RaRaRavens

"joe has played well since getting his contract" See, right there you just lost all credibility. By no standard whatsoever has Joe played consistently well after the SB win, at least not as you'd expect from the 4th highest paid QB. 14th, maybe. Definitely not from 4th. Your comment is ideal example of naive fans unable of any rational criticism. Sure. Coaching could be better. Other offensive players could be better. But that's my whole point, a QB who needs elite O-line, league leading running game, superstar WRs and a masterpiece of a game plan and playcalling that would allow him to make throws should not get paid the way Flacco gets paid. Even Osweiler looked good in Kubiak's system with perfect pieces around him last year, that does not make him a good QB who can carry a team. Same with Flacco. Alas, he's getting paid like someone who should be pulling games out solely on his own abilities.

For the love of god, I'm not talking about his 2012 campaign. I'm talking every year since that (except when Kubiak was the OC). If he would play like he did in 2012 or 2014, I would shut my mouth, cause the man would be earning his buck. But the matter of the fact is he's playing worse every year since. Another thing, of course I'm proud about our 2012 triumph and the way the entire team, including Flacco performed. And I'm ecstatic about the overall success of our franchise. I mean, 2 Lombardi trophies in 20 years is most of other teams have to show for. This is one of my go-to arguments whenever some other teams' fans starts huffing and puffing. However, CAN WE PLEASE STOP LIVING IN THE PAST?! It's one thing to be proud of your past success, reflect and feel good about it. It's another thing to get hung up on your glory days. Every time I see one of our fans with the talk "But in 2012..." I immediately remember the arrogant "We-have-6-titles" Steelers' fans. WHO CARES about 2012 or 2000 or whatever amount of titles any team has won previously! The only season that matters now is 2016 and how far you get this year, that's it! And let me ask you this, whobilly, do you want to remain reminiscent about our 2012 season or do you want to get another SB win? I for one would like to see the confetti drop again some time soon. For that, one of the following has to change: 1) Flacco's game or 2) cap hit created by Flacco's salary, so we could afford more high level players. And I for one don't see any indication that Flaccos's playing level will improve any time soon.

Every time I see Flacco's salary number I lol...and then I cry. The dude should be paid like a 5th round rookie the way he's been playing.

Overall record wise, I think we are not in a bad place. I mean, 4 of our 5 losses have come against teams who are currently 9-1 (Cowboys), 8-2 (Raiders), 7-3 (Giants) and 6-3-1 (Redskins). And, not that it matters, but we were darn close to winning many of them. Our only really bad loss was the upset from 3-7 Jets. This is definitely not where thought we'd be when the schedule came out, but then again despite our 5-5 record we are leading the division. It's just one of those years. The season is far from over and a lot can happen, key games will be against the Steelers and 2 games with the Bengals. If we can sweep the division, we might be just fine. And anything can happen in the playoffs with our stout defense. However, how we are going to get these wins against division rivals with the current state of our offense is another matter. Our run game seems to work most of the time, but it just feels a little chipy. And, for whatever reason, we completely abandon it in the 2nd half. And even if we don't we still can't put up even field goals on most of our drives, despite the run game. Passing game is just non-existent. Flacco can't get much protection. Even when he does, more often than not WRs can't get much separation. And even when they do, Flacco messes up most throws, because he has regressed 9 years technique wise. The only time our passing game (and offense in general) hasn't looked clueless was one half against Browns' league worst defense. The rest of the time we've made bottom half defenses look like the Legion of Boom ca 2013. I literally get nervous before our every offensive snap, because I know most likely there will be nothing good coming. And by now, it's safe to say, there will not be any major improvements by the unit any time this season.

Tragic thing is, we need to rebuild this team from the scratch to be considered relevant for years to come. And I mean from the top down, starting with at least the coordinators. I won't even start with the position coaches, like how Castillo for example is unable to get his group to play disciplined etc. Harbs is safe, maybe, if he can acknowledge the deep issues this team has. From there on out, we need to consider a serious overhaul on nearly every position, including QB. Flacco will not go anywhere with his cap situation just yet, but something must change. Whether its going back to day 1 of his rookie season with him coaching wise and starting from the very basic fundamentals or just find someone to compete with him for the QB job. He plays like a rookie, he should be treated like one. On O-line, Zuttah and Wagner could be backups at best. Need much addition to the quality right there. We still don't have no 1 WR. SSS is great, but will retire. Even if he doesn't we can't bank on a to-be 38 years old WR. The amount of times when non of our WRs can get separation for even a pass attempt from Flacco is ridiculously high. I don't even know what's going on with our TEs. I mean, our best TE couldn't block a garbage can, yet he's out there on most plays. Where the F is Maxx Williams, anyone?! Our best CB is injury prone guy, who we can not count on to play for an entire season. Young is up and coming, but if you have the smallest guy playing on the outside, it really shows you the quality of the group you have. Webb and Wright are just embarrassments. Pass rush needs some serious young energy. Suggs is monster for playing the way he does with 1 arm, but he should have been grooming his successor for couple of years already. Instead he's our main hope for any pass rush. Judon flashes here and there occasionaly but that's it from our edge rush department. D-line is solid, but we'll be without B.Williams most likely next year so need to find a starter there as well. But most of all, we need some leaders, because god knows we have no true leaders on this team at the moment. Not our HC, not our QB and no true leaders from defensive side either. It'll take at least 2-3 really strong drafts for us to get out of this hole. Unfortunately the past few drafts have not boosted my confidence too much.

