Are the Baltimore Ravens legit?

[Garet Jax]

I know they were 8-2 going in, but at least 3 of those 8 wins could easily have gone the other way. In addition, their offense has been non-existant for over half the season (luckily not for a whole game but definitely for quarters and even halves).

Their defense has also looked shaky against the pass at times (Carolina and New Orleans (I think) threw for almost 400 yards).

Yesterday was the first day where both sides of the ball played for the whole game and they looked dominant on D and effective on O.

Are they a real team or are they going out on the first playoff game (like Indy did last year)?

 

[jjones]

I'd say their legit. We'll have several very good teams going into the playoffs this year.

 

[akshatp]

Baltimore vs Dallas Super Bowl FTW

 

[jlbenedict]

With Billick calling the plays, the offense should improve some compared to the beginning of the season. Jamal Lewis has shown some flashes of what he was back in his 2000 yard season. When he runs hard, he is a beast.

Their defense is nasty.

 

[RollWave]

McNair is playing very smart conservative football making plays when he needs to. I'd say the Ravens are my AFC favorite.

 

[vi edit]

The AFC should be very worried about them, that's for sure. They are quietly working their way up to a very good record. The AFC is pretty wicked this year. Indy, NE, Baltimore, SD, are all incredibly good teams. I'm really thinking it's going to be a free for all come the playoffs. It seriously could go to any of them.

 

[1sikbITCH]

No. The Ravens are a complete fraud, and nothing to worry about. Please, look right past them and don't give them another thought.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH
No. The Ravens are a complete fraud, and nothing to worry about. Please, look right past them and don't give them another thought.

So you like being underestimated? Me too...

 

[brnbngls]

Don't sweat it. They won't beat Cincy this week

WHO DEY!

 

[vi edit]

Baltimore's D was incredible against Pittsburg.

They shut down the running game and managed to put up a record number of sacks. Palmer is playing with a target on his chest. Baltimore beat them last time...and the Raven's even better now than the last time they played.

 

[TheITguy]

WHO DEY

 

[yosuke188]

Ravens are legit, but the Colts are still the favorite. Then Chargers, Pats, and Ravens all line up close behind.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Baltimore's D was incredible against Pittsburg.

They shut down the running game and managed to put up a record number of sacks. Palmer is playing with a target on his chest. Baltimore beat them last time...and the Raven's even better now than the last time they played.

If anyone's overrated it's Cinci. Overrated QB, sh!t talking wideout. I don't like Baltimore and don't expect them to make it past the 2nd round of the playoffs regardless though.

 

[brnbngls]

Yeah, overrated WR. He only had more yards in consecutive games than any other NFL receiver. But he's overrated. QB that came back from devastating knee surgery and is now back to his form from last year. Sure, he's overrated too. Get a clue man. If anyone has a target on them, it's the Ravens. They got lucky last time. They have to come to our house now.

 

[KB]

Baltimores definately up there as a good team, but any team can beat any team, any team can have a bad day. I think the playoffs and super bowl should be best of 3 for this reason.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: brnbngls
Yeah, overrated WR. He only had more yards in consecutive games than any other NFL receiver. But he's overrated. QB that came back from devastating knee surgery and is now back to his form from last year. Sure, he's overrated too. Get a clue man. If anyone has a target on them, it's the Ravens. They got lucky last time. They have to come to our house now.

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!

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: yosuke188
Ravens are legit, but the Colts are still the favorite. Then Chargers, Pats, and Ravens all line up close behind.

In my mind the Colts aren't the favourites.

They really have no running game so they can't control the clock. This will work against weaker teams, but will not work against really good teams unless Peyton is lights out.

This is why the Colts haven't been able to do well in the playoffs. They are always playing against really good teams who focus on Peyton and make sure he isn't lights out against them.

Not every team can do this, but it only takes one.

 

[Garet Jax]

The way the Ravens played yesterday - I think they would have beaten anyone in the league pretty handily.

 

[SP33Demon]

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

 

[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.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH
No. The Ravens are a complete fraud, and nothing to worry about. Please, look right past them and don't give them another thought.

So you like being underestimated? Me too...

Yep. Nothing to see here, move along

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Ravens are "legit" in that they're a solid team, but they won't win in the playoffs on the road.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
The way the Ravens played yesterday - I think they would have beaten anyone in the league pretty handily.

Well these ain't the same Steelers we've been used to seeing. Other than San Diego (16-13 win), Cinci (26-20), and maybe New Orleans (35-22), they haven't had a terribly tough schedule. Not to knock on their performance, as a blanking of any defending Super Bowl champs (including 9 or 10 sacks) is incredible, but I don't see them making it past NE, Denver, or Indy. I think they'll clinch a first round bye and lose in the 2nd round.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I think they'll clinch a first round bye and lose in the 2nd round.

This is exactly what I am worried about

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I think they'll clinch a first round bye and lose in the 2nd round.

This is exactly what I am worried about

I will say I'm happy to see McNair doing well in Baltimore. Just think they're gonna falter going into the playoffs though, there's a lot of tough competition in the AFC, much like last year.