The State of the Ravens - 6 Questions to Ponder

As the Ravens sit at 4-3, second place in the AFC North, here are six questions to ponder at the halfway point.

1) How will the Ravens finish?

The Ravens face a difficult stretch of three straight road games, starting this Sunday in Cleveland. If they can go 2-1 against Cleveland, Houston, and the New York Giants, they will put themselves in position to contend for a playoff spot.

Facing the impressive NFC East will allow the Ravens to show what they’re made of. A 2-2 record against New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Dallas would impress and put them in contention. They also face difficult home games against Pittsburgh and Jacksonville at the end of the season.

Considering the injuries to the offensive line and secondary, 9-7 would be a realistic goal and would exceed the expectations of most people entering the season. Given the competitive balance of the AFC this season, this would allow the Ravens to contend for the playoffs, quite a feat for a team with a rookie quarterback and coming off a 5-11 season a year ago.

2) What will quarterback Joe Flacco's final statistics look like?

Flacco’s poise and confidence as a rookie has to excite Ravens fans that have yearned for a franchise quarterback since the team’s inception in 1996. His calm demeanor is exactly what you want in a starting quarterback.

As for this season, Flacco simply lacks the weapons to really take the next step, production-wise. Though Derrick Mason is as reliable as they come in the short to intermediate range, the Ravens lack a receiver that can stretch the field, especially now that Demetrius Williams is on injured-reserve.

Flacco has clearly struggled when throwing beyond 12 or 13 yards. Part of this is due to inexperience, but the receivers’ lack of separation is a major reason why. Mark Clayton is too similar to Mason and cannot beat his man consistently.

Flacco’s season stats will be somewhere in the area of 2,800 yards with 13 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

3) Will Todd Heap's role in the offense increase?

Heap is starting to see more passes being thrown his way. Due to the uncertainty at both left and right tackle, Heap has been used more as a blocker, especially earlier in the season. As Jared Gaither and Willie Anderson continue to gel with the rest of the offensive line, Heap’s blocking will not be needed quite as much. However, the injuries to Adam Terry and Marshal Yanda (injured-reserve) have depleted the line’s depth, further complicating the situation.

Heap is still trying to win over the new coaching staff. His toughness has come into question, as he missed much of training camp with a calf injury after missing most of last season with a torn hamstring.

It will be interesting to see if Cam Cameron attempts to throw a few more wrinkles into the offense, trying to get Heap more involved. If not, it will be difficult to justify keeping him around after this season, given his high salary.

4) Now that he's healthy, will Troy Smith continue to get more playing time?

The “Suggs” package has sparked much excitement in Baltimore this past week. It is refreshing to see a Ravens offense with imagination and trickery after so many years of vanilla packages and ineffectiveness.

However, let’s not print the playoff tickets yet. This is a gimmick offense. It will only remain effective in small doses. As Smith continues to play, more tape will be available to opposing teams for scouting. Smith is athletic, no doubt, but he is not as fast as a young Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick.

John Harbaugh and Cameron must also remember they have a rookie quarterback to groom. Though Flacco appears to have nerves of steel, there’s no telling what effect it could have on him if Smith is inserted into the offense more and more, especially in passing situations.

Flacco is clearly the starting quarterback and the future of the organization. Fans calling for Smith need to remember that Flacco now has seven career starts compared to Smith’s two. Smith’s edge in experience is no longer there.

Flacco needs to be given every opportunity to grow into the offense and make it “his.” Can Smith be a part of that offense? Yes, but Cameron needs to look at the long-term progress of the offense, not just this week or this season.

5) What positions will the Ravens target in the 2009 NFL Draft?

General manager Ozzie Newsome will continue to live by the mantra “best player available.” The Ravens’ history of drafting in the first round is outstanding.

Depending on how they finish, the Ravens will look to draft a good young cornerback such as Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio State or Vontae Davis from Illinois. The current tandem of Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle are on the wrong side of 30 and may not even be with the team in 2009.

If no corners are available, they will look to grab a wide receiver that can really stretch the field. Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey would be a popular choice. Heyward-Bey has good size and blinding speed. Jeremy Maclin of Missouri and Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech could also be good fits.

The Ravens could also look at defensive end, as veteran Trevor Pryce may not return in 2009.

