Charlie Batch Brings Himself to Tears (Why We Love Sports)

I’m going to address the “Curse of the Terrible Towel” first. I don’t believe in curses, but one would think the consensus around the league by now would be “don’t mess with the Towel.” Apparently, Ray Rice didn’t learn from the LenDale White’s and T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s of the world. When the Ravens beat the Byron Leftwich led Steelers by 3 two weeks ago, Rice decided that he was going to have some fun with a stray towel.

Well… how did that turn out for you Ray?

Although I can’t guarantee that’s the last jibe I’ll get in on the old guy, I have to try to keep it at a minimum. It wouldn’t be fair to make fun of Charlie Batch after what he just did this afternoon. At age 37, Batch played the best game of his career, and when you consider the game was played IN Baltimore…whoo. What a game.

NFL Preview: #9 Baltimore Ravens

 

2011 Record: 12-4

Key Draft Picks: DE Courtney Upshaw, OG Kelechi Osemele

Outlook: The Ravens had one of the strongest seasons in their short history in 2011. They finished 12-4, won the AFC North (by beating their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, twice) and went on to the AFC playoffs for the fourth year in a row. But for the fourth straight year, the Ravens were eliminated short of their goal with a 23-20 loss to the Patriots on a missed field goal (every Steeler fan’s favorite play from last season). Their 2012 season started off on the wrong foot as star linebacker Terrell Suggs suffered a torn achilles in June. The Ravens defense takes a big hit losing the big man from the self-founded “Ball So Hard University” (Suggs really went to Arizona State). Suggs has said he wants to return by November, but judging by other achilles injuries, he likely won’t come back until playoff time.