Ravens Outlast Panthers, 17-12, To Open Preseason
Ravens Outlast Panthers, 17-12, To Open Preseason
M&T BANK STADIUM, Baltimore — It’s not unusual for two teams that don’t play each other often to come into a preseason opener from very different directions.
Despite winning four of five games to finish last season at 8-8, the Carolina Panthers made Wholesale NFL Jerseys changes to their roster. They have six new starters on a defense ranked eighth leaguewide in 2009,SHOES,JERSEYS SHOW ON TANGSHOPPING.COM, and the roster contains four quarterbacks all under 25 years old. Partially because of that latter point, Carolina has the league’s youngest overall squad.
On the other hand, the veteran-laden Ravens are expected to once again be among the league’s elite, what with 20 returning starters, 17 players who have made at least one Pro Bowl,Bengals release Antonio Bryant, six playoff appearances in the last decade and 23 regular and postseason wins under head coach John Harbaugh, tied for fourth in the league.
That’s why the Ravens’ 17-12 Thursday-night win over the Panthers in front of 70,seo优化,579 thunderstorm- and rain-battered M&T Bank Stadium fans — the Ravens’ fifth straight preseason victory — was so predictable.
“We wanted to come out here and play against another team,” wideout Mark Clayton said. “We’ve been in camp for two weeks and it’s good to play in the first preseason game.”
Harbaugh agreed, even though the alacrity withWholesale NFL Jerseys which the team began the game surprised him.
“We’ve had a tough camp,” he said. “I didn’t expect us to have legs, but we’ll be working our legs back (at camp) this weekend.”
Despite a few problems stopping the run and protecting its quarterbacks — the Ravens allowed an alarming six sacks — Baltimore showed it had the edge not just in experience, but also in energy and tempo. It started from the very first appearance by the starters on all three units.
On special teams,1st Time Marcus ‘Airhead’ Jordan Acts Stupid? Hard, Billy Cundiff — thought to be the weaker of Wholesale NFL Jerseysthe two kicking candidates on kickoff distance — put the game’s opening boot eight yards deep in the end zone and Shayne Graham also notched a touchback. Punt returner Tom Zbikowski returned the game’s first punt 28 yards.
Defensively, linebacker Terrell Suggs looked as smooth and fast as he has in training camp. In fact, he jumped offsides on the Ravens’ first defensive play. Zbikowski (four tackles, sack) got into a brief arm-swinging match with Panthers’ wideout Brandon LaFell and later delay-blitzed his way into a sack and forced fumble.