Some topics for tonight’s show:

Preview of Virginia Tech Game

Lacrosse on the horizon

Signing day February 1

DJ Reader  and Stefan Diggs on wish list for Edsall

A grand night for the Maestro at College Park

2 Tough Losses to Temple and Duke

Wrestling rolls along defeating Carolina 25-10

Lady Terps lose to 7-15 Virginia Tech on Thursday

The Ravens horrific loss to New England

Wizards Replace Flip with Randy Wittman

Some topics Saturday morning:

Jimmy Irsay end run around the Peyton issue

The pain still lingers from last Sunday

Should the Ravens retain Cam?

Do you bring back Cundiff and Evans

Other brutal losses in Baltimore sports history

Ovie opts out of the All Star game

Terrapins struggle against Duke

Court named after Gary

NBA players overworked

Randy Wittman replaces Flip?

Blake Griffin or Kevin Love?

SI continues to diss the Ravens.

9 years $214 mill for Prince–Absurd

Jets in total chaos—Darrelle Revis

Okay let’s analyze –should Cundiff even have been kicking. From the second he got hurt his kickoffs faltered–his distance disappeared—Harbaugh would not even let him try a 51 yard FG to tie the game..Shayne Graham was a more than adequate replacement.  Graham was more experienced, been around longer, etc. The Ravens got away without a backup QB but should Cundiff have been kicking?

Shannon Sharpe said it right after the game, Brady was this, Vince was that, but THE SCRIPT WAS PERFECT FOR A RAVENS WIN-Only a drop by Lee Evans and a shank by #7 turned this — nothing else. I am sick like you are. Harbaugh stuck up for Cundiff post game but can we ever forget this.

Joe Flacco , as I predicted was almost magnificent. Brady wasn’t. Only the interception and under throwing Torrey early on the 42  yard pass separated Joe from a perfect game.  Please sign him , get an adequate backup or if Tyrod is the that guy let him play more next year. 

Torrey, Vernon Davis and yes Laquan Williams did Maryland proud yesterday, all coming up big in Championship games. Laquan’s excellent special teams play probably assured him a spot on next year’s roster.

The third and 3 draw play late in the game was an unthinkable call. The first 3 series were a disaster for the Ravens but give the Patriots credit. I wonder if cmaeron survives this loss with Hue Jackson now in the open market. That will probably be decided quickly. 

Ray Lewis post game comments were miraculous. He is the true warrior. I don’t want him to retire and he isn’t. He refused to point any fingers, rightly saying no one man loses a game. ( I am not so sure). But he emphasized that everything will be ok because the City of Baltimore has the back of the Ravens. 

But in summary, this is what makes me sick–the game was won. But I guess not. The pain will last for a long time. Ten years ago when the Ravens were destroying the Giants on the way to a Super Bowl victory, I pointed to the scoreboard with many of my Baltimore friends in attendance and said remember this moment because we may never live to see it again. Yesterday just proves how right that statement might turn out to be. The next few days will be tough. Welcome to our nightmare!!!!

Review of Terps win vs Georgia Tech and loss to FSU

Interview with Coach Abdul-Rahim from Friendship Collegiate Academy–coach of Albert Reid

Hiring of Brian Stewart as Defensive Coordinator

Lady Terps defeat UVA at Comcast

Injury to Sean Mosley

Casey Townsend drafted 5th by LA Based Chivas USA

Torrey Smith audio

Sean Mosley Post Georgia tech audio

Jordan Williams audio

My take on the Ravens game on Sunday and  the Flacco-Reed situation

Were we 7 under at Pittsburgh in the past few years? Let’s be real if you had to be on the road for a shot to the big dance, where would you rather be in Pittsburgh or New England?  I wonder what the spread was the last time we were in New England for the playoffs. So everyone says this is a different team and it probably is with the tight ends. But the last time this team was a juggernaut, they came against the 5-11 Ravens team and would have lost except for a bonehead timeout call by Rex Ryan.

Let’s see we were unimpressive Sunday. The better team lost says the Texans. O penalties–0 turnovers. I wonder how many times in the NFL those 2 stats result in defeat. I guess the 3 ints were strictly luck. Coaching has a ton to do with the Ravens victory. However, I was confounded by now going for the field goal on 4th and 1 –only because of the lack of success we have in that situation. I still don’t believe we threw the ball on 2nd and 5 with a little over 2 minutes left. But you what –John Harbaugh is 49-23 since his arrival.  

Has the lack of respect for Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Boldin, Torrey, etc reached a point where that defense is going to shut us down. Are you kidding me? Every QB has picked them apart. 

I can’t watch the prognosticators any more because they are so negative about our chances. Yea I guess we were lucky to go 6-0 in the conference, 7-0 against teams that made the playoff, and 12-4 so far this year. The Ravens won every game they had to.

I love the false praise from Brady yesterday. Tom you went so overboard, your cockiness was on display. But one thing everyone knows is that Brady doesn’t like to be hit. Joe Flacco got sacked 5 times by Houston and publicly never complained, never pointed a finger and never whined like Brady would have. So Yes I believe this game might be in the hands of TSizzle and I like that. If the Patriots don’t use 2 men to stop him, Brady will pay. ESPN analyst and Ravens hater Merrill Hoge said that the defense you show Brady before the snap better not be the one you play. Who better then one of the most brilliant, studious on the field Generals would you rather have to accomplish this? 52 that’s who. Bellichick and Brady fear Ed Reed more then any other player in the NFL. Just watch his videography. They plotted endlessly against him. So did Peyton 2 years ago. Guess what Ed got 2 ints against the Great One.

