Raven Meltdown thread

[Atlas]

Let the Raven Bashing begin

Unjustified behavior means Ravens are bad excuse for team

Originally published Oct 10, 2005

SoCals link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.steele10oct10,1,3066655.column?coll=bal-sports-football&ctrack=1&cset=true

David Steele

Detroit They lost their composure, and because of it they lost the game. Then, those who bothered sticking around to answer for themselves started hinting that the officials took the game from them.

Yesterday at Ford Field, they were worse than the Same Old Ravens. They were the Same Old Raiders.

This comes from someone who spent much of the past five years in Oakland, watching talent-laden rosters implode at crucial moments, then offer two explanations for their slip-ups: aggressiveness and the NFL's conspiracy against them. Pride, yes; poise, not often enough; excuses, by the bunch.

Are these Ravens that bad? If yesterday's 35-17 humiliation by the Detroit Lions was any indication, they're pretty close. It wasn't so much the 21 penalties; they've had their sloppy moments this year, dating back to the preseason. It was the high percentage of dumb, pointless penalties, avoidable merely by shutting up and walking away.

Losing a game, even to a bad team, happens sometimes. But taunting, late hitting, cursing, flashing obscene gestures, jumping in opponents' faces, bumping officials, hurling footballs at restraining walls -- that's unprofessional. That indicates immaturity. It reflects pathetically poor discipline.

It was a virus that ran through the roster, from Pro Bowl players to special teams players -- but in the end, responsibility lies with the head coach. To his credit, in the moments after a historic taint to the legacy of pro football in this city, Brian Billick answered more questions than he wanted to. But he'll have a lot more to answer in the coming days and the rest of the season.

The questions that arose from this totally eclipse the old concerns about the offense. If these Ravens can't resist the urge to go off on an official after a critical call, who cares how efficient the quarterback is? Worse, if they can't even recognize that they caused their own mess, how are they going to clean it up?

Never was this more evident than during those 9 minutes and 38 seconds of game time in the third quarter, the length of the Lions' touchdown drive that essentially put the game away. It was the most shameful 10-minute stretch in franchise history. It wasn't the only time in the game that the Ravens' composure abandoned them; it was just the worst time, and the most concentrated burst.

The details are too familiar by now, although no one should ever be allowed to forget that the Ravens managed to get two players thrown out, on separate plays during one possession, including after an extra point, and both for the same reason -- not for fighting, but for bumping the referee. Terrell Suggs did it "with malice in his heart," the ref later said.

"Inexcusable" doesn't begin to describe a stretch like that.

At that point, the Lions were trying to give them the game, and the home crowd was fully expecting them to do it. Apparently the Ravens were cursing at the officials, fans and football gods too loudly to notice. Pop Warner players have shown more poise in the face of pressure.

"Giving in to the emotion of the situation" is how Billick described it. And, they'll all tell you, there's nothing wrong with emotion.

"It's an emotional game. You can never determine how your emotions are going to go," Ray Lewis told a crowd around his locker. Actually, championship teams determine exactly that. This team is 1-3, and it just played so out of control, you wonder how it got that one win.

Lewis also was one of the primary finger-pointers, and the chorus he sang with Billick ("We have no structure right now in the league for me to comment on the officiating in an appropriate way") and some of his teammates made for a sad tune.

"You just hope [the officials] get critiqued the same way we do," Lewis said.

Lewis should know better. He should be bigger than that. But at least he stuck around to talk. Some key players made themselves as scarce afterward as their composure had been on the field.

There were plenty running their mouths last week at M&T Bank Stadium after beating the beat-up New York Jets. They had lots to say about fan behavior and about stories in the paper. All of that after their first win of the season.

But if they didn't think they owed their public an explanation this week, they know to whom they have to answer from now on -- those demanding faces in their mirrors.

Can they even look into those mirrors and call the player they see in it "professional"? Can they promise that if they get outplayed, outworked or out-coached, that they can at least keep their heads in the game?

It doesn't seem like too much to ask. Until yesterday, it wasn't

[Atlas]

I'm enjoy this teams misery a little too much. This can't be healthy.

