Preston does it again (?)

[HoustonRaven]

So I am sitting here in my hotel room, reading Preston's latest article about the Ravens not wanting to go to New England for the playoffs. Here is the article:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.preston26dec26,0,4958020.column

Then something dawns on me .... is there even one scenario that would even put us there for the playoffs????

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if the Ravens win the Pats are eliminated. If the Ravens lose and the Pats win we are out. If we both lose, Ravens are in and the Pats are out due to conference record. There is no scenario that puts both the Pats and the Ravens in the playoffs. Right?

So why did Preston drone on for 500+ words if the scenario cant even happen? Am I missing something or is Preston stealing his paycheck once again?

[phatboy]

I think that if the Dolphins loose and the Pats win they would be div champ and thus we would have to play th Pats in the first round.

[FredGrau]

Wrong.

We win and the Pats win and the Jets win. Under this scenario, Pats win the AFC East. The Pats would be 11-5, both the Jets and Dolphins would be 10-6.

[RavinDonnie]

So why did Preston drone on for 500+ words if the scenario cant even happen? Am I missing something or is Preston stealing his paycheck once again?

Because people like you get bent out of shape. Preston doesn't have an original idea so generating interest in his column with insightful writing isn't really an option. It's like a tongue-in-cheek column second guessing coaches or a power ranking column. Takes 5 minutes to crank out and requires no talent.

Throw out some taunts to the chip-on-their-shoulder NFL hates us Ravens fans and people start foaming at the mouth talking about his lame column.

Why do you get upset?

[phatboy]

1. Wild day in the AFC East
Jim Rogash / Getty Images
Coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots need to take care of business Sunday, then hope for some help in order to make the playoffs.

Three of the four AFC East teams still don't know if they will win the division, earn a wild-card berth or go home for the season. The only team not in the playoff mix is the Buffalo Bills, but they have an important role in the outcome because they host the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. on Sunday. If the Patriots defeat the Bills for the 11th straight time, they will cheer for the New York Jets to beat the Miami Dolphins at 4:15 p.m. ET so New England can win the division. But if the Dolphins beat the Jets and the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars, then the season is over for New England and New York.

Copied from NFL.COM

[HoustonRaven]

So it COULD happen but it seems improbable to the point that writing a story about it is about as pointless as you can get.

Thanks for the info!

[4G63]

Cassell is a good QB, but I just think our O would simply run it down their throats. Their D is a shell of what it was before and just wouldn't hold up against La'Ron, Willis, and McGahee. Plus, Willis has really good games against the Patriots (see last year). They're a good team, but I don't think they are as tough as Preston is saying they are....

[sh0time]

I would still rather play in sunny Miami than fridgid Foxborough.

Bring on the Wildcat.

[AWhitt1]

I am the only guy who doesn't mind Preston I guess. He says things the way he sees them, always questioning his team. I am the same way. Just cause we play a good game, people get obsessed with the Ravens like they had no weaknesses. Even with wins, there are holes to our team. Always has been, always will be. Most of the columns that he writes are looking at the Ravens from a pretty unbiased view, and people in Baltimore hate it. He seems to be a small prick that likes controversy, but I enjoy his writings. They are different then other Baltimore sports columnists. Also, no one wants to go to Foxboro in January. NO ONE!! He is right.

[4G63]

I am the only guy who doesn't mind Preston I guess. He says things the way he sees them, always questioning his team. I am the same way. Just cause we play a good game, people get obsessed with the Ravens like they had no weaknesses. Even with wins, there are holes to our team. Always has been, always will be. Most of the columns that he writes are looking at the Ravens from a pretty unbiased view, and people in Baltimore hate it. He seems to be a small prick that likes controversy, but I enjoy his writings. They are different then other Baltimore sports columnists. Also, no one wants to go to Foxboro in January. NO ONE!! He is right.

You're looking at that like its from years' past. They aren't the same team as last year. Their D is missing some good players and their O-line hasn't been very good this year either. I'm not saying they'll be easy, but they are most definitely beatable.

I do agree that the Ravens would much rather play in Miami, though. They don't have the quick-strike offense that the Pats could have.....

[The Fanatic]

So it COULD happen but it seems improbable to the point that writing a story about it is about as pointless as you can get.

Thanks for the info!

Disagree.I think it is highly likely that the Patriots will beat the Bills.

I think it's highly possible the Jets beat Miami.

That criteria is more then enough to warrant a story about where the Ravens would prefer to play a 1st round playoff game.
Certainly that talk is what the fans are thinking about as well.

Preston is right though, New England is the last place of the three we need to go if/when we get to the playoffs.

I got no problem with his article and agree with him.

[festivus]

I am the only guy who doesn't mind Preston I guess. He says things the way he sees them, always questioning his team. I am the same way.

Sure. We *all* call things the way we see them. But having (or claiming to have) some kind of intellectual integrity is not by itself a reason I should care what you want to - or, to the point, Preston wants to - say.

He's an idiot, and I'm tired of hearing this defense of him that "he calls it as he sees it." Really, so does xmradiodave and UKRavenstockers to pick two names out of a hat, and I'd much rather read their contributions than Mike Preston's.

