Silver and Black Report

BALTIMORE, MD – Before the game, the Oakland Raiders announced that rookie running back Darren McFadden would be inactive. They also designated WR Todd Watkins, CB Rashad Baker, LB Jon Alston, DE Derrick Burgess, T James Marten and C John Wade as players not available to take the field.

Kalimba Edwards started once again in place of Burgess.

1^st Quarter

Both teams went three and out in their opening possessions. The Raiders drive was thwarted on 2^nd and 9 when Terrell Suggs sacked JaMarcus Russell for a loss of 13.

In their second drive, the Raiders fell victim to another sack, which led to 2-points for the Ravens. Russell was dropped in the end zone on 3^rd and 7 by linebacker Jameel McClain after both tackles; Cornell Green and Kwame Harris were beaten badly by the Baltimore pressure.

After the free-kick by Shane Lechler, the Ravens could not generate any rhythm with their passing game, as Joe Flacco started 1-of-6 for 6 yards in their first two drives. Baltimore attempted their version of the ‘wildcat’ formation with back-up quarterback Troy Smith. The former Ohio State star faked a hand off and ran for 3 yard son 1^st and 10, but the drive would end two plays later with a Flacco incompletion intended to leading receiver Derrick Mason.

Oakland’s third drive was a dud, as Justin Fargas carried the ball three times before they punted.

The defensive contest got physical on Baltimore’s ensuing drive, when Flacco overthrew a wide open Willis McGahee on a seam pattern, but safety Gibril Wilson was able to lay a solid hit on the running back at the end of the play.

The Raiders woes on offensive continued with Michael Bush at running back, as he was not able to generate any yardage when he was inserted.

Baltimore got a jolt from the special teams when Jim Leonhard ran back a punt 46 yards to the Oakland 17 yard line. There, the Ravens again utilized Smith as a rusher from the quarterback spot, as he carried the ball 8 yards to set up a 3^rd and 1.

Score: Ravens 2 – Raiders 0

The Raider offense was conservative in the 1^st quarter. When did they attempt a pass, the tackles were manhandled and that led to the sack and safety. Oakland had a total -2 yards for the quarter and was 0-4 on 3^rd down conversions. Fargas had 8 carries for 16 yards. Le’Ron McClain led the Ravens with 19 yards on the ground.

2^nd Quarter

McGahee scored on the quarter’s second play from one yard out to give the Ravens a 9-0 lead.

It looked like the Raiders would respond when Russell hit Javon Walker on a 15-yard pass on 2^nd and 10. Then, Russell connected with Bush for 9 yards. But a few plays later, Russell overthrew his target and Frank Walker intercepted the pass and the Ravens started their drive at their own 3-yard line.

There, Baltimore marched 9 plays for 97 yards, elapsing 4:09. McGahee ran the ball early on the drive, and then Flacco, who had all day to find a wide open Demetrius Williams, was able to find his target all alone down the field for a 70 yard touchdown which gave the Ravens a 16-0 lead.

Oakland’s offense continued to hibernate, going three and out after Fargas’ runs of 3 and 1 yard and a Russell to Chaz Schilens completion for 7 yards on 3^rd and 8.

Baltimore added to their lead right before the half, driving 11 plays for 61 yards, taking up 5:09. The possession started shaky for the Ravens, as they had a Flacco to Mason 32 yard gain negated by a Chris Chester holding penalty. But then Ray Rice converts a 3^rd and 12 after he shook middle linebacker Kirk Morrison and gained 14 yards. Troy Smith came on again in a wildcat formation, running an option play in which he picked up 2 yards and then pitched it to Rice who took it another 19 yards. A few plays later, Matt Stover converted on a 38 yard field goal.

Terdell Sands and Ricky Brown with the stuff

Score: Ravens 19 – Raiders 0

Oakland’s offense was non-existent. With no threat of a passing game, the Ravens stacked the line of scrimmage and stuffed anything on the ground. Oakland missed the dynamic Darren McFadden, as they had no one in the passing game that feared the Ravens secondary. The conservative play calling did not help. Oakland had a lowly 35 total yards of offense in the first half. The Ravens compiled 221 total yards, 125 on the ground led by Rice’s 53 yards on 4 carries.

