Baltimore, Md - December 13: Baltimore Ravens vs Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium - regular season Final score: BAL -48, DET -3 The Ravens will need Ray Rice to remain productive on Dec. 20 in their matchup against the Chicago Bears. Rice rushed for a career-high 166 yards on Dec. 13 against the Detroit Lions. (AFRO Photo/John Moore) Ravens Need Win against Chicago By Perry Green AFRO Sports Editor (December 17, 2009) - If the NFL playoffs started today, the Baltimore Ravens would be watching from home with the rest of the fans. Fortunately for them, they still have three more games left to make a push for postseason play. All season long, the Ravens players and coaches have stressed to the media that they must take the season one game at a time, and the matchup they must focus on now comes against the Chicago Bears, a team that is just as desperate for a win as Baltimore. The Bears are currently 5-8 in wins and losses and have basically been eliminated from the NFC playoffs race. But they’re still looking to win their three remaining games in hopes of avoiding their third losing season in six years. Bears coach Lovie Smith was one of the first African-American head coaches to reach the Super Bowl back in 2006, but Chicago hasn’t had the same success since. A losing season certainly wouldn’t help him keep his job in a league that usually sees head coaches rotate as much as a game of musical chairs. Coach Smith traded with the Denver Broncos for franchise quarterback Jay Cutler, hoping he would be the player that would push the Bears back into the elite category of the NFL. Cutler has certainly aired it out for Chicago with 19 touchdowns and more than 3,000 passing yards. But he has also caused more turnovers than scores, tossing a current league-high 22 interceptions. Cutler’s interception tendency may work out in favor of Baltimore’s defensive unit, as they are currently ranked No. 6 in the NFL with 16 interceptions forced. The Ravens’ defense is also ranked No. 6 against the run so Bears’ star tailback Matt Forte may have a tough time producing yards as well. But just as Baltimore’s defense has a slight advantage against Chicago, so does the Ravens’ offense. Ray Baltimore ran the ball very well against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 13, rushing for 308 yards. Ravens tailback Ray Rice recorded a career-high 166 rushing yards, and added 53 receiving yards to total 219 yards from scrimmage, nearly more yards than the entire Lions team recorded in the game. Rice has now recorded more than 100 yards from scrimmage in 11 games this season, and ranks second only to Tennessee’s Chris Johnson in total yards. With Rice and the running game clicking on all cylinders, the Ravens were able to record a franchise best 548 yards on Dec. 13. They could have similar success against Chicago on Dec. 20, who ranks 25th in the league against the run. The Bears are much better defending the pass, ranking No. 6 in pass defense, so Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will need to limit mistakes and turnovers. Flacco tossed a season-high three interceptions against the Packer on Dec. 7, but bounced back well against the Lions last week, completing 13 of 20 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. If Flacco can avoid turnovers, while allowing his running game to dominate, the Ravens can improve to 8-6 overall on the season and take one step closer to reaching the playoffs. But Baltimore fans should remember that the Ravens still need the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6) to lose, which isn’t far-fetched considering they’ll take on the undefeated Indianapolis Colts (13-0) on Dec. 20.

"Jimmy Rollins' brilliant dive to start the division-winning double play immediately went on the short list of the greatest moments in this franchise's star-crossed history. The little shortstop turned a two-run single into two outs, diving to his left, pulling in the ball that already had gotten past him, and flipping it to Chase Utley. The stoic second baseman made the pivot of his life, nursing the toss from Rollins and turning 180 degrees to fire a perfect line drive to Ryan Howard. The big first baseman had to raise his glove a bit to catch it, which was perfect. He was raising his arms over his head anyway." - Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Inquirer And with that, last night the Philadelphia Phillies repeated as National Leagues East Division Champions. After reading what Phil wrote, I went back into my July 4th, Mets/Phillies files, hoping I had captured the three of them together. This was just prior the start of the inning, everyone was loose and having fun. But I like what Phil wrote. Growing up, from high school on, it was my goal to be a sports writer for one of the Philadelphia papers. I would read read Jayson Stark's baseball column in Government Affairs class. I'd try to write papers like Bill Conlin or Gary Smith over at SI. And, in college, I did get newspaper by-lines, never for the Philly papers but for covering sports (the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Red Barons) for local papers. After a while I realized I didn't want to make it my job. But sports writing is some of the best there is. The good ones can bring you to the game unlike even video can. ...the stoic second baseman made the pivot of his life... I just love that. It's hard to root for Philadelphia sports sometimes. Last night was not one of those nights... © Mark V. Krajnak 2008 | All Rights Reserved