Are the Baltimore Ravens legit?

[Garet Jax]

This goes to the old thought:

16-0 or 15-1 ----> Out of the playoffs first game ----> unsuccessful season (Colts last year)
8-8 or 9-7 ----> Win Super Bowl ----> successful season (Steelers last year)

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Wow, the number one target on a team lacking balance and offensive weapons...there's no reason whatsoever that Chad Johnson shouldn't have the numbers.

QB is "back to his form from last year"? Holy sh!t, 6-5. Great form guy! Kudos Carson, on being overrated at USC, and being overrated in the NFL. You're a real standout! :thumbsup: With Baltimore, Indy, and Denver left on their schedule, you're looking at a 8-8 team at the best, and a "QB in his form from last year" that can't get his team to the playoffs. Why don't you get a clue? Oooh, beating Cleveland twice and losing to Tampa and Atlanta. Way to go Bengals!

Cincinnati has plenty of offensive weapons in Rudi Johnson, TJ Houshmanzadeh, and Chris Henry (when he's not suspended).

As for Palmer, you can't judge the record on one guy, especially when nobody said anything about him being back to form at the beginning of the season. He's now throwing like he did last year, which is a good thing. As for him being overrated, how can you overrate a guy who wins the Heisman, then finishes second in passer rating to Peyton Manning his 3rd year in the league? For this year, he's currently third, and he's only getting better as the season goes along. Palmer led the NFL in TD passes last year, and is currently tied of the league lead this year at this point. To say he is overrated in just his 4th year while semi-dominating the QB charts is ridiculous.

The biggest of the Benglas concern? Their shoddy-ass defense.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
If B-More can stifle Cincy next week, then they are the real deal. Let's see what happens.

What would that prove?

Cincy has been a hit or a miss team all year. They have beaten some good teams and lost to some bad teams.

I have had a negative feeling about the Ravens all year. Regardless of their record, I have felt they were lucky to be winning. I have been worried all year that if they happened to make the playoffs that they would be ousted in the first round. Yesterday was the first day where they took a step towards being legit. The way they played yesterday, I felt you could have put them against any team in the league and they would have won.

Obviously, we need to temper that a little since the Steelers were banged up and were playing away. But the Steelers are a good football team - I think the Bus' departure was bigger then they imagined.

Because Cincy has a sick aerial attack, and that is the only small beloved patriot in the Raven's armor. If they can stifle Cincy's aerial attack like did Big Ben, then they are the real deal. I don't have any doubt that McNair/Billick/Lewis will present some problems for Cincy's D.

 

[j00fek]

what does beating pitt prove?

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Because Cincy has a sick aerial attack, and that is the only small beloved patriot in the Raven's armor. If they can stifle Cincy's aerial attack like did Big Ben, then they are the real deal. I don't have any doubt that McNair/Billick/Lewis will present some problems for Cincy's D.

I think they have already proven themselves the real deal on D (except for a couple of games giving up lots of pass yards). Even though they gave up tons of yards, they didn't give up tons of points.

The bigger concern for me is consistency on offense. If they have a good showing on O this week (consistantly able to move the ball on the ground complementing that with air attacks), then win or lose I will be much more comfortable with them as a playoff team.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: j00fek
what does beating pitt prove?

Other than Pitt being super bowl champs, being a serious division rival and having a stingy defense. Nothing.

It's the way they beat them. They dominated them on both sides of the ball. Watching the game, I got the impression that Baltimore ran the ball much easier than they have all year - Pitt's run defense in among the best in the league.

 

[Scarpozzi]

McNair actually has a line to protect him... He hasn't had that at Tennessee for a few years now. If you give McNair a running back, at least 1 receiver, and some protection, he'll make things happen.

 

[tw1164]

The +15 in turnovers doesn't hurt either.

 

[Garet Jax]

Well the ravens answered my question. They aren't even close to being legit.

They look like they're going to be shutout by the Bengals defense.

The ravens will probably make the playoffs and then likely be knocked out first game they play.