SoCals link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.preston10oct10,1,5302983.column?coll=bal-sports-football

Billick has to take responsibility for how low Ravens have sunk

Originally published Oct 10, 2005

Mike Preston

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detroit The Ravens, celebrating their 10th season in Baltimore, produced the lowest moment in team history yesterday, a 35-17 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

No one cares about the final margin of victory. Blowouts are a part of the game. What was more troubling than the Ravens' poorly schemed passing game and lack of big plays were the 21 penalties, one short of the NFL record for one game, which also resulted in two players being ejected.

Happy anniversary, Ravens.

In a year in which many experts thought the franchise would make the city proud again by challenging for a Super Bowl title, the Ravens lacked discipline and were out of control yesterday.

They pouted, threw tantrums and taunted opposing players - and one of our beloved bunch even drew a penalty for giving an obscene gesture to the crowd.

Maybe it was because they were breathing that Detroit "Bad Boys" air, or perhaps they wanted revenge on Ravens fans who booed Kyle Boller's injury in the season opener, but this was embarrassing.

There have been other low moments before, like blowing a 21-0 second-quarter lead to Pittsburgh in 1997 before losing, 42-34. There were the numerous losses to Jacksonville in the first few years after the club moved from Cleveland, the five-game touchdown drought in 2000, falling to Tennessee in the first round of the playoffs after the 2003 season and losing a big lead to Cincinnati last year.

But yesterday, the Baltimore Ravens became the Baltimore Brats.

"I'm sorry I didn't finish my coloring book," said former Ravens majority owner Art Modell, trying to find some humor. "Honestly, I had more pain watching that game than I did falling last week and having an operation on my back."

It feeds into the negative image the Ravens have around the NFL as a team of misfits and thugs. After the game, Ravens coach Brian Billick said he had to let some of the emotion subside and watch the film before he could fully answer any questions.

What's he going to see that he didn't see yesterday up close and personal? Didn't he see defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu making an obscene gesture and taunting fans while giving the Lions a first down on the 1-yard line after the Ravens had stopped Detroit on a goal-line stand in the third quarter?

Didn't he see outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and B.J. Ward (in fact, it was safety Ed Reed) both inadvertently bump officials after penalties and then get ejected? They should have called in the National Guard because so many Ravens had to be escorted out of the stadium.

NFL referee Mike Carey threw his flag, his cap and was about to throw his underwear while tossing Suggs out of the game.

"He [Suggs] bumped me with malice in his heart and he was gone. He said a number of things to me," Carey said.

Regardless of the call, nothing warrants that behavior. If that wasn't enough, how about cornerback Chris McAlister slamming a ball down in front of Lions receiver Kevin Johnson after an interception in the second quarter or receiver Derrick Mason throwing a ball into the wall after he disagreed with an official's call on a possible reception in the fourth quarter?

The Ravens imploded, and Billick needs to accept a lot of the blame. You began to see this team unravel last year with the different factions in the locker room and how star players were treated differently from others.

This is the team that has no curfews and the cream-puff training camp. Billick says he wants to treat his players like men, but they certainly didn't act like adults yesterday.

It has been that way for years, and just look at all the penalties. In years past, the Ravens could compensate for mistakes because they had talented players like Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden, Peter Boulware and Jamal Lewis, but they are past their primes.

Billick said he will evaluate the situation with the penalties, but never used these words, "My fault; this is my team."

Oh, we waited.


Mike Preston

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The media gave him numerous opportunities, but he didn't look in the mirror. There is an arrogance there that will never be denied.

But this is also a team that represents Baltimore, and the Ravens are struggling. The referees blew a call when Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington threw a pass in the first quarter that was ruled a fumble, with the Lions recovering and running it 27 yards to the Ravens' 2-yard line.

Detroit scored two plays later. But if the Ravens had continued to hustle and play until the whistle, they could have recovered the fumble. At that point, your mind shoots back to training camp, when the Ravens had to go to the air-conditioned practice facility because it was too hot, or when they didn't practice because they were too tired. A hungry team plays until the whistle ends the play.

There was a time when the Ravens' style worked. They had an outspoken coach and players who intimidated the opposition with a lot of trash talking. But those times are gone. This is a poorly coached team that is hampered every week by penalties, a team that saw a special teams player line up on the wrong side of the field again yesterday on the kickoff return team.

