By the Began in '96 staff

Presenting: Began in '96's second annual stab at gettin' you drunk.

It's here. That wonderful, most American of unofficial holidays is here. It's Super Bowl Sunday, and this one could be a doozy. It's got Alicia Keys, Beyonce, a Destiny's Child reun— er, I mean, football!

On one side, a rookie quarterback tries to make history, shattering both that old "only pocket passers win championships" trope and Alex Smith's soul in the process. On the other, Ray Rice, the newly possibly elite Joseph Flacco and the reanimated corpse of Ed Reed try to send stabby messiah Ray Lewis off with a final trophy, before he ascends to sit at the right hand of the Lord.

And in the middle is you, a bucket of wings and a lot of alcohol. For the second year in a row, we're going to help you drink that alcohol with our Super Bowl Drinking Game. The game is divided into four sections: Pregame, Super Bowl, Halftime and Postgame. But get familiar with all the rules, because they all apply throughout the game. So if at any point there's a commercial of a monkey riding a dog through Hurricane Katrina while wearing shoulder pads, you best be drinking.

Note: A missed drinking opportunity is a two-drink penalty, plus your best imitation of Ray Lewis' pregame dance.

PREGAME

1. You see a fan in facepaint and way too many Mardi Gras beads-- drink

Oh, are you not sure where the Super Bowl is being held this year? It's in NAWLINS, where according to TV execs, purple and gold facepaint and an ungodly amount of plastic beads is the equivalent of business casual anywhere else in the country (Note: this may not be far from the truth).

It's a shame how much Mardi Gras beads have been devalued over time. They used to mean something. You had to be a certain kind of drunk (very) to even have a chance. Now they're handed out like participation trophies. This is the real wimpification of America, people.

2. Hurricane Katrina is shoehorned into a soft-focus feature-- waterfall

It's been nearly eight years since Drew Brees started rebuilding New Orleans, brick by brick, with his bare hands and no one around to help him. The city's come a long way since then: purple and gold facepaint sales are up, beadmakers are back at work, and now here comes the Super Bowl. If there's but one tenuous connection between Katrina and these two teams, NBC will be sure to drag it into the studio and set it against some soft background piano.

3. The pregame crew gets the chuckles-- drink until the chucklefest stops

[CURTAIN RISES]: Five aging ex-football players sit around a semi-circular table. Their tie knots are invariably too big for their necks. At least two are power clashing so hard you wonder if your TV's color settings are off. Another might not even know where he is right now.

[TALKING HEAD ONE]: Tries to present semi-coherent analysis. Fails.

[TALKING HEAD TWO]: Responds with stupid pun.

[ALL TALKING HEADS]: Dissolve into inane round of trying to out-chuckle each other.

[YOU]: Change the channel, only to find it's happening EVERYWHERE. Respond by drinking.

[SCENE]

4. Anything involving a camera and Ray Lewis-- drink, shed fake tear

Ray Lews hearts the camera. Unless he's being asked about PEDs or maybe seeing/participating in those two guys getting stabbed and then running away. You know, all that unfair stuff.

But otherwise, Ray Lewis hearts the camera. And you can bet the camera hearts him right back. Whether he's praying or crying or giving an overwrought sermon, it'll be beamed right into your living room over and over again.

Bonus drink for every time "Ray Lewis" and "redemption" end up in the same sentence.

5. Someone mentions that the Harbaughs are brothers-- drink, bro hug somebody

The Harbaughs are brothers. They're in the Super Bowl, coaching against each other. That's the extent of the meh that we can muster for this exhausted story line.

Bonus chug if someone mentions Joani, the lost Harbaugh sister and a wonderful lady.

SUPER BOWL

1. Ray Lewis is praised for making a routine tackle-- drink

Ray Lewis is potentially the greatest linebacker/murderer to ever play the game. Even so, when he makes a tackle six yards from the line of scrimmage, he's doing his job, not saving the world. No added praise necessary.

2. An Alex Smith sad face-- drink

Alex Smith was the king of San Francisco. And then Colin Kaepernick, with his speed and arm strength and sweet tats, came in and kicked Smith off the cool kids table. Now he's forced to sit with the band geeks and, gasp, kickers, and sulk into his shoulder pads. Every time you see him on the sideline, staring aimlessly off into the distance, toast him to what could have been.

Bonus drink if he's standing on the sideline with his helmet on.

3. Ed Reed hits someone in the end zone after they've already scored-- drink

Ed Reed is so old that one day body parts will start falling off while he's running, and eventually he'll just be a torso and a head trying to bite people's ankles as they run by. And he'll still get a Pro Bowl invite.

