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After beating the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, the Baltimore Ravens celebrated like they won the Super Bowl.
This week, they played like their season did end with that game.
How could a team that did what it did on the road against the Steelers, staking a claim as the AFC's best team, lose to the Seahawk 22-17 Sunday?
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When the Ravens rallied to beat the Steelers in dramatic fashion last week, winning with a last-minute touchdown pass, coach John Harbaugh let his emotions flow on the podium after the game. It was a high moment for sure, but he might have gone a bit overboard.
Players follow the lead of their coach. When he's up, they're up. When he's too up, they might get that way as well and there's only one way to go -- and that's down.
The Ravens looked flat early against Seattle and by the time they got out of their funk they were down 22-6. This is a Seahawks team that came in ranked 29th on offense and 16th on defense.
Let me start off out CBSSports.com Weekly Grades by giving the Ravens a giant "F" for their showing in Seattle.
Baltimore has now lost roads games to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle. The common denominator in those games is that Ray Rice didn't get the ball. Rice had five carries against the Seahawks. Joe Flacco threw 52 passes.
In the three road losses, Rice carried 26 times for 98 yards. Remember after the loss to Jacksonville that defensive end Terrell Suggs complained that Rice wasn't getting the ball enough.
Another thing all three losses have in common is they came after big victories. The loss to Tennessee came after they blew out the Steelers in Week 1. The loss to Jacksonville came after they blew out Houston. And now this one comes after they beat the Steelers again.
The Ravens have to avoid getting too high after big victories, especially their coach, or they might have more of these surprising losses to come.
Where is the consistency?
| Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 | |||
| Team | Grade | GPA | Oakland Raiders 24, San Diego Chargers 17 |
 | A | 2.71 | Raiders: Carson Palmer wasn't spectacular throughout the night. He committed two second-half turnovers (fumble and an interception) that kept San Diego around until the end of the game. Palmer, however, demonstrated the ability to lead the Raiders offense to quick scores and has shown improvement in consecutive weeks. With the win, the Raiders show that they are a franchise on the rise. -- Dan McLellan, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | F | 1.87 | Chargers: Sure, the offensive line was beat up with Kris Dielman out and Marcus McNeill (neck stinger) and Louis Vasquez (ankle) leaving the game with injuries. You can even blame it on the depleted linebacking corps that is missing Shaun Phillips and Larry English and lost ILB Takeo Spikes (concussion) during the game. But the time for excuses is over. Something has got to change in San Diego. -- Dan McLellan, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011 | |||
| Team | Grade | GPA | New Orleans Saints 26, Atlanta Falcons 23 |
 | C | 2.70 | Saints: Some aspects of play for the Saints were good. Their offensive line kept Drew Brees upright and gave him tons of time. However, New Orleans was outgained, failed to win the time of possession battle, and gave up a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter to Atlanta. Even with the win, New Orleans should wonder how things went so wrong. -- Knox Bardeen, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.04 | Falcons: Atlanta's secondary has serious issues, and QB Matt Ryan is still having problems with accuracy, but when the Falcons faced a 10-point deficit late in the fourth quarter, they banded together and forced overtime. However, the offense couldn't do anything right in overtime and a poor coaching decision that gave New Orleans the ball in field goal range ended Atlanta's day. -- Knox Bardeen, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Tennessee Titans 30, Carolina Panthers 3 |
 | B | 2.47 | Titans: The Titans did not play overly inspiring football. They didn't need to. The Panthers appeared to perform so lethargically and created so many mistakes, the Titans did enough to create the road rout. The maligned Titans' run defense even got into the act, limiting the Panthers' top two RBs to 58 total yards rushing. -- Jeff Hawkins, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | F | 2.22 | Panthers: In the first quarter alone, the Panthers failed in all phases. On offense, two of their first three drives resulted in 3-and-outs. On defense, they failed to execute an open-field tackle, resulting in a long TD. On special teams, they surrendered a punt return for a TD. Their overall play did not improve much the remaining three quarters. -- Jeff Hawkins, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Cincinnati Bengals 17 |
 | B | 2.70 | Steelers: The effort was far from perfect. An interception, five sacks allowed and multiple missed opportunities to put the game away let the Bengals hang around. Yet, the Steelers defense of old finally showed up with two fourth-quarter INTs to equal their total for the season just in time to pull out a critical division road victory. -- Paul Dehner, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C | 2.73 | Bengals: With star wide receiver A.J. Green out due to injury, the Bengals moved the ball well enough to twice be in position to score the game-tying TD in the fourth quarter. Both of those ended in INTs. Andy Dalton looked like a rookie in a big spot for the first time this season. -- Paul Dehner, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Cleveland Browns 12, St. Louis Rams 13 |
