Tag: steelers ravens

Mapping out the path to a Ravens AFC North division title

While it’s going to be challenge, the division title is still there for Baltimore to take

At 8-5, the Baltimore Ravens are two behind the AFC North division, leading 9-3 Pittsburgh Steelers in the loss column. However, they’re only one behind their arch-rivals in the win column.

While it will be challenging, the division title is still there for the taking. Let’s first look at what remains on the schedule for both teams.

It almost goes without saying, but that Sat. December 21st home date with the Steelers is a must-win. You can pretty much label that meeting the AFC North division title game.

You can also just go ahead and state it bluntly—Baltimore needs to win out. They simply need to run the table and get some help. Obviously, there are numerous permutations of results that would see the Ravens end up on top, but the most logical, natural path would require the Steelers to lose two more games in addition to their visit to The Bank.

The divisional tie-breakers work like this: first, head-to-head meetings, then divisional record, then record vs. common opponents. Pittsburgh currently has a 2-1 record against the AFC North, while Baltimore is 2-2.

When it comes to common opponents (the other two teams in the division, plus Dallas, Denver, L.A. Chargers, Washington, and Las Vegas), the Ravens have an advantage on the Steel Curtain. Baltimore is 6-2 against common opponents, while Pittsburgh is 5-2.

You can see how much the home-opening loss to the Raiders truly hurts right now. The most likely path would see the Steelers losing at the 10-2 Philadelphia Eagles and at home to the defending Super Bowl champion and 11-1 Kansas City Chiefs.

Referee Brad Allen nearly called a penalty on the wrong team again

Referee Brad Allen got another call wrong on the field. It must be a day ending in “Y!”

With 7:36 left in Saturday’s slopfest of a game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, referee Brad Allen and his crew stopped play for a penalty announcement. If you’ve followed Allen’s “work” throughout the season, you know that there was going to be a high “Choose Your Own Adventure” possibility here.

And indeed, there was. The penalty was called against tight end Connor Heyward on a punt by Jordan Stout of the Ravens. And since Allen was involved, we all had to stop and take a break while Allen figured it out with the help of down judge Sarah Thomas. You can see Allen and Thomas discussing the play, Allen signaling a holding penalty against… the Ravens, Allen and Thomas discussing it again, and Allen getting it right with a penalty on the Steelers.

This, of course, wouldn’t be the first time Allen called a penalty on the wrong team this season. In fact, it wasn’t the first time Allen called a penalty on the wrong team in the last calendar week. Let’s travel back to last Saturday night’s embarrassment in a crucial game between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys.

With 2:05 left in the game, Cowboys running back Tony Pollard hit a seven-yard gain on first-and-10 from the Detroit 29-yard line. This was the play after Jared Goff’s interception to safety Donovan Wilson, and at this point, the Cowboys could run the clock down and seal a victory up 17-13.

But Allen called tight end Peyton Hendershot for tripping, which negated the run and put the ball 15 yards back at the Detroit 44-yard line. Mike McCarthy’s three-play passing sequence, which took just 11 seconds off the clock, followed, and that was its own disaster. But let’s focus on the tripping call.

Here’s the All-22.

Hendershot was facing Lions edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson on the play, and there was an attempt at tripping. But the overhead and end zone angles show that it was Hutchinson who made the attempt. On the overhead view, you can dee down judge Sarah Thomas throw the flag from the lower sideline. How Allen managed to extrapolate tripping on Hendershot is a mystery. Could Hendershot been busted for a hold? Maybe… but had this been called correctly, the worst that would have happened for the Cowboys was offsetting penalties and replaying the down. Not a 15-yard deficit that changed the complexion of the Cowboys’ drive.

Just another day ending in “Y” for the NFL’s worst referee, who is working a game with playoff implications. At least this one got corrected before it was official.

Touchdown Wire’s Week 8 NFL Matchup Podcast with Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield

In Touchdown Wire’s Week 8 NFL Matchup Podcast, Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield get you set up for the week, and discuss possible trades.

Ready for Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season? We are! In this week’s matchup podcast, Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield investigate the following:

  • What’s wrong with New England’s offense, and how the Bills can exploit Ne England’s defense if Josh Allen can get away from becoming Captain Checkdown all of a sudden.
  • How Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr could be getting ready for a shootout — and why Carr is a lot better than you think he is.
  • How the Steelers could make life very difficult for Lamar Jackson in what might be a blowout.
  • How Chan Gailey will set Tua Tagovailoa up for success against the Rams’ active defense.
  • Why Sunday may be the last straw for Nick Foles.
  • Better team right now: The 2-4 Chargers, or the 5-2 Bears?
  • Can Kyle Shanahan let Jimmy Garoppolo cook against the Seahawks’ defense without killing his team?
  • Extremely Motivated Aaron Rodgers against a bad Minnesota pass defense forcing Kirk Cousins to make big-time throws: A bad mix for Mike Zimmer.

Also, Doug and Mark discuss deals that should be made before the NFL’s November 3 trade deadline. Check it out at the link below!