6) Who will not be a Raven in 2009?

With the recent clash between cornerback Chris McAlister and Harbaugh, it appears the former first-round pick could be on his way out of town. McAlister’s knee is in bad shape, and his attitude is even worse. It would be hard to justify keeping a high-priced veteran cornerback with a bum knee and a bad attitude beyond this season. He is not a Harbaugh guy.

Cornerback Samari Rolle has battled injuries the past two seasons and could be a salary-cap cut. The team desperately needs to get younger at cornerback.

Inside linebacker Bart Scott will likely leave as a free agent, because the Ravens will have to sign linebackers Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis to new contracts. Scott is a product of Rex Ryan’s system and can easily be replaced by Nick Greisen or a healthy Tavares Gooden next season.

Pryce may retire or could possibly be cut to save cap room.

The Ravens will definitely look to get much younger in 2009 while maintaining Lewis and their core group of younger players.

McAlister Becoming Unnecessary Distraction

Ravens coach John Harbaugh promised to bring a hard-nosed, no-nonsense approach to a team sorely lacking discipline over Brian Billick’s final seasons in Baltimore.

The new philosophy figured to ruffle the feathers of a few veteran players accustomed to playing by their own rules during Billick’s tenure.

While most veterans appear to have bought into Harbaugh’s approach, what about cornerback Chris McAlister, the loose cannon of the Ravens’ dominating defense over the past decade?

The issue came to the forefront last Sunday when McAlister did not start and was limited to only eight plays in the Ravens’ 27-13 victory in Miami. Fourth cornerback Frank Walker started in his place.

Following the game, Harbaugh told reporters McAlister was rested due to a recurring injury, but McAlister insisted to reporters that his injured right knee was healthy. He was not listed on the injury report.

Then, earlier this week, Harbaugh began to change his story in explaining McAlister’s absence.

“It's a football decision,” Harbaugh told reporters. “We're always going to put the best 11 players on the field for that situation. That's what we did [Sunday]. We had the corners out there in those situations that we wanted to have out there.”

Though McAlister played poorly the previous week in a loss to Indianapolis, he leads the team with three interceptions. The secondary is already missing injured starters Samari Rolle and Dawan Landry, so the decision to sit McAlister after one bad game appears suspicious.

Anyone following the 1999 first round pick’s career had to wonder if McAlister was being punished. Harbaugh confirmed McAlister violated the team’s dress code policy prior to boarding the team bus before Sunday’s game but refused to confirm the violation caused the benching.

Why such a mysterious explanation when it’s clear McAlister was yanked for breaking team rules?

“You have to read between the lines,” McAlister told reporters on Wednesday. “I don't know. He said I wasn't disciplined, so I wasn't disciplined.”

For all of his accomplishments, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXV and three Pro Bowl appearances, McAlister’s conduct has been a sticking point in his 10 seasons in Baltimore.

He was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana in 2000 and was arrested for driving under the influence in 2003. The charges were dropped in both cases.

In addition to legal issues, McAlister has also faced team discipline in the past. In 2003, McAlister broke curfew and skipped a team meeting before being fined and sent home prior to a game in San Diego.

Though the former coach Billick was often criticized for manipulating the media and spinning various stories, he acted definitively in suspending McAlister for his conduct. The suspension seemed to have no harmful effect on McAlister, as he went on to earn his first trip to the Pro Bowl following the season.

Why didn’t Harbaugh do the same? If he is trying to protect his Pro Bowl cornerback’s psyche, it doesn’t seem to be working. In fact, it may be doing the opposite.

“The man [Harbaugh] said he put his best 11 [players] on the field,” McAlister said to reporters. “Obviously, he thinks Frank [Walker] is better than me.”

The rookie head coach must stand up to veterans such as McAlister, Ed Reed, and Ray Lewis to show there’s a new man in charge of leading the Ravens.

Swaying on a delicate issue like player conduct does not establish strong leadership with the veterans in the locker room. If a player breaks a team rule, discipline him, explain what happened (simply call it “conduct detrimental to the team”), and move on.

Following Billick’s model for disciplining McAlister in 2003 would have quickly defused the situation. It was a direct approach that worked with the troubled player.