It seems that, for some reason, most of our guys have lost the desire to win. Have lost the urgency. Only time our offense shows any signs of life is at the end of games when they need the make a comeback.

The truly sad thing is, that like Flacco said, the Cowboys were completely beatable for us. But at one point it was as if our guys lost the will to win (outside of SSS ofcourse). It's not unheard of that a team loses momentum and players lose focus a bit, but that's when team leaders must step up. Players like Lewis and Reed would have never let the defense get sloppy like that. I remember times when Birk was pumping up O-line on the side. At the moment, this team does not have leaders like that. And that's why I prefer vocal leaders. Not stoic ones like Flacco.

So much talent, so little execution and desire to win :( Truly sad thing is, that this is our last shot for a serious playoff run for the next couple of years. Consider this: SSS will retire, we'll be short of a starting WR; Suggs and/or Doom will retire, we'll be short of a starting caliber pass rusher; B.Williams will (probably) be somewhere else, we'll be short of a NT. Add that to all the other holes or upgrades needed on this team, like C, RT, CB, S. There are way too many wholes to fill with just one offseason.

Guess it's point of view think. I'd prefer my franchise QB to be the vocal, passionate leader. Some prefer stone cold stoic no-nerve type of leader. All that is fine. The issue is, Flacco has not developed to be either. Bottom line is, Flacco IS NOT a leader on this football team. Despite playing the "field general" position and getting paid like one. FLACCO IS NOT A LEADER. And our team will not get far if we keep banking on him to be one.

Just read this: "Ray Lewis calls out Joe Flacco for lacking passion for the game" http://www.espn.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/31763/ray-lewis-calls-out-joe-flacco-for-lacking-passion-for-the-game WOW! But I could not agree more with Ray. There have been times when the ice water in Flacco's veins has been an asset, I still remember couple of those 80-90 yard game winning drives he made before our SB title. Especially the one in Pittsburgh. But for most part the lack of evident passion or "fire" seems to be the undoing of him. More often than not, players seem to play better when they are ticked off, think SSS, Lewis, Suggs etc. But Flacco just doesn't seem to care. And as a fan, that bothers me. If it seems that I care more about the outcome than our QB, then something is not right. It just seems as if his far below average performance isn't a problem to him. As if its okay. Well, it's not!

I agree with you that 24-28 might be enough for us. My prediction for Cowboys is 25 points (+/- 3). So 4 TDs for us should do it. But that's the thing, I'm not so confident if we can put up that many points. 28p would be as much as our season high was against the Browns one of the league's worst defenses. Flacco ain't gonna bring us these kind of points, so we need to get our run game going. Unfortunately that will be tough against Dallas' stout run defense and with our O-line injuries.

Amen, brother. You got my +1 for your realistic point of view, but be prepared to get downvoted into oblivion by naive, unreasonably optimistic fans, 'cause, you know, "We have SB MVP at QB! How dare you be critical of him!". Meanwhile, there's literally nearly no one worse than Flacco at the moment. Don't get me wrong, nobody is rooting harder than me for Flacco to finally get his head out of his butt, get his act together and start performing on par with what he's being paid. I know, drops and shty blocking is not his fault, but game in and game out he's not making the throws, when they ARE there. He finally showed signs of adequacy in one half against Browns' worst D in the league. Here's to hoping he got his game jumpstarted with that performance!

No doubt our defense will not let the Cowboys run over us like they have done to most teams, but they will put up some points for sure. The real question is, can our offense put up more. They have to play like they did in the second half vs the Browns, if we want to win.

While most are expecting this game to come down to our D vs Cowboys O, I think it'll come down to how many points our offense can put up, more specifically can our running game get it going. I have no doubt that our D can prevent the Cowboys from running all over us like they did against the Steelers and prevent it from becoming a blowout, but Dallas is gonna put up points. I predict somewhere around 20-25. So if, somehow, we can score 4 TDs again on Sunday, we should have a real chance. Here's where the problem presents itself, who's gonna score for us? Flacco? Don't think so, he hasn't played well at all, except for one half against one of the league's worst Ds. RBs? Maybe, but it'll be tough with O-line injuries. Expecting DEF/ST to score would be a tall order.