 | C | 1.88 | Browns: The Browns were killed by mistakes, including the ultimate killer, a terrible snap by Ryan Pontbriand that resulted in a missed game-winning FG attempt by PK Phil Dawson. That ruined strong performances by QB Colt McCoy, WR Greg Little, RB Chris Ogbonnaya and rookie defensive linemen Jabaal Sheard and Phil Taylor. -- Marty Gitlin, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C | 1.46 | Rams: The Rams lucked out on a bad snap by the Browns to sneak out with a victory. They didn't do anything particularly well, though RB Steven Jackson allowed them to control the ball at times. This was not a strong performance, but rather a statement regarding a mistake-prone game by the Browns. -- Marty Gitlin, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Dallas Cowboys 44, Buffalo Bills 7 |
 | A+ | 2.52 | Cowboys: The Cowboys simply can't play better than this. This was their most complete game this year and probably in several years. QB Tony Romo was nearly perfect in the first half and looks to be as healthy as he has been all year. The defense forced turnovers and even scored a TD while the special teams was solid again, with three FGs and great field position all day. -- Nick Eatman, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D- | 2.52 | Bills: The Bills were never in the game, getting down 21-0 and never had much of a fight. Beaten on all levels, the Bills will leave this game concerned about a run defense that couldn't get off the field, a QB that threw too many picks and overall just getting whipped in what was deemed to be a swing game for their season. -- Nick Eatman, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Jacksonville Jaguars 17, Indianapolis Colts 3 |
 | B | 2.27 | Jaguars: The Jaguars played very well on defense, holding the Colts to 212 yards and 13 first downs. They also forced three turnovers and had five sacks. Offense continued to be a struggle, but the Jaguars took advantage of their best drive of the season and a fourth-quarter turnover to get a victory. -- Tom James, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C- | 1.54 | Colts: A wasted performance by the Colts defense. Indy didn't allow the Jaguars to drive the field for their two touchdowns. Jacksonville got great field position after Colts turnovers that set up both of their scores. Indy's offense was spotty at best. -- John Oehser, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Denver Broncos 17, Kansas City Chiefs 10 |
 | B | 2.19 | Broncos: Offensively, they did everything they could to not throw the ball and it worked as Tim Tebow led a productive rushing attack despite losing Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno in the first quarter. The defense seldom gave Chiefs QB Matt Cassel time to set his feet and throw, and the K.C. running game was nowhere to be seen. -- Bob Gretz, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | F | 1.71 | Chiefs: It was nothing fancy facing the K.C. defense, but they were unable to stop the Broncos running game, even after both Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno left the game with injuries in the first quarter. Offensively, the Chiefs were able to sustain a possession only once and special teams provided no spark. It was a drubbing across the board. -- Bob Gretz, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Miami Dolphins 20, Washington Redskins 9 |
 | A | 1.83 | Dolphins: Miami ended a seven-game home losing streak and won back-to-back games. Both are huge accomplishments. The Dolphins also forced two turnovers, one an INT at its own 5-yard line. Excellent effort by a team that was teetering on the brink of disaster. -- Chris Perkins, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.04 | Redskins: The Redskins didn't do much of anything positive all day. They missed two FGs, threw an INT at Miami's 5-yard line, struggled to run the ball and allowed a team that had lost 12 of its previous 13 home games to win. -- Chris Perkins, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Arizona Cardinals 21, Philadelphia Eagles 17 |
 | B | 1.62 | Cardinals: The Cards got a big game from WR Larry Fitzgerald, a wire-to-wire defensive effort, they showed the ability to overcome adversity and they ended an 11-game road losing streak. Jay Feely missed two FGs, QB John Skelton threw two terrible picks and the Cards had an Adrian Wilson INT in the end zone nullified by a penalty, but they won. They actually won. -- Craig Morgan, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | F | 1.82 | Eagles: The Eagles lost an ugly game to a bad team that was playing a second-year, back-up QB. The Cards' John Skelton didn't play well, but he played better than Michael Vick, who had a terrible day. The only bright light on offense was LeSean McCoy. The defense once again let a fourth-quarter lead get away. On the plus side, special teams played pretty well. -- Kevin Noonan, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Houston Texans 37, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 |