But until then, ballhawkin' Ed Reed will spend his Sundays desperately trying to keep up with receivers. And when he inevitably fails, he'll hit them in the end zone anyway, just so he can feel something again.

Bonus drink if after the hit, he stays on the ground for 5+ seconds.

4. Ray Rice is referred to as "little" or "forgotten."-- drink

There are always a bunch of manufactured storylines leading up to the Super Bowl, but this one was the weirdest. Ray Rice is, for the record, 5'8," 212 lbs. That is not a small man, especially by running back standards. He is also, for the record, a former college star and second-round draft pick, owner of four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a three-time Pro Bowler. That has not gone unnoticed.

And yet.

5. Phil Simms adds extra 'e's to a word-- dreeeenk

Phil Simms is one half of your broadcast booth this year. WOOF. He is the greatest, blandest spouter of cliches on television, and that's quite the accomplishment given that he'll be standing right next to fellow gasbagger Jim Nantz. What puts him over the top is that subtle, tinny accent, that works eets wayee into nearly everee sentence of the gayme.

Bonus drink if Nantz descends into a golf whisper, or at any point utters, "a tradition unlike any other."

6. A fan wearing shoulder pads-- drink

What is the mindset here? A debate that some of the staff here has had is which sport possesses the fan base with the lowest collective IQ. NASCAR had the edge originally, until these guys starting popping up everywhere, just hoping that after all 75 or so players on a team have been injured, the coach will peer into the stands, point at them, and launch them to stardom.

In the meantime, it's just extremely inconsiderate to your seatmates.

Bonus drink if the fan is also wearing a helmet and/or eye black.


7. One of the Harbaughs throws a tantrum- drink, stomp around for a bit

Jim and John have the on-field tantrum down to a T. They've perfected it. It's over. Mike Krzyzewski and Lou Piniella watch them together and stew, bitter that they've never reached that level of childishness.

HALFTIME

1. You remember the name of the third Destiny's Child member-- drink 

C'mon. Not even Beyonce knows who she is. Besides, she might not even be there because she's super busy doing other important, totally not-made up things.

2. Jay-Z makes an appearance-- drink

You're now watching — and enjoying! — the Super Bowl halftime show. Savor it.

Bonus drink if Kanye is with him. Bonus CHUG if Kanye does something stupid.

3. Commercial featuring a dog or monkey-- drink

Cats and clydesdales had their time. It's all about the dogs and monkeys now. Or preferably, a monkey riding a dog.

4. Commercial featuring someone in their underwear-- drink

If it's not an animal, then it's a dude in his underwear. These are the only proven tactics for making Americans laugh.

Depressing bonus drink if you think it's going to be a girl in her underwear and then it ends up being a guy.

POSTGAME

1. Roger Goodell gets booed-- drink, bask in the booing chorus

Let's see: I feel like there was something that happened with Goodell and New Orleans... Goodell... New Orleans... oh yeah THAT'S RIGHT. It only involved suspending a bunch of players and a coach and torpedoing the Saints' season over something that everyone in the NFL does but only the Saints made into a formal system. They were just trying to be organized, and this is what they got.

OH. And then a bunch of those suspensions were overturned. So that happened. Add in the feeble attempts at protecting the brains of the people who make everyone's money for them, and it should be a fun ride for the commish.

2. Player wears his championship t-shirt over his shoulder pads-- drink

Eli Manning pioneered championship chic, and it's caught on over the years. There's nothing quite like looking like a transformer when you're accepting the Lombardi Trophy. Granted, this year, players might keep their pads on for fear Ed Reed wants to fit in one more late hit.

3. Ray Lews cries/thanks God-- chug

If the Ravens win, this will happen. If they don't win, this will happen. Use it as your final opportunity to get plastered.

4. You make it through the entire night of Began in '96's Super Bowl drinking game-- finish your drink and call in sick for tomorrow

Congrats, you made it. Only seven more months 'til preseason starts.

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By Adam Cancryn

The people harmed in the making of heroes.

Lizzy Seeberg. Declan Sullivan. Betsy Andreu. Richard Lollar. Jacinth Baker.

Remember those names. Those names belong to the little people. They belong to the ones who got in the way. The ones who threatened a Very Important Person, and in the process were defamed, tortured and even killed.

***

Lizzy Seeberg. She was 19 years old in August 2010, a freshman at St. Mary's College taking her first steps toward becoming a nurse. By September, she was dead.

What happened in between is well-chronicled and yet still shrouded in mystery.We know that Seeberg was allegedly assaulted in a dorm room one night by a Notre Dame football player, an attack cut short only by a knock on the door. She later told her friends about the episode, and then reported the assault to Notre Dame police, submitted DNA to the local hospital and sought counseling.

