PressBox: Football Archive: September / October 2008

Football Archive: September / October 2008

Ravens Opponent Preview: Browns
Last season, Baltimore defeated the Browns, 28-10, at home. Can Joe Flacco and Co. deliver another victory as the Ravens hit the road for Cleveland?

Ogden Takes Place In Ring Of Honor
Left tackle Jonathan Ogden will be the fifth Raven and sixth overall entity to enter the Ravens' Ring of Honor, following the Hall of Fame Baltimore Colts, Earnest Byner, Art Modell, Michael McCrary and Peter Boulware.
• Opponent Preview: Oakland Raiders | Lou From The Coast's Gridiron Picks

Revived Ravens Make Noise In Miami
The revived Ravens broke their three-game losing streak and rode a total team effort to a 27-13 win over the ineffective Dolphins at Dolphin Stadium.

Learning Curve
Through his first five games, rookie quarterback Joe Flacco is struggling but maturing with the new-look Baltimore Ravens.

Gregg's Injury Leaves Gaping Hole In Middle
With microfracture surgery on his left knee last week, Kelly Gregg became the 10th Ravens player -- and the second defensive lineman -- to be placed on the season-ending injured reserve list this year.
• Opponent Preview: Miami Dophins | Lou From The Coast's Gridiron Picks

Chuck Evans, Kind Tough Guy, Is Dead At 41
Chuck Evans, a fullback on the Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV championship team, died of heart failure at approximately 5 a.m. Sunday in Atlanta at the age of 41.

Harbaugh Says Defeat Is Reason To Get Tough
The Ravens lost their seventh straight road game with a 31-3 defeat at the hands of the Colts. Trouble is, the game was just the first of a five-game-in-six-week stretch on the road for Baltimore.
• 1958 Baltimore Colts Week-By-Week: Week 4

Young Offensive Line Delivers
Baltimore may have the youngest offensive line in the NFL, but the Ravens' offensive line is already exceeding expectations.
• Opponent Preview: Indianapolis Colts | Lou From The Coast's Gridiron Picks

Sweet Win For Titans Disappoints Harbaugh
The Tennessee Titans rode a furious attitude and their rugged defense to a 13-10 win over the Ravens last Sunday to remain undefeated (5-0).
• 1958 Baltimore Colts Week-By-Week: Week 3

Ngata Eats Space And Blockers
The 12th overall pick in the 2006 draft, Haloti Ngata's play has furthered Baltimore's reputation as a defense against which no team can consistently run.
• Opponent Preview: Tennessee Titans | Lou From The Coast's Gridiron Picks

Ravens Make Plenty Of Noise In OT Defeat
Coach John Harbaugh seemed to fit in quite nicely in a highly-charged atmosphere between the Ravens and Steelers. Baltimore was able to trade blows with Pittsburgh before eventually falling in overtime, 23-20.
• 1958 Baltimore Colts Week-By-Week: Week 2

Ravens Sought Playmaker; Flacco May Be A Good One
Tony Lombardi calls rookie quarterback Joe Flacco a beacon of hope for Ravens fans who have clamored for a playmaker for more than a decade.

Landry To Play; Trainers Draw Praise
As a result of the quick care he received after sufferring a spinal cord concussion, Dawan Landry will play football again this year, and in the not-too-distant future.
• Opponent Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers | Lou From The Coast's Gridiron Picks

Calm During The Storm
Head coach John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens have managed to buck NFL billows and stay on course during the opening weeks of the 2008 season.

Flacco Facing First Big Test vs. Steelers
Tony Lombardi thinks that a Monday night road matchup against Pittsburgh's tough defense will be a stiff challenge for rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.
• Strongside Blitz | 1958 Colts Week-By-Week

Purple Tears
Despite the Ravens' win last Sunday, hundreds of fans still shed purple tears as they mourned the passing of fellow fan Dave Kryglik.

When Bell Rang, McAlister Answered
After missing the Ravens' preseason games while recovering from a knee injury, cornerback Chris McAlister opened the season strong against the Bengals.
• Opponent Preview: Cleveland Browns | Lou From The Coast's Gridiron Picks

Meet The Superfans
There’s an elite class which represents the epitome of Baltimore sports passion. They are known as superfans, and though they’re average Joes outside the stadium walls, their fandom precedes them, just like their pseudonyms.

Mother Nature Shows NFL Who's Boss
Last weekend proved once again that Mother Nature is more powerful than even the National Football League.

Jim Popp Recalls Great Old Days With Stallions
Montreal Alouettes general manager Jim Popp has had great success with his team in Canada, but still relishes his time spent in Baltimore with the Stallions.

Special Goal: Special Teams
With new head coach John Harbaugh and first-year special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburgin town, special teams has a renewed emphasis for the Ravens.
• Opponent Preview: Houston Texans | Lou From The Coast's Gridiron Picks

O.J.'S Amazing Grace
Dignity and faith mark Ravens' director of player development O.J. Brigance's war against Lou Gehrig's disease.

Preview: As The Ravens' World Turns
A young coach, a rookie QB and an aging defense may make for a soap opera season for the Baltimore Ravens. Check out PressBox's full Ravens preview, including five keys for the 2008 season and five newcomers to watch.

McClain's Hard Work Earns Roster Berth
Earlier this offseason, Ravens undrafted free agent linebacker Jameel McClain said that he had to fight for everything he had in life. Last Saturday, the former Syracuse defensive end was named to the Ravens' 53-man active roster.
• Opponent Preview: Cincinnati Bengals | Lou From The Coast's NFC Forecast

Three Big Questions Still Not Answered
Despite the Ravens' efforts to address each position, Tony Lombardi sees three big question marks -- offensive tackle, defensive backfield and quarterback.