subject: Baltimore Ravens Tickets - Ravens Show Jets Real 'hard Knocks' [print this page] The trouble with trash talking is that it often turns into eating crow if a player, coach or team can't back it up. The New York Jets learned this lesson first hand during Week One's Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the hype the Jets cast around their home season opener, the Ravens won 10-9. The Jets drew media attention to themselves during the offseason by starring in a HBO documentary called Hard Knocks: 2010 Training Camp with the New York Jets. Throughout the documentary, the Jets players put themselves forward as the team to beat in the league. Coach Rex Ryan even dubbed the team "soon to be champs" before the season began.
Perhaps inciting a tough team like the Ravens wasn't such a stellar strategy after all. The Ravens' team is stacked with tough players, especially on defense, and according to NFL.com, linebacker Ray Lewis summed up the Ravens' reaction to the Jets' bravado: "Anytime you challenge a warrior, a warrior is always going to respond." Lewis and other top players make Baltimore Ravens tickets top sellers every season.
When the game began, it appeared as though the Jets were on the right track. They started the scoring in the first quarter when Nick Folk kicked a 23-yard field goal. They widened their lead to six in the second quarter when Folk nailed a 28-yard field goal. The Ravens didn't let the Jets keep their lead long, because Willis McGahee scored on a one-yard run. The extra point meant the Ravens led 7-6 at the half. After the half, the Ravens continued their momentum when Billy Cundiff kicked a 25-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Jets closed their lead to one with a 48-yard field goal by Folk, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Ravens' tough defense.
The disparity between the two teams can best be seen in their passing totals. Although neither quarterback managed to throw a touchdown-and Joe Flacco was the only QB with an interception-the Ravens' defense was able to virtually shut down Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. Sanchez was 10 of 21 for 74 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 56.4. Flacco was 20 of 38 for 248 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 62.2. A bright spot for the Jets was the performance of new addition LaDainian Tomlinson, who had 62 yards on 11 attempts. Ray Rice led the Ravens' rushing with 43 yards on 21 carries.
The boasting by Ryan may not have affected other opponents as much as the Ravens because of his history with the team. Prior to his gig as the head coach of the Jets, which began in 2009, Ryan was a longtime defensive coordinator for the Ravens. He was also the Ravens' assistant head coach in 2008. According to USA Today, Ryan conceded after the game, "We weren't at our best today, but that's a credit to the Ravens." If both teams do well, they could face off again in the postseason.
