By Matt Lund, on February 10th, 2012 
The 2011 Ravens brought about one of the best seasons in franchise history. They finished the regular season with a 12-4 record en route to the team’s third AFC North title in team history.
They finished 8-0 at home for the first time ever and swept the season series against the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time since the 2006 season.
They featured a running back in the name of Ray Rice who led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and brought along a rookie wide receiver in Torrey Smith who finished the season with seven touchdowns, setting a Ravens rookie record. They added a third Defensive Player of the Year award to the mantle with linebacker Terrell Suggs winning this season.
The Baltimore Ravens were two plays away from playing in Super Bowl XLVI, but overall was a season to remember for fans everywhere. Let’s take a final look at the Ravens season unit by unit. READ MORE >>>
By Ross Gore, on January 25th, 2012  Game by Game Rush DVOA The graph above shows the weekly Rush DVOA for the 2011 and 2010 incarnations of the Baltimore Ravens. Rush DVOA is a percentage, so a team with a Rush DVOA of 10.0% is 10 percent better at running the ball than the average team. Its also important to note that Rush DVOA measures not just rushing yardage, but the importance of the rushing yardage. For example, five yards on third-and-4 are worth more than five yards on first-and-10 and much more than five yards on third-and-12. Rush DVOA is also adjusted for the quality of the opponent, so a run against the 49ers is worth more than a run against the Browns. The data for the graph and the statistics in this post are all courtesy of Football Outsiders. The photos in the body of the post are courtesy of the linked websites.
An indepth look at all the contributors to the Ravens running game in 2011 follows after the jump.
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By Matt Lund, on January 22nd, 2012  In a match-up of two teams with very contrasting styles of play, the AFC’s #2 seeded Baltimore Ravens traveled north to take on the #1 seed New England Patriots for the AFC Championship.
The Ravens played the role of spoiler before, handing the Patriots a 33-14 loss at Gillette Stadium in the 2009 wild card playoffs, but that particular match-up was different than this one.
The Patriots didn’t have a young duo of TE’s in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. They also didn’t have Wes Welker, who was injured during the Patriots playoff run that year.
Still that did not faze the Ravens as they confused and frustrated Patriots QB Tom Brady in the game, much like they did in 2009. The Ravens defense picked off Brady twice and sacked him once.
The Ravens had an offensive and defensive game plan that on most afternoons contributes to a Ravens victory. Despite that however, it came down to the right foot of kicker Billy Cundiff to tie the game and send it to overtime when Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal wide left giving the Patriots the 23-20 victory and an AFC Championship in front of the home crowd. READ MORE >>>
By Matt Lund, on January 16th, 2012 The Baltimore Ravens returned to the friendly confines of M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon, fresh off a much-needed bye week, taking on a hungry and determined Houston Texans squad primed to make it to their first ever AFC Championship Game.
The Ravens held off a Texans rushing attack, led by RB Arian Foster who carried the ball 27 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. The name of the game however was turnovers and the Ravens had four takeaways total – two in the final eight minutes of regulation- to secure the 20-13 victory over Houston in front of a loud crowd of 71,547 at “The Bank” (the largest crowd in Ravens history) and advancing to their second trip to the AFC Championship game in four years under head coach John Harbaugh.
Winning the turnover battle and time of possession were keys to victory in the game, but important because the first two turnovers, all in the 1st quarter, led to both of the Ravens touchdowns on the day. Using the bye week to prepare, the Ravens appeared focused, not committing a single penalty in the game – a first in Baltimore Ravens history – and not turning the ball over once themselves.
The Ravens will travel to Foxboro to take on the New England Patriots for the AFC Championship on Sunday, January 22nd at 3:00 pm. The last time the Ravens traveled to Gillette Stadium, they trounced the Patriots 33-14 in the 2009 AFC Wildcard Playoffs. READ MORE >>>
By Zach Wilt, on January 12th, 2012  The Fu Manchus have gotten out of control in the Ravens locker room. Joe Flacco debuted his and Sam Koch and Michael Oher have followed.
Flacco decided to link his facial hair to charity and to support the Ravens a number of fans have begun growing their own Fu’s.
Ray Rice made a mockery of the whole look and poked fun at Flacco on Wednesday during his interview out at the Ravens complex in Owings Mills. ”Joe Flacco said he’s chilling today, so I told him I would be Joe Flacco today,” Rice told the media while wearing a purple mustache on his face.
Rice’s “mustache” was actually just purple tape. When asked about whether he would grow a real Fu Manchu, Rice responded, ”I can’t.” ”I got a baby face,” he said.
By Zach Wilt, on January 10th, 2012  It’s been one hell of a season for Ray Rice. The Ravens running back rushed for a career high 1,364 yards, second most behind Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jaguars. With new Ravens fullback Vonta Leach busting heads for him up front, Rice reached the end zone fifteen times and averaged 4.7 yards per carry on the ground. He’s been the Ravens biggest threat on offense.
The fourth year running back doesn’t yet classify for veteran status in the NFL, but he’s certainly learned the ways of the league. That’s why on Monday, Rice passed out $4,500 watches to his offensive lineman and fullback.
