The Baltimore Ravens secured their third straight playoff berth with their 20-10 win in Cleveland against the Browns. Chances are that the Ravens will face a familiar opponent, the Colts in Indianapolis.
After the game, several players expressed their excitement for the accomplishment. On twitter, Lardarius Webb summed it up with one word “playoffs!” Donte Stallworth was also excited to return to the playoffs. “Sitting on this plane thinking… Last time I was in the playoffs, my team went to the Super Bowl #JustSayin… need a “W” this time though.”
Ed Reed also acknowledged the accomplishment, “We got one more game and we’re at home,” he told Aaron Wilson. “We got to finish the season strong.”
Head coach John Harbaugh has led the Ravens to their three straight playoff appearances. “I’m proud of our guys, that’s a great accomplishment,” Harbaugh told Wilson. “This organization is pretty special.”
Harbaugh’s leader on offense, Joe Flacco, isn’t happy to just settle for playoff berths. “We don’t just want to be in the playoffs every year,” Flacco said. “We want to be a threat to win the Super Bowl.
With Washington’s 20-17 win over Jacksonville, the Ravens road to Dallas will likely travel through Indianapolis.
How do you think the Ravens will fare against the Colts in Indy?
It's hard to beleive that all the crap that this team gets on this site, that they will finish the season 12-4 or 11-5.
Mayeb it is the way they lost those 4 games that sucks, but at least they weren't blown out in any of them. Not even the Pats can say they weren't blown out.
I don't believe anyone didn't think that with all of the talent the Ravens had this year that they would wind up as one of the top 6 teams in the AFC. I think most are disappointed in the fact that, once again, given their talent, they are the fifth seed in the playoffs forced to go on the road.
Remember that they are the 5th seed with the second best record.
Its all about what they do in the playoffs. With their talent on offense this season the Ravens ranked 18th overall and looked dominant in just one game. I'm worried about how the Ravens will fare against the Colts in Indy…they're track record against them isn't all that great.
Its funny that it seems the mindset of Bisciotti, Harbaugh, most fans is that they are happy just to make the Playoffs. Nothing more… Just the Playoffs. Its a great year because they made the Playoffs. Hell, I saw Harbaughs locker room speech after the game and the first thing out of his mouth to the team was "Playoffs!"… Look, I'm glad they made the Playoffs but if you don't win the Super Bowl the Playoffs don't mean anything.
I don't know, it just seems people associated with the team, other than the veteran players, are happy just making the Playoffs and that the year was a success because of it…
And I have to bring this out as I'm getting tired of the Baltimore fans thinking Harbaugh is great because he's the 1st Baltimore coach to take his team to 3 straight Playoffs in his 1st year…
Lets compare Harbaugh and Billicks 1st three years..
John Harbaugh
Harbaugh took over a team that was 24-24 the previous 3 years
32-16 Regular Season Record (I'm giving Harbaugh the win over the Bungals this weekend coming)
3 Playoffs (3-2 Record (This year not completed yet)) – 0 Super Bowls
Brian Billick
Billick took over a team that was 16-31-1 the previous 3 years
30-18 Regular Season Record
2 Playoffs (4-1 Record) – 1 Super Bowl (1-0 Record)
So all you fans need to quit all this Harbaugh is a great Coach crap while you bash Billick… Billick took over a way worse team, has 2 less wins but has the all important SUPER BOWL TROPHY…
Its like Joe Altobelli taking over the Orioles back in 1983… Altobelli took over a great team and ran the gauntlet… Harbaugh took over a great team (Top 2 Defense) with Pro Bowlers all over the place and has won. However, he hasn't won the SUPER BOWL…
Problem is, 24442888282442884482488484828, Coach Billick spent the final 6 or 7 years of his tenure WITHOUT adding even one game to his 4 Playoff Wins in those first three years…In fact, he shouldda been canned after not replacing Elvis on his way to an 18 for 37 effort for just 153 yards and THREE INTERCEPTIONS in the Playoff Loss to the Stillers on 20 January 2002…He would never win another Playoff Game…
Biscuit has just what he wants, a consistent playoff team. That's what he strived for and that's what he got. A top 12 team.
Au Contraire Bruzaire… I'm only talking about the 1st three years because thats what the fans are gaga about… Plus, Harbaugh has only been with the team 3 years… As Harbaugh goes on we will compare all the years…
I'm in disbelief with some of these comments. First off, if any coach can take you to the playoffs 3 straight years, the fan base should be very grateful. Take a look around the league. Second, look at thier record in the prior 2 playoff appearances. Road wins over Miami, a Tennesse team (with one of the best defenses around and best record in the league), and a confident New England team playing at home. Pretty good. Their losses came to the Super Bowl champion Steelers, and AFC champ Indy. Both teams have as many (or more) pro-bowlers and Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks.
Flacco isn't great, but he's good, and compared to the other QB's around the league he's somewhere in the middle of 1st and second tier. True, we have good receivers, but it's not like they're always wide open, and all QB's have their share of either misfirings or not seeing potential targets. I would take Harbaugh over any of the other head coaches, and that includes Rex Ryan (still haven't forgiven his timeout against NE).
Take this for what it is, not what it isn't.
Charles, I'm sure San Diego and Kansas City fans said the same thing with Norv Turner and Marty Schottenheimer. "hey, we should be happy MAKING the playoffs." this team was, is, way too talented to once again play the road warrior role in the playoffs. They rarely played 60 minutes of football displaying mental lapses and loss of concentration. Teams usually reflect their coaches demeanor…ever seen that deer in the headlights look Harbaugh displays during game time?
We have talent, but matched up against all the other top teams, talent levels are about equal, and that may be subjective. Based on all the posts, it seems our QB (with a winning record) is far less talented than others, so that contradicts several of the arguments. It's true that we have a lot of 'former' pro-bowl receivers, but many have been dealing with injuries, and most are possession type receivers. The running backs are good, but the O-Line is inconsistent. When compared to NE, Pitt, Atlanta, or NO the receiving corps are about even, running backs a notch higher, but O-line (as they're playing now) is about even or maybe a little less. On defense, we have some playmakers, but let's face it, the majority of Ray's game comes from his experience and his role as a leader. Even he wears down at times and his pass coverage is shaky at best. Ed Reed is still a playmaker, but plays a fairly risky style. Suggs, Johnson, and Nagta are all top notch. But look at other teams, Pitt has Polomalu and Harrison, Indy has Freeney, Mathis, and Sanders, and I'm not sure who NE has, but somehow they always come up with someone.