[Galen Sevinne]

I am the only guy who doesn't mind Preston I guess. He says things the way he sees them, always questioning his team. I am the same way. Just cause we play a good game, people get obsessed with the Ravens like they had no weaknesses. Even with wins, there are holes to our team. Always has been, always will be. Most of the columns that he writes are looking at the Ravens from a pretty unbiased view, and people in Baltimore hate it. He seems to be a small prick that likes controversy, but I enjoy his writings. They are different then other Baltimore sports columnists. Also, no one wants to go to Foxboro in January. NO ONE!! He is right.

You're not thre only one who likes Preston. I agree with you and still believe most of the time he is right and most of the time he is weeks ahead of the learning curve. There are those who look for any reason to jones on the guy.

There are few people who would want to see us go to N.E. to play in subfreezing temps and possible snow. That scenario and going to Indy are the two scenarios that I think prevent us from going deep in the playoffs.

[Jeremiah W]

There is a good chance we will go to NE in the first round, but there is no fear in the heart of the Ravens, only malice.

[RavensDomination]

Sure. We *all* call things the way we see them. But having (or claiming to have) some kind of intellectual integrity is not by itself a reason I should care what you want to - or, to the point, Preston wants to - say.

He's an idiot, and I'm tired of hearing this defense of him that "he calls it as he sees it." Really, so does xmradiodave and UKRavenstockers to pick two names out of a hat, and I'd much rather read their contributions than Mike Preston's.

Not only that, but he reeks of a gossip columnist. I don't read a sports column to see which players get along, or which players smoke cigarettes, or what kind of car Kyle Boller drives.

Furthermore, he holds a grudge like none other and doesn't even attempt to hide his bias. When I hear people say he is "unbiased" I just have to laugh at their ignorance. Unbiased is Aaron Wilson. Aaron is a professional and offers plenty of VALID criticisms about the team. Mike Preston is a hack.

[StingerNLG]

The problem with Preston is that he has conceeded defeat with not only the Patriots, but with the Dolphins too.

And to make matters worse, he is basically saying so are the Ravens.


The Ravens will say they don't care, and they certainly won't back down. In fact, they might welcome the challenge. But upstairs at the Castle in Owings Mills where upper management resides, they all know better.

More or less he is saying the Ravens are scared.

Preston sure knows how to cut out the legs from under the team at just the best moments, doesn't he?

[RavensDomination]

More or less he is saying the Ravens are scared.

Preston sure knows how to cut out the legs from under the team at just the best moments, doesn't he?

Yea really, he's such a dumb ass. I am sure Ray Lewis is just shaking in his boots, so are the Ravens, not like they handily beat the Dolphins earlier in the year or anything.

[psuasskicker]

So I am sitting here in my hotel room, reading Preston's latest article

I've spotted your problem...

- C -

[xmradiodave]

^^^
Now THAT is funny.

[Gabrosin]

I give us close to a 50% chance of playing in New England to open the playoffs... and that's because I'm trying to be optimistic.

Odds are good that the Ravens will beat the Jaguars. Odds are also good that the Patriots will beat the Bills. So it comes down to Miami and the Jets. If Miami wins, then we play them. If Miami loses, then we play New England. The Dolphins are on the road and the Jets have a lot of talent, plus they're a streaky team, capable of losing to anyone or beating anyone.

I will be rooting hard for the Dolphins to win. We've already shown we can go into Miami and beat them once. While I have faith that we can take on anyone, I'd rather not play the Patriots, who know how to win in January, if we don't have to.

[Beerracuda]

Other than the possibility of having to play in the snow, sleet, etc, there's another reason I don't want to play the Pats.

Two words: Wes Welker. He could very possibly be the best at exploiting the biggest weakness in the Ravens' defense. I can see him streaking across the middle on a short quick-out, and his speed would take over from there. No thank you, I don't wanna see him or the Pats.

[F Angelos]

I never understand this mindset. If your in the playoffs you're going to have to beat good teams to go far. I don't care who we play. We shouldn't fear anybody except Indy since they own us.

[psuasskicker]

I give us close to a 50% chance of playing in New England to open the playoffs... and that's because I'm trying to be optimistic.

Reality is much different than your optimism.

Baltimore -650 = 86.7% to win
New England -270 = 73.0% to win
New York Jets -140 = 58.3% to win

86.7% * 73.0% * 58.3% = 36.9%

We're basically somewhere between 35% and 40% to face New England in the first round of the playoffs.

Obviously I'd rather face Miami since we already beat them, and I think we match up well to them. But NE honestly doesn't worry me all that much anyway. Take a look at their schedule. They've feasted off a horribly weak schedule. But the tough teams they've played have largely killed them.

- C -

[RAVENOUS52]

I never understand this mindset. If your in the playoffs you're going to have to beat good teams to go far. I don't care who we play. We shouldn't fear anybody except Indy since they own us.

If you fear an opponent, you're already beaten.

We should fear no other team. If the Texans can beat Indy, then so can we under the right circumstances.

FUCK FEAR...

GET SOME!!!http://www.clipartof.com/images/emoticons/xsmall2/730_machine_gun_shooting_smiley.gif

[festivus]

I never understand this mindset. If your in the playoffs you're going to have to beat good teams to go far. I don't care who we play. We shouldn't fear anybody except Indy since they own us.

It's not about good teams/bad teams, it's about matchups, and it's a reasonable conversation, regardless of whether you understand it.