So, instead of talking about the upcoming game against the Oakland Raiders, we’re wondering whether McAlister will be one of the “best 11” on Sunday.

A successful head coach needs to speak and act definitively, or he will lose his football team. Harbaugh preaches accountability and no nonsense with his players, but he needs to take his own advice in handling the McAlister situation. Don’t blame the benching on an injury or performance.

Perhaps it will eventually lead to McAlister’s departure from Baltimore, but Harbaugh needs to think about the rest of his football team. An unnecessary distraction is not what the team needs when it plays three straight games on the road following Sunday’s game in Baltimore.

This is a pivotal point in the season for both the 3-3 team and its rookie head coach. Harbaugh needs to come clean and end the debate. If not, the distraction will continue to affect McAlister and the rest of the team.

Adding another twist to the soap opera, McAlister was listed as limited in practice in Wednesday’s injury report. Maybe McAlister was injured in one of those eight plays against Miami, but critics are not buying it.

Stay tuned, as it seems there may be a few more chapters to this story.

Baltimoreans Still Feel Pain of Lost Legacy

Howard Brothers settles into his living room in Baltimore on a Sunday afternoon in the fall to watch the Baltimore Ravens play on television.

After the Baltimore defense forces another punt, the network telecast breaks to highlights of another game. The studio analyst announces Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has just broken another franchise passing record, eclipsing Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas.

Brothers, 75, gets that familiar twinge in his stomach. Not because he dislikes Manning. He actually admires the quarterback’s play.

The problem is his hero Unitas never played a down in Indianapolis.

The trouble is seeing that old horseshoe and the blue and white uniforms.

The sting is hearing the name “Colts.”

Twenty-five years after the Colts played their last home game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, these feelings continue to resonate with Brothers and many Baltimore fans over the age of 30.

“It makes me feel lousy really," he said. "[Manning] may set franchise records for Indianapolis, but not for the Baltimore Colts. That’s ridiculous. It should be a separate [history].”

Baltimore fans bristle at the notion that they should let these hard feelings go. How callous is it to tell someone to get over something that brought numerous hardened, blue-collar men to infant tears on the morning of March 28, 1984 when owner Robert Irsay and the Colts skipped town in the middle of the night?

For many, it would be like telling them to forget about the death of a family member. These are scars that will never fully heal no matter how many Super Bowl rings the Ravens may win or how many games Indianapolis might lose.

“It was a shock,” said Brothers. “Even though you knew something was coming, it was just a big shock when you lose a team that you rooted for all that time. You couldn’t believe it. They showed the moving van with the snow coming down [on TV]. It was terrible really, a terrible time to lose something like that.”

Older Baltimore fans still remember their Colts fondly, recalling how it brought the community together every Sunday. Players lived locally and worked there in the offseason. Even the demigod Unitas could be seen mowing his lawn or playing catch with the local children of his neighborhood.

Quite a difference from today’s players.

“There was nothing like the old Colts," said Brothers. "It was like a religious experience every Sunday…That’s what you lived for the whole week. ‘Come on Sunday.’ It was amazing.”

The NFL has changed dramatically since Unitas and the Colts dominated the late 1950s. In Baltimore’s 12-year NFL hiatus, from 1984-1996, the NFL introduced free agency, the salary cap, and personal seat licenses for season tickets.

Though the scars of the Colts’ departure remain, Brothers adopted the Ravens as his new team when they arrived in Baltimore in 1996. His sense of civic pride and devotion to Baltimore sports enabled him to embrace the NFL once again, though it’s not quite the same.

Many fans that experienced losing the Colts were at first hesitant to embrace the Ravens, given the circumstances surrounding their move from Cleveland. It just did not feel quite right, though Baltimore had tried to secure an expansion team when the league awarded teams to Jacksonville and Charlotte in 1993.

“I was thrilled when they came here,” said Brothers. “Of course, the way they got it was the same way that Indianapolis got the Colts. [Cleveland] griped and all, but at least they kept all the Browns’ records and everything. We didn’t get anything from Indianapolis.”

Unlike Brothers, you will not find Mirv Metzger, of Millers, Md., camped in front of the television watching football on an autumn Sunday afternoon. Metzger, 60, still considers the Baltimore Colts to be his favorite team, even though they disappeared in 1984. Metzger has never been able to adopt the Ravens as his new team, still feeling an undying sense of loyalty to the team that takes the field every Sunday only in his memories.

