The Ravens' Last Stand?

[mayoclinic]

A month or so ago I posted a thread about the 2-loss Ravens being "pretenders" as SB contenders:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...er-why-ravens-pretenders-not-contenders.html

That was moved to the Football Forum (as I expect this will eventually be). But the bottom line was, Joe Flacco's inconsistency, the falloff in the defense, age and injuries, and a brutal late season schedule would all lead to a late season schedule.

A lot of people felt that the Ravens still had the inside track on the #2 seed, that they would be impossible to beat at home, etc. Hasn't happened. The past 2 weeks have seen the first back-to-back losses for the Ravens since 2009 and the first home loss since 2010. And the Ravens now face Petyon Manning and the 10-3 Broncos at home, Eli Manning and the playoff bound 8-5 Giants at home, and a season ending road trip to 8-6 Cincinnati, which is fighting for a playoff spot. They've fired their OC and are close to panic mode. Their LB and secondary corps have been depleted by injuries, and Ray Lewis, Daniel Ellerbe and Bernard Pollard will all be out for this game:

Injuries have forced Baltimore Ravens to lean on a patchwork defense - baltimoresun.com

Like the Pats last year, the Ravens will have to hope that James Ihedigbo can get the job done as a starter. Ihedigbo's a gamer, but good luck.

It will be interesting to see if the team can regroup, or if they fall apart entirely. Not only the national media but their local media seems to have lost all confidence in them. 5 out of 6 of the Baltimore Sun writers, for example, currently predict that the Broncos will beat the Ravens today - something that would have been unthinkable 2 weeks ago. The funniest comment was from Mike Preston, probably the most respected of the bunch:

The only Manning the Ravens can probably defeat at this point is Archie, the father of Peyton and Eli. If it rains, the Ravens have a chance.

Predictions for Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos picks from Baltimore Sun staffers - Baltimore Sun

A loss today to the Broncos and their confidence may be shattered. The Giants next week will be tougher, IMHO. A better and more physical team, and one with more on the line. 2 more losses is a real possibility, and would put the Ravens at 9-6 heading to Cincinnati week 17, with the Bengals either playing for the AFCN division title (if they beat the Steelers next week) or possibly a wild card bearth over the Ravens based on tie-breakers if both teams finish 9-7.

How different things look from a month ago. The Ravens could rally and win today (and I hope they do, to give the Broncos a 4th loss), but they look like they're barely holding on.

 

[CityOfChampions]

I hope they rally today!

 

[ausbacker]

Face it guys, the Denver Mannings are going to shellack Baltimore. The Ravens are not playing like the Ravens of yesteryear at this point in the season.

 

[livinginthe past]

The Ravens have been skating on thin ice all year.

There has been a pretty seismic shift in their philosophy - away from smothering defense and towards shoot-out offense.

I noticed the Steelers attempted something similar - not as radical maybe, but definitely emphasising the passing game the last couple of seasons over the ground and pound.

Sure the Ravens have lost some talent on the D through injuries - but this is to be expected by this portion of the year - especially when you consider the age of the guys getting injured.

Baltimore's biggest issue is the building an offense around a QB who is obviously pretty limited - Flacco has put up decent numbers when he gets a few deep bombs to Torrey Smith - but he isn't a QB who is going to dissect your defense on a predictable basis if it is halfway decent (the Patriots D wasn't when we met earlier this year).

Their CB's seems to gamble alot - highlighted by the TD by the Redskins Cousins to tie that game up.

Not heard alot about Ngata this year - he is definitely one of my favorite players in the league.

 

[livinginthe past]

On the subject (slightly OT) of Manning i've noticed his stock with fans and pundits alike has risen hugely during his year off!

Now teams are scared to face this guy at the sharp end of the season?

How quickly we all forget.

 

[Kontradiction]

Manning historically owned the Ravens with a lesser team when their defense was younger and healthier. Baltimore is in shambles right now on defense. This game should be a Broncos win.

 

[scout]

It seems the Ravens have shoot-out envy. They feature one of the best rb's in the league and are successful when handing him the ball. But the Raven's powers drool when they see the likes of Green Bay, Denver and New England's up tempo game and think they have the weapons to compete. Injuries have hurt them, but so has their mindset.

 

[RIPATS]

Ravens will be tough to beat at home with their backs so against the wall. I can't believe I am rooting for the Ravens. As this year has played out I am convinced that the only team that could prevent us from the Super Bowl are the Broncos in Denver. (I am not worried about playing them here.)

Finally I would love for the Ravens to play well defensively and put Brady back on top of the MVP race. I know many of you do not care about this. I can't help myself.

Finally I want to thank all of those on this board. I come to visit daily and really enjoy it. I love the draft and get lots of good information right here.

Thanks and Happy Holidays

 

[Froob]

I'd be shocked if broncos lost this one. I don't think Manning has ever lost to the ravens. In the end it doesn't really matter who wins this one because pats should win out anyways.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

The Ravens have been skating on thin ice all year.

There has been a pretty seismic shift in their philosophy - away from smothering defense and towards shoot-out offense.

I noticed the Steelers attempted something similar - not as radical maybe, but definitely emphasising the passing game the last couple of seasons over the ground and pound.

Sure the Ravens have lost some talent on the D through injuries - but this is to be expected by this portion of the year - especially when you consider the age of the guys getting injured.

Baltimore's biggest issue is the building an offense around a QB who is obviously pretty limited - Flacco has put up decent numbers when he gets a few deep bombs to Torrey Smith - but he isn't a QB who is going to dissect your defense on a predictable basis if it is halfway decent (the Patriots D wasn't when we met earlier this year).

.

Flagging football playoff hopes fueled by Flacco's flaccid flailings

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Ravens will be tough to beat at home with their backs so against the wall. I can't believe I am rooting for the Ravens. As this year has played out I am convinced that the only team that could prevent us from the Super Bowl are the Broncos in Denver. (I am not worried about playing them here.)

Finally I would love for the Ravens to play well defensively and put Brady back on top of the MVP race. I know many of you do not care about this. I can't help myself.

Finally I want to thank all of those on this board. I come to visit daily and really enjoy it. I love the draft and get lots of good information right here.

Thanks and Happy Holidays

Welcome to the Board!

Forgive me father because I too have sinned and am rooting for the Ratbirds this week as I believe they're toast vs Goober next week

 

[Lansdowne]

My brain says root against the Broncos. My heart says root against the Ravens. Note my covenient wording, I prefer not to think of myself rooting for either team here.

It's too bad they couldn't just both lose.

Doesn't matter too much in the grand scheme of things. If this is to protect the Pats in the event of a 4th loss, the Ravens would own the tiebreaker against us assuming they won out. But I suppose the mindset is the Broncos lose this and the Ravens lose next week to the Giants (ugh, another game I wish both teams could lose). I'm more anxious to see if the Texans can lose to the Colts.

 

[Reckedtrek]

I'm hoping it ends in a tie, 10-10.

That's 5 safties each.

 

[mayoclinic]

It's too bad they couldn't just both lose.

Ravens losing out and the Broncos getting upset by Cleveland would be perfect.

Ravens are a cornered and wounded beast. It wouldn't surprise me to see them win. If they can't, they're in free fall.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Let's hope that slide stops for today and today only!

Manning historically owned the Ravens with a lesser team when their defense was younger and healthier. Baltimore is in shambles right now on defense. This game should be a Broncos win.

Unfortunately this is true, I don't think I've ever seen Manning lose to Bmore.

 

[Mountain_Commando]

Why is everyone rooting for a Ravens win? Doesn't that mean we might have to face the Ravens in Baltimore (if we don't win out, and the Ravens do)?

Whereas if the Broncos win out (and so do we), we'd still have the head to head over them...meaning they'd have to come to Foxboro in the playoffs.

 

[Avenger]

doesn't matter, as long as the Pats win out the only team we need to lose a game is Houston, go Vikings!

 

[goheels22002]

Welcome to the Board!

Forgive me father because I too have sinned and am rooting for the Ratbirds this week as I believe they're toast vs Goober next week

No forgiveness for you, my son. I asked Santa for a Harbaugh-free playoffs. Those guys are fruit cakes.

My wish is to see the Pats win out, and host the Broncos in the AFCC.

Great opening post, by the way. I love reading the other team's newspapers.

 

[Rob0729]

I kinda think both the Ravens and Broncos are frauds. The Ravens haven't been playing well on either side of the ball with any consistency. Their defensive stats are good because they have played a lot of bad offenses, but watching some of their games they are just below average at best with all the injuries.

The Broncos haven't really beaten anyone. The only teams they have beaten with winning records are the streaky Bengals (the Bengals' loss to the Broncos was their fourth loss in a row) and the Steelers before their defense got on track (it was the first game of the season).

I expect the Broncos to win convincingly today since the Ravens' defense cannot stop a QB like Manning especially with about 3/4 of their starting secondary at the beginning of the year out and the last 1/4 playing with an injury. People will make it a statement game and a great test for the Broncos, but I think they will just be beating a team that is too beaten up to handle them.

 

[ewg_gestalt]

Welcome to the Board!

Forgive me father because I too have sinned and am rooting for the Ratbirds this week as I believe they're toast vs Goober next week

Say five Hail Bradys and ten Our Coaches in repentance for your transgression.