Then came the threats. "Don't do anything you would regret," a text from one of the player's friends read. "Messing with notre dame football is a bad idea."

She became so fearful of the backlash that she went out of her way to show support for the Fighting Irish, donning Notre Dame gear and attending the football team's home opener. That night, Seeberg would watch as her attacker take the field to the approval of thousands of fans around her. The next week, she was found dead, stomach pumped full of anti-depressants.

That's what we know. It's been more than two years now, and there have been no arrests. There has been no more information. Notre Dame and St. Mary's administrators have stonewalled reporters. The accused attacker, whose yearbook photo Seeberg showed to police, remains free and anonymous. In January, he suited up for the BCS National Championship Game. He continues to live his life, uninterrupted. You don't mess with Notre Dame football.

***

Declan Sullivan. A junior at that same so-called higher institution and the videographer for the Fighting Irish. He rode a scissor lift 50 feet in the air one day in October 2010, ordered up there by head coach Brian Kelly. Standing five stories above the practice field, winds whipped past him at more than 60 miles per hour. In between taping the team's workout, he tapped out a quick tweet: "Gusts of wind up to 60 mph. Well today will be fun at work. I guess I've lived long enough."

An hour later: "This is terrifying."

And then he was falling. After they finished loading Sullivan's battered body into an ambulance, practice continued for nearly a half-hour more.

An investigation concluded some time after Sullivan's death. It found that Kelly, the newly minted and high-profile head coach who put a 20-year-old 50 feet in the air amid high winds to tape a routine practice, had acted with the character and values in "accord with the highest standards of Notre Dame."

In January, Kelly led the Notre Dame football team and Lizzy Seeberg's alleged attacker onto the field for the BCS National Championship Game. As for Declan Sullivan, I guess he'd lived long enough.

***

Betsy Andreu. She's the wife of cyclist Freddie Andreu, and the ex-friend of Lance Armstrong. She is also the one who witnessed Armstrong confess to doping during a hospital visit in 1996, and who found herself alone when she refused to lie about it. Andreu endured a public smear campaign and private threats. She was "crazy," a "psycho" and a "bitch," according to Armstrong and his operatives. A message left on Andreu's phone hoped someone would break "a baseball bat over [her] head." For years, she was the villain. She was the one trying to tear down Lance, the Great American Hero. The public crushed her in its scramble to sit at Armstrong's feet.

It's been 17 years since Andreu sat in that hospital room. She is finally vindicated, yet the scars remain. Given a chance to make amends this past week as part of his public rehabilitation, Armstrong admitted to calling her crazy and a bitch, but: "I never called you fat."

A smug smile crept across his lips.

***

Richard Lollar and Jacinth Baker. Shortly after the St. Louis Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV, they went to a party at an Atlanta nightclub and never came home.

The man who knows why they were stabbed to death, and by whom, now prepares for his second shot at a title since that night in January 2000. Ray Lewis is an NFL icon and a sure Hall of Famer now, but back on that night was just the witness to a double murder. He then jumped into his limo, told the other passengers to "keep their mouts shut," and fled the scene.

Lewis would later negotiate a deal to drop the murder charges against him in exchange for testimony against two of his friends. In court, he refused to link those friends to the killings, and all were acquitted. Lewis paid the NFL a $250,000 fine and began a reinvention that turned him into the favored son of both Baltimore and the NFL's marketing team.

Lollar and Baker's murders remain unsolved, their families left with only grief and unanswered questions. As Lewis heads toward retirement and a cushy job at ESPN, Lollar's aunt told USA Today that she headed for the funeral home, "because that's where my nephew retired."

***

Lizzy Seeberg. Declan Sullivan. Betsy Andreu. Richard Lollar. Jacinth Baker.

Remember those names. Remember them when Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick tears up and promises justice over star linebacker Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend, yet issues no comment after no comment on the subjects of Seeberg and Sullivan. Remember them when Brian Kelly trots out onto a field surrounded by sea of cheering fans. Remember them when Lance Armstrong embarks on his image restoration tour, and when the cameras find Ray Lewis in the midst of his pregame histrionics.

These are just five of the millions like them in Steubenville and at Penn State and all around the world that threatened Very Important People, and then got swept aside. They are the victims of institutions that place power over justice, that enable the most heinous acts because to not do so would mean sacrificing money or status. It would mean tearing down heroes and exposing flaws. When there are only little people at stake, those like you or me, it's all just too inconvenient.

Lizzy Seeberg. Declan Sullivan. Betsy Andreu. Richard Lollar. Jacinth Baker.

Remember those names. Remember them because those in power desperately want us to forget. Remember them because it's the only way we can start to make things right.