 

[monk3y]

It's weird... They look AMAZING one game. Then less than mediocre the next. Inconsistent teams never make it far into the playoffs.

 

[TheITguy]

Looks like they are not legit.


WHO DEY

 

[edro]

WHO-DEY!!!!!!!!!1one

Almost back to back shut outs! This is the only thing lacking for Cinci, defense. It appears they may have it together just in time for the playoffs.

Keep it up!

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
Well the ravens answered my question. They aren't even close to being legit.

They look like they're going to be shutout by the Bengals defense.

The ravens will probably make the playoffs and then likely be knocked out first game they play.

Unfortunately, I was right.

The only two teams this round not to score a TD were Baltimore and Indy. Indy was against the best defense in the NFL - Baltimore was against the worst rushing defense in the NFL.

Baltimore's offense is anemic. '

It doesn't make sense though. They have better receivers and better running backs than NE, but they still can't score.

 

[meltdown75]

I can't believe McNair came out like that. He was lifeless. The look on his face was pretty telling... just sort of confused after most of the plays. Too bad, the Ravens D played well but just did not get any support.

edit: at least we get to see Manning V Brady again.

 

[krunchykrome]

I was soo sad about the Ravens/Colts game. We played great defense against the Colts, but our offense still needs help.

This offseason, here is what I think they should do:

Let Jamal Lewis go. As much as I like the guy, he's not producing anymore.

Resign Adalius Thomas. Letting him go would be a big mistake.

We need to invest in a rookie young QB, someone to take the spot of McNair in a few years.

The one position we should be recruiting for the most is HB.

Players that we need to look at in terms of letting go soon: Kyle Boller, Samari Rolle

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
I can't believe McNair came out like that. He was lifeless. The look on his face was pretty telling... just sort of confused after most of the plays. Too bad, the Ravens D played well but just did not get any support.

edit: at least we get to see Manning V Brady again.

I think the D played well enough to win, but they didn't play well at all. They had no real QB pressure - 1 sack and 2 or 3 knockdowns. Not good enough.

In addition, when we counted on them to give good field position back, they let Indy move the ball 35+ yards giving us crappy field position (after interception on the 1 yard line and letting Rhodes scamper for 35+ yards).

Overall, the entire team did not play to their potential.

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: meltdown75
I can't believe McNair came out like that. He was lifeless. The look on his face was pretty telling... just sort of confused after most of the plays. Too bad, the Ravens D played well but just did not get any support.

edit: at least we get to see Manning V Brady again.

I think the D played well enough to win, but they didn't play well at all. They had no real QB pressure - 1 sack and 2 or 3 knockdowns. Not good enough.

In addition, when we counted on them to give good field position back, they let Indy move the ball 35+ yards giving us crappy field position (after interception on the 1 yard line and letting Rhodes scamper for 35+ yards).

Overall, the entire team did not play to their potential.

Thing is though... if I would have known that they could keep the Colts to field goals, I would have bet the farm on them to win the game.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
I was soo sad about the Ravens/Colts game. We played great defense against the Colts, but our offense still needs help.

This offseason, here is what I think they should do:

Let Jamal Lewis go. As much as I like the guy, he's not producing anymore.

Resign Adalius Thomas. Letting him go would be a big mistake.

We need to invest in a rookie young QB, someone to take the spot of McNair in a few years.

The one position we should be recruiting for the most is HB.

Players that we need to look at in terms of letting go soon: Kyle Boller, Samari Rolle

Agreed about Jamal Lewis. I wanted them to keep Chester Taylor and let Lewis go this year.

Agreed about Thomas.

I am not so sure about Boller though. The couple of times he played this year, he did very well.

I agree about Rolle - it was clear Manning was focused on Rolle to start the game. He has been a bit of a liability all year long.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Thing is though... if I would have known that they could keep the Colts to field goals, I would have bet the farm on them to win the game.

Me too.

Especially with only 15 points and 2 Manning interceptions.

 

[jman19]

The Ravens offense looked PATHETIC against the Colts. They really need to rework their offense - McNair wasn't at all impressive and the team needs to look towards the future at that position.