His disgust with the NFL and his belief that the league made Baltimore jump through hoops to secure another franchise was the final straw for him.

“The move was the biggest point, but then realizing that the state of Maryland was using my dollars to dance with the NFL, it just helped legitimize my position. [The league] broke their rules to do what they wanted and to just say to the [city] that really made this team what it was, we don’t [care]…I guess I was really just done with the NFL. The Colts name doesn’t belong in Indianapolis. If you’re going to do that to us, then I’m done with you.”

The 12-year absence of football in Baltimore has created an interesting dichotomy in the Baltimore fan base. While older fans can remember the Colts playing in Baltimore, younger fans are unsure where the history of the old Colts fit with today’s Ravens.

Though younger fans were not around to experience the glory days of the Colts and their subsequent departure, this does not prevent many dedicated younger fans from embracing their city’s rich football tradition. The younger fan’s sense of tradition and appreciation of the Colts stems from oral histories passed down by previous generations.
Michael Guss, a 26-year old Ravens fan from Wilmington, Del., embraces the history of the Colts despite only being a baby when the team left town. Not only does it allow him to connect with his Baltimore roots but also with his family.

“My grandfather had season tickets to the Colts, and I have heard many stories over the years of going to the games [at Memorial Stadium],” he said. “You definitely feel a sense of appreciation when you see old videos like the 1958 championship game.”

Guss believes serious Baltimore football fans, regardless of age, should make the effort to learn their city’s football heritage.

“It is very important because without those players and teams, the NFL would not be like it is today,” he said. “It’s harder for the [younger] fan to appreciate it all due to the disconnect created by the move. Almost a whole generation of football fans was lost by that.”

While some younger fans feel this strong connection with the past, the absence of football for 12 years created a generation gap for many younger fans that failed to have a Baltimore football upbringing. Many of these younger fans grew up rooting for other NFL teams or simply not watching professional football.

Justin Milesky, a 25-year old Ravens fan from New Freedom, Pa., acknowledges what the old Colts accomplished in Baltimore but does not feel a connection with the city’s former team. He believes the influence of family has the greatest impact on whether a younger fan will embrace the history of the Colts.

“I didn’t grow up with the strong Baltimore Colts, Baltimore sports fans in my family, so I didn’t have that appreciation drilled into me and learn the history until the past couple years,” said Milesky. “Your dad, your parents, your grandparents are the biggest influence on who you’re a fan of.”

Perhaps the most effective way for younger fans to feel a connection to the city’s rich tradition is the Baltimore Ravens.

December 28, 2008 will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1958 NFL Championship game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants. Baltimore won 23-17 in overtime, ushering in the explosion in popularity of professional football in America . The Ravens play at home against Jacksonville on that day and plan to honor the living members of the 1958 team, including Lenny Moore, Art Donovan, Gino Marchetti, and Raymond Berry.

“This city will really see that in the coming months,” said Guss. “The Ravens will do a great job like always with events like this.”

Though the name, colors, and records remain in Indianapolis, the Ravens have embraced the city’s football history, placing the Baltimore Colts’ Hall of Famers in their Ring of Honor and erecting a statue of Unitas in 2002. The rubbing of Unitas’ famous high top has quickly become a ritual for Ravens fans passing the statue as they enter M&T Bank Stadium.

Despite the Ravens' attempt in preserving Baltimore football history, one issue commonly agreed upon by the different generations of Baltimore fans is a belief that the NFL failed miserably in protecting the legacy of the Baltimore Colts. Where was the NFL in 1984 when Irsay was allowed to not only move the franchise but also take the team’s colors, name, and records? While the NFL learned from their mistake in preserving these for the city of Cleveland in 1995, how does this help heal the wounds of long-time Baltimore fans?

Does it make any sense for Unitas, Moore, and other Colts legends to be honored in the Indianapolis Colts wing of the Hall of Fame despite never playing there or having any ties to the present franchise in a different city?

“I think it’s one of the worst things associated with the move, how [Indianapolis] was able to keep the logo and records all of this time,” said Guss.