Adam Cancryn is an editor and co-founder of Began in '96.

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By Neill Thupari

A Ravens fan looks back on the past season, and the heartbreaking game that ended it.

Before we get too deep into the tragedy that took place at Gillette Stadium, there are a few things that need to be ironed out:

1. That was one hell of a football game.

Full of momentum swings, fiery intensity and the teams' genuine dislike for one another, that was a great football game from start to finish. New England overcame an uninspiring performance by Tom Brady (22/36, 239 yards, 2 INTs and a 57.5 rating), and showed that their defense can and stand tall if need be. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (68 yards, 1 TD, 4.5 yards per carry) demonstrated what an average/subpar running back can do if a defense is primarily anticipating the pass. 

All kidding aside, there were plenty of times following turnovers when New England could have folded. Instead, they persevered and forced the Ravens to make big-time plays to beat them, which they fell dreadfully short of doing.

2. Lee Evans should have caught that touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining.

Sterling Moore ought to have a statute built for him in Foxborough. When I saw the attempted pass happen in real time, it looked just like a routine slap of the ball away, but on the slow motion replay, Lee Evans had possession of that ball and had one foot down. But before Evans' second foot came down, Moore knocked the ball out of his hands[1]. Credit goes to the refs, who made the right call on a bang-bang play.

3. The Patriots committed only one penalty for five yards all game. I am not going to expand further on this[2]. 

4. There’s a reason Billy Cundiff pushed his potential game-tying kick so far to the left. 

Cundiff went 28-37 on field goals this season. When he missed, his kicks routinely went right. I distinctly remember four or five of Cundiff’s misses that starting out looking good before fading to the right of the goalposts. On the missed field goal last night, Cundiff kicked from the right hash mark at the 32 yard line: prime territory for the fade to come into play. Aware of his penchant for pushing his kicks, Cundiff overcompensated and hooked it too far. Heartbreaking.

5. There should be no more questioning of Joe Flacco’s ability in the postseason.

I wrote yesterday that Sunday’s game was put up or shut up time for Joe Cool. Well, Joe did everything he could yesterday to lead his team to victory, short of catching his own balls and attempting his own field goals. Flacco outdueled his counterpart, finishing with 306 yards on 22 of 36 passing, with  2 TDs, 1 interception and a 95.6 QB rating. Flacco also took to the ground four times, putting his head down and barreling for 27 yards. He played downright impressive football, and had the Ravens come away with a W, I’m sure Flacco would have been lauded for ridding himself of his demons and carrying the team on his shoulders. Under tremendous scrutiny, Flacco demonstrated his true potential, and for that reason, Ravens fans should take some solace. The important questions facing the Ravens now surround the other parts of their team, and only time will shed light on the direction Baltimore goes next year.

Speaking of which…

Last July, I wrote a piece for Began in ’96 about the need for the Ravens to make one last run at the Super Bowl this year. The crux of that article rested on the fact that Baltimore’s window of opportunity was closing, and the thought of the Ravens making the playoffs four years in a row with no hardware to show for it would be devastating for fans of the Purple and Black.

Lo and behold, here we are. The Black Birds have suffered yet another gutwrenching loss in January, and my fears have come to fruition: Given multiple golden opportunities, the Ravens failed to capitalize on any of them, and fell far short of reaching their full potential.

This May, future Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis turns 36 years old, ancient by the standards of the NFL. Anyone who saw Ray struggling to keep up with tight ends and running backs in these past few playoff games knows he is well into the twilight of his career. 

“Is this my last time as a Raven? Absolutely not,” Lewis said Sunday night, and while his spirit is admirable, it's painfully apparent that his body is wearing down. 

Lewis’ fellow defender, Ed Reed, turns 34 this year, and his best days are behind him as well. Baltimore fans are too familiar with the sight of Reed failing to wrap up a tackle as he once was able to due to his lingering neck injury[3], or crumpling to the ground after another collision. The thought of him laying it all on the line for another 16+ games next year makes me cringe, to say the least. 

Even so, the fact remains that both Lewis and Reed may be back next year, and there is no question that they would enter training camp as hungry as ever. Still, I can't help but be saddened at what has transpired over the past four years in Baltimore. And although the Ravens are an above-average team with strong organizational pillars, I believe that this chapter in Ravens football history has come to a close. The harsh reality of these past few seasons persists amongst the players and fans alike, and unfortunately, it appears that the window to glory and greatness has been sealed shut.

That’s not to say it's all tears and unhappiness. Baltimore fans were treated to a four-year stretch where their team was the only one to make it to the playoffs each year. They made it to the AFC Championship twice, and the Ravens never played meaningless games. 

