Baltimore Ravens Kick the Lions Where it Hurts

Dec 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (9) celebrates his game winning field goal with punter Sam Koch (4) and tight end Ed Dickson (84) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Ravens won 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Flacco had no touchdowns and no interceptions. He had a prototypical “B minus Man” game. To mediocrity and beyond. But that was enough. The Ravens still passed their test against a very talented Detroit Lions team. Justin Tucker came through in the clutch…which means the whole game…and I ain’t lion!

How does a team lead just about every stat in the game and still lose? Detroit beat the Ravens in total yardage, number of first downs rushing, number of first downs passing, red zone efficiency, and time of possession. But they also beat the Ravens in penalties, interceptions, and number of dropped passes (a big thank you to Megatron who gave us the ball twice and a drop in the end zone during a key two point conversion near the end of the game).

So did the Ravens win the game with fast-actin tenacity or did the Lions hand over the game like a welfare check?  As always, it’s some of both.  Baltimore made some awesome plays.  Detroit did too.  But the Ravens made fewer mistakes…and won.  Eight penalties and three turnovers aren’t a good recipe for success.  Really, the game should not have been this close.

Baltimore should have won this game fairly easily.  They had five drives end in field goals.  Yup…that’s twenty points they coulda, woulda, shoulda had.  But in the end they put their foot through the uprights of the Lions and walked away with a win.  Only one night after we watched Pittsburgh smash the Bengals in the mouth, the Ravens kicked the Lions in the… shin?