I got a job! And some other things that have happened

Well, here we are. I told myself that I would start this thing back up once I got a job, and I’ll be damned if I let myself call me a liar...

If I remember correctly, our most recent post dealt with Cal Ripken Jr.’s retirement and the Ravens’ decision to cut Trent Dilfer following a Super Bowl victory.

Dilfer loads up for a 19 yard pass

OK, so it may not have been that long ago, but it feels like it. Given that so much has happened since our last piece, I’m going to touch on a handful of old(er) topics in a series of posts over the next few days. Once I’ve caught up to the Orioles, I'll start posting about twice a week, covering more current topics.

The Ravens again made a deep playoff run. When they walked off the field this time, though, it was as world champions.

After going 1-4 in their final five games, The Ravens didn't receive much support from the national media, the general consensus being that we would be "one-and-done." We weren't. Here's a quick look at each game, including a link to the highlights from each game (The NFL has more copyright protection than Metallica, so I can't embed their videos in this page).

Great video made by a fan. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, though, at least check out 2:30... Hey diddle diddle, Ray Rice up the middle.
 

Ravens v. Colts

Ray's last dance. Yes, you may leave this up on your browser and watch it ten million times.

Highlights

Our first game was kind of a gimme. More ceremony for Ray's last home game than actual football contest, this one was basically over once we put the first touchdown on the board. And, in the second half, Joe Flacco begins what we would later discuss as one of the greatest quarterback performances in postseason history.

Flacco TD/ Int counter: 2/0

Ravens v. Broncos

Highlights

As soon as the click hit 0:00 in the Colts game, national media began their Ravens onslaught. Broncos favored by 14 points.

Gonna miss this matchup

No one gave us a fighting chance to win this game, writing articles like the always brilliant (note the sarcasm?) Ashley Fox's, "Thanks for the memories... because Sunday's game was your final NFL win, Ray Lewis. Your career will end in Denver."... She follows this gem up with another Pulitzer-prize-worthy article entitled, "No-win situation for Baltimore." She gets paid for what she does. By ESPN. The pictures she has of ESPN's president must be really smarmy.

I digress.

Let's just take a moment to watch Joe to Jacoby one more time. Because it really never could get old.

Flacco TD/ Int counter: 5/0

Ravens v. Patriots

Highlights

Vegas still didn't learn their lesson after the previous week's victory; the Ravens are again 14 point underdogs--to a team they beat in the regular season. Granted, that was at home, but I don't remember the last game where the Patriots rolled over the Ravens by more than a touchdown.

Suck it, cry-Brady

The Patriots have a 13-7 lead after one half and Tom Brady was 67-0 at home when leading at halftime. This victory is proof that football karma does exist—Tom, we'll let you win again when you stop whining every time someone grazes your knee pads.

Flacco TD/ Int counter: 8/0

SUPER BOWL XLVII

Highlights

Ah the Blackout Bowl/ Harbowl/ whatever-you-wanna-call-it Bowl. I'm no conspiracy theorist (for all of you aspiring journalists, it's never a good idea to begin a sentence this way), but it's a little suspicious that the lights went out immediately following Jacoby Jones' kickoff return to start the second half. When the lights came back on, the 49ers looked like world-beaters, and Colin Kaepernick somehow turned into Peyton Manning on wheels.

"Family wondering when Jim Harbaugh will stop making holding sign every five seconds" -Credit goes to The Onion for this one

Regardless, Flacco turned in another stellar performance, Ray Rice ate up clock and kept their safeties honest, and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh sustained a compound fracture in his wrist after violently motioning for defensive holding on fourth down.

Flacco TD/ Int counter: 11/0, completing one the most impressive QB performances in a single playoff run since Joe Montana. Here are Joe's full stats during these playoffs:

Over 9 yards per attempt, an average QBR of 83.6—including a 95.1 in the Super Bowl (out of 100 in the new system)—and a total of 1,140 yards. Pretty awesome.

If you think this performance was an aberration, check out his career postseason stats (which, incidentally, give a pretty reliable sample since it's EVERY YEAR). It's worth noting that, almost without exception, his performances improve every year.

Well, folks, it's nice to be back. Look out for a post a day for the next week or so as we try to catch up with the Orioles.

Terps fans, also be on watch for something from Jordan looking forward to the 2013 Men's Basketball season.