If you wanna be the man, you gotta beat the man (I want ravens thread)

Deus Irae · Dec 17, 2013

supafly said:
You took the words right out of my mouth.

On top of that, I'd love to go back to the late spring/summer and see all of the so-called "experts" that repeatedly argued with me about the horrid state of the Ravens defense after "record setting" personnel losses in which they'd never be able to compete again. If anything, their defense is tougher than it ever was last year, and they had the capacity last year to turn it on when they wanted.

It's amazing how quickly some fans automatically scoff at some opponents due to what they read in the newspaper. I never claimed for them to be some great team, but I think they're exactly what they've been any other year--which is a gigantic pain in the ass. Nothing has really changed in my opinion.

Let's just try and make it back to the big game one more time during the Brady years. That would be more than enough for me, and I couldn't care less who they played.

At this point no win vs the NYG is going to erase the past anyway, so I'd rather just try and move ahead, give credit (and good fortune) to the opponent, and put it in the past where it belongs. The thought of losing 3 times would be a risk that I would not want to take anyway.

At the pro level, it's folly to want to play the best opponents in a seeded playoff, especially one that's a one-and-done scenario. As a professional team, the goal is to win the title, not to face your toughest opponents. People don't think less of the '98 Broncos because they didn't face the 15-1 Vikings. The 1996 Packers SB isn't tainted because they faced the 11-5 Patriots instead of the 13-3 Broncos, and the next person I hear say that the '85 Bears shouldn't be champs because they didn't have to face either Miami or the Raiders in the Super Bowl will be the first.

hwc · Dec 17, 2013

Playoffs? PLAYOFFS? Don't talk to me about playoffs. We're just trying to win a game.... :rocker:

supafly · Dec 17, 2013

Deus Irae said:
At the pro level, it's folly to want to play the best opponents in a seeded playoff, especially one that's a one-and-done scenario. As a professional team, the goal is to win the title, not to face your toughest opponents. People don't think less of the '98 Broncos because they didn't face the 15-1 Vikings. The 1996 Packers SB isn't tainted because they faced the 11-5 Patriots instead of the 13-3 Broncos, and the next person I hear say that the '85 Bears shouldn't be champs because they didn't have to face either Miami or the Raiders in the Super Bowl will be the first.

I just wish to see another SB title and couldn't care less who we have to beat to get it. You can roll out the junior varsity Sisters of the Poor squad, just as long as it results in another Lombardi trophy and duck boat parade.

I just don't feel quite as confident myself about their chances this year, and would be more than happy seeing someone defeat the Denver Broncos in the divisional round to be completely honest with you. I would agree with ausbacker's positive attitude in most other instances though, especially those pertaining to personal goals and accomplishments in real life settings.

supafly · Dec 17, 2013

hwc said:
Playoffs? PLAYOFFS? Don't talk to me about playoffs. We're just trying to win a game.... :rocker:

That's pretty much what it's coming down to, just trying to avoid our 6th game in our last 7 attempts where the team has either gone down double digits or lost the game (or both).

It's been quite awhile since they established the physicality in the trenches; played polished in their core tasks such as tackling, blocking, etc; and actually imposed their will on the opponent. Of course there's more than one way to be victorious at the end of the day, so that's all that matters, but it would be a very positive step to see some things cleaned up tremendously as they head into the...

end of the regular season

Deus Irae · Dec 17, 2013

supafly said:
I just wish to see another SB title and couldn't care less who we have to beat to get it. You can roll out the junior varsity Sisters of the Poor squad, just as long as it results in another Lombardi trophy and duck boat parade.

I just don't feel quite as confident myself about their chances this year, and would be more than happy seeing someone defeat the Denver Broncos in the divisional round to be completely honest with you. I would agree with ausbacker's positive attitude in most other instances though, especially those pertaining to personal goals and accomplishments in real life settings.

Give me a win against the worst team in the playoffs. Let others enjoy a loss against the best opponent around. I'm sure everyone here was much happier watching the '85 Patriots get their asses handed to them by the Bears than they would have been watching that Patriots team beat one of the NFC's 10-6 playoff entries that year.....

The personal goals of NFL players should be getting better as players and as a team over the course of a season, and winning the Super Bowl. Facing some team "because beat the man" is meaningless if you lose. Just ask last year's Bruins. The NFL/MLB/NBA/NHL playoffs aren't about person growth experiences. They're about trying to win the title.

hwc · Dec 17, 2013

supafly said:
That's pretty much what it's coming down to, just trying to avoid our 6th game in our last 7 attempts where the team has either gone down double digits or lost the game (or both).

I think this team is playing its heart out and performing much better than they have any right to with the available players. I think this is the absolute best this team can play and I applaud the heck out of them. Realistically, their SuperBowl chances went down in flames when the lost the entire middle of their defense, early in the season. From that point on, the offense had to carry the team and, now, the injuries on that side of the ball have crippled the offense.

They need turnovers or mistakes from the opponent.

Observer · Dec 17, 2013

wolverinejoe80 said:
I see many of you already wetting your pants for next week and possible playoff match up. why? this is what NFL is all about. teams feel the same way about us.

Ravens are worthy adversary. they are the champs. Don't be scared, and just welcome the challenge. they are the team to beat in AFC as far as I'm concerned. They are type of team who can neutralize great QBs and they are team on the rise.

I really want us to play them in the playoffs. I don't want no bengals, colts, or dolphins. I want the champs. i want the team that beat us twice in the playoffs in past 4 years. give me the best.

because if you want to be the man, you gotta beat the man.