Interesting stat: Oakland had an average start of drives at their own 16 yard line, while the Ravens started at their own 35 yard line on average.

3^rd Quarter

Flacco scrambled out of the pocket on Baltimore’s first 3^rd down of the second half, picking up 13 yards on 3^rd and 8. A few plays later, the Ravens punted to Johnnie Lee Higgins, as the Raiders also had DeAngelo Hall back in return formation.

Oakland finally got on the board, as the Russell aired it out to begin the half. After Ray Lewis almost intercepted a pass intended for Zach Miller, Russell found Chaz Schilens on a bomb for 60 yards to the Baltimore 9 yard line. Former Raider Fabian Washington was on the coverage of the perfectly thrown toss that hit Schilens in stride.

The six-play 66-yard drive was capped by a Sebastian Janikowski 22 yard field goal that made the game 19-3.

Baltimore responded with an 11-play 62-yard drive that ended in a Stover 30 yard field good.

The drive was highlighted by a trick play in which Flacco handed off to Troy Smith, and then the rookie passer sprinted into a route and Smith was able to find him 43 yards down the field, blowing past a chasing Ricky Brown. At that point, Baltimore was up comfortably 22-3, controlling the game with their 323 total yards and 8-14 third down efficiency, while leading in time of possession 27:14 as oppose to Oakland’s 14:28.

Russell got going on the ensuing drive, hitting Miller on a 31-yard gain and Schilens on a 9-yard toss. And on 3rd and 1, as he was getting pressured, Russell lofted a pass to Miller, as he made a leaping grab for 25 yards to the Baltimore 4 yard line.

A Bush carry for 2 yards near the goal line set up a 2nd and goal from the 2, where Russell dumped it off to Justin Griffith, and as he was flipped over on the tackle, the fullback was able to break the plane of the goal line for the Raiders first touchdown of the game.

Oakland was down 22-10 after the 6-play 69-yard drive that took up 2:42 off the clock.

Score: Ravens 22 – Raiders 10

The Raiders opened up the offense in the third quarter and it paid off. They needed to generate more out of their passing game, as the Ravens were primed for anything on the ground. Russell made some nice throws, but their change of approach after halftime was too little too late due to the lead the Ravens built up. The defense was not generating enough pressure on Flacco and they never put the rookie passer in tight situations.

Stats:

• Oakland: 30 yards rushing after three quarters.
• Total plays: Baltimore 54 – Oakland 33
• Time of possession: Baltimore 27:50 Raiders 17:10
• Raiders: 2-of-8 on 3^rd down conversions

4^th Quarter

The quarter began much like it had gone all day for the Raiders on offense, with a three and out and a punt that gave the Ravens the ball at their 39-yard line. Russell missed on a pass to Miller, Bush carried the football for 2-yards and on 3^rd and 8, Higgins fell on yard short of a first down.

Oakland was given life when McGahee fumbled on the ensuing drive and DeAngelo Hall recovered the football at the Baltimore 44-yard line.

Russell escaped pressure and scrambled on the first play of the drive for 13 yards and Bush gained 2 yards on a run the following play. But a delay of game penalty on 3^rd and 8, a sack by Haloti Ngata on the ensuing 3^rd and 13 and a harmless incompletion on 4^th and 21 ended any Raider threat.

The Ravens put the finishing touches on the Raiders when they began to hit Russell late in the game. Russell attempted four pass attempts and got pressure on every play as the contest wound down. On 4^th and 10 from the Baltimore 20, Jarret Johnson sacked Russell, giving the ball back to Flacco and the offense deep in Raider territory.

Flacco scored on a 12 yard run with 3:35 remaining after taking over on a short field, extending the Raven lead to 29-10.

Oakland was lackluster on offense today, and with no McFadden, it appeared that they had no pop in their attack. The Ravens stout defense took advantage of the Raiders inadequacies on offense and continued their solid play. They neutralized the Raiders with their stout run defense and pounded the football with all of their rushers. Flacco was never put in pressure situations, as Rob Ryan’s defense did not put up the type of effort needed to win on the road. Especially against a team that has been one dimensional themselves in 2008.

Game score: Ravens 29 – Raiders 10