Thanksgiving is usually a day in which families come together, eat all the food they can and watch football, and in some families, they even play in their backyards before the NFL games start. For Jack Harbaugh, his two boys may have been eating dinner together, but they certainly were not playing in the backyard, instead they were engaging in a coaches duel. In the end, it was John Harbaugh, head coach of the Ravens (8-3) leading his team to victory over his brother Jim and the San Francisco 49ers (9-2) 16-6.
The Ravens knew going into this game that they would have one their biggest challenges to date. The 49ers who had one loss coming into this game which game in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys (7-4), have one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Ravens rising offense knew that this would not be an easy game.
This game ended up being a battle of two of the leagues most prominent defenses. Neither team scored a touchdown until the 4th quarter. The Ravens had a very tough time running the ball, but unlike other games, they still managed a balance attack.
The Ravens defense played one of the best games of the season. Ledby Terrell Suggs who had three of his own, the team totaled for nine sacks and was able to hurry 49ers quarterback 12 times. The 49ers defense would not be outdone as they were able to hold Ray Rice under three yards per carry.
Joe Flacco, who came to Baltimore when coach Harbaugh came, would not disappoint his coach in the teams quest to gain the victory for their coach. Flacco managed the game well, with a couple of big plays on third down to keep drives alive, along with the games only touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta in the fourth quarter. Flacco finished 15/23 for 161 yards .
The Ravens have a long week as they prepare for the division rival Cleveland Browns. The Browns have the number one pass defense in the league, so this will be a very important week of preparation for Cam Cameron and the Ravens offense.
Before the 2011 NFL Season began, it was Steelers linebacker Lamar Woodley who said that the Ravens would never win a Super Bowl with Joe Flacco as their quarterback. On Sunday Night, an injured Woodley had to watch from the bench as Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a fourth quarter comeback with a 26 yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith with :08 seconds left. The Ravens (6-2) defeat the Steelers (6-3) 23-20. The Ravens sweep the season series against the arch rival.
92 yards in 2 minutes for Joe Flacco. "Nobody shined brighter than Joe Flacco in this game," Coach John Harbaugh says during the post game press conference. For the first time this season, Joe Flacco threw for over 300 yards in back to back games. Flacco finished the game with 314 yards, one touchdown with a quarterback rating of 86.7.
The Ravens came out firing. On the first play of the game, Ray Rice took the straight to the endzone. However, the play would be called back after a holding penalty. The Ravens were able to move the ball, but they kept getting held to three points.
All year the Ravens struggled on third down conversions, however tonight, they were 14/21. The Ravens finished with 356 yards of total offense with most coming in the air, after the run defense of the Steelers held the Ravens to yards on the ground.
Going into this game, Terrell Suggs stated that Heinz field is his Madison Square Garden. "Either one or two things are happen, either we the same team from last year, or we going show the world how we are grow up," Terrell Suggs says, describing the victory over the Steelers. Suggs made a huge interception that stalled the momentum that the Steelers had during the third quarter. "If we keep playing Raven football, then when we see them in January they will have to come into our house."
Torrey Smith, who had not caught a touchdown pass since the week 3 vs the Rams, when he had three. On the first play of the game, it was Smith who was called for holding which wiped Rice's touchdown of the board. After dropped constantly, Smith did not give up. "Throughout the game we were in his ear, letting him know we need him to make a big play," Anquan Boldin says. With :08 seconds left, Torrey Smith changed the taste that the Ravens last had when leaving Heinz field a year ago from sour to sweet.
The Ravens get ready to travel to Quest Field to take on the Seattle Seahawks (2-6). The Ravens have struggled against teams with losing records in the past two matchups, losing to the Jaguars, and needing all fourth quarters to put away the Arizona Cardinals. This will be a huge game for them to continue their momentum. The Steelers are travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) who are quietly tied for first place with the Ravens. If the Steelers do not win this matchup, their Super Bowl hangover will surely become the runner up nightmare.