The Ravens need to get rid of the dancing, prancing and temper tantrums, all the cussing and fussing. They need some guidelines, and if they can't abide by them, then it's time for those players to move on.

Billick has to become accountable, and maybe today he'll stand up and say it's his team and his problem.

There is a problem, right?

And maybe new owner Steve Bisciotti needs to issue a statement about how his franchise and city were disgraced by that sad display yesterday.

It was a low moment, the worst in Ravens history.

Happy anniversary, Ravens.

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

[Atlas]

I'm enjoy this teams misery a little too much. This can't be healthy.



It was a low moment, the worst in Ravens history.

Happy anniversary, Ravens.

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

That's saying alot since they got a guy that was involved in a double homicide and another player busted for selling dugs.

[ZachKC]

I can't say I am enjoying any of this. It isn't good for the game.

Hopefully this can be a wake up call for this team to act like pros.

[brncs_fan]

Regardless of how other bronco fans have perceived the ravens, I have always admired there hard nose style and ability to play good defense.

What happened yesterday was unexcusable.

Ray Ray saying that he hopes the refs are held accountable was just a poor poor showing. How about holding yourself accountable.

[ZachKC]

I have always admired there hard nose style and ability to play good defense.


I agree with you. I felt the same about the past Ravens.

These Ravens are not that team. Nothing to fear about them.

[brncs_fan]

I agree with you. I felt the same about the past Ravens.

These Ravens are not that team. Nothing to fear about them.
Sad part is, I thought with their offseason pickups, I thought they would be looking at another title run similar to the one they had in 2001. All defense and just enough offense.

My bad

guess this is why I suck it up every year in FF

[Atlas]

Sad part is, I thought with their offseason pickups, I thought they would be looking at another title run similar to the one they had in 2001. All defense and just enough offense.

My bad

guess this is why I suck it up every year in FF

A lot of people did. They were the invogue Superbowl selection by many of the "experts"

I'm so glad they blow. I hate their coach, their RB, the LB hell, I hate their p+ssy QB, when is he coming back anyway?

[ZachKC]

I still enjoy watching Ray Lewis and Ed Reed go to work every Sunday.

[elsid13]

Boller might be back at the end of October, but more likely it will mid to late November. And between the skins losing and ravens meltdown this is going to be a good week for me in the DC/Baltimore area. Now if the Steeler lose that would be great.

[brncs_fan]

A lot of people did. They were the invogue Superbowl selection by many of the "experts"

I'm so glad they blow. I hate their coach, their RB, the LB hell, I hate their p+ssy QB, when is he coming back anyway?
My question is:

Do we hate them for what they are or for our inability to beat them?

[elsid13]

My question is:

Do we hate them for what they are or for our inability to beat them?


Both. Sick of MTV Cribs show that has Lewis calling Broncos soft. Sick of ego on Belick. And pissed that they had Denver number for last couple of years.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

With all of those egos, the meltdown was inevitable. I think they will lose a couple of defenders in the offseason and have a few down years ahead of them.

[brncs_fan]

With all of those egos, the meltdown was inevitable. I think they will lose a couple of defenders in the offseason and have a few down years ahead of them.
Ahead of them? Pittsburg and Cincy arn't even looking in their rearview mirrors anymore and they are even under the browns at this point.

[Atlas]

My question is:

Do we hate them for what they are or for our inability to beat them?

that's a large part of it. but the colts beat denver worse and i don't hate them

[ZachKC]

For some reason the Chiefs have done really well against the Ravens. We own them. They rent thier house from us...

The Jags on the other hand...

The Jags are to the Chiefs what the Ravens are to the Broncos. For those of you taking the SATs soon.

[Old Dude]

Kind of reminds me of the meltdown we had in Baltimore a few years ago.

[MrPeepers]

I get great enjoyment seeing the yardbirds flounder, however the last thing I want is any high draft pick talent going to this team, I hope they win 7 games against our primary opponants teams and choke the rest away.

[yavoon]

shoulda kept dilfer, ****ing retards.

