Ravens, Flacco Have Exercised The Demons

Finding a way to title this blog was easy. Ace Ventura was one of my favorite movies back in the day, and my favorite line was always Jim Carrey yelling out, "I have EXERCISED The Demons!!" Ironically, my fave line in a funny movie was fitting for a blog about my favorite team. Because that's exactly what they did.

Joe Flacco should feel damn good this week. The 2nd year QB was able to accomplish many things in his rookie season 2008. He had a winning record, a playoff berth and an AFC Championship appearance. But what he was unable to do in 2008 was beat the arch rival Pittsburgh Steelers in three chances.

But that was 2008. It's 2009.

Flacco finally found redemption against the AFC North rival buy playing a solid outing, completing over 65% of his passes. Flacco finished the night by throwing for 289 yds and a TD. Pretty impressive against a ferocious #3 defense.

Flacco didn't have the smoothest outing against the Steelers, he was sacked 5 times and fumbled during the game, but he did have his best outing against the Steelers thus far, amid an ankle injury that he's been nursing for at least half of the season.

Flacco also had HUGE help from his top offensive weapon, RB Ray Rice. Rice had a total of 155 yds from scrimmage on the night, which includes converting a HUGE 4th and 5 play in the 4th quarter, which turned into a 44 yard gain. To say that Rice has been the Ravens most lethal weapon on offense is an understatement.


Before folks feel the need to remind me, I know that Polamalu and Aaron Smith were not in the game. Or even the fact that QB Ben Roethlisberger was not playing, may have played a role. But let's be clear. A win is a win. In a hard nose division, against the Super Bowl Champs, trying to stay alive in a tight playoff hunt, was HUGE for the Ravens to come out victorious.

The Ravens and Steelers have the easiest remaining schedules going down the stretch. Both teams have nothing but space and opportunity ahead of them. While the Ravens still must travel to Pittsburgh in a rematch in 4 weeks, it's important that this team takes one game at a time.

The Ravens expect Terrell Suggs to be back before the end of the season, which will be a huge help with the pass rush. The Ravens offense also has to step up and create point against the Green Bay Packers defense, who currently ranks #2 overall. The defense must add extra pressure on QB Aaron Rodgers and make him feel uneasy in a struggling pocket. And the special teams unit must find ways to eliminate stupid penalties to negate big plays, like they did Sunday night.

The Ravens still have a long road ahead of them. But for now, taking in this win feels good.

They finally exercised the demons.