The importance of tonight's game

[Sports Guy]

I feel if we win tonight, we will be very hard pressed to miss the playoffs.

I think a win tonight means no less than 10 wins for the season IMO.

A loss tonight and i could see us winning anywhere from 8-11 games.

[NewMarketSean]

I think this is a huge game, but I don't expect them to win, so I won't be upset with a loss unless it comes down to a close game like the Bengals game. We need to get a win in the division and with the Browns playing well, we need to stay with them. It'll be hard to over take 2 teams for the division, much less stay with the other playoff hopefuls in the league.

So if we lose, I think we're in route to an 8-8 season, which would be OK for me if they go in a new direction in the offseason. Billick has had more than enough chances to get things going on offense and has never been able to.

So if we miss the playoffs, at least make it mean something.

[clapdiddy]

I think a loss tonight puts us in a different mentality. I can't see us beating either of NE or Indy, plus we've got some other tough games ahead.

I can see us winding up 7-9 if we lose this game, because I think the team will lose focus, and Billick's message will fall on deaf ears.

[NewMarketSean]

Whats funny is that we'll be 4-4 after tonight with a loss, the same record as the Saints. They are estatic to be back at 4-4, and we will want to die if the Ravens fall to 4-4.

[ccbird]

I think this is a huge game, but I don't expect them to win, so I won't be upset with a loss unless it comes down to a close game like the Bengals game. We need to get a win in the division and with the Browns playing well, we need to stay with them. It'll be hard to over take 2 teams for the division, much less stay with the other playoff hopefuls in the league.

So if we lose, I think we're in route to an 8-8 season, which would be OK for me if they go in a new direction in the offseason. Billick has had more than enough chances to get things going on offense and has never been able to.

So if we miss the playoffs, at least make it mean something.

Explain what you mean by different direction. You know as well as I do that Billick is not going to be fired after this year nor should he be. Truth of the matter is this team is going to be rebuilding somewhat within 2-3 years and there is nobody I would want more right now than Billick with a young team.

[Camden_yardbird]

I think this game is huge. I think if they lose tonight it will be a tough season, culminating in them missing the playoffs. I do not think that is neccesarily a bad thing either. It is becoming increasingly clear that some big changes need to be made. This team is at a place now where they have all of the offensive skill players (WR,TE, RB) to be good, and a defense trying to hang on long enough for everyone else to get their stuff straight.

[Hank Scorpio]

I think they'll miss the playoffs regardless of tonight.

[AgentOrange]

I think they'll miss the playoffs regardless of tonight.

I do too. I think we are looking at a 7-9 season this year.

[NewMarketSean]

Explain what you mean by different direction. You know as well as I do that Billick is not going to be fired after this year nor should he be. Truth of the matter is this team is going to be rebuilding somewhat within 2-3 years and there is nobody I would want more right now than Billick with a young team.

I'm not so sure about that. Billick hasn't won a playoff game since 2001 and his offense is still struggling to score points. Biscotti already gave him a second chance. We need a new system and some new players. Billick is a good motivator, this is true, but his in-game decision making is downright puzzling at times.

[MikeAD]

This game tongiht is far more important that the game yesterday between the Pats and the Colts yesterday.

Even more so, we need towin tonight and win next sunday against Cincy and hope, just hope that the Browns can get a win against Pitt.

Making the playoffs with our schedule were tough even if our team wasn't as bad as it has looked.

If the Ravens do lose tonight, the only way they make the playoffs is through a series of luck and some sort of huge Pittsburg fall.

[NewMarketSean]

I'm not sure if you can say Bischotti gave him a "second chance." He asked him to do some things differently, but second chance infers that he should have been fired in the first place. I'm not sure you can make that arguement that after the 2005 season Billick should have been fired, having made the playoffs 3 out of 5 years and winning a Super Bowl.

I think the gist of that whole situation was "You've got to change or your fired."

If that happens to me at my job, I look at that as a second chance and if the desired results aren't produced, I am fired.

I think Billick may have bought himself another year or 2 of job security after the 2006 season, but he still called a bad game in the playoffs and has made numerous boneheaded calls in games this year.

I just don't think you can assume that Billick is back next year if the Ravens miss the playoffs. If we make the playoffs and lose in the first game again, I think he could be fired.

He definitely doesn't have a tight grip on his job anymore. The leash may not be short, but it is there.

[ccbird]

I think the gist of that whole situation was "You've got to change or your fired."

If that happens to me at my job, I look at that as a second chance and if the desired results aren't produced, I am fired.