More importantly, over that time the city of Baltimore adopted the Ravens' swagger. Ball So Hard University shirts are prevalent throughout the city, and no matter where you dine, drink, read, or spend time around town, people are forever thankful for their Black and Purple Gang. The collective chip on the shoulder of Ravens players is now interchangeable with that of the citizens of Charm City and its surrounding areas, and there remains hope for a bright, successful, winning future in Baltimore.

I wrote last July that if the Ravens failed to make a trip to the Super Bowl this season, their fans would look back at these past few years as the treading water era, where the Ravens were constantly in the mix, but never went anywhere. While those things are still be partially true, I'm grateful for what this team accomplished over the past decade. They restored a culture of winning and hope to a city that had most of its sporting dreams dashed by the lamentable Orioles. As a changing of the guard looms in the Ravens' future, I am confident that the fans will not take for granted the spectacular careers of men like Lewis and Reed. Instead, they'll learn from their leadership and determination, and cheer on the next generation of players like Suggs, Ngata, Flacco and Rice.

But damn, it sure would have been nice to win that Superbowl.

[1] No, Patriot fans, Tom Terrific was not going to lead the Pats downfield for a game-winning touchdown with just 22 seconds left. Not against the Ravens. 

[2] I’m well aware that last week against Houston the Ravens did not record a single penalty. I’m not saying that was fair either, but just because Baltimore wasn’t called for a penalty last week does not forgive the refs this week for their blatant lack of calling penalties against New England. Again, I’m not saying this even cost the Ravens the game, it’s just an interesting stat. 

[3] The same neck injury that befell Peyton Manning, with the only difference being that Reed did not opt for surgery because he is almost positive that surgery will end his career completely.

The Week Ahead (all times EST)- Your guide to what to watch-- and what to watch for-- this coming week

College Basketball

Texas A&M at Kansas- Jan. 23 at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Tennessee at Vanderbilt- Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. (ESPNU
Baylor at Oklahoma- Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Duke at Maryland- Jan. 25 at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Harvard at Yale- Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
Texas at Baylor- Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. (CBS)
Mississippi St. at Florida- Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Eastern Illinois at Murray St.- Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Notre Dame at UConn- Jan. 29 at noon (ESPN3)
Michigan at Ohio St.- Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. (CBS)
NBA
Magic at Celtics- Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Pacers at Bulls- Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. (Comcast Sports Chicago/NBA TV)
Clippers at Lakers- Jan. 25 at 10:30 p.m. (FOX WEST/NBA TV)
NHL
Blues at Red Wings- Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. (FSD+/NBCSN)
Bruins at Capitals- Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. (NESN/CSNB)
Flyers at Panthers- Jan. 24 at 7:30 (COMCAST/FOX FLORIDA)

In the Kitchen- Tracking the major hot stove stories

• Shortstop David Eckstein has retired from Major League Baseball at age 37. Eckstein played 10 years in the big leagues, winning a World Series MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. However, he will most likely be remembered as a point of contention between baseball's traditionalists-- who praised him as a "gritty" player with "hustle" and "heart"-- and the newer sabermetric crowd that criticized his lack of production. Viva El Birdos has a retrospective on Eckstein's career, his intangibles and his lasting impact on the game.
• The Colorado Rockies acquired infielder Marco Scutaro from the Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Clayton Mortenson. Scutaro will likely end up at second base and hitting in the two hole, after the 36-year-old hit a career-high .299 last season.
• The Scutaro trade could have a ripple effect for the Sox, who are trying to free up cash to sign former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt. Also on Boston's wish list is outfielder Cody Ross, who would fill in for Carl Crawford while he recovers from wrist surgery.
• Closer Ryan Madson finally found a home, signing with the Cincinnati Reds for $8.5 million over the next year. The market for closers has dried up this offseason, forcing many to take short-term deals. Madson's contract includes a $11 million mutual option for 2013.
• Longtime New York Yankees backstop Jorge Posada is expected to announce his retirement early this week. The 40-year-old spent his entire career with the Yankees, but saw his role diminished last year as he struggled at the plate. Posada won four world championships during his time in New York.

Web Gems- The week's best, worst or strangest Internet sports finds

EA lawsuit doesn't mean Madden's exclusive is a license to be killed- Kotaku's Owen Good breaks down Electronic Arts' latest legal maneuvers and what they mean for the video game company's stranglehold on the NFL license.

What happened last night- Community news site Onward State explains the decisions and mistakes that led it to prematurely report Joe Paterno's death.

Yes, this is CBS host James Brown interviewing a fake baby- Fresh off of falsely claiming the scoop about Paterno's death as its own and then turning around and blaming Onward State when the news turned out to be premature, CBS further debases itself by "interviewing" the E*Trade baby. FOX later got in on the act as well

New generation of 49er success- The New York Times' Greg Bishop goes deep on the San Francisco 49ers.

