FalconBlog--Triumphs and Trials in the BGSU Falcon Nation

What a Clusterf*ck that was

Wow. I mean everything from a "fumble" that KJ picks up and runs to the 1 when 21 other guys quit playing, to ejections, to 21 freaking penalties against a Ravens team that was probably about 50% getting hosed and 50% being jerks.

The only thing that made it weird was the role reversal...normally our Lions are the victims of that kind of debacle.

It was bad enough. I would recommend to Lions fans that they avoid guzzling too much Kool Aid over this game...within every positive I have seen cited, there is an inherent reason why its overstated.

For example, the Lions website boasted 169 rushing yards on 37 carries for a 4.6 average. All very respectable. Except, Shawn Bryson ripped off 77 on his only carry of the game. Without that we were 36 carries for 92 yards for 2.56 yards....not unexpected against the Ravens D, but nothing to be proud of, either.

Or, that "18-play" drive in the 3rd quarter that help us put the game away. Well, let's look a little more closely at that...6 of the plays (1/3 of the drive) were run from the Raven's 1-yard line. The Ravens chipped in with three penalties. One of the great drives in football history it wasn't.

I will give Jones credit. It isn't reflected in the numbers, but he gave a gutsy and solid performance out there. He was taking some monster hits, and he just kept cranking along. It was amazing, and it did keep the ship together long enough for us to win the game. During the era we spent on the 1-yard line, I think we kept him in too long after he didn't have any leg drive left. Pinner came in and scored right away.

Joey was abysmal, I mean abysmal. Of course, if you want to make excuses for him, you can dig out the "no supporting cast" file. Charles Rogers is in the penalty box, and Roy Williams got injured, leaving us with Mike Williams (inconsistent), and our best receiver, Kevin Johnson to carry the load. Even Scottie Vines got a catch. But, Joey's rating was 34.1. Its an embarrassment. I figure Garcia starts the rest of this year and next, and then Orlovsky is the starter.

I defended Joey a long time, but I have now concluded that he is just never going to have it.

The defense was pretty good. They got some turnovers off Anthony Wright, and Lewis only got 96 yards on this.

I'm a big believer in good teams winning on third down--we were 8 of 14 on 3rd, while the Ravens were 3 of 11. That's a credit to both of our units. On the other hand, we got 8 first downs from penalties.

Bottom line: between turnovers and penalties, it would have been hard for any time--even the Lions--to lose this game on their home field.

But let's not go overboard. We have two wins, and in both cases, the opposition was tragically bad. I should be happy for the win and I am--since 6-10 may get into the playoffs from the NFC North--but this team is not a good team, yet, and I am afraid to say I don't see it.