Yeah, D can keep us close, but who's gonna score for us to win? Flacco? Don't think so, he hasn't been able to do it consistently for the entire season (except against 1 half against Browns' worst D). So we're gonna need a run game. If that manifests, our chances of winning are okay. This is however where O-line injuries really hurt us. But hey! At least there's a chance, let's give the cowgirls hell!

Wow, it always baffles me how our fanbase is absolutely uncapabale of any critical thinking. I was being realistic. I did not say we were gonna lose. I pointed out we need strong outing from our RBs to win, because all but 1 half this season Flacco has not carried this team. And that it'll be tough cause our O-line is injured. What part of that was pessimistic?! These are facts.

Our defense is capable of keeping our game with the Cowboys close, but I still don't see us winning, because Joe Flacco and the offense. It would not be fair to ask our defense to shut out the best O-line in the league and to carry our team to yet another win. Their job is to keep the game close enough and I have no doubt they are able to do it. But then Flacco will trot on to the field for 3 icky-dicky plays, probably dump the ball off to closest player who'll get 2 yards, and then skip back to the sidelines again with that smug smirk on his face like he just won us the SB. So unless we can unleash West&co, it's going to be a looong game for us Sunday. And considering both our starting Gs are hurt, it won't be easy to find much running room.

Our defense is capable of keeping our game with the Cowboys close enough, but I still don't see us winning, because Joe Flacco and the offense. It would not be fair to ask our defense to shut out the best O-line in the league and to carry our team to yet another win. Their job is to keep the game close enough and I have no doubt they are able to do it. But then Flacco will trot on to the field for 3 icky-dicky plays, where he dumps the ball off to the closest player who'll get 2 yards, and then he'll trot back to the sidelines again with his smug face like he just won us another SB. So unless we can unleash West&co, it's going to be a loong Sunday. And considering both our starting Gs are hurt, it won't be easy to find much running room.

I've been negged and disrespected on this site so many times because I've been critical about Flacco. Flacco is playing one of the worst Ds in the league and he is still playing worse than rookies. If nothing changes in the second half, I don't want to see anyone else talking about how it's not Flacco's fault. Flacco is single handedly killing this team. Yes, O-line sucks, but Flacco does not make the throws when they are there and dumps it off. It's literally embarassing to watch our offense, and I've seen the worst ever since Harbaugh era.

Haha, so true! FBAJ is about to have one solid game, after which all our ignorant fans will be like "Flacco is Elite, where are all the Flacco haters now" yadayadayada. Only to have Flacco come out the week after and throw for 71 yards and 4 INTs. Would be classic Flacco. Could not play consistently well even if his life depended on it. I would be fired long ago, if I were performing so inconsistently at my job.

“I didn’t run to be a quarterback. I’m just good at it.” I'm just good at it, lmao! OMG, I seriously LOL-d over the entire office. That was hilarious, thank you Joe! No, you are average at best. But that one right there was priceless, I'll give you that much. :'D

Bell on the Ravens defense: “I think it was just us not executing." and "Baltimore had a good game plan. They just guessed right.". Is he delusional or something?! Our defense just flat out kicked his sorry arrogant butt! Seriously, go watch some tape, boy! You got beat at literally every level of the game, AND in every phase of the defense. He should shut his mouth and say absolutely nothing after the piece of sh performance he had against us. I hope Mosley breaks his collarbone in the next game, vintage RayRay style.

Respect for Camp for putting trust in us wanting him back and returning to Baltimore after we had invested in him, instead of pursuing his chances with some other contenders like NE and DEN who were reportedly interested in him.

I'm afraid Doom has gotten too old to be a factor. Suggs can still be of some use as a situational player, even if that means only eating up blockers due to the tremendous respect the opposing offenses have for Suggs (and rightfully so). Even if he's not the game wrecker he once was, the sheer fact that he's playing through the injury and pain, while risking long term damage, only to help this team out makes him a monster in my book. As for Doom, however, it seems the injuries were too tough for him to overcome. He obviously is not able to get back to 100% anymore and, as such, has lost his edge. If he can't make it to the field in the next couple of games AND show he can be of some help to this team, I can't see a reason for wasting a roster spot on him. He was a great player and I appreciate all he has done for this team, but his time is up. It's sad, but it is what it is. As for the next year, I really really hope we can draft the next starting caliber pass rusher. If we could retain B.Williams, Young continues to develop, and maybe we can add some solid CB depth, I think we'd be set on the defensive side.

Hear hear!