[NaptownChief]

If Billick wasn't such an offensive genus he would probably be fired. ;D

[Garcia Bronco]

Billiack has been living off the talent of others for years...Moss...Lewis...M Lewis.

[BMF Bronco]

If Billick wasn't such an offensive genus he would probably be fired. ;D
I think the owner is afraid that is he fires Billick, he'll get his ass kicked. :moody:

[Merlin]

shoulda kept dilfer, ****ing retards.
Don't always agree with you, but you got that right. I always thought Billick was an overrated HC. His gift is supposed to by offense, but never have they shown any potential in that area. Yet if you ask Billick, he is god's gift to football.

[Clockwork Orange]

shoulda kept dilfer, ****ing retards.

Even more amazing is that they dumped Dilfer for Elvis Grbackup.

[Kaylore]

Biggest frauds in the NFL right now: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers.

[ludo21]

Biggest frauds in the NFL right now: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers.

Yep :giggle: cant say im not too surprised. You cant just bunch talent together and expect them to play well as a unit.

[NaptownChief]

Biggest frauds in the NFL right now: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers.



Panthers at least have the ability to pass the ball along with rushing it a little. They took a pretty big dagger when Kris Jenkins went down for the year. They aren't good but they don't belong in the same sentence with the Baltimore Billicks.

[BMF Bronco]

Biggest frauds in the NFL right now: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers.
I am throwing the bungles in there as well, granted that is going to get a lot of guff from a bunch of people here. That being said, I think this way because they finally played a decent team and lost. Granted they did almost stage a comeback, but I am a firm beleiver that it is situations like that which seperates the contenders from the pretenders. The only real offensive weapons they have are Johnson and Palmer. Rudy Johnson has a lot to prove still.

Now bring on the "idiot, moron, etc" comments...

[Tredici]

The Ravens and the Panthers? Not even close for me. John Fox is tough, hardnosed coach and his players reflect that. Billick is an egotistical chump and his players reflect that.

[Dudeskey]

I'd say that Billick could be nearing the en of his career as Ravens HC. Jim Fassel could have himself a head coaching job next year...™

[NaptownChief]

Speaking of meltdowns:



http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl?PHPSESSID=7cb2149186e9a5ed9140b65231e4d490

Saints | McAllister Likely Out for the Year
Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:50:40 -0700

Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com, reports New Orleans Saints RB Deuce McAllister (knee) had an initial test on his injured knee, which showed a torn ACL. He will have a second opinion before deciding definitely on the season-ending surgery. All indications are that the Saints will have to continue without him for the remainder of the year.

[ludo21]

Speaking of meltdowns:



http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl?PHPSESSID=7cb2149186e9a5ed9140b65231e4d490

Saints | McAllister Likely Out for the Year
Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:50:40 -0700

Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com, reports New Orleans Saints RB Deuce McAllister (knee) had an initial test on his injured knee, which showed a torn ACL. He will have a second opinion before deciding definitely on the season-ending surgery. All indications are that the Saints will have to continue without him for the remainder of the year.


Man that sucks, that will hurt them. Good thing Antwain Smith isnt too shabby.

[24champ]

I'd say that Billick could be nearing the en of his career as Ravens HC. Jim Fassel could have himself a head coaching job next year...™

Billick would make a perfect replacement for vermeil......

[NaptownChief]

Billick would make a perfect replacement for vermeil......


I was thinking he would be a great replacment for Kubiak as the Donks OC.

[bloodsunday]

Let's rewind to preseason/offseason... People are laughing at Denver for Mo and "the Lake Erie Conspiracy" and praising Baltimore for bringing in Mason, Clayton, etc.... They are heaping praise on KC for their moves... and still laughing at Denver.

Who's laughing now? I am critical of the Broncos (maybe too much so) but I'll give them this --- they never lose their composure like that. Mike Shanahan has brough stability and respectability to this team. We have had one losing season since he's been here and it was the year after his HoF QB retired and his stud RB was lost for the year. (I think even the mighty Patriots would be a losing team if Brady retired and Corey Dillon were lost for the year). Shanny is the definition of professionalism and maybe even to a fault, IMO.

