Are we suprised? I mean, really? This game was a perfect reflection of the entire season: up, down, and sideways. Tom Brady hot, Tom Brady cold. I have to hand it to the Ravens; they came into our house and played physical, tough football. Smashmouth was the name of the game and it worked. They were able to take advantage of a number of gaffs and tipped balls to put this game out of reach. Our Patriots just didn't have the muscle to overcome it.
If I were Harbaugh, the game ball would go to Ray Lewis. The guy does his homework and knows the tendencies of the teams he plays. The delayed blitzes of Baltimore killed us, I mean absolutely destroyed us in the first half. When we started using a hurry up offense, it was just too late. We never unbalanced the Ravens' D. Harbaugh knew his secondary was crap so he concentrated on pressuring Brady. And it worked. Our offensive line was overwhelmed.
The one shining outcome to this entire game was Julian Edelman. He's making a serious play for a starting position, for Hoodie to consider an offense that can include both Edelman and Wes Welker. That is, if Welker comes back in 2010. If not, he'll just be better than this year.
More analysis in the coming days, but this was a bummer to see them get this far and drop it. Brady with rust, gaffs on Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis, and Wes Welker's injury were all parts of the puzzle, but the bottom line is they just didn't play liked they wanted this.
Congrats to the Baltimore Ravens with a very dominant win. They deserve to move on.