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Receiving: 2 / 21 / 0 on 5 targets
Although veteran receiver Derrick Mason finished the game in the box score with only two catches, it could have been many more. Flacco targeted Mason several times in this game. Flacco slightly overthrew him on a deep pass when Mason beautifully executed a double move on CB Antonio Cromartie. Mason was most impressive in how he so smoothly ran his routes against defensive backs. One of his catches, a comeback route, was textbook. Like Boldin, Flacco and Mason have a great connection. There are no signs of this crafty veteran slowing down any time soon.
Receiving: 1 / 31 / 1 on 6 targets
Both Mason and TJ Housh were invisible for most of the day. Mason got loose for the TD in the 2nd half but on the whole he was never open. Cinci had no problems taking him out of the game plan and did it mostly with man to man coverage. Then when you add in that Flacco could not hit the broad side of a barn, you get low reception totals. He did score the TD so owners were not totally left out to dry but Baltimore needs to work on their passing game.
Receiving: 4 / 30 / 0 on 8 targets
Mason was only involved on very short passes for most of the game, and he showed irritation when Flacco came up way short when Mason did get wide open on a 15-yard out. Mason threw the ball in frustration and drew a delay of game penalty for his outburst. Mason get a catch on the same pattern later on, but he is clearly the second fiddle in this pass offense now.
Receiving: 6 / 80 / 0 on 8 targets
Mason made his presence felt in this game moreso than in any Ravens' game so far this season. While having just 7 catches coming into this game, Mason had 5 before the end of the first quarter alone. Because of the short-to-intermediate attack that Baltimore employed, Mason was able to excel in his strength area of being a possession receiver. When given cushion, Flacco would rise up and throw a short one to Mason (or Boldin) in lieu of a simple running play. While the Ravens would seem to prefer a more vertical attack than they used in this game, it seemed that any "what's wrong with Mason" questions were answered. He is still a viable WR that can be dangerous in certain situations. As always, he ran good routes, played a physical game, and made himself available for Flacco.
Receiving: 3 / 47 / 0 on 6 targets
Mason is a favorite target of Flacco's and always gets the ball thrown his way a good portion of the time. Mason almost had a huge day, as he was open for a deep ball, but a pass interference penalty put the ball on the 1 yard line and kept Mason from reaching the end zone.
Receiving: 8 / 100 / 0 on 10 targets
Mason was the target of a 3rd and 9 in the red zone on the Ravens first drive, but he didn't run his route deep enough and stepped out of bounds resulting in a FG. Though he missed on that play, he did an excellent job of working the sidelines the rest of the game, making big plays to keep drives alive and give the offense a steady flow. Mason capitalized on all of his one on one matchups and won his battles with the young NE corners on the outside. He almost made a brilliant grab on a slant route in the end zone in the 4th quarter but was hit just as the ball hit his hands jarring it lose and limiting the Ravens to a FG.
Receiving: 2 / 48 / 0 on 2 targets
Mason got very few targets from Flacco, but he made them count. He had a big catch near the side line for a first down, wisely keeping his feet just in bounds. He then caught a fade pass down the sideline from a perfectly in stride pass from Flacco, but he was lost in this offense for the rest of the day as Boldin and Heap shone.
Receiving: 4 / 42 / 1 on 5 targets
His best work of the day came in the 3rd quarte, opening drive for Baltimore. He was targeted when Baltimore got to the red one and there he reeled in 2 different passes with the 2nd one being a touchdown that left Miami DB Vontae Davis scratching his head. That was revenge for some comments Davis made about Mason's age earlier in the week. The WRs for Baltimore did not have to do a whole lot except draw coverage down the field so the backs could gain huge chunks of yards all day.