After his tirade (in a win) two years ago... I guarantee Billick complains about replay and that fumble. Too bad he is overlooking the fact that his players quit on the play... and Deion quit on the Bryson TD run.

[Mile High Shack]

all this being said

we will still lose to the Ravens

we can't beat them

[Kaylore]

all this being said

we will still lose to the Ravens

we can't beat them
We've beat them before.

[Mile High Shack]

We've beat them before.

1996 doesn't count, that was W.E. not A.E.

we have some sort of mental block, we simply are scared crapless of Ray-Ray

[brncs_fan]

1996 doesn't count, that was W.E. not A.E.

we have some sort of mental block, we simply are scared crapless of Ray-Ray
We also played them last time without Plummer and were still winning with Kanell behind center until Mobely went down. Game changed right then.

[Garcia Bronco]

We also played them last time without Plummer and were still winning with Kanell behind center until Mobely went down. Game changed right then.


I was at that game....I was at the game that ended Mobley's career. :(

[Garcia Bronco]

Man...I tell you we better beat them this year. I had to kiss so much ass the last time we played them it was ridiculous. The Broncos better come to beat them...and they better come for a physcal beating too....cause that's a tough defensive team..

[Mile High Shack]

Man...I tell you we better beat them this year. I had to kiss so much ass the last time we played them it was ridiculous. The Broncos better come to beat them...and they better come for a physcal beating too....cause that's a tough defensive team..

I know

but until I see them not intimidated to play them

I will chalk it up as a loss every year

[24champ]

Is it me or did things really fall apart when Marvin Lewis left the ravens for the Bengals and look how they are doing.....

[Atlas]

Man...I tell you we better beat them this year. I had to kiss so much ass the last time we played them it was ridiculous. The Broncos better come to beat them...and they better come for a physcal beating too....cause that's a tough defensive team..

I agree Denver needs to put a smackdown on them. http://www.comicscardsandmore.com/promos/smackdown.JPG

[-Slap-]

That's saying alot since they got a guy that was involved in a double homicide and another player busted for selling dugs.
Didn't Terrell Suggs beat a guy down with a baseball bat, too?

Talk about malice in your heart.

:laugh:

[-Slap-]

The Broncos defense is going to pitch a shutout against Baltimore and I can't wait.

Ray Lewis will be a Raider in 2007.

[bendog]

I can't say I am enjoying any of this. It isn't good for the game.

Hopefully this can be a wake up call for this team to act like pros.
It's terrible for the game, because so long as billik is there, they'll suck, but now with the media after billik, he might be fired, and that would be horrible, imo

[Bob's your Information Minister]

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/DTF112100918_1024x768.jpg

[watermock]

I don't know if Thugs...I mean Suggs used a bat...hadn't heard it...but at Oakland East Coast, it wouldn't surprise me.

They have a convicted drug felon at RB

A convicted witness to a still unresolved double murder of obstruction of justice

When Minnesota missed it's draft pick it was because Billick pulled the rug out from under them and they ran out of time. Luckily, Kevin Williams was the right pick...Simms isn't poop.

Billick also pulled a sack of lies on Shanahan, who thought he had a big trade at #20 with Billick for Boller...but Billick was moving behind his back at the same time with Green Bay one pick earlier. Shanahan was under the impression they had an agreement...stunned, the Broncos wound up taking Foster too early.

Ray Lewis totally blindsiding Keith Burns just for the fun of it...Burns was 20 yards behind that play. Ray Ray simply wanted to play thug.

You can go on and on about this classless organization that I literally hate worse than Oakland now. Hell, they even snuck out of Cleveland during the middle of the night to get a hotel in Baltimore...everything they have done for the past decade has been full of lies, deciet, arrogance and bullying.

I just hope that Keith Burns gets to get a blindside in on Ray Ray...I don't care if it draws a personal foul...he's got it coming. Burns is lucky he was so tough he didn't break his neck.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

[QUOTE=-Slap-]The Broncos defense is going to pitch a shutout against Baltimore and I can't wait.
QUOTE]


That would be great and I think it is very possible.

