRs, Coats goes into motion and into the backfield.

Palmer was pressured and forced to roll out right. Picks up 5-6 yards out of bounds.

Perry lone set back, Palmer drops back and throws to the right to Utecht and HURDLES the defender. LOL!! First down baby.

Perry lone back, double tight end, gets the hand off. Runs to the right, GREAT OPEN HOLE, Bobbie Williams pulled and nailed Bart Scott. Perry picks up nine yards. Accelerated through the line.

Perry gets the handoff, trips over Coats and loses about two yards. Coats got SMASHED by Ravens LB (suggs) and Perry bounced off Coats and falls down.

That was bad.

Shotgun in four WR set, Palmer looks over the middle and the ball is intercepted. The ball was batted into the air, double covered and Ed Reed forced the deflection and McAlister takes the interception.

A little rusty, perhaps?

Poor decisions. Bad execution. When playing a Division Opponent on the road, a veteran offense has to capitalize on its opportunities.

When they are blitzing Palmer and the O-line, they are coming REALLY hard into the protection. And the blockers are forced to backup where the rushers on the ends are simply speed rushing the corners.

Flacco drops back, throws to the right and hits Mason for a good 12-13 yards. JJ covering, with a lot of separation.

Flacco drops back, and pressured by Geathers to force the throw, and throws poorly to McClain. Rivers was covering, but beat badly.

Flacco, in shotgun, throws the ball over the middle to Mason, JJ covering deep and Dhani covering underneath. First down.

Hand off to Rice, Dhani made the stop but Peko was BLOWN UP five yards deep before coming across to assist on the tackle. Only four yard pickup.

Bengals blitz. Flacco hits Clayton on a quick comeback route for five yards. Flacco sneaks and might not have picked up the first down.

What genius decided to give Baltimore’s shitty WR a ten yard cushion?

Double reverse. Touchdown Ravens.

That should never happen in a professional game. Like a wraparound goal in hockey, some things should never work at the professional level.

Palmer has been sacked more times than completions.
Palmer, 1/2 for eight yards and an INT.
Two sacks.

No one in the backfield, Perry takes reception, and picks up about 5-6 yards. I like those play calls with Perry.

Kelly at fullback, hand off to Perry up the middle, misreads Whitworth’s block and Perry runs into the man Whitworth is blocking.

Palmer in shotgun, with two guys flanking him, Palmer throws to Perry who was being held by Lewis. Palmer was falling backwards making the throw.

Levi Jones was too deep, penalty for only six men on the LOS.

Nice kick goes 52 yards.

Rice runs off the left side, Peko about four yards back, makes the hit (with Thornton) for a four yard gain. If the DT makes the tackle, it should NEVER be for a four yard gain.

Palmer: 2/4 13 yards, INT
Perry: 6 rushes, 15 yards (1 reception, five yards)
Utecht: 1 reception, eight yards.

Flacco: 4/6, 33 yards
Rice: 4 rushes, 17 yards
Mason: 2 receptions, 23 yards

As a team:

Ravens beating Bengals in total yards: 100-24
Bengals have only two first downs compared to four for the Ravens.

(after false start)
Bengals have five on the LOS, and Antwan Odom runs around the o-line, sprints to the RB from a mile away and allows only a two-yard pick up.

Flacco, in shotgun, gets pressure from Odom, forcing Flacco to throw the ball over Clayton. Who would have picked up the first down.

Defense is all right. Playing solid.

After three possessions that go punt (three-and-out), interception, and punt (three and out), Palmer is under massive pressure and throws the ball away.

Note, the pressure was a defensive end over Reggie Kelly. That’s a mismatch no matter what.

Perry finds a hole over the right side of the line — BOBBIE WILLIAMS OWNS — picks up eight yards.

Palmer, under center w/ single back, hands off Perry who gets blown up. Bart Scott dropped him about 2 yards before the LOS. Perry designed to run to the left, pushed our line backwards (mostly Jones and Whitworth). Perry forced to cut back and no one blocks Scott.

Try the 2 minute offense!

DEEP pass to Clayton. He had a step on JJ, but JJ came back to swat the pass. GREAT play by JJ. No pressure on the QB.

This is a terrible, embarassing start to the season.

Michael Turner has rushed nine times for 135 yards and two scores.