Joe Flacco: An appreciation- Baltimore Sun columnist Kevin Van Valkenburg pens an open letter to the Ravens' much-maligned quarterback.

Coming Up- What's next at Began in '96

• Tuesday: New Montana resident Jason Bacaj chronicles his first time skiing The Ridge.
• Thursday: Adam Cancryn on what Saturday night taught us about the media, and why it's not all bad
• Friday: Joe Schackman on the late Joe Paterno.

Ed. note- The story originally slated for Wednesday will run on Thursday instead.

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By Neill Thupari

With the NFL playoffs down to its final four, a breakdown of each team's championship hopes according to their (supposedly) most important player: their quarterback.

ESPN labeled the 2011-2012 NFL Season “The Year of the Quarterback,” which makes perfect sense because the four remaining teams heading into the Conference Championship weekend each have one of the few elite quarterbacks in the league.

It’s not like the new single-season passing-yard record holder was beaten last weekend by a team with a superior defense and a quarterback that had never won a playoff game (See Brees, Drew). It’s not like the other two quarterbacks who threw for over 40 touchdowns during the regular season have already exited the postseason due to their subpar efforts when facing comparatively strong defenses (See Rodgers, Aaron and Stafford, Matthew). But hey, it must be the Year of the Quarterback because ESPN told us so. 

So with that in mind, let’s rank the postseason's remaining signal callers, since their play and their play alone will be indicative of how their entire team will do on the road to Indianapolis.

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots: Playoff Record 15-5. Super Bowl Wins: 3. Playoff Stats: 4,770 yards, 38 TDs, 17 INTs. 

On the surface, this looks like a runaway for Brady and his incessantly gritty Patriot squad. No quarterback left has won as much as Brady in the playoffs, no quarterback left has played as well as he has all year (5,235 yards, 39 TDs, 65.6% completion rate), and no other quarterback is dating Giselle. His tight end combo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, combined with the ever courageous Wes Welker, means you’d be hard-pressed to find a defense that could stop this offensive juggernaut. I can tell you right now that the Ravens don’t have the defensive personnel to keep pace with the Pats, and I don’t believe the Giants or the 49ers do either. 

But, in true Belichickian form, Brady is downplaying his talent and accomplishments. This week Brady has been showering praise on the Ravens as “the toughest test” he has had yet this season. Keen observers of such obvious Patriot deflection know that behind closed doors, Brady is simply licking his chops at the thought of carving up the weak Ravens secondary and breaking his own record for most TDs in a playoff game. 

Pay no attention to the fact that the Patriots have not beaten a team that finished with a winning record this year. Forget about their 31st-ranked defense having played only four top-10 offenses all year, and while you do that, don’t worry about the fact that no team has ever finished with the 31st-ranked defense and won a Super Bowl. Pats fans, with Tom Brady at the helm, the Lombardi trophy is as good as yours.

2. Eli Manning, New York Giants: Playoff Record 4-4. Super Bowl Wins: 1. Playoff Stats: 1,574 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs. 

I learned this week on ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd that we, as fans, apparently do not give the younger Manning the credit he deserves. 

According to Tim Hasselbeck, former backup quarterback for the New York Giants, Eli would routinely study films and gameplans all week leading up to a Sunday contest, only to have coach Tom Coughlin come up to him on Friday night, sometimes even Saturday, with an entirely new strategy that Eli would have to learn in time for the game Sunday. To say that such a practice was unorthodox would be an understatement, but Hasselbeck said it astounded him how Eli would be so quick to learn, master and execute these complex gameplans, despite having mentally prepared himself for something completely different all week. 

I remember when Eli was coming out of Ole Miss and a big knock on him was that he wasn’t nearly as smart as big brother Peyton in terms of his football IQ. Apparently, he’s doing just fine in his neck of the woods, and depending on his playoff performance this year, there might be a debate over the better Manning brother when all is said and done. It doesn’t hurt that he seems to have Tom Brady’s number as of late, or that his defense is as ferocious as they come, preying on quarterbacks that want to throw the ball downfield and dictate their offense through the air. 

3. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens: Playoff Record 5-3. Super Bowl Wins: 0. Playoff Stats: 1,226 yards, 6 TDS, 7INTs. 

