Don Banks of Sports Illustrated thinks the Ravens got off easy by missing out on Indianapolis. Banks points out that the Ravens haven’t defeated Peyton Manning since 2001 and that the Colts have ended Baltimore’s season twice in the last four seasons.
Even with the Colts lackluster season, Banks thinks that the Ravens still don’t matchup against the 10-6 Colts, as Baltimore limps into the playoffs with an unimpressive performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in week 17.
Baltimore won, but it might be the least impressive 12-4 team in recent NFL history. The Bengals rolled up 395 yards against the Ravens, and Baltimore struggled in the running game and in protecting quarterback Joe Flacco.
The news around Sunday’s 13-7 win over the Bengals seems blue around Charm City. Fans have expressed their concern for the offense on local sports talk radio shows, while head coach John Harbaugh seems to maintain the same mentality he had after the Ravens escaped Houston and Buffalo, when he told the media “we are what we are.”
Are you concerned about how the Ravens have approached the playoffs?
If you aren’t concerned about our anemic offense the last few games, you either haven’t watched the games & the once thought of “new” offense deteriorate, or you don’t know football.
I’m sure there is some dissention between “D” & “O”>
Boldin, Kousch, & Stallworth have to be frustrated & probably want out of here,We are 12-4, but how did we do it? Even SI reporters say weakest 12-4 team in history.
Can some reporter please ask Harbaugh & Cameron why we got the above receivers?
Just don’t make sense.
Thats great, so what. They win ballgames and in the end, its W's that matter. This team is the only team of the playoff contenders that has not been blown out all season by any other team. All their losses were by a combined 16 points. Tell SI to go write about that.
Thank You Donnie!!!!!!!!!
So Sadler, you left impressed yesterday with that win? Gotta tell you, I was on the edge of my seat watching that exciting game. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Donnie? Can I call you Donnie? Your right, its "W's" that matter, can't argue that but one can argue that their games are c lose because they don't know how to put away a team and that most all teams "Play to win" but the Ravens "Play NOT to lose"… Seriously, look at them, when they are winning they play so scared. Look at Harbaughs face when they are winning, he looks like they are going to lose.
I have to faith in Harbaugh to win out…
Like Walter Sobchak told you "Donny you're out of your element!"
Coach and QB in just their third season and they've played to a 33 – 16 record. Not bad at all. Last i checked, only one other team has done better and they have the number one seed in the NFC this year. Keep in mind though that Atlanta only went to the playoffs in 2008 and missed them in 2009. Harbaugh and Flacco have been three years straight.
Play to Win or Play Not to Loose, call it as you will. If this team was scoring 40 points a game and 15 – 1, you would all over that one loss and how the Ravens need to change this, that or the other. You sound like the typical Baltimore Media always trying to find something wrong with nothing. Did you think this stuff up or pull directly from Mike "I wish I played football" Prestons commentary? Be original. Go jump on another band-wagon cause your tune is getting old on this site. Be lucky you have a team to watch this coming weekend. You're done too.
Why does it feel like I'm reading a 'Black n Yellow' blog? This truly is the home of the biggest closest full of Steelers fans on the planet.
Earlier in the season, we lost to the Bungals, then came home to scrape past the Browns, and guess what chicken little? The sky was not falling. We then went on the road to beat the Steelers in Pitt (don't say Ben wasn't playing because he wasn't a difference when they came here just last month), destroy the Broncos, and lose a tight game in 14-2 NE. So am I worried now that we won close games that didn't matter to us even against those same Bungals and Browns as we played hard games with earlier in the season?
The NFL is hard fought games every week regardless of who the opponent is. 12 wins is 12 wins, and as I stated before – if we're not considered an "elite" football team than who is? We're 3-3 against playoff teams (2-2 against them on the road), have taken both #1 seeds down to the last drive in their own stadiums, beat the defending champions, have had a 4th quarter lead in all except the 1st Cincy game this year, and are as good as anyone out there. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but only an idiot would say we have no chance going in. I look at who is saying that and rest my case.
Sadler, I thought you guys would have sent 2488 and MGW back to their Pittsburgh forum long ago.
RGB- I tend to drown out their drivel. At some point it just becomeswhite noise.
I hear you Sadler. I drown out what McClain says, Derrick Mason, the owner, Sports Illustrated, Mike Preston, Tony Dungy, most of the free world media, and even the coach says, too, about how this team has to get better. Problem is, 2488 and I saw it before it was chic and now it seems like we're a broken record. Truth is, we were way ahead of the curve.
Truth hurts.
Not to nit pick, but the Ravens did have a 4th qtr lead at Cincy in week 2. It was slim at 10-9 and was quickly given back.
Really some fans need to get a life. Fans need to remember we were also the most “least impressive 12-4 team” when we won the superbowl. Fans need to relax, at least we are winning. It may not be the prettiest of wins but its still a win
I think the Ravens record of 12-4 in 2010 was impressive. However, I do think the Ravens record of 13-3 in 2006 was a fluke. They were coming off a 6-10 season in 2005, and followed the 13-3 season in 2006 with a 5-11 record in 2007, including a 9 game losing streak from week 7 to week 15, that ultimately cost Head Coach Brian Billick his job.
You could argue that the '06 Ravens benefited from playing a 3rd place schedule on their way to 13 wins, but the season was hardly a fluke. The crash landing in '07 had more to do with Steve McNair getting hurt in week 1, never really getting health and having to play the majority of the season without Chris McAlister, Smari Rolle and Trevor Pryce.