Rice gets the handoff, Bengals defense at the POA (point of attack) can’t get off the blocks. Five yards.

Flacco in shotgun, drops and pressured and hits Rice… Dhani Jones beat to holy hell in speed by Rice. He just drops the pass.

Brings back a good Chatman punt return.

Coats at FB, Perry gets the hand offover the middle. No gain.

Palmer, with double TE set, hands off to Perry on the left side. Guy that Reggie Kelly is blocking sheds off the block and limits Perry’s gain to two yards.

Palmer in shotgun. Under pressure, MISSES Antonio Chatman, who had two steps on the defender and could have scored! Palmer was hit on the pass.

After a four-yard Rice rush, Geathers jumps the snap at the hard count.

Flacco, under center, hands off to McClain and the center of our defensive line is pushed backwards. Ravens, first down.

Play action, and over throws the FB in the flats. Peko broke free and brought down Flacco forcing him to throw poorly.

Flacco drops back, Bengals brought three blitzers, and the pass is poorly thrown again to Heap. Incomplete.

Flacco in shotgun, lofts a pass to the left, throwing a step out of bounds. Hall suffocated the receiver. MISSED FG.

Palmer’s passer rating is 2.8

With plenty of time, Palmer drops back and throws to Reggie Kelly who is falling down. Incomplete.

Palmer, hands off to Perry who is blown up. Stacy Andrews whiffed on the block on Suggs and ran after him. Lost three yards.

Palmer in shotgun, with plenty of time, dumps the pass to T.J. who is running a route five yards beyond the LOS (and 13 yards before the first down marker) and picks up seven yards. Bengals punt.

Punt (three and out)
Interception
Punt (three and out)
Punt (three and out)
Punt (three and out)
Punt (three and out)

Jonathan Fanene, takes a better first step, sheds off the tackle, and drops Rice for a two yard loss. Nice play.

Flacco, play action, hits Rice and falls down. Wide open, picks up eight yards.

Flacco in shotgun, and throws to Mason and JJ dives swatting the pass down. WOW.

This is how the Bengals defense has done on the Ravens offense.

Fumble
Punt (three and out)
Touchdown (double reverse)
Punt (three and out)
Punt (three and out)
Missed FG
Punt (three and out)

and that doesn’t mean a fumble on the 2nd play either

Palmer hands off to Perry on the left. Coats picked up a run blitz allowing Perry to turn the corner. Picks up three yards.

Palmer drops back, under pressure, throws over the middle, and hits Reggie Kelly for a FIRST DOWN!!!!

Palmer hands off to Perry, runs to the left side, fumbles the ball and the Ravens will recover. Tons of flags on the field.

Rice gets the handoff, and JJ trips Rice for four yards. Flag against John Thornton for face mask (only 15 yarders anymore).

Flacco hands off to Rice, who forces a miss tackle and much of the Bengals defense is blocked to the will of the Baltimore offense. Ten yard gain.

Can we cut him at halftime?

Went for a one-yard loss.

And as a Bengals fan, I’ve seen some atrocious teams. No focus. Poor execution. Veteran playing like rookies making a rookie look like a veteran. This is awful.

Rice gets the pitch to the left, picks up a few bones.

Flacco hands off to Rice on the left, stretches out to the sidelines, and makes his way to the three yard line. Another decent stiff arm.

I feel like Justin Smith still plays for our D.

Flacco throws into the endzone, and Dhani Jones tips the pass intended for Heap, forcing the incomplete.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

While the Bengals offense goes three and out a billion times, the Ravens’ offense has been on the field a lot. Coverage is decent and guys are making plays on the ball. Not saying they are great, but the Bengals defense is keeping the Bengals from being blown out. Have to give them credit for that much.

Palmer drops to pass, and throws way over Chatman’s head. McAlister pushed Chatman.

Palmer’s technique is bad. He’s doing that scissor-like thing with his legs when he throws.

Hand off to Watson, to the right, good blocking and picks up six.

Averaging 2.2 yards per carry

Palmer drops back, and forced to throw immediately with two unblocked Ravens blitzers on his ass, like right now. Palmer just throws the ball away.

Palmer sacked twice, hurried eight times, knocked down five times.

Palmer, with plenty of protection (aka, Ravens not blitzing), hits T.J. for 13 yards.