A compromise would be to separate the history of the Baltimore Colts (1953-1983) and Indianapolis Colts (1984-present) into separate displays at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Fans have been clamoring for the NFL to do this for years.

Even if the NFL can work out a satisfactory compromise for both Baltimore and Indianapolis, will Baltimore fans ever move on completely from the Colts and eventually view them just like any other NFL team? Some will, others refuse to, and some cannot move on, even if they really wanted to. It still hurts that deeply, even 25 years later.

Critics point to the fact that Baltimore has now had a second football team for 13 seasons and even won a Super Bowl title six years before the Indianapolis Colts were able to. To put it in proper perspective, the Colts have now played in Indianapolis only six fewer years than they did in Baltimore.

“As much as it has been written and opined to ‘get over it,’ it really cannot be the case for many people,” said Guss. “The people that say and write those things are not the people that lost an NFL team. While it may be okay for the younger crowd to think that, it definitely will never go away from the fans that were here in 1984, even if they had stopped going to the games years before that.”

While time and the budding love for the Ravens may continue to dull the sharp pain of the Colts leaving town, the pain in losing their football identity continues to linger in the hearts of many Baltimore football fans. Older fans lost their team, and all Baltimore fans lost a legacy that should have remained, even if the franchise did not.

Costly Mistakes Doom Ravens' Impressive Effort

The Baltimore Ravens displayed their ability to play with a top gun of the AFC on Monday night but also renewed an old habit of self-destructing at a critical point in the game.

The Ravens outplayed the Pittsburgh Steelers for most of the night, but a costly penalty and protection breakdowns in the third quarter ultimately led to a 23-20 defeat in overtime at Heinz Field on Monday night.

Santonio Holmes' 38-yard touchdown catch followed by LaMarr Woodley's 7-yard fumble return for a touchdown turned the Ravens' 13-3 lead into a 17-13 deficit in only 15 seconds during the third quarter, but rookie quarterback Joe Flacco led the Baltimore offense to a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to force the extra period.

The Ravens failed to muster any points on the opening drive of overtime before Pittsburgh kicker Josh Reed kicked the game-winning 46-yard field goal.

Despite the disappointing loss, the Ravens' impressive performance showed a national audience that their previous wins against the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns were no flukes.

Here is a final look at the Ravens' overtime loss in Pittsburgh.

The Good

Derrick Mason

Mason continues to be Flacco's main target in the passing game, accumulating 137 yards on eight receptions. The pair connected for several key first-down receptions throughout the night.

A questionable incomplete call in the first quarter wiped out a potential 15-yard touchdown. Replays showed that Mason appeared to get both feet inbounds and control the ball, but head coach John Harbaugh decided not to challenge the ruling. Matt Stover later kicked a 33-yard field goal on the drive.

Unlike past seasons, Mason is gaining more yardage after the catch, breaking tackles and even throwing an occasional stiff arm. With the lack of production from the other receivers, Mason has developed a strong chemistry with the rookie Flacco.

Sam Koch

The punter had a 47.4 average and placed two punts inside the 20, giving the Ravens the edge in field position for much of the night. Koch is getting good hang time on his punts, allowing the coverage team to get down field and neutralize the return.

His only blemish came in the third quarter when he shanked a 27-yard punt to give better field position to the Pittsburgh offense on their own 33-yard line. Pittsburgh eventually scored their first touchdown on the ensuing drive.

First-Half Defense

The defensive unit played very well for most of the night but was especially dominant in the first half. The Ravens allowed only 46 yards of total offense in the first half, as defenders were able to pressure quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the secondary provided strong coverage.

The front seven allowed very little room to run and controlled the line of scrimmage.

Corey Ivy, Terrell Suggs, and Trevor Pryce each accumulated a sack in the first half. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata intercepted a Roethlisberger pass to swing the field-position battled and lead to the Ravens' first points of the game.

Ray Lewis

Critics continue to insist that Lewis has lost a step from his best years, but any steps that he may have lost have been replaced with a higher football intellect and tremendous instincts.

Lewis was all over the field, accumulating 13 tackles to lead the Ravens' defense. He also had two key tackles on the goal line to hold Pittsburgh to a field goal in the fourth quarter and give the offense the opportunity to tie the game in the closing minutes.