I remember when the Ravens went to Tennessee the Super Bowl year. Weirdest game ever. I think 10 passes for Dilfer and the Ravens won easily against McNair, Eddie George, Mason, the Freak, etc. Not impressive. Suggs said it best Sunday—it was Ravens football. 

Yea I guess we may as well stay home.  

My call—Joe Flacco has a career day and burns a very weak Patriot secondary, Ray Rice goes for 130 mainly on a 55 yard 3 and 1 run to seal the game. Ravens 38 Patriots 24

 Surprisingly, the two teams that had the best games against New England’s pass offense this season were the Giants and Cowboys — a pair of teams that didn’t exactly have a great pass defense in our numbers this season. What they did do was constantly generate pressure on Brady from a straight four-man rush, forcing a lot of turnovers.

 Brady was sacked 20 times this season, and eight of them were in those three games. Pittsburgh was able to constantly rush five at New England, but the Steelers also have one of the best safety tandems in the game in Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu. Baltimore has the quickly-aging Ed Reed and some combination of Bernard Pollard and Tom Zbikowski. The Cowboys managed to generate seven pass pressures on the Patriots to go along with their sacks, and only one of those came with a blitz. The Giants didn’t get quite as much pressure, but they too barely blitzed at all, sending five or more rushers on just 13 of 51 pass drop backs.

The Ravens definitely have the cornerback depth to play the same sort of style that Pittsburgh did. However, they don’t have a cornerback who has played as well as Ike Taylor did this year by our charting numbers, and that will hurt them because they don’t have someone who can consistently limit Wes Welker. Nominal No. 1 Ravens corner Lardarius Webb allowed 6.9 yards per pass this year in our charting project; Taylor allowed just 5.1.

 Assuming that Baltimore can’t emulate Pittsburgh’s game plan against the Patriots, the absolute key to the Ravens having a chance to slow down New England is pass pressure from the defensive line. That puts the pressure squarely on Terrell Suggs. Suggs was the only Ravens player to finish with more than six sacks, as well as the only one to generate more than seven quarterback hits. Situational pass-rusher Pernell McPhee has shown some quality moves in his limited playing time, and defensive linemen Cory Redding and Haloti Ngata combined for 9.5 sacks, but Suggs is definitely the star and the man who needs to be stopped.

 Considering Baltimore accumulated zero sacks against rookie T.J. Yates in 35 drop backs, that will take quite the quick turnaround. It’s certainly possible that the Ravens could find a way to slow Brady down, either by having certain secondary members play phenomenal games or through accumulating a lot of turnovers. However, all the statistical and anecdotal data we have strongly points to their offense needing to step up and match the Patriots score for score in this game if they want to pull off the upset.

Where are the Ed Reed naysayers now? What a tremendous game for #20. He just seems so physically susceptible. Ed was in the right place almost every crucial play. Apparently, his injury on the last play of the game was nothing serious. “Ed Reed is one of the greatest safeties to ever play this game.”—Ray Lewis

Everyone including myself said a rookie QB can’t come into M&T and defeat the Ravens. TJ didn’t and a rookie can’t. 3 interceptions tell the story.

No penalties for the Ravens — 1st time ever is what I heard.

Torrey dropped the first pass thrown to him today and Joe only threw to him 2 times (1 catch) afterwards.

Bouldin showed up big time today as the veteran should.

What were all the complaints about the home crowd? I guess thats the new target.

The hay was put in the barn way too early today. Jerry said it at 1:51 when Ed Reed made the int. A lot happened afterwards.

Don’t be mislead by New England’s performance last night. Yes Brady was perfect but against who—a team that backed into a playoff berth, that beat a crippled team.  Here’s the bottom line–Miami had the 17-0 down and Buffalo was up 21-0 before the Patriots came back. Spot the Ravens a 14-0 lead and get the golf clubs out Tom.

Ray Rice will have a field day against the Pats but can we stop Brady. No one can but we have to limit his possessions and do the one he hates–HIT HIM. The Patriots are a 7 1/2 point favorite. As usual no respect for the Ravens. Who cares?

My take: As I said on the Sports maven this morning–No rookie qb is going to come into M&T and dominate the Ravens. Houston like the Ravens has a strong defense and excellent rushing game. The difference–the game is in Baltimore and takes a special meaning in this city that is hard to define. Joe has been excellent at home and will lead the Ravens to a 23-10 victory.

How could any one have thought that Cinci could win this game. They could not defeat a decent opponent all year. Cinci only got into at the playoffs after a myriad of chocks by several teams including the Jets.

Here’s why I am happy with the Houston win. I firmly believe that any of the 3 potential opponents could not beat the Ravens next week. But who wants to play the Steelers. Yes I believe we would have won but you never escape a war with Pittsburgh without casualties. Now New England will have to battle through. So we will face a Patriot team that will probably struggle to win or a Steeler team with a one legged QB. Let’s get it on. Remember there is no easy road to to the Super Bowl.