After spiking the ball, Palmer dumps the ball to Watson, for about three yards. Palmer was being pulled down — more mad pressure — when he fired and completed the pass.

Bengals are 1/7 on third downs.

Palmer, after play action, hits Utecht running a route at the LOS (why in the hell do you run that ROUTE?!!!), picking up only two yards.

Bengals forced to FG attempt.

That is a Pop Warner football type call. Pathetic.

Palmer: 7/14, 53 yards, INT
Perry: 13 rushes, 29 yards.
Watson: 1 rush, six yards

T.J.: 2 receptions, 20 yards
Kelly: 1 catch, 15 yards
Utecht: 2 rec., 10 yards

Flacco: 6/16, 45 yards
Rice: 10 rushes, 41 yards (2 receptions, 12 yards)
McClain: 4 rushes, 17 yards
Mason: 2 receptions, 23 yards
Clayton: 1 rec., 5 yards

Bengals Offense
Punt (three and out)
Interception
Punt (three and out)
Punt (three and out)
Punt (three and out)
Punt (three and out)
Fumble
Field Goal

Ravens Offense
Fumble
Punt (three and out)
Touchdown (trick play)
Punt (three and out)
Punt (three and out)
Missed FG
Punt (three and out)
Field Goal

Total Yards: Ravens 146 yards, Bengals 84 yards
Rushing: Ravens 101 yards, Bengals 41 yards
Passing: Ravens 45 yards, Bengals 43 yards
Third Downs: Ravens 2/8, Bengals 1/8
First downs: Ravens 7, Bengals 6

With a 63-yard TD punt return by Parrish.

Big Ben… 10/11, 113 yards and a TD

McNabb is 16/24, 297 yards and 3 TDs in the first half.

After being down 21-0 against the Falcons, Lions are making a come back behind Kitna, who is 18/24, 208 yards and a TD.

Palmer, in I formation and 3 WRs, hands off to Perry running to the right side. He stutters a bit in the backfield and then picks up three yards. Eric G., owned.

Reggie Kelly at FB, Perry gets the hand off up the middle. Suggs drops Perry at the LOS. Suggs, comes off the edge, doesn’t get blocked, and meets Perry at the LOS.

Palmer in shotgun, hits Utecht and picks up the first down after a good 10 yards pick up and then DROPS the ball. DROPS IT. Ravens return it a mile.

Since it’s an incomplete pass, it goes back to fourth down.

Bengals have just conducted their sixth three-and-out of the game.

Larson, player of the game. :)

Play action, holds onoto the ball because there’s not much pressure, while Robert Geathers is covering in the flats (zone), hits McClain for 11 yards.

In perfect position to make a play and Geathers whiffs. AWFUL.

Play clock expiring.

Flacco, on play action, hits Rice over the middle and picks up seven yards.

Bengals defense is dropping back into deep zone coverages, barely blitzing, definitely not pressuring the QB.

Flacco hands off to Rice, Peko thrown onto his back, and nearly picks up the first.

I formation, Flacco pitches to Rice on the right side, Dexter Jackson in position to make the stop before picking up the first, falls down after Rice makes him miss and picks up the first down.

Way to be agressive shlomo!

Rice, up the middle, picks up four yards. Every Bengals defender on the front seven is covered and blocked. (sigh)

I broke key on my keyboard…

Flacco in shotgun, throws to the left and hits Mason running a 10-yard out. Castille covering.. poorly.

the backs were going to hit the WRs in the first 5 yards, i’m not seeing them touched

This is so frustrating to watch. Finally the Bengals force a third and long and they can’t get off the field.

Handoff to Rice, dropped by the new guy Harris. He was blocked, shed off the block and dropped after a one-yard gain.

Flacco drops back and tries to hit WR on a quick slant. Leon Hall makes a GREAT play by wrapping around the receiver and forces the incomplete.

Baltimore fans booing a good play. Typical.

Flacco in shotgun, and forced to throw the ball immediately after AWESOME pressure. Brandon Johnson, on Heap, knocks the pass away.

He wasn’t blocked and Flacco was forced to throw.

Tie this baby up and see if Flacco can handle a bit of pressure.

Is amazingly equal up to this point 20 min and change to 19 min and change.

Palmer rolls out right, on play action, and throws the ball out of bounds not near a soul.