It’s been a few years now, but we’ve decided to bring it back, Griffin got sick of Glenn mentioning this segment “that we used to do” so the guys revived it entirely. On Tuesdays following Sunday’s game, we will sit down and map out the Five Plays That Told The Story Of Sunday’s Game.
It’s as simple as it sounds, if the Ravens lose, we’ll pick the five plays that we perceived embodied the loss, not all necessarily scoring plays, sometimes no scoring plays. And of course on the inverse, when the Ravens win, the five plays that most embodied the win.
Ravens wrapped the regular season with an AFC North title and win over the Browns on Saturday in dominating fashion, 35-10, as we begin to question the point of this exercise again. Nonetheless–both Glenn and Griffin will count down in sequential order of the five plays they believed to tell the story of Saturdays’s game.
Glenn’s Five Plays That Told The Story of Saturdays’s Game:
5. 2nd & 6 at BAL 18 (2:25 – 4th) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B. Zappe pass short middle intended for J. Kibodi INTERCEPTED by M. Pierce at BLT 16. M. Pierce to BLT 22 for 6 yards.
Look, there really ISN’T an argument for this play to make the list. The game was OH.VER. But, you know, there aren’t really great arguments for any play from this game besides the #1 play. So I’m going to choose to make “favorite play of the year” #5 on the list for the sake of recognizing it somehow.
4. 4th & 4 at BAL 43 (12:16 – 1st) C. Bojorquez punts 43 yards to end zone, Center-R. Sunahara, Touchback.
Hey but they gained 23 yards of field position.
3. 3rd & 8 at BAL 32 (10:05 – 4th) (Shotgun) L. Jackson pass short middle to R. Bateman to CLV 44 for 24 yards (M. Diabate).
It’s hard to remember that Cleveland actually got this back to a two score game early in the 4th and then the Ravens were faced with third and long after two one yard gains. This got them going again and they’d put the game away with a score on this drive.
2. 1st & 10 at BAL 30 (15:00 – 3rd) D. Henry left guard to CLV 45 for 25 yards (M. Emerson).
Derrick Henry had eight yards in the first half. And this play set the tone and told the story for how the second half would go.
1. 2nd & 7 at CLE 23 (Shotgun) B. Zappe pass short right intended for E. Moore INTERCEPTED by N. Wiggins at CLV 26. N. Wiggins for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Yes, this should have been a one play list.
Griffin’s Five Plays That Told The Story of Saturday’s Game:
5. 2nd & Goal at CLE 7 (10:42 – 3rd) L.Jackson pass short middle to R.Bateman for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Really wanted to throw the Henry run to open up the second half on here too, but let’s be honest, the game was already over. And this play is just too perfect not to put on the list.
4. 2nd & 10 at CLE 12 (11:03 – 2nd) (Shotgun) L.Jackson pass short left to M.Andrews for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
The biggest play of the second scoring drive, and just in case anyone was worried (they weren’t), Mark Andrews in the red zone is still a thing… It also put Lamar over 4,000 passing yards on the season. Significant.
3. 3rd & 1 at CLE 39 (7:00 – 1st) D.Foreman right guard to CLV 39 for no gain (R.Smith; N.Madubuike).
Madubuike just completely destroyed this play, It never had a chance and forced an important fourth down. A fourth down that was one of the most decisive plays in the game.
2. 4th & 1 at CLE 39 (6:18 – 1st) M.Dunn reported in as eligible. B.Zappe pass incomplete deep middle to J.Jeudy (M.Humphrey).
The Browns turn it over on downs in their own territory, still early, but this was big. And a tremendous play by Marlon Humphrey to break it up. The last time the Browns really felt like they were trying to win.
1. 2nd & 7 at CLE 23 (8:32 – 1st) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short right intended for E.Moore INTERCEPTED by N.Wiggins at CLV 26. N.Wiggins for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
This is the play for a couple reasons, naturally a huge momentum swinging play in a tie game, and because the Ravens opening drive had just stalled thanks a Zay Flowers drop. Much needed to not allow the team to spiral.
You can listen as Glenn and Griffin recap Saturday’s win here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
