Ed Reed Blames Flu for Getting Hurdled by Knowshon Moreno, Compares Loss to Broncos to Christmas

by Ricky Doyle on Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 10:45AM

The Ravens gift wrapped Sunday’s game for the Broncos, and Peyton Manning‘s squad was more than happy to accept the generous gesture.

Baltimore turned the ball over twice, struggled offensively and played porous defense as Denver jumped out to a 31-3 lead and eventually walked away with a 34-17 win. After the game, Ravens safety Ed Reed was none too pleased with the Ravens’ performance.

“I felt like it was Christmas and not for our side,” Reed told reporters. “We were in a giving mood. … We didn’t play football. I was embarrassed. I am embarrassed as a player to come out and perform the way we have. As a Ravens nation, as a player, I am embarrassed for our city.”

The Ravens have now lost three straight as they still seek to clinch an AFC North title. Sunday’s loss was particularly embarrassing, though, as the Broncos simply dominated from start to finish amidst a myriad of Baltimore miscues.

One such miscue came near the end of the first quarter when Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno made Reed look absolutely foolish by hurdling over the Ravens safety. Reed said after the game that he didn’t expect Moreno to jump, and he also blamed his personal health status for the mishap.

“I was not expecting him to jump, honestly,” Reed said. “I couldn’t react because I was dealing with a lot of sickness early in the game. I just wasn’t all the way into it, honestly. I was dealing with flu symptoms and everything. I just kind of watched him jump over me.

“I wasn’t expecting that at all. I thought he was was ready to put his head down. I saw him gathering himself, so I was like, ‘There’s no way he’s going to jump.’”

Well, at least the Ravens aren’t making excuses or anything.