Posts tagged JoeFlacco at FanHouse

"That'll be [Smith's] role this year - possibly into a role where he can contribute playing quarterback for us down the road," Harbaugh said.

"I think it shows the character of this team, from the young guys to the most veteran guys," Mawae said. "It wasn't pretty, but we made the plays when we needed to and we won the game."

The Ravens have obviously played over their heads this season. A 2-0 start with a hurricane bye week to boot has this Baltimore team we all thought would finish last in the AFC North on the top of their division, an awkward position considering the circumstances.

They were playing without their top two quarterbacks, the star running back was struggling with estranged injuries and the defense was aging faster than Blink-182. That is why, when facing what appears to be the cream of the crop in the AFC, no matter their injury struggles, you don't sit on the ball with 1:30 left in the 4th quarter with a chance to beat the defending division champions. You don't. You just don't.

What you need to do is give Joe Flacco a chance. The guy looks as awkward as a virgin in a strip club behind center, dumping off five yard check downs all night long against a Steelers defense with nothing but intensity and a little nastiness. The rookie quarterback from Delaware with nothing to hang his hat on needed a rack and this was the chance to give it to him. Win or lose, you're telling Flacco he is the quarterback you're putting your trust in and no matter if Troy Smith comes back in a week or two, this is your man right now. Running the ball in hopes of something positive happening in overtime isn't professional football and it definitely isn't taking advantage of what food is being served in front of you.

"I don't think we should say," he said. "I wouldn't want to comment on it, but you can see it on the tape."

On a 7-yard carry to Cleveland's 1-yard line in the third quarter, McGahee came up bleeding after a tackle by Browns linebacker Andra Davis, who appeared to get his hand caught inside McGahee's visored helmet while being blocked to the ground by Ravens tackle Jared Gaither.

McGahee got up and immediately headed to the sideline with blood dripping down his face. His right eye is still swollen and he has been limited in practice this week as the Ravens prepare for a Monday night game against Pittsburgh.

"It still looks pretty bad to me," coach John Harbaugh said. "As long as he can see, he'll play. But if he can't, he's not going to be able to play. So, we'll have to try to get that swelling down."

"We asked them for their opinion on what happened," Harbaugh said. "We're waiting to hear back on it."

"This is extraordinarily unlucky," said Dr. Andrew Tucker, the Ravens' head physician. "It a rare complication of a very severe tonsil infection."

Coach John Harbaugh indicated the Ravens don't plan to place Smith on injured reserve, which would end his season.

"We're pretty certain that he's going to be back playing for the bulk of the season," Harbaugh said.