billy cundiff...

I've been a Ravens fan since 1996 when they came to town and my dad bought season tickets. I'm not sure I could claim diehard status just compared to my USWNT and Tennessee fandom... but I'm loyal and have been for all 16 seasons. I usually get to see one game a year when I go home for the holidays, but this season was particularly special having had the chance to see two regular season games and I made a special one-day trip up for the playoff game against the Texans last weekend.

I've been nervous about the Patriots all week. I never talk smack before a game, but this one made me even more determined to keep my mouth shut. Last week Brady devoured the Broncos and the Ravens narrowly edged out the Texans and I was hoping our offense could make a better showing against a weaker defense at New England. 

A nail biter makes for good ratings and good entertainment and the Ravens and Patriots provided both (with no real evidence on the ratings other than discussion via social media). I'm not sure why we didn't go for the field goal on the next to last drive and I wish Evans could have held onto the ball a split second longer to ensure a nail in the coffin touchdown rather than resorting to a field goal attempt, but neither happened. 

During the entire last drive I was wishing it didn't come down to Cundiff. I was a huge Cundiff fan last season. I thought he made some clutch kicks and was obviously rewarded for it with a pro bowl selection. This season he's admittedly been pretty inconsistent (in part due to a calf injury) and left a lot of people with questions including the Ravens front office based on their call-up to Shayne Graham late in the season... but just last week he hit two clutch field goals from 44 and 48 yards to help ensure the win over Houston. 

Thirty-two yards. On tv that seems so simple. I didn't feel good about the angle to start with and everyone knew as soon as he kicked it, New England had won. It sucks to lose and it sucks to be the one that had the game on his shoulders and couldn't convert... but I'm standing by Cundiff. 

I tried to stay off twitter and Facebook knowing "haters gonna hate" but I had to check. I expected the Pats fans to be thanking Cundiff and the general football fans laughing at his "choke" but I think the worst part is seeing the Ravens fans turning their backs. 

Ray Rice gave me hope when he said, "And one more thing...games consist of SIXTY MINUTES, NOT 20 seconds so before y'all start bashing MY kicker on this page, let me say this is a TEAM sport, win or lose...so if you want to be negative, keep it to yourself."

I know some may argue Cundiff is paid millions of dollars to kick a ball through two posts and he didn't do it so we can hold him accountable. I absolutely agree with that. I just can't hate him for it. People make mistakes. He didn't do it on purpose. I have no idea if he'll be a part of the team next year and my heart breaks for Cundiff and the rest of the team who were so close to making it to the super bowl (or at least overtime :). At the same time... people missed tackles and passes weren't caught or thrown to the right people and blocks didn't happen and routes weren't run correctly and a kick went wide... and now the Patriots are in the super bowl. It doesn't necessarily make anyone feel any better to let Cundiff off the hook, but I'm not sure it makes anyone feel any better to hate him either. Regardless... we have a few months to recover.

Go Ravens!