BALTIMORE, Maryland, Sunday, January 1, 2017 - It was, to say the very least, a bad day. The Ravens had been eliminated from playoff contention last week in Pittsburgh, so not a whole lot was expected from them today in Cincinnati. But Maryland was playing at home against a Big Ten Conference Foe which wasn't expected to contend for a top five league finish. And Maryland was hot, as in 13-1 hot, and besides, they were coming off of a blitzing of Big Ten Foe Illinois. And, Maryland ran off 17 unanswered points today. 17! But at the end of the game, when Maryland takes over no matter who they are playing, they instead collapsed. Their best and most clutch player came up empty twice as time expired. So they will limp into Ann Arbor later this week, not with a 2-0 Conference Record, as expected, but with a 1-1 mark that will be likely a 1-2 mark unless they reverse their fortunes and beat Michigan.
No fun today. No fun, no matter how you look at it. Steve Smith is gone for good from the Ravens. And Melo Trimble, the quintessential Mr. Clutch, will be wondering if that reputation was lost at a New Year's party, or somewhere. Somewhere.
After the Bengals took a 7-0 lead on their first possession, the Ravens marched right down the field. They went for it on fourth and two near midfield - a move you expect in a game like this - and made it easily. Next thing you know they were in the red zone. But once again it was fourth and short, and they went for it again, right? Wrong. Out came Mr. Tucker for a routine field goal to make the score, 7-3. But why? the Raven running game looked good except they got stuffed on third and short. Terrence West got stuffed. Where was Dixon, our up ;and coming star? No one knows.
After that, it got bad. The Bengals scored on their first four possessions. The Ravens didn't score until the fourth quarter. The game was lost by then. Steve Smith had a few catches, but not many, and no touchdowns. And now, as we said, he is gone for good. You can't replace him. And we didn't make the playoffs with him.
Can he be talked out of retirement again?
Down in College Park, Freshman Steven Huerter exploded for 26 points, but Maryland still lost. Trimble was 5-15 from the floor, including 0 for 2 in the waning seconds. Maryland was up 12 with 6 minutes left before Tai Webster went to work. He started with Maryland ahead, 65-53. When he was done, Nebraska led and won, 67-65. The AP said it might be a very special season for Nebraska.
Only if what they've done makes it so. This won't go on any longer because, sad to break it to them, they're not that good. The question is, is Maryland? Stay tuned.
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