This week, The NFLs biggest rivalry game takes place, the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) visit the hated Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2). A year ago, the teams split the season series, however, the Steelers defeated the Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs. The two teams met in week one, and the Ravens destroyed the Steelers 37-7. The Ravens had pinned up frustration from years of falling to their division foe. This year the opportunity presents itself for the Ravens to sweep the Steelers for the first time since 2006. The environment will be really hostile going into Heinz field and after a convincing win over the Patriots a week ago, the Steelers are proving that they are not the same team from week one. However they are bothered by a lot of injuries and with the Ravens looking to establish themselves as on the elite teams in the NFL, this will be a very important game.
TJ: Ive been wrestling for 2 1/2 years now. Probably the best years of my life so far haha.
MEBD: What is your favorite type of match to participate in?
TJ: My favorite match hands down would be a ladder match. The match is so intense and it lets you bring out the creative side in you. Be innovative you know? From watching classic ladder matches like HBK and Razor to the Hardy Boyz, E&C and The Dudleys makes you respect that type of match and of course the compettitors in it as well. MEBD: What promotions do you wrestle for?
TJ: I work for Summit Wrestling Association out in Greencastle Pa., Undisputed Championship Wrestling in Uniontown and South Connellsville PA. Real Championship Wrestling in my hometown of Baltimore MD, House Of Pain Wrestling in West Virginia, NWA Mountain State Wrestling in West Virginia. And couple others but those are the main ones. MEBD: Who was your favorite wrestler growing up?
TJ: Well of course I have to go with The Heartbreak Kid Shwan Michaels. I know its a classic answer but hey HBK is the real deal haha. MEBD: Where did you train?
TJ: I have trained with Tatanka, Burn Blankenship out of West Virginia and Chucky Wynn who was trained by Kyda Pro in Mannassas Virginia. MEBD: What has been the best advice that you have been given and who gave it to you?
TJ: "Be Different", Tatanka always told me that. I still keep that advice in my head to this day and "Relax" HBK gave me that advice when I met him awhile back. MEBD: What do you think about the state of Professional Wrestling today?
TJ: The state of Professional Wrestling could use a good kick in the ass basically. If you think back to say the 80's or 90's was when wrestling was at its best to me. Plain and simple my advice would be save the drama and get back to what its all about and that Wrestling in itself. Alot of people are in it for them selves when we should be helping this biz grow and make Pro wrestling hot again. MEBD: Who are your favorites currently and why?
TJ: My favorites currently have to be The Pope D'Angelo Dinero, as for the indy circuit I would say Adam Cole. Why? Well as for the Pope the man has it all, Charisma, in ring ability, the look, you name it hes deserves a world title. As for Adam Cole who by the way is on the top of my list right now to go toe to toe with, hes one of those guys that you look at and say "That guy has got it". Cole is gonna do great things ifor this biz, but guess what ill be right there doing the same. MEBD: Who has been your best opponent so far?
TJ: My best opponent so far has to be one of my best friends in Skull where we tore it down up at Undisputed Championship Wrestling. We never finished that match but rest assured that we will one day and finally put to rest who is the better man. MEBD: When did you decide to do the Michael Jackson Character?
TJ: I decided to do it actually a couple months before he passed away and I have transitioned the look to more of a Pop Star look. But Still have a bit of the MJ look to me as a tribute to him. MEBD: Were you worried that it would not be taken seriously?
TJ: Was I worried? I guess alittle, but it seems like its taken off pretty well. But I still did the transition to a Pop Star just to change it up a bit. MEBD: Name your top favorite MJ songs?
TJ: Number one of course is Billie Jean as for the others its honestly a toss up. I could'nt really choose outta the rest MEBD: What would say makes you unique in and out of the ring?
TJ: What makes me unique is the fact that each time you see me in the ring I like trying new things and testing my limits. Im not like Cena with the 5 moves of doom everything with me has to be different each match. Being Unique to me isnt something that you force it just happens. Outside the ring I like to be sociable with the fans, give advice that I can give to the fans that one day want to be a wrestler. Help anyway I can. I know what it was like to be a fan and I still am in many ways MEBD: How can you be booked?
TJ: To reach me for bookings reach me at my emai tjaysykes@yahoo.com, hit me up on twitter @The_KThrilla, or on Facebook. MEBD: Is there any footage fans can find of you?
TJ: Footage is all over haha. Look my name up on youtube TJ Sykes or TJay Sykes. Summit Wrestling fan page on Facebook as well.
