2007 Baltimore Ravens season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Baltimore Ravens
year = 2007
record = 5-11
division_place = 4th AFC North
coach = Brian Billick
stadium = M&T Bank Stadium
playoffs = "did not qualify"The 2007 Baltimore Ravens season was the 12th season for the team in the National Football League. They entered the season hoping to improve on their 13-3 record from 2006, but finished the season with a 5-11 record and missed the playoffs.

Coaching staff

Head coach Brian Billick entered his ninth and final year with the Ravens. He was joined by offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

Offseason

During the offseason the Ravens cut Jamal Lewis, with the intent of re-signing him at a lower salary. However, he then signed with the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens also choose not to place the franchise tag on Adalius Thomas, who then signed with the New England Patriots. Fullback Ovie Mughelli was also lost in free agency, signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Ravens then traded a 3rd and 7th round draft pick in the 2007 draft and a 3rd round pick in 2008 for Willis McGahee. In the 1st round of the draft, the Ravens selected Auburn offensive tackle Ben Grubbs. In the 5th round, the Baltimore Ravens drafted Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith.

tandings

Regular Season Games

Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Ravens
R1=0
R2=10
R3=0
R4=10
RT=0
Home=Bengals
H1=9
H2=3
H3=7
H4=8
HT=0"at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio"
* Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 82°F (Mostly Cloudy & Slight Rain)
* Game attendance: 66,093
* Referee: Terry McAulay
* TV announcers: (ESPN): Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser, Ron Jaworski, Michele Tafoya & Suzy Kolber

Game summary

The Ravens began their 2007 campaign on the road against their AFC North foe, the Cincinnati Bengals, in the first game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader. In the first quarter, Baltimore lost two fumbles early on, with the Bengals turning the second fumble into QB Carson Palmer's 39-yard TD pass to WR Chad Johnson. Later, another Raven fumble allowed Cincinnati to cash in as Bengals kicker Shayne Graham nailed a 23-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Baltimore finally managed to get on the board as RB Musa Smith got a 6-yard TD run. Later, Cincinnati increased its advantage with Graham kicking a 40-yard field goal. The Ravens would end the half with kicker Matt Stover getting a 36-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Baltimore's turnover problems continued as QB Steve McNair fumbled the ball as he got sacked, allowing Bengals LB Landon Johnson to return the fumble 34 yards for a touchdown for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, the Ravens finally took the lead with Stover kicking a 23-yard field goal and Safety Ed Reed returning a punt 63 yards for a touchdown. However, later in the period, a McNair pass would end up intercepted by DE Robert Geathers. The Bengals would quickly cash in as Palmer would complete a 7-yard TD pass to WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh, followed by a 2-point conversion run by RB Rudi Johnson. With McNair having groin problems, QB Kyle Boller would take over. He threw a pass in the red zone to tight end Todd Heap that was overturned for an offensive pass interference penalty - a call that drew anger from Ravens fans as replays showed that if anything, Heap had been interfered against. Near the end of the game, he almost helped the Ravens score, but a Michael Myers interception ended any hope of Baltimore's comeback. In the end, the Ravens would end up with 6 total turnovers on the night.

With the loss, Baltimore began its season at 0-1.

coring summary

Q1 - CIN - 8:38 - 39 yard TD pass from Carson Palmer to Chad Johnson (kick failed) (CIN 6-0)

Q1 - CIN - 4:07 - Shayne Graham 23 yard FG (CIN 9-0)

Q2 - BAL - 11:56 - Musa Smith 6 yard TD run (Matt Stover kick) (CIN 9-7)

Q2 - CIN - 1:07 - Shayne Graham 40 yard FG (CIN 12-7)

Q2 - BAL - 0:06 - Matt Stover 36 yard FG (CIN 12-10)

Q3 - CIN - 8:57 - Landon Johnson 34 yard fumble return TD (Graham kick) (CIN 19-10)

Q4 - BAL - 14:05 - Matt Stover 23 yard FG (CIN 19-13)

Q4 - BAL - 12:25 - Ed Reed 63 yard punt return TD (Stover kick) (BAL 20-19)

Q4 - CIN - 8:53 - 7 yard TD pass from Carson Palmer to T. J. Houshmandzadeh (Rudi Johnson 2 point conversion run) (CIN 27-20)

Week 2: vs. New York Jets

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Jets
R1=0
R2=3
R3=0
R4=10
RT=0
Home=Ravens
H1=7
H2=10
H3=0
H4=3
HT=0"at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland"
* Game time: 4:15 PM EDT
* Game weather: 69°F (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 71,246
* Referee: Scott Green

Hoping to rebound from their turnover-plagued loss to the Bengals, the Ravens flew home for their Week 2 home-opener against the New York Jets. With Steve McNair still recovering from a groin injury, QB Kyle Boller was given the start for this Back-Up Bowl (due to the fact Kellen Clemens was filling in for an injured Chad Pennington). In the first quarter, Baltimore took to the skies early with Boller completing a 2-yard TD pass to RB Willis McGahee for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Jets responded with kicker Mike Nugent getting a 50-yard field goal. Fortunately, the Ravens responded with kicker Matt Stover getting a 28-yard field goal and Boller completing a 4-yard TD pass to TE Todd Heap.

After a scoreless third quarter, Baltimore increased its lead with Stover kicking a 43-yard field goal. However, the Jets began to show some fight within them as Nugent kicked a 21-yard field goal, while Clemens completed a 3-yard TD pass to TE Chris Baker. Fortunately, the Ravens defense held its ground and LB Ray Lewis managed to get the game-winning interception.

With the win, not only did Baltimore improve to 1-1, but it made the Ravens 4-0 against the Jets while under Head Coach Brian Billick.

Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Ravens
R1=0
R2=6
R3=3
R4=0
RT=9
Home=49ers
H1=0
H2=0
H3=7
H4=0
HT=7
* Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 63°F (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 67,885
* Referee: Bill Leavy

Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Browns, the Ravens flew to Bill Walsh Field at Monster Park for an interconference duel with the San Francisco 49ers. Baltimore would even go up against the QB that helped them win Super Bowl XXXV, Trent Dilfer, because QB Alex Smith was out with a separated shoulder.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens got the first punch with kicker Matt Stover getting a 26-yard and a 32-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Stover gave Baltimore a 49-yard field goal. However, the 49ers threatened with Dilfer completing a 23-yard TD pass to WR Arnaz Battle. The 49ers' kicker Joe Nedney missed the potential game-winning field goal from 52 yards out, and the Ravens held on for the lead.

With their win, Baltimore improved to 3-2.

Regular Season