Despite Flacco’s rather stellar playoff record (especially for someone who’s been in the league for only four seasons), one glaring deficiency for Joe Cool is that he’s never actually had to win a playoff game by himself. Maybe this says more about the Ravens than Joe, but the fact of the matter is, Flacco has never had to put Baltimore on his back and singlehandedly lead them to victory in the postseason, so the jury is still out as to whether or not he could pull it off. Sure, he’s had flashes of brilliance in big games against the Steelers earlier this year, or on the road in Kansas City during last year’s playoffs, but he’s still prone to the occasional 137-yad, zero touchdown performance like we saw this year in Jacksonville. There hasn’t been a player this polarizing in Baltimore since Ravens fans faced the dilemma of rooting for felony murder defendant Ray Lewis.[1] 

Flacco’s been incredibly fortunate to have a top-tier defense each of his four years in the league, and because of that, he's never had to be much more than a great game manager. However, with a road trip to New England looming, it’s put up or shut up time for Flacco, and his performance this weekend will likely determine how he’ll be viewed in the annals of Raven history. Will he rise to the occasion, silence the critics and beat Tom Brady in a high-octane shootout? Or, will he shrink in the face of adversity, capping his potential in the NFL as a player that could never be a truly elite quarterback come playoff time? Either way, it’ll be interesting to watch. 

4. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers: Playoff Record 1-0. Super Bowl Wins: 0. Playoff Stats: 299 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs. 

Although the aforementioned quarterbacks share a wealth of playoff experience between them, Smith enters unchartered waters with a 49er squad that boasts the best defense in the NFC. However, Smith outdueled Drew Brees last week[2] in the most exciting game of the divisional round. He'll now have to do the same against a much better Giants defense.

Conventional wisdom states that the battle-tested Giants will wreak havoc on the pedestrian 49er offense, and Eli will lead them back to the promised land. No Giants fan is as easily convinced though, because they’re well aware that Eli and his crew are capable of throwing a stinker of two on their own as well, and a repeat of their past week’s excellent performance is no guarantee. 

As much as I would like to sit here and write about Smith’s potential as a playoff QB[3], the 49ers live and die by Vic Fangio’s defense. In fact, I like to think of them as a poor man’s 2000 Baltimore Ravens team. No offense to Smith, but if the 49ers had the 2000 Trent Dilfer, I’d probably bet on them to win the Super Bowl, no questions asked.[4] 

Seriously though, this defense didn’t give up a rushing touchdown until week 16 this season. That is truly remarkable. I got a chance to see the 49ers in person when they came to Baltimore on Thanksgiving, and I was shocked as to how incredibly fast their defense was. Led by Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis, the 49ers defense flat-out outplays their opposition. They swarm to the ball with an intensity and speed that I just haven’t seen in a lot of NFL teams. 

Nonetheless, on Thanksgiving, when the Ravens took a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, there was a palpable awareness throughout the stadium that there was no chance in hell San Fran was coming back, not with Alex Smith as their quarterback. Two months later and in the playoffs, I still feel the same way. If the Giants are able to get up by two or more possessions in this game, I just don’t think Smith is going to be able to carry his team back, not this year at least. 

[1] Obviously Ray eventually won over the fans and hasn’t looked back since. 

[2] Just writing and rereading that sentence made my head hurt.

[3] He’s on pace to finish the season with 897 yards, 9TDs and 0 INTs in the playoffs! 

[4] Okay, maybe that is completely insulting to Smith, but I still mean it.


Ed. note- A previous version said the Pats had not beaten any team with a winning record this year. Updated to clarify that they haven't beaten any team that finished the year w/ a winning regular season record.

Neill Thupari is Began in '96's DMV correspondent, and is finally an official resident of Baltimore.

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By Neill Thupari

Can Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens overcome their past playoff failures and avoid another congratulatory handshake with their hated rivals in 2012?

With the NFL lockout officially over, front offices throughout the league are hastily preparing for the new season. They’re cutting veterans and accomplished players to get under the new salary cap while simultaneously scrambling to sign and deal others to fill those just-vacated spots on the depth chart. It has already been one of the most frenzied offseasons in the history of the NFL, and we’re not even a week in.

Sports news outlets have dedicated near round-the-clock coverage to the new NFL season, and everyone from fans to local radio talk show hosts to nationally syndicated newspaper columnists have erupted with joy and relief at the prospect of the upcoming season. The world is obviously a better place when the NFL is up and running¹, so why is it that I, as a Baltimore Ravens fan, find myself nowhere near as enthusiastic about this season as I should be?

Don’t get me wrong, all the right signs are there. Three consecutive playoff years under the same head coach. A quarterback that has improved in each of his three years, back with a vengeance in response to the increased scrutiny from opposing players and media. A veteran-rich, yet vaunted defense that remains the backbone of a team looking to make one last Super Bowl run.

When you take a step back and look, it seems as if it’s all there, right? Wrong. Cue the incurable angst that envelops a city like Baltimore which remains constantly vigilant, waiting for its dreams to be shattered by an unfortunate series of events. The people in this town bleed purple and black², and they’ll believe in their team until the very end. But something’s different this year.

