Ravens at Chiefs - Week 14 - Record: 7-6

Wasn't the last time we lost a December home game in 1947? Something like that? Oh well, all good things must come to an end.

What probably hurts the most about this loss was not that we got beat for the obvious reasons. And it certainly was not because it showed we can't contend, that was determined last week.

The reason it hurt the most is because it showed just how old this team is. As I'd intimated last week, I'd actually thought Trent Green was back and in good shape to get us going. This game showed that we really need to get a young new guy at the helm, and that doesn't just happen over night. Is Brodie Croyle the answer? I'd like to have that ray of hope that he'd actually develop into a true major league signal-caller. At this point we just don't know.

As for other aged troopers, there is Tony Gonzalez-- how much longer can he go?-- and Eddie Kennison-- with all due respect, he's still our go-to receiver? That's hurtin.' Never mind the anchor of what-offensive-line-we-have-left is Will Shields, who was a rookie in 1947.

For now, we know the obvious:

With all that happened this year personnel-wise, our offensive line just can't get it done. It isn't all Trent Green's fault. He was sacked five times and threw two interceptions. His one TD pass was a late game gimme. Larry Johnson had over 100, but Baltimore's defense is so good they just toyed with him. Take out one ultimately meaningless 47-yard romp and there you have the real running game on the day.

Our defense is exceptionally inconsistent. Every once in a while they shine, but they just don't-- oh how do I put this without belaboring the point-- they don't finish. Give them credit, they actually did a decent job of containing Baltimore's offense. But they gave up the one huge TD pass play, and you just can't do that against this team.

And how about looking at a new placekicker. Even though in the grand scheme of things it didn't matter, Lawrence Tynes missed an easy must-make FG early. To have even a chance, we needed that. After that choke, I knew we'd struggle. We just can't afford to have a kicker blowing these opportunities after a pretty strong opening drive.

Think this was embarrassing? How about this: a work colleague tells me that NBC has selected next week's contest at San Diego-- arguably the best team in football-- for their prime-time evening slot. Great. We wait all season for a Sunday/Monday night game and this is the one they're going to show. One where we're going to get slaughtered before the whole country. Just great.

Yes, yes, we're still mathematically in it for post-season. It'll take more than magic now from Herm Edwards, it'll take miracles from a lot of other places.

As for me, I'm just hoping for the miracles that we'd draft and develop solidly from this point forward, especially at QB and the OL, so we can actually contend next year.