If I were in charge (and I don’t believe I’m alone here), the under side of the Christmas tree in the Ravens’ locker room would be very full this coming holiday. The Ravens players and coaches need a lot of gifts after another lackluster performance, this time on Monday Night Football. The cathedral of NFL stadiums, Lambeau Field, provided the venue for the unvealing of the biggest NFL wishlist so far this season.

Cam Cameron would receive a new playbook, replacing his old one from 1997. Included in said playbook would be offensive schemes that include 10+ yard passes to wide receivers, as well as the incorporation of Ravens’ receivers challenging opposing cornerbacks one on one. Mark Clayton will receive Isotoner gloves so he can figure out how to catch a pass, and Derrick Mason would receive his old shoulder brace, since that actually seemed to help him serve as an offensive weapon. Domonique Foxworth, Frank Walker, and Chris Carr would be given a sheet of looseleaf paper reading, “You’re Fired!”. Actually, come to think of it, why waste a piece of paper on that garbage? Instead, I’d let them figure it out for themselves when they see an empty locker and their names removed from their dressing stalls. Also, just because it would be funny, I’d probably hire midgets to stand in the doorway and vigorously kick them in the kneecaps the entire way out of the stadium.

But I wouldn’t stop there. While I’m in the giving mood, I’d teach Joe Flacco the color of his team’s jersey so he stops throwing to the opponent. Willis McGahee would receive a box of tissues so he can wipe away the evidence of his constant crying over his waning talent. On the other hand, Ray Rice would unwrap a year’s worth of massages, because his shoulders must hurt like hell from supporting the weight of this team all season. Greg Mattison would receive a punch in the face (from Haloti Ngata, not me) for not keeping up the aggressive stigma that the Ravens’ defense has prided itself on for the past decade.

But for everybody, I’d get massive metal shovels, fully capable of digging a hole big enough to contain an entire NFL football team. But let’s not limit these shovels to the players. The coaches would receive them as well. Some of the front office are getting shovels in their stockings. Hell, even the cheerleaders would get shovels because who wouldn’t want to see a bunch of scantily clad, sweaty women digging a massive hole in the ground?

The Ravens’ offense managed a meager 78 total yards in the first half, embarrassing the entire unit on a prime time game. Without a few breaks due to some stupid penalties on Green Bay, the offensive production would have been an even uglier stepchild. Flacco looked horrible, completing only six passes through the first 30 minutes of action. He can’t be blamed entirely, seeing as to how the wide receivers couldn’t have faked out a five year old and the offensive line might as well have stayed at home. The penalties were awful, but were not a difference maker. In fact, the fouls were distributed almost evenly between the two teams, leaving more blame to fall on the shoulders of the players.

The Ravens have a lot to think about over the next week.

Turnovers were the biography during the first quarter of the game. The game saw two turnovers by the Ravens, one coming from a Ray Rice fumble, and another from an ill-advised Joe Flacco pass. We saw more stupid mistakes than you could find in a 9th grade algebra class, leading some to think that maybe the Ravens would be better off playing high school teams.

Meanwhile, the Packers were able to overcome their one turnover, and turned on the jets when it came to scoring points. Aaron Rodgers manhandled the Baltimore defense, providing enough game tape for the Ravens to study for the rest of the season. Rodgers limited his mistakes while taking full advantage of the mistakes made by Baltimore, and the Packers found themselves winning by 17 points at halftime. Even with all the horrible 1st half performances that Ravens’ fans have had the displeasure of experiencing this season, Monday night’s game took the cake.

At halftime, Willis McGahee cried over how little playing time he received, the refs went to the store to buy more penalty flags, and Jon Gruden made out with all of the Packers’ players.

Cam Cameron is not going to be given much love from Baltimore fans if the offense continues to be ineffective.

The second half began with a glimmer of hope for Baltimore, with fans experiencing a Ravens team that took advantage of Green Bay mistakes. The Ravens posted 14 points in a 30 second time span to bring the game within three points, churning the emotions of those glued to the television, intently waiting for Baltimore to play like a team that was hanging on to it’s playoff life. But the rising sense of accomplishment was short lived. While both teams insisted on committing pass interference penalties, Joe Flacco began to develop a bad habit of throwing picks. While white jerseys are very similar to dark green ones, the three interceptions Flacco threw were too much for the team to handle. Flacco, who began to mirror his rookie season, handicapped his own offense by destroying two chances to close the lead. His second interception of the game came on a 2nd and goal, when Flacco uncomfortably forced a hopeful touchdown pass into the waiting arms of a Green Bay defender. The drive came to a frustrating halt, and marked the beginning of the end for Baltimore.

The game ended with a poorly commanded two minute drill that portrayed the players and coaches as a group of confused,

unorganized strangers rather than a strong unit, working together to achieve the goal of quickly putting points on the board. While any other team would have aimed to get in the endzone, because that is usually what a team needs to do when it is trying to come from behind, Baltimore made the decision that throwing short passes over the middle would be the best idea. Maybe the idea was that the Packers would be fooled, and eventually allow Ray Rice and Todd Heap to catch  3 yard passes, run for 20 yards after the catch, avoid all of the defenders, and eventually find pay dirt. While a come back would have been nothing short of a miracle, a display of heart and passion would have allowed the fans to sleep a bit easier, knowing that the team hadn’t given up, even when facing the toughest of odds.

The Ravens now face a huge uphill battle if they want a chance to make the playoffs. What once was a promising season, full of high expectations and misleading early season performances, is now just a series of unanticipated contests, most certainly full of disappointment and underachievement. This Baltimore offense is quickly becoming the biggest thorn in the side of the Ravens, and it is hard to believe that the doubters of the system will significantly increase. Any outcry towards Cam Cameron and his slipping grip on an effective game plan will be completely deserved. While his work with Flacco began on the right track last season, and even into the beginning of the current year, it seems as if the next step in the development process of a young quarterback is one that Cameron is afraid to take.

John Harbaugh may begin to feel the heat from Ravens' fans if the team misses the playoffs.

Team/Player Photos: Baltimore Ravens Team / Player Photos on Jul 25, 2010

But Cameron isn’t the only coach to blame. John Harbaugh needs to think long and hard as well. This is not the first time that his incompetence, as well as his failure to handle certain situations as best as possible, have left the Ravens hanging out to dry. More than anything else, this Monday night game was a stage on which a stagnant offense,  porous defense, and undisiplined on-field behavior was put on display for all to see. Defensive coordinator, Greg Mattison, left a lot of room for better impressions, when we saw his unit help contribute to a close call with a Monday Night Football record for most penalty yardage in one game.

Overall, the frustration for many was boiling over by the time the 4th quarter rolled around. After seeing such a repulsive showing by a team with so much to play for, the fan base was left feeling anything but complacent with the position the Ravens have put themselves in. While the playoffs are not completely out of the picture, the Ravens have single handedly taken themselves out of the decision making process. Now, it comes down to finger crossing and desperate praying for the complete meltdown of several other teams in the AFC. Harbaugh and his staff have a lot of contemplating to do, going into next week’s game against the Detroit Lions. There have been several glaring problems throughout the season that don’t seem to get addressed, leaving the Ravens struggling against themselves just as much as any opponent they play week in and week out.