Receiving: 4 / 48 / 1 on 6 targets
Derrick Mason benefited from Anquan Boldin being double-covered most of the game on Thursday against the Falcons. Mason also had an effective sequence in the first quarter that saw him catch a 7 yard pass and a 13 yard pass on subsequent plays. He also scored the Ravens second touchdown on a catch that showed his veteran savvy. On the play, Mason came out of the slot and headed to the middle-back of the endzone. At the same time, quarterback Joe Flacco evaded pressure and stepped up in the pocket before throwing a hard pass to the right side of the endzone, where Mason had adjusted his route to the outside and come back for the ball in front of the trailing defender.
Receiving: 3 / 42 / 0 on 6 targets
The biggest news of the day for Mason had nothing to do with his three receptions for 42 yards, but more his heated and lively argument with quarterback Joe Flacco on the sidelines. Apparently, Mason felt the offense didn't have a quick enough pace and was also angry at Flacco directly for not throwing him a pass quick enough. Although he didn't have a very good game, the team isn't worried about the outburst and it apparently wasn't a chemistry issue whatsoever. Both some good news and bad news for Mason owners, and certainly just another day at the office for him as well.
Receiving: 8 / 87 / 1 on 13 targets
Mason and Flacco were clicking early and often against the Buccaneers. For some reason, Tampa Bay DB Aqib Talib was giving Mason a huge cushion early on, and Baltimore made him pay. Mason caught eight passes, including a 10 yard touchdown, and he just took advantage of coverage and used his skills as a route runner to get open time and time again.
Receiving: 2 / 22 / 0 on 3 targets
As was already stated, Mason was injured for most of this game. His impact was very minimal as a result. Typically a lock to catch 4+ passes against Pittsburgh because of the large amounts of cushion their corners yield due to the blitzing nature of their defensive scheme, Mason's night was certainly disappointing.
Receiving: 6 / 78 / 2 on 10 targets
Mason had a great game against the awful Texans pass defense. His 6 receptions included two touchdowns, the first on a fingertip catch off a slant pattern and the second on a go route wherein he snuck behind the Texans coverage. Mason has started to emerge as the preferred option of Joe Flacco at receiver and is being targeted all over the field. Even at age 36, Mason has caught four or more passes in 5 of the Ravens' last 7 games. Mason is being utilized on routes outside the hashmarks when the Ravens are between the twenties and is being utilized on crossing patterns and slants when the team get close to the goalline. Interestingly, the Texans did not roll a safety over to Mason's side of the field until the second half, long after he had scored two touchdowns.
Receiving: 1 / 42 / 0 on 2 targets
Mason reeled in Flacco's one successful deep ball, but otherwise was silent in this one.
Receiving: 4 / 50 / 1 on 6 targets
Derrick Mason continues to wow everyone by how consistent and professional he is as a football player. Mason made several nice catches in this game, starting with a quick slant over the middle when he had to extend his body making it prone to a hit to reel in the pass. His route running was superb as always on comeback routes and hitch/curl routes as he made the defensive back look silly many times. His touchdown catch was a wonderful display of field awareness as he managed to tap his feet in bounds despite the fact he was being interfered with.
Receiving: 3 / 34 / 0 on 3 targets
Mason is one of Flacco's biggest targets and made a couple big catches for first downs, that led to scores for Baltimore. However, the Ravens ran the ball all day long, and so Mason wasn't able to put up significant numbers.
Receiving: 1 / 11 / 0 on 4 targets
Like many premier receivers on wild card weekend, Mason's involvement in the offensive gameplan was almost nonexistent. It appeared as if Flacco was looking in his direction on a couple of occasions, but whether it was a penalty or someone knocking the ball away or just an inability to gain separation, Mason ended up with just one grab on the afternoon.
Receiving: 0 / 0 / 0 on 3 targets
When Mason looks back on his career, this game could be a winner in the "worst games ever" category. The only productive thing Mason did all game long was draw a defensive holding penalty on Ike Taylor in the first quarter. He did that, however, after being flagged for an offensive pass interference penalty of his own. Mason has been an effective receiver --- and even was for parts of this season --- but like Flacco, he has problems against good defenses. This offense simply doesn't have enough speed to make plays against physical defenses.