I think Billick may have bought himself another year or 2 of job security after the 2006 season, but he still called a bad game in the playoffs and has made numerous boneheaded calls in games this year.

I just don't think you can assume that Billick is back next year if the Ravens miss the playoffs. If we make the playoffs and lose in the first game again, I think he could be fired.

He definitely doesn't have a tight grip on his job anymore. The leash may not be short, but it is there.


He has a tight grip on his job going into next year. Even if we lose out he won't be fired.

Listen, I agree that his game management is horrible at times. His play calling is questionable too though I think he is getting too much blame because he doesn't have a QB that executes the plays very well right now. He has flaws but the grass isn't always greener on the other side. People will appreciate Billick more once he leaves. He is a top 10 coach.


As far as the game tonight I think we will be hard pressed to win without any corners but I do believe we are desperate and will put up a good fight. No doubt we are staring 8-8 in the face but I also hold out hope that we can somehow someway put it all together in the next few weeks. If we do we are talented enough to win 6 or 7 out of our last 8 games.

[NewMarketSean]

He has a tight grip on his job going into next year. Even if we lose out he won't be fired.

Listen, I agree that his game management is horrible at times. His play calling is questionable too though I think he is getting too much blame because he doesn't have a QB that executes the plays very well right now.

He has flaws but the grass isn't always greener on the other side. People will appreciate Billick more once he leaves. He is a top 10 coach.

It shouldn't be on the QB's shoulders when you've got multiple downs to get one yard at crucial times late in the game.

But we're pretty much in agreement. I just think that if Billick sees this team finish 8-8 or similar, either missing the playoffs or having another poor appearance in them, he stands a good chance to be fired.

And just because Billick is a good coach, doesn't mean he's necessarily a good fit. We know his flaws and we should always be trying to get better.

I just think we're seeing the beginning of a change in Ravens eras.

You had the Marchibroda years which were pretty bad.

The Billick years have been filled with the greatest highs and some bad lows, but mostly it's been good. But when it's mostly good it doesn't translate to playoff victories and championships.

[BaltimoreTerp]

It's like the thread I started a couple weeks ago: should we fire the head coach or the offensive coordinator?

I don't think anyone can seriously deny that Billick, as a real head coach, has been a success here in Baltimore. We just need someone better running the offense.

Preferably someone in the Marvin Lewis mold of not being connected to him (like Fassell and I believe Cavenaugh were).

[ccbird]

It shouldn't be on the QB's shoulders when you've got multiple downs to get one yard at crucial times late in the game.

But we're pretty much in agreement. I just think that if Billick sees this team finish 8-8 or similar, either missing the playoffs or having another poor appearance in them, he stands a good chance to be fired.

And just because Billick is a good coach, doesn't mean he's necessarily a good fit. We know his flaws and we should always be trying to get better.

I just think we're seeing the beginning of a change in Ravens eras.

You had the Marchibroda years which were pretty bad.

The Billick years have been filled with the greatest highs and some bad lows, but mostly it's been good. But when it's mostly good it doesn't translate to playoff victories and championships.

To me you are playing a dangerous game when you fire an overall successful coach after he has built up a franchise into a perennial contender because he has had some dissapointing playoff performances and an occasional down year. Now it might get to a point where even though we know Billick is a good coach that a change is needed to get a new face and philosophy but we aren't there yet IMO.

[NewMarketSean]

To me you are playing a dangerous game when you fire an overall successful coach after he has built up a franchise into a perennial contender because he has had some dissapointing playoff performances and an occasional down year. Now it might get to a point where even though we know Billick is a good coach that a change is needed to get a new face and philosophy but we aren't there yet IMO.

Wanna change this response? Did you watch the game? I'd say fire the HC and the coordinator.

If the Ravens come out looking this flat after a bye week, I don't think Billick is as good as the motivational HC people make him out to be.

[ccbird]

Wanna change this response? Did you watch the game? I'd say fire the HC and the coordinator.

If the Ravens come out looking this flat after a bye week, I don't think Billick is as good as the motivational HC people make him out to be.

My respose is pretty much in the other Billick bashing thread. But straight to the point, no I don't believe Billick should be fired. Last night proves more of the point that I made earlier in this thread that the players have to execute what the coach calls. There was absolutely no execution last night.

[NewMarketSean]

My respose is pretty much in the other Billick bashing thread. But straight to the point, no I don't believe Billick should be fired. Last night proves more of the point that I made earlier in this thread that the players have to execute what the coach calls. There was absolutely no execution last night.

I agree. But there was no discipline either as the penalties started to fly.

Billick had 2 weeks to get this team ready and they came out flat. There is something to be said about that.