In Theory, there is no Practice.

I suppose I should say something about the game since I have been giving my impressions thoughout the season. The truth is, I only saw the first half because I get up early now, so the game ends long after I need to be asleep.

The half ended in a 3-3 tie, but the Ravens QB, Steve McNair, threw a bad pass that was picked off in the end zone, just before the half ended. The Ravens should have gotten at least 3 points, and possible 7. I was pretty sure the Ravens would lose. It wound up 13-3. The defense played reasonably well: 13 points on the road in Denver is not a failure. 3 points by the Offense is.

But lets not go overboard here, had the Broncos been playing in Baltimore, the score could easily have been reversed. In seasons past, the Ravens may well have been shut out, playing one of the top 5 defenses (#1 against the rush) on the road. Now, they were a threat until the last few minutes.

If the Ravens respond by playing well this coming Sunday, then I don’t believe there is a reason to panic or unduly worry. Yes, there are some weaknesses the Ravens have to improve on: kick coverage, running the ball, and stretching the field some. And if they continue to improve on those, they can still be playing late into January. McNair still has a lot to improve on, and the offensive line is wounded, losing a starting guard for the rest of the season. But the Ravens have already shown once, that a great defense, timely running, and a mistake-free offense can win the Super Bowl. Let’s see how they play over the next few weeks.