*Another Fan Submission by The Sports Column’s own Marcus From College Park*
Just as it was in baseball, the two football teams that share the Baltimore & Washington Parkway find themselves facing late season charges toward the playoffs. Baltimore (9-2) plays Sunday to crush longtime nemesis, Pittsburgh Steeler’s Nation (6-5) hope of a third straight playoff appearance and clinch back to back AFC North crowns. Meanwhile just south of M&T Stadium, Washington (5-6) will attempt to win their third straight against a NFC East opponent by upsetting the defending Super Bowl Champion, New York Giants (7-4), in Landover and keep their playoff hopes on life support.
Courtesy: Maryland Teams.com
Interestingly enough, besides the fact that both teams play decisive games this weekend in the shadow of each other’s stadium’s, the similarities simply end there. The differences couldn’t be more clear starting
with the quarterbacks. Joe Flacco, the 6′-6″ pocket passer has none of the speed, agility or charisma that Washington’s media darling Robert Griffin III has shown. Flacco continues to be under appreciated, not only league wide, but in his very own Baltimore. Even though the accolades rain down seemingly weekly on RG3, his record under center is only 5-6; in comparison to Flacco’s record as a starter of 53-22 and four straight playoff appearances, including two AFC Championship Games. To put Flacco’s numbers in perspective, D.C.’s Iconic Hero and Hall of Fame, Christian Adolph “Sonny” Jurgensen III was 52-51-5 in eleven years as Washington’s signal caller. That’s right sports fans, old number 9, Sonny Jurgenson was a “Third” too, just like current QB, RG3! Could that have been the secret and unknown reasoning behind Snyder and Shanahan’s mega trade for the Baylor product? Probably not, but an interesting connection to the team’s history, none the less.
Courtesy: Washington Post
Baltimore goes for an incredible current league leading 16 straight wins at home. The last home loss came at the hands of the Steelers on December 10th in 2010. Washington has stitched back to back wins at home for the first time in memory and Fed-Ex Field has been more of a “Boulevard of Broken Dream’s” for fans of the Burgundy and Gold, than a Home Field Advantage. Under Shanahan’s guidance, Washington is a season ticket holders’ nightmare of 6-15. Ouch!
Baltimore’s youthful 50 year old Head Coach, John Harbaugh, boasts a winning percentage of .707 compared to the 60 year old, Mike Shanahan’s paltry percentage of .372. Front Office expertise is provided by Hall of Fame tight end, Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore while Washington has the figurehead of Son of George, Bruce Allen getting coffee for “The Boss,” Mike Shanahan, who runs the whole show as President of Football Operations in Ashburn.
If you’ve ever been to the stadiums in Landover and Baltimore, it’s practically cruel to compare the two teams game day experience; so, I won’t do it here. It wouldn’t be fair and I’d probably be flagged for pilling on by D.C. supporters.
There is a common thread that runs deeply through both clubs and it is worth noting, the fans. Both cities have loyal, robust and rowdy fans. For some reason, even though many are neighbors and coworkers they deeply despise each other. Thankfully the fans can “work out” their differences when the two teams meet next week in Landover for the equivalent of a NFL Love In. But probably not.