 | A | 3.01 | Texans: The Texans were solid in every way. QB Matt Schaub was dead on, completing 11 of 15 passes for 242 yards and touchdown passes of 80 and 78 yards for a QB rating of 154.9. The Texans also ran the ball well (42 carries for 179 yards). Defensively, Houston held Tampa to 231 total yards and completely dominated through the first three quarters. -- Scott Purks, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D- | 2.00 | Buccaneers: The Bucs did not catch, tackle, struggled in the red zone, lost a fumble, threw three interceptions and collected penalties that ruined any possible rhythm. From the game's first play, an 80-yard touchdown pass to Houston WR Jacoby Jones, Tampa played terribly. In the end, Houston outgained Tampa 420 yards to 231. -- Scott Purks, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Seattle Seahawks 22, Baltimore Ravens 17 |
 | A- | 2.14 | Seahawks: The Seahawks improbably knocked off the first-place Ravens to end their three-game skid. The offense, led by a workhorse effort from Marshawn Lynch, was far from spectacular. The defense was solid, but it was special teams that made the difference, forcing two fumbles on kick returns, and making all five field goal attempts. -- John Boyle, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 3.01 | Ravens: The Ravens knew this was a potential trap game, but they came out flat on the road and lost to a team they should have beaten. The lack of rushing attempts was curious, and Joe Flacco, despite some big numbers, missed a lot of open receivers. Special teams were a disaster, turning the ball over and missing a pair of field goals early in the game. -- John Boyle, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | Chicago Bears 37, Detroit Lions 13 |
 | A- | 2.79 | Bears: Only a poor showing by the offensive line prevented a higher mark, as Lions defensive tackles prevented the pull-blocking which had keyed the Bears' ground game resurgence. The defense played classic cover-2 style and Devin Hester looked like another Chicago No. 23 -- Michael Jordan -- as he excelled while ill and while suffering from an ankle sprain. -- Gene Chamberlain, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.99 | Lions: Detroit's defense did their part, holding Chicago's offense to 216 total yards. Their effort was negated by six turnovers, a struggling run game, woeful special teams, and Matthew Stafford's worst game of the season. Detroit's players were outclassed in nearly every key situation. The loss puts a major dent in their playoff prospects. -- John Kreger, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | San Francisco 49ers 27, NY Giants 20 |
 | B+ | 2.89 | 49ers: At 8-1 and coming off a thrilling game against a Giants team representing the number one media market, it will be impossible for the 49ers to be under the radar any longer. Alex Smith came out throwing and the offense shrugged off Frank Gore's injury to score just enough, while the defense capitalized on two INTs by CB Carlos Rogers. -- Michael Erler, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | B- | 2.68 | Giants: The Giants' fourth quarter magic ran out as a 14-point deficit with 8:30 to go was too much to overcome. Eli Manning threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns and had several jaw-dropping throws, but he also had two horrific interceptions. The defense talked a good game against QB Alex Smith but let him make too many plays. -- Michael Erler, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Team | Grade | GPA | New England Patriots 37, NY Jets 16 |
 | A+ | 2.40 | Patriots: The Patriots put relentless pressure on Mark Sanchez, and tackled well when he completed passes. The defense forced two interceptions. The offense kicked into high gear when it went hurry-up. Special teams recovered a fumble deep in Jets territory. The Patriots did all this with injuries at linebacker, safety and cornerback. A total team victory that gives them a sweep of the Jets and a stranglehold on the AFC East race. -- Greg Bedard, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | D | 2.26 | Jets: The Jets won the time of possession battle in the first half. However, they were unable to capitalize on it and headed into the second half down 13-9. In the second half, QB Tom Brady implemented the no-huddle and a tired and seemingly confused Jets defense was no match for it. A missed field goal by K Nick Folk and a muffed punt by RB Joe McKnight were rare mistakes for the special teams unit. -- Lisa Zimmerman, RapidReports Correspondent |
| Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 | |||
| Team | Grade | GPA | Green Bay Packers 45, Minnesota Vikings 7 |
 | A- | 3.22 | Packers: Forget nitpicking, it feels like downright nit-harvesting to withhold an 'A+' grade after Monday night's 45-7 home win over the Vikings. The QB was Rodgersian (140.3 passer rating); the offense splashed across five TDs; the defense played incontrovertibly its best game of the season. The only grumbles concern the pedestrian run game, the handful of QB hits and the muffed PR. Again, nits. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent |
 | C- | 1.52 | Vikings: Any grade lower would just feel cruel. The only way to look at the Vikings' 45-7 loss Monday night is to accept they were starting a rookie QB on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions who were favored by nearly two TDs and playing their best game of the season. There was nothing coach Leslie Frazier, QB Christian Ponder or even DE Jared Allen could do. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent |
| GPA Key (updated through season) | ||
| A = 4.0 | A- = 3.7 | B+ = 3.3 |
| B = 3.0 | B- = 2.7 | C+ = 2.3 |
| C = 2.0 | C- = 1.7 | D+ = 1.3 |
| D = 1.0 | D- = 0.7 | |
