Season Opener: Bengals @ Ravens (9/7/08)

[miller31time]

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Gametime - Sunday, September 7th / 1:00pm (EST)

TV Outlet - CBS/WJZ-TV / Direct TV channel 704


Location - M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore (MD)

Injury Report

DT Kelly Gregg (knee)
QB Troy Smith (illness)
QB Kyle Boller (shoulder - out for season)

Injury Report

FB Jeremi Johnson (knee)
S Chinedum Ndukwe (knee)
DT Pat Sims (toe)

Weather Report



Wind: WNW 13 mph
Max. Humidity: 61%
UV Index: 8 Very High
Sunrise: 6:41 AM ET
Avg. High: 84°F
Record High: 98°F (1998)

Link

Information for Game 1

John Harbaugh’s 1st regular season game as the Ravens’ new head coach will be against AFC North rival Cincinnati. But, if Coach Harbaugh, who is the 3rd head coach (Ted Marchibroda and Brian Billick) in franchise history, has his way, the focus will not be on him. “It’s not about me. Please don’t make it about me. It’s about the team, the Ravens,” Harbaugh said.

No team in the NFL had a farther drop than the Ravens did in 2007 when they finished 5-11 after winning the AFC North by 5 games in 2006 with a 13-3 record. Among the 11 losses a year ago were 2 to Cincinnati, which completed a 7-9 campaign. In 2007, the Bengals won, 27-20, in the Monday night (9/10) opener. Baltimore dropped a 21-7 contest to the Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on 11/10. That was the 3rd defeat during a 9-game losing streak for the ’07 Ravens. The Bengals have dominated the recent series with the Ravens, winning 6 of the last 7 games played between these 2 teams. The last Ravens’ victory (26-20) came in Baltimore on 11/5/06. Cincinnati is coached by former Ravens defensive coordinator(1996-2001) Marvin Lewis, who is starting his 6th season as the Bengals’ boss.

Link

[jerrod]

TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!

[UTMCretin]

10-3 Baltimore at the half. Chris McAllister is dominating so far.

[miller31time]

I don't think Flacco could do much more than what he has already to impress me.

Coming into this game, here was my grading scale...

A = 1+ touchdowns, no turnovers, completely controlling the tempo of the game

B = no turnovers, control the tempo of the game

C = 1 turnover, still controlling the tempo of the game

D = 2 turnovers, not controlling the game very well

F = completely losing control of the game with multiple turnovers

For a rookie starting his first ever NFL game day 1, you don't come in with high expectations. In fact, my expectation was a "D" grade.

Now, we still have a quarter+ left, but this has been a very pleasant surprise so far.

(And Ray Rice = awesome)

[miller31time]

FLACCOOOOOOOO with the RUNNNNNNNNN

[UTMCretin]

That whole rushing TD thing was nice too.

[Nowak008]

How does our offense always manage to score for the other team?

[UTMCretin]

Joe Flacco > Carson Palmer

no homer

[jerrod]

awesome

i hate to say that i didn't expect us to win

but i didn't

[miller31time]

^^^ I think we'd all be liars if we said we didn't think the same.

Some things I really liked from what I saw today...

1. Our defense was not only good. It was great. Creating turnovers. Constantly active. Big stops. Reminiscent of our super bowl defense.

2. The offensive line did a tremendous job. For a bunch of young, inexperienced players, they played like aged veterans. Flacco got plenty of time to make the necessary decisions thanks to our O line.

3. Rolle and McAlister seem to be back. Sumari looked awesome. Chris did an overall good job, despite the two interference calls (one being bull).

On an unrelated note, Heap looked lost, and he should have had at least 3 or 4 more catches than he actually caught. Butterfingers today from Mr. Heap. I hope that injury isn't serious, though.

[UrbanLegendMD]

Rolle looked awesome? Now that is science fiction. Could not see the game, but I am really happy. That defense made Cincy O look like ours.