That's exactly correct. I think people who were wishing that we'd get Indy and then Denver (after they got beat up by Pittsburgh) are missing this point. We'll have to face a punishing, physical defense at some point, and the offense has got to get past it. What I didn't like about resting our starters against Buffalo (though I understood it) was that I thought the Bills were a great opportunity to work on tightening up the offensive execution against a physical front 7. Now we'll have to do it with the season on the line, but if we get through it then we'll be better prepared for a team like Seattle.
Mayo, you are correct that at some point in the playoffs, we are going to have to play against a good D (if it wasn't the Ravens, it'd be some other team). Furthermore you are right that a victory against the Ravens would be very beneficial going forward. I myself wanted Indy, but if it's Baltimore it's Baltimore.
That being said, I think a lot of the anxiety regarding this game, pertains to the fear that it'll be a physical one where one of our key guys gets hobbled (ex: Gronk in the AFCCG in 2011, Talib in 12). Although past results don't matter in this game, the fact that the Ravens have played us tough several times is also a cause for concern.
In contrast, Denver gets either Indy (one of the softest teams left in the playoffs defensively, at least in my opinion) or Cincy (have thus far not shown ability to win in playoffs, despite a good D). I think the Bengals have a slim chance at beating Denver again, but it would take either Dalton elevating his game a-la Eli Manning circa 07 or 11, or the Broncos choking in a monumental, 07 Mavericksesque fashion.
But anyhow to summarize, I think the fear around here is not just "How do we beat Baltimore?" but also "How do we beat Baltimore and then how do we beat a Broncos team which
will be more rested than ours?"
Obviously all these anxieties boil down to hypothetical, but then again, most do.
However, I also think it's important to remember that Superbowl winning teams tend to win at least one really close, hard fought game during their runs. As great as the Seahawks of 13' were, they were extremely close to being eliminated in the NFCCG. The 2012 Ravens needed an overtime to beat Denver. The 11' Giants benefited from a fumble on the part of SF. The 10' Packers had to stave off comebacks from the Eagles in the WC round, and the Steelers in the SB , respectively. The 09' Saints won off a Favreception.
Point is, I can't actually recall the last time a SB team
dominated in every playoff game that they played, is what I'm saying (arguably the 00 Ravens qualified as one of those teams, though). The playoffs are tough, and close games are going to happen. Sure, some teams have gone to SB's via a relatively easy route (The 13' Broncos for example), but how often do they triumph over battle-tested teams?
We're playing Baltimore, and all we should be hoping for is a victory with no injuries where we do
enough to win. I don't care if it's by 3 pts or 30 pts. All that matters is that we get the W and that nobody gets hurt.
