TMQ: Ravens

Sweet 'N' Sour Plays No. 1: Washington trailed visiting Baltimore 28-20, and had third-and-5 on the Ravens' 11 with 36 ticks showing in what turned out to be regulation. Phenom RG III just left the game hurt. Fellow rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins saw a defense that was expecting a super-short pass from a confused rookie. Nine Baltimore defenders were close to the line of scrimmage, just two in the deep field. Washington sent out four receivers; Baltimore rushed four, meaning seven to cover four; both Baltimore cornerbacks were in man-on-man, meaning five Ravens to cover the other two receivers. Pierre Garçon ran a down-and-out, touchdown. Then, a surprise quarterback draw for two, the game heads to overtime and Washington victory. Tout sweet!

Sour for Baltimore was that cornerback Chris Johnson, assigned to man coverage on Garçon, simply stood there and let him run past. Johnson was busy making the high school mistake of looking into the backfield trying to guess the play, rather than staying glued to his man. But check the opposite side! Josh Morgan ran a down-and-in, and also was open -- because cornerback Cary Williams was making the high school mistake of looking into the backfield trying to guess the play. Meanwhile, three Baltimore defensive backs are covering no one at all. Both Baltimore corners acted like they were in short zones, releasing deep routes to safeties; the other Baltimore defensive backs acted like the cornerbacks were supposed to be in man. Whomever screwed up -- tout sour.

Buck-Buck-Brawckkkkkkk: Scoring to take a 27-20 lead at Washington with five minutes remaining in what turned out to be regulation, coach Harbaugh/East faced a choice go for two or do the "safe" thing. A 29-20 lead puts the Nevermores in command. Doing the safe thing creates a 28-20 lead and two chances to stop the Redskins -- stop a touchdown, or if they score six, stop a deuce. But is there much risk in going for two and failing? Then the Ravens lead 27-20. If the Skins score to pull within 27-26 in the closing seconds, odds are they will not go for two to win, rather, will do the "safe" thing and proceed to overtime.

Harbaugh/East did the "safe" thing, took the 28-20 lead, then lost in overtime. If he'd gone for two and failed, he personally would have been blamed for the loss; as it is, Baltimore special teams are being blamed. Reader Michael Kendall of Oneonta, N.Y., points out that Harbaugh could have gone for two confident that even if the Ravens missed, Mike Shanahan would have been afraid to go for two at 27-26, because then he would have been blamed for a Redskins lose.

Tuesday Morning Quarterback