I know something’s different because I was there when the landscape of the Baltimore Ravens' near future shifted. I was there when, in the divisional playoff game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, the collective hope of the Ravens’ fanbase turned to despair as they endured one of, if not the, worst loss in franchise history.

I’m not doing a play-by-play breakdown of what happened in the playoffs last year at Heinz Field, but a quick re-hash couldn’t hurt³. It was 21-0 Baltimore at halftime, and I swear you could see the demons shaking loose off of the players’ backs, ready to finally beat their most hated rival in the playoffs.

The second half is a blur to me now. One of those blurs like when you drink nothing but tequila shots all night only to wake up with multiple wounds the next morning, wondering what possibly could have gone wrong.

My next memory is wide receiver Anquan Boldin dropping a sure touchdown in the fourth quarter, then T.J. Houshmanzadeh dropping a pass on 4th down that would have kept Baltimore’s chances alive.

Then that smile from Hines Ward. That goddamn smile. It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it. That smile is what I remember most.

I’ve had my fair share of heartbreaking losses in life, and just like everyone else, I’ve dealt with them and moved on. But like I said before, this time something was different. My friends and family wondered why I was so affected by last season’s loss. I just shrugged it off and said, “Ah it’s nothing, we’ll be back next year and we’ll have another chance.” But they didn’t buy it, and frankly, neither did I. Last year was a chance at something special. It was a chance to be great. Things lined up for the Ravens, and that one last magical run for the Lombardi Trophy seemed within reach. They just had to step up and take it.

I’m not saying they would have beaten the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl⁴, but I am saying that with the group of players they put together last year, the persona of the team embodied the city of Baltimore.

Last year was it. I knew it. The fans knew it. And deep down, I think the players did too.

Following the lockout, the Ravens' first moves have been to shed the weight of more than a few players, guys who were tremendous locker room presences, guys who each knew their role and bought into what John Harbaugh and Ray Lewis preached day in and day out. Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Kelly Gregg, Willis McGahee, Josh Wilson and Donte Stallworth led the list of those released by the Ravens, some of who have already signed with other teams. Jared Gaither and Chris Carr are among other unrestricted free agents being eyed by other organizations as well.

Admittedly, the Ravens have made the high-priority moves, like resigning guard Marshall Yanda. But some of the other personnel moves have Ravens fans gritting their teeth.

These moves are strictly for business purposes, and the Ravens are not the only team forced to reconfigure its roster in such a dramatic fashion. However, since 2000, the Ravens have become one of the league's elite organizations, consistently fielding competitive squads capable of deep playoff runs.⁵

Now, here we are in July 2011. The Ravens are at a pivotal fork in the road to their future. They can either spend some money and revamp the team for one final push toward the Super Bowl, or they can be content as a better-than-average NFL team, maybe making the playoffs but falling short yet again, knowing that the upcoming years are looking increasingly bleak. It’s clear to players and fans alike that there are some major changes on the horizon for the Ravens, and knowing that the team may have squandered its last true chance at greatness is too big of a pill to swallow for many, myself included.

I hate to say this because of how spoiled it may sound, but making the playoffs isn’t good enough anymore for Baltimore. No one is content with another playoff run ending in a loss to Pittsburgh, Indianapolis or New England. The fans want more, they feel as if they’re owed more and simply put, they deserve more too.

Unfortunately, I’m scared that the Ravens are simply treading water. When I was younger and a competitive swimmer⁶, I hated treading water. The worst part about treading water is that you never go anywhere. There you are in the deep end of the pool, kicking, kicking, kicking, never changing strokes, never distancing yourself from anyone, just biding your time until eventually you tire yourself out and start to sink.

If the Ravens come up short this year, I’ll forever look back at the 2008-2012 seasons as the treading water era. The years where they could have, and should have, been something great, but instead, wound up a team that couldn’t quite get to the top, never made an lasting mark on the NFL and habitually fell short of what we all knew they were capable of achieving.

Boy, I hope they don’t start to sink.

         

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[1] Given the media jubilation surrounding the lockout, you would think that the NFL’s next act would be helping our government fix the debt ceiling crisis.

[2] Because after years of bleeding orange and black, everyone’s blood has completely run dry. Go Orioles.

[3] Or give me a stroke.

[4] Because you bet your ass they would have beaten the Jets at home in the AFC Championship game.

[5] The Ravens are one of two teams (the Philadelphia Eagles being the other) that have made the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. Since 2000, the Ravens have made the playoffs seven times.

[6] Imagine a chubby Indian hybrid of Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps.

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