Leach tweeted a picture of the Breitling Avenger that Ray Rice gave his big guys up front. Breitling is a luxury Swiss made watch with models from $3,000 to $100,000.
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By Dave Gilmore, on January 6th, 2012  According to the team’s Twitter account, Director of Player Personnel Eric DeCosta isn’t going to seek out a general manager opportunity with another team.
As the Sun reported earlier in the year, majority partner Steve Biscotti has tabbed DeCosta as Ozzie Newsom’s eventual successor if he sticks around.
While Newsome’s indellible mark is on the team’s makeup, credit for success must go in part to DeCosta, who has been vital in the Ravens draft successes of Joe Flacco and Michael Oher in particular, picking up where current Eagles exec Phil Savage left off. Savage was an example of a hot young GM candidate the Ravens couldn’t keep at the Castle, as he ambitiously left to take the reins in Cleveland.
Ozzie Newsome is only 55 years old and has a competitive streak in him that assuredly wants to build another championship team, but for now it seems that DeCosta is fine to wait his turn, even though as NFL.com reported, at least three teams want him constructing their rosters.
By Dave Gilmore, on January 3rd, 2012  The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up their 16th regular season NFL campaign yesterday. On paper and on the turf, this season was a complete success. Perhaps it’s an indication that we’re a little spoiled, given that such a campaign might not even be in the top three seasons in the team’s brief history.
This felt like an amazing season, but of course it’s easy to say that when it’s fresh in our hearts and minds. Still, I think it stacks up nicely among the best ever played by the franchise. READ MORE >>>
By Matt Lund, on January 2nd, 2012 Looking to secure their first AFC North Division Championship since 2006 with a victory, the Baltimore Ravens traveled to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals in front of a mostly-Bengal crowd that had trouble selling out the game earlier in the week. Not to mention, a loyal legion of Ravens fans making the trip to the Queen City for the New Year’s Day tilt, but also by Pittsburgh Steelers fans who made the trip to Cincinnati - buying up a number of tickets the Bengals could not sell to their own fans – hell bent on seeing the possibility of the Ravens choking away their grasp of the division lead.
But it was never to be.
The Ravens went to their strength, running the football effectively and the defense made stops when called upon, leading to a 24-16 victory at  Paul Brown Stadium in front of 63,439 fans. The game felt like a playoff game and the Ravens treated it as such, clinching their third AFC North title in team history. The Ravens secured the much-needed first-round bye and a home playoff game - a first in the John Harbaugh era - something that both he and Ravens players stated before the season was important to them. READ MORE >>>
By Matt Lund, on December 25th, 2011 The Baltimore Ravens entered their final home game of the 2011 season looking to make franchise history against their divisional opponent, the Cleveland Browns. The chance to wrap up the home schedule with an 8-0 record hung in the balance, giving them the distinction of becoming the first team in the 16-year history of the franchise to finish with a perfect home record. The Ravens wanted to deliver not only an early Christmas present to the fans on Christmas Eve, but also to send a message to not be counted out after the loss to the San Diego Chargers.
 The Ravens breezed through the first half leading 17-0 as the Cleveland Browns showcased some of the worst coaching and mis-managing of the game clock in NFL history. The Ravens were aided by the Browns having exactly zero timeouts when they received the ball back for the final time of the 1st half. Driving the distance of the field, Browns RB Peyton Hillis was stopped for no gain at the 3-yard line and without a timeout, the Browns and their head coach Pat Shurmur could only watch in disbelief as time expired in the half.
With the way the Browns had played in the 1st half, one would think the airplane taking the team back to Cleveland would be fired up and on stand-by at BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport, but they actually made a game out of it and the Ravens at times, seemed to almost want the Browns to get back into the game.
Very questionable play-calling and lack of execution by the Ravens in the 2nd half and a couple of long drives by Cleveland brought the Browns to within six points after TE Evan Moore caught a six-yard TD from QB Seneca Wallace to cut the Ravens lead to 20-14. The Ravens bent all game, but didn’t break as they looked at a 4th and 2 at the Cleveland 37-yard line. True to form, the Browns promptly shot themselves in the foot that held open the door of opportunity in this game.
After Joe Flacco barked out a few hard counts, somehow he lured Browns’ defensive tackle Phil Taylor off-sides on a play the Ravens were never actually going to get off. The penalty gave the Ravens a first down and after running out the clock on the next three plays, gave them a 20-14 victory, their eighth straight win against Cleveland in front of 71,083 fans at M&T Bank Stadium.
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By Zach Wilt, on December 15th, 2011  John Harbaugh is an awesome liar. He has to be because no one in the Ravens organization can have anything good to say about offensive lineman Jared Gaither after his career in Baltimore.
The Chargers offensive tackle went through a roller coaster type career in purple. After playing a solid tackle for the Ravens between 2007-2009, Gaither showed up the training camp in 2010 thirty pounds underweight. With the arrival of Michael Oher, the Ravens decided to move him to right tackle and he missed the entire season with a “back injury.”
Baltimore parted ways with Gaither this season and he signed with the Chiefs for the first ten games of the season. He was released from Kansas City in late November and picked up by the Chargers.