How is it that the ravens can have an excellent defense year after year? I mean even Iggy seems to be doing pretty good over there.

resdubwhite · Dec 17, 2013

Deus Irae said:
A lot of posters wanted the rematch with the Giants in 2011. How'd that work out?

Ask your buddy Wes.

supafly · Dec 17, 2013

Observer said:
How is it that the ravens can have an excellent defense year after year? I mean even Iggy seems to be doing pretty good over there.

I believe that they properly replaced the lost players with better ones, even if their reputation didn't carry the weight that a name like "Ray Lewis" did. We all know that Ray Lewis was a former shell of himself last season, or at least I assumed that we all did.

Apparently, some did not agree, and went by what they read in the newspaper instead. Guys like Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Bernard Pollard, Paul Kruger, etc weren't 1/2 the players that some here tried to make them out to be.

When you have names like Ngata, Aurthur Jones, Suggs, and then bring in names like Dumervil, Darryl Sims, first round pick Elam etc--it wouldn't seem to be too difficult of an assessment to me. Baltimore never was all "that" great, so I honestly saw no reason why they couldn't match their 9-7 record that's been the usual standard from them. Their strength is being able to turn it on at the right time, and I wouldn't be surprised if they once again won a playoff game just like the past 5 yrs. The Ravens are always a tough out for N.England.

Deus Irae · Dec 17, 2013

Observer said:
How is it that the ravens can have an excellent defense year after year? I mean even Iggy seems to be doing pretty good over there.

They draft Matt Elam instead of Tavon Wilson.

Palm Beach Pats Fan · Dec 17, 2013

wolverinejoe80 said:
because if you want to be the man, you gotta beat the man.

Who is Mister Sparkles^^?

Kontradiction · Dec 17, 2013

Deus Irae said:
They draft Jason Elam instead of Tavon Wilson.

They have Denver's old kicker playing safety for them?

Bella*chick · Dec 17, 2013

supafly said:
I just wish to see another SB title and couldn't care less who we have to beat to get it. You can roll out the junior varsity Sisters of the Poor squad, just as long as it results in another Lombardi trophy and duck boat parade.

I just don't feel quite as confident myself about their chances this year, and would be more than happy seeing someone defeat the Denver Broncos in the divisional round to be completely honest with you. I would agree with ausbacker's positive attitude in most other instances though, especially those pertaining to personal goals and accomplishments in real life settings.

I agree. I still remember the posts talking about how we wanted the Giants again in the last Superbowl, revenge, etc. But no. Just no. I always find it's a "be careful what you wish for" scenario. So I try not to actively root for anything to happen besides my team to win against whoever they might face.

Deus Irae · Dec 17, 2013

KontradictioN said:
They have Denver's old kicker playing safety for them?

Thanks for catching that. Fixed.

I will now feel shame for 5 minutes for that blunder.

denverpatsfan · Dec 17, 2013

6th seed plays 3rd seed so you may see them 2x in the next 3-weeks...

supafly · Dec 17, 2013

denverpatsfan said:
6th seed plays 3rd seed so you may see them 2x in the next 3-weeks...

Very true. The same scenario could also play out for a NE/MIA matchup too, should the Dolphins get in.

At this point, we're still trying to just get into the playoffs however. A loss this week vs BAL may very well make next week's game vs BUF a must win to just secure a playoff spot.

Brady_to_Moss · Dec 17, 2013

It's weird seeing this team sputter this time of year. A loss to Balt ( i think Balt will win ) and the Bills game is basically a playoff game.

Cincy will need to lose 1 more as well if we lose to balt

But balt...this is the last team i want to face right now...this week and in the playoffs...no

BradyFTW! · Dec 17, 2013

I think this game is pretty much a toss-up, but if the Pats can go in there and win it then it will say a lot about them. The road to the Super Bowl is hard no matter what happens, and it might not be the worst thing in the world to be put in de facto must-win situations before the playoffs even start. At least every team in the AFC, more or less, is in the same situation. Nobody's in position to rest their starters yet, so the Pats aren't even really at a disadvantage.

supafly · Dec 17, 2013

BradyFTW! said:
I think this game is pretty much a toss-up, but if the Pats can go in there and win it then it will say a lot about them. The road to the Super Bowl is hard no matter what happens, and it might not be the worst thing in the world to be put in de facto must-win situations before the playoffs even start. At least every team in the AFC, more or less, is in the same situation. Nobody's in position to rest their starters yet, so the Pats aren't even really at a disadvantage.

I agree. We're not at a disadvantage any more than any other team right now, especially with the wide open AFC conference.

A few days ago we're in the hunt for the #1 seed, but a little more than a week later (should we lose to BAL), we'll be in the discussion to be left out of the playoffs entirely. That's how up/down and wide open the AFC is.

Losing on Sunday may very well set up a must-win, playoff type scenario vs BUF the next week.

BradyFTW! · Dec 17, 2013

supafly said:
I agree. We're not at a disadvantage any more than any other team right now, especially with the wide open AFC conference.

A few days ago we're in the hunt for the #1 seed, but a little more than a week later (should we lose to BAL), we'll be in the discussion to be left out of the playoffs entirely. That's how up/down and wide open the AFC is.

Losing on Sunday may very well set up a must-win, playoff type scenario vs BUF the next week.

Going to be rooting really hard for Buffalo this week. Will be a weird feling.

If you wanna be the man, you gotta beat the man (I want ravens thread)

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