The Ravens can't complain anymore about not having a bye because they received one yesterday against the Oakland Raiders.
Didn't the Raiders look like a team out of NFL Europe? To the Ravens' credit, they did exactly what they're supposed to do against bad teams. They kicked the Raiders around physically, and sent them back home.
It's hard to evaluate the Ravens' performance because everything starts with this qualifier: it was against the Raiders. Oakland has no offensive line. The Raiders' coverage units on special teams were pathetic and their defense tried to play man-to-man in the secondary with no pass rush.
Just how bad were the Raiders?
They had minus-2 yards of offense after the first quarter. Johnnie Higgins took a kickoff, and ran straight out of bounds at the 2-yard line. On Demetrius Williams' 70-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco could have also thrown tight end Todd Heap, who was as wide open on the right sideline as Williams was on the left. Every time a West Coast team plays poorly on the East Coast, someone suggest that the NFL change the starting time from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. because of the time difference.
But there is no excuse for the Raiders. They'd stink up the field anywhere in the world at any time.
Suggs or Cam?
Here's a vote for Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs to become the Ravens new offensive coordinator.
Earlier in the week, he said he thought backup quarterback Troy Smith belonged out on the field in certain packages, and the Ravens got him out there with Smith playing quarterback and receiver, and delivering big plays off an option play and a halfback pass.
"We call it the Suggs' package," said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, laughing
Suggs became a distraction this week with comments about putting a bounty on Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward. He drew the wrath of league commissioner Roger Goodell, who personally contacted the Ravens.
But Suggs delivered against the Raiders with five tackles including one sack and several quarterback hurries. .
Wasted play
Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron kept the Raiders off balance with several trick plays, different formations and a lot of motion. But his one bad mistake came with with Smith throwing to Flacco for a 43-yard reception late in the third quarter.
Great call, but why waste that play on the Raiders with the Ravens ahead, 19-3? Shouldn't Cameron have saved that play for later in the season against a Dallas or Philadelphia?