At 33-years old, Lewis is still one of the best defensive players in the game and continues to lead a ferocious Baltimore defense.

Joe Flacco

Despite Flacco's two fumbles in the third quarter, the rookie refused to wilt and displayed strong composure in his first road game against the Ravens' biggest rival. Few could have expected such a strong performance by Flacco in his first road start in a hostile environment such as Heinz Field.

Many young quarterbacks would have folded in the aftermath of the disastrous third quarter, but Flacco rebounded to lead the offense to a touchdown in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to tie the game.

Flacco still needs to improve in protecting the football, as his second fumble could have been avoided by tucking the ball away.

The moves he displayed in buying time and completing a 26-yard pass to Mason in the third quarter should silence any questions about his mobility. Unlike many young quarterbacks, Flacco keeps his eyes downfield as he scrambles instead of simply tucking the ball and looking to run.

He and Mason are quickly becoming an impressive passing duo.

The Bad

Return Unit

The kick and punt return teams failed to provide any spark throughout the night. The units failed to provide any seams to spring returner Yamon Figurs. Figurs also fumbled a punt in the second quarter but was able to recover.

In overtime, a holding penalty negated Figurs' return to the Baltimore 48 and moved the offense back to their own 15. Not only did this spoil the Ravens' opening drive of the extra period, but it also allowed Pittsburgh to control the field position and win the game with a 46-yard field goal on their next drive.

With the Ravens lacking explosive playmakers on offense, the return teams need to provide more of a spark than they did against Pittsburgh. One or two big returns could have put the Ravens in better position to win the game.

Tackling

Although the defense turned in a strong overall performance, the unit needs to improve its tackling. On Holmes' touchdown reception in the third quarter, defensive backs Chris McAlister and Ed Reed missed tackles that could have prevented the receiver from scoring.

Safety Jim Leonhard, starting for the injured Dawan Landry, missed a tackle in overtime that allowed Pittsburgh to move closer for the winning field goal. Safety Tom Zbikowski and linebacker Bart Scott also missed opportunities to sack Roethlisberger.

Adam Terry

While other members of the offensive line such as Jared Gaither struggled with protection in the second half, Terry allowed a sack while lining up on the left side and allowed pressure from Woodley that led to Flacco's second fumble of the third quarter.

Terry needs to sure up his pass blocking, or the coaching staff will look to veteran Willie Anderson to take his spot at right tackle.

Deep Passing Game

Though Flacco has built a strong chemistry with Mason, the Ravens' passing offense needs more explosive downfield plays with receivers Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams. Neither receiver has been able to create much separation or make plays on deep balls.

Flacco needs to get his deep throws away much sooner and has to break the habit of throwing flat-footed on some deeper passes. His arm strength is an obvious strength, but he needs to use it more effectively.

Opposing defenses will continue to creep up to the line of scrimmage and stack more defenders in the box if the offense is unable to stretch the field.

Where is Todd Heap? The Ravens' tight end has virtually disappeared, though he stayed in to block on many max protection formations.

The Ugly

Lack of Discipline

Much like recent seasons, the Ravens continued to hurt themselves with critical extracurricular penalties after the play.

The most critical penalty came in the third quarter when linebacker Jarret Johnson shoved Hines Ward on the sideline, drawing a 15-yard penalty and pushing the struggling Steelers' offense into Ravens' territory. Three plays later, Roethlisberger connected with Holmes for the score, swinging the momentum in Pittsburgh's favor.

Penalties are part of the game and are easier to swallow when they take place during play, but the Ravens' lack of discipline continues to hurt them in big games. While Johnson is a classy player who simply lost his cool during the heat of the moment, the mistake ultimately led to the series of events that caused the Ravens to lose the lead and, ultimately, the game.

Linebacker Antwan Barnes was also flagged for a personal foul on the Steelers' first drive of the game. The penalty offset a Pittsburgh penalty that would have turned a 3rd and 3 situation into a more difficult 3rd and 8. Pittsburgh converted the play, leading to the eventual field goal.

Special teams’ standout Brendon Ayanbadejo earned an unnecessary roughness penalty, pushing a Ravens' punt return from their own 33-yard line to the 18.

Harbaugh was extremely unhappy with these penalties and will be sure to repeat the importance of discipline, both during and after the play, to his players.