Ravens LB Ray Lewis bemoaned the stress that turnovers put upon the team's defense in a 31-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The Ravens led 21-7 at halftime. But three turnovers in their own territory in the third quarter proved critical to the Steelers' 24-3 second-half flurry. "I tell you time and time again, the No. 1 thing you cannot do is turn the ball over in the red zone," Lewis said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "That will never change in this business ever. We are good, but to overcome all of that is harsh on my defense, and I wouldn't put that much on my defense because we went out and played our hearts out." The Ravens defense buckled after the turnovers, which put the Steelers on the Ravens' 23-, 25- and 23-yard lines. The Steelers converted the turnovers into 17 points. "It is too much of a momentum swing," Lewis said. "They are already at home, they already have things going their way, and you turn the ball over three in the red zone on our side of the field." Source: USA Today
The offence couldn't grind clock either or respond to the PIT flurry - I said before the game that 40 points was the magic number to win and sure enough.
Pretty sure it was your defense that gave up a 58 yard pass play on 3rd and 19 with 8 men in coverage. Maybe they should have dropped 9.
rayray throwing his offense under the bus? yes, it's the truth that their offense blew it yesterday but what benefit does it do for him to say it? we all saw what happened ............
If there is truth to his statements, why should he have lied instead? He's admitted in the past when the defense didn't get it done. What benefit comes from him saying it? What good comes out of him not being honest about it?
I disagree, the Defense is at much at fault as the offense, the Defense gave up the points and like cpgobrowns said they gave up a 50 yard pass play on 3rd and 19 with 8 guys in coverage. I can point ou plenty of mistakes the defense made too. The offense was non existent in the 2nd half but the Defense didn't stop the Steelers either and this is a team sport.
this is equal to qb's or wr's who say 'i can't throw it AND catch it too' .......... this IS rayray throwing his offense under the bus no matter which way you want to spin it. he is saying, 'the offense lost the game' and whether it's true or not, you don't say it about your teammates.
If he honestly feels that way after a long emotional game, why not respond with his true thoughts when asked a question? What detriment is there in it?
the detriment is in the mental/locker room aspect of rayray's influence on his team ........ anything he says his entire defensive unit will buy into and agree with ......... if he begins to publically question his offensive players' abilities to get the job done, his entire defense will begin to question their ability to succeed at all as a team ........... in-fighting in the locker room could become a problem. players letting down could become a problem. the implications are far-reaching. It may/may not actually affect anything but why take that risk if there is no BENEFIT from saying such things?
If players let down when called out, they are a problem. If someone I worked with said that I did a bad job at something, it makes me work harder to prove them wrong. I would prefer truth over sugar coating.
If he feels this way it shoulda stayed in house .....and he shouda let his feelings be heard to team privately .....
Absolutely, but it shouldnt have came to this, that was a bad play but if your really a team with Super Bowl aspirations you have to take care of the ball and do enough in the passing game to put a good team away. My defense played very well in coverage and stopping the run, the deep ball was a hiccup but it gets highlighted in a loss, bottom line is the 2nd half passing game was unacceptable.
yep, Antonio Pierce was on the SVP show yesterday and echoed the same sentiments I have .......... rayray shouldn't have said it .......... he knows better and he will have some repairing to do with some teammates.
think Ray is really worried if the offense is upset by his words? Think next season they'll go out and dog it because he said that? Or do you think next season his defense will have his back because he stuck up for them? Understand that it's a "team" sport but it's a team made up of two or three teams. I don't think it's going to hurt anything between now and next season. If this were in the middle of the season it might be more of a detriment but after this game???...Him stating the obvious??.....wouldn't worry about it.
