Steve Smith: Ravens expect criticism for loss to Texans, but will ignore it
After Baltimore's losing performance against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. expressed frustration, but stressed that the team would not pay attention to criticism from observers.
The Texans defeated the visiting Ravens 25-13, with Baltimore only gaining a season-low 211 yards. Quarterback Joe Flacco completed just 21 of his 50 passes, throwing for 195 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, while no Raven rushed for more than 20 yards.
Smith, who caught five passes for 49 yards, was blunt in his assessment of his team's performance.
"Bottom line is offensively, we just got our a-- kicked," Smith said after the game. "That's what happened. That's what the score looks like."
"That's what it looks like when you just lose. That is the consequences of losing."
The team completed 42 percent of its passes and gained an average of 2.1 yards per rush. Justin Forsett's 19 yards rushing were a season-low for him.
Smith also said that the team expected criticism after its poor performance, but that he and his teammates would not pay attention to the critics.
"We expect and understand and anticipate all of the negative feedback and all of the fat, lazy, sorry couch quarterbacks are going to come out," he said.
"We expect that and understand that. We're not going to pay attention to it."
The Ravens moved to 9-6 after Sunday's defeat. They are now third in the AFC North, behind the Steelers and the Bengals, ahead of their final game at home against the Browns.
After their loss to the Texans, the Ravens no longer control their playoff chances. They can no longer win the AFC North title, and their postseason hopes now rely on other teams losing.
- Christopher Woody