[Atlas]

Childish Ravens lack discipline - and victories

SoCals link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/nfl/wires/10/11/2020.ap.fbn.on.football.unruly.ravens.0883/index.html
Posted: Tuesday Oct 11, 2005 3:46 PM

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) - Five years ago, Brian Billick had a team that respected his unique approach to coaching in the NFL.

Billick ran a relaxed training camp, limited full-contact hitting during the season and rarely enforced a curfew. In short, he never backed away from his player-friendly philosophy, which he reiterated Monday: "You act like a man, I'll treat you like a man.''


Led by hungry veterans Shannon Sharpe, Tony Siragusa, Rod Woodson and Ray Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens won the 2001 Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, the 2005 Ravens aren't acting like men. They're behaving like children.

Baltimore was called for 21 penalties and had two players ejected Sunday in a 35-17 loss to the Detroit Lions. Cornerback Chris McAlister spiked a ball in his fallen opponent's face after an interception; tackle Maake Kemoeatu was flagged for making an obscene gesture to the crowd; and receiver Derrick Mason threw a ball against the wall after his plea for an interference call was ignored.

"They acted like out-of-control men,'' Billick acknowledged.

Perhaps the most telling aspect of the unsightly afternoon was that Billick instructed his players at halftime to ignore the referees and just play football. They nodded in agreement, then ran out of the locker room and self-destructed.

Another coach might have considered benching the primary offenders on the spot or, the next day, could have levied fines or forced the team to practice in full pads for three hours. Billick did nothing.

"It is not a discipline issue. It's not a character issue,'' he insisted.

Or is it? The Ravens have more than enough talent to be contenders, but instead of playing together as a team, they often perform as individuals. For example, McAlister's interception would have been much more significant had he not received a 15-yard penalty for taunting after the play.

The Ravens could have avoided several other 15-yard penalties by simply keeping their mouths shut and walking away. But they didn't, and now Baltimore (1-3) is off to the worst start in franchise history and is in danger of dropping out of playoff contention before the leaves begin falling off the trees.

This from a team that believed it was capable of reaching the Super Bowl.

"Certainly, we have those kind of capabilities,'' Billick said before the season.

The Ravens didn't make the playoffs last year, but addressed their shortcomings during the offseason by firing offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh and giving the job to former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel; signing free agents Mason, linebacker Tommy Polley, guard Keydrick Vincent and cornerback Samari Rolle; and drafting wide receiver Mark Clayton to improve a passing game that ranked 31st in the NFL.

The defense has played well enough (except in Detroit), but about the only upside to the team's boorish behavior Sunday was that it took some attention away from a plodding offense that has been a part of the Ravens' profile since Billick took over in 1999.

Baltimore reached season highs in touchdowns (2) and points (17), but that's not going to be nearly enough offense to enable the last-place Ravens to make a run at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in the AFC North.

Anthony Wright has thrown six interceptions and four touchdown passes since taking over for an injured Kyle Boller, who probably won't be ready for another two weeks. And Jamal Lewis, who ran for 2,066 yards in 2003, has yet to have a 100-yard game in 2005.

Jamal Lewis has openly wondered why the Ravens haven't yet offered him a contract extension, and All-Pro safety Ed Reed has also expressed disappointment over the team's reluctance to engage his agent in discussions for a new deal. That is typical of a team that has more on its mind than winning. But Billick doesn't see it that way.

"I believe in the character of these guys,'' he said. "I'll stick by that character and support them until the end.''

The end of Billick's reign in Baltimore might come sooner than anticipated if the Ravens don't grow up and play as a team. The Ravens hoped to open up the offense and rely less upon the defense this season. But, like Billick's forgiving policy toward his players, some things never change.

Until further notice, the Ravens will be a team that relies heavily on the run and a defense led by Ray Lewis. He isn't as dominating as five years ago, but is still good enough to command attention on a unit that holds the key to Baltimore's chances of rebounding from a horrid start.

"We had a certain formula when we won the Super Bowl, we had a certain formula when we went back to the playoffs, and if we're trying to go back to the Promised Land, there is a certain formula we're sticking to, hands down,'' Ray Lewis said.

No part of that formula calls for childish behavior and selfish play. Before he can correct the team's offensive woes and minus-9 turnover differential, Billick must find a way to make his players perform - and act - like men.