“He’s been stellar in the run and pass,” Harbaugh said according to CBSSports.com. “He’s upgraded their OL tremendously.”
By Zach Wilt, on December 1st, 2011  You wanted more personality and leadership from Joe Flacco? Well you got it.
Who would’ve thought that Flacco’s leadership would come in the form of peer pressuring his teammates to grow obnoxious Fu Manchus? I certainly didn’t, but I’m psyched to see it.
On Thanksgiving the Ravens QB sported an epic Fu Manchu in the Ravens 16-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. He attempted to convince his entire team to grow them, but only tight end Dennis Pitta joined him. Now, according to a tweet from the Ravens, punter Sam Koch and tackle Michael Oher have joined the mustache party.
“I don’t really get it,” Flacco says. “None of us are really that pretty.”
Flacco talked about his stache during NFL Network’s SoundFX.
By Zach Wilt, on November 28th, 2011  The Ravens will go as far as quarterback Joe Flacco will take them this season. I wrote that back in August and stand by that statement here at the end of November. A crucial part in the success of Baltimore’s franchise quarterback is the protection provided up front by his offensive line.
Two of the Ravens biggest concerns heading into the 2011 season were the productivity of their wide receivers and the health of their offensive line. While rookie Torrey Smith continues to get national recognition for exceeding everyone’s expectations, Baltimore’s o-line is quietly beginning to gel.
On Thanksgiving, the Ravens big guys keep Flacco standing the entire game. It was the first time this season that Baltimore’s offensive line did not allow a single sack in a full four quarters of play. This didn’t happen overnight. As Dan Kolko of MASNSports.com points out, Flacco has only been sacked twice in the last three games.
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By Zach Wilt, on September 19th, 2011  It’s official. After two weeks of the NFL season, we don’t know anything about the Baltimore Ravens. Coming off an emotional win against their rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in week one, the Ravens laid an egg and got smoked by a young team with an average veteran quarterback and rookie head coach. The final score, 26-13, doesn’t quite do the Titans embarrassment of the Ravens justice. If Tennessee’s kicker makes a 30-something yard field goal and the Ravens actually go for it on 4th and goal down 13 points with under five minutes in the fourth quarter, the score could swing another six points.
It’s tough to stomach, even this earlier. Here are my quick thoughts on the game.
- Hasselbeck>CJ2k - If you told me that the Titans beat the Ravens without me watching a second of the game I would have to assume that Chris Johnson put up record numbers against Baltimore’s defense. That wasn’t the case. Baltimore wasn’t ready for what Matt Hasselbeck and the Titans receivers had to offer to them and were trying to stop the pass all day long. The veteran threw for 358 yards and spread the ball to nine different receivers.
- Failure to adjust – Tip your cap to the Titans, who exploited the Ravens secondary and shut down Ray Rice and the Baltimore running game. Tennessee knew that Baltimore would stop Chris Johnson (he was held to 57 yards on the ground) and instead went to a quick passing offense led by veteran Matt Hasselbeck. It didn’t matter which of the Ravens bad cornerbacks were covering the Titans receivers, they all got torched. Take your pick Domonique Foxworth on Jared Cook, Cary Williams on Kenny Britt or Lardarius Webb on Nate Washington, they all were outmatched. Tennessee’s game plan was clear, but Baltimore never adjusted to it and they let a subpar team beat them handily.
- O-Line Woes – That awesome offensive line from week one didn’t show up to the Music City. Suddenly an the “in shape” Bryant McKinnie looked slow and fat, Michael Oher couldn’t remember any snap count and the healthy Matt Birk couldn’t stop the pass rush. I know Ben Grubbs was out, but after week one we were led to believe that these guys could stop anyone. Not the case today. I think Joe Flacco’s poor performance had more to do with the beating that his offensive line let him take than bad play. But who knows.
- Ray Lewis and the aging Ravens defense – Remember how after Baltimore wooped Pittsburgh we all questioned whether time had passed by the Steelers defense? Now after a veteran Matt Hasselbeck exposed the Ravens, you’ve got to analyze the Ravens in the same way. The team leader in tackles was Lardarius Webb, I guess he made his nine tackles after allowing Kenny Britt to make a long catch down the sideline. Ray Lewis was credited with six, but he failed to keep up with the quick patterns by the Titans receivers. I’m not sure why, but Brendon Ayanbadejo played a lot on defense. That’s never good.
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By Ross Gore, on August 31st, 2011 
Despite posting their best record since 2006, the Ravens did not experience across the board improvement in 2010. The defense declined slightly while the pass offense and special teams improved slightly. However, the usually formidable running game degraded drastically, falling from 4.7 yards per carry (fourth in the NFL in 2009) to 3.9 yards per carry (25th in the NFL in 2010). The ineffectiveness came to a head in the Ravens playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers where Ray Rice and Willis McGahee combined for just 36 yards on 16 carries. This week in By the Numbers we’ll discern who was to blame for this precipitous decline.
 13 of the Ravens 16 carries went for 2 yds. or fewer in their playoff game against Pittsburgh last year. READ MORE >>>
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