Ravens' Return To Superbowl Form

[JonM229]

Just think about it a little: Winning games without having to score any touchdowns, when did we do that before?

[Raven07]

lol in 2000, the year we won the SuperBowl! haha....the first 6 games we scored no touchdowns...only field goals...and the best part of it...We won every single one of them!!!

[Drkraven]

I have been hearing this since yesterday from my husband and father!

[BamBam]

Yeah,it's great looking back.That was definitely a magical season.But,I'm a realist.And,I fear our second half schedule.This defense is merely a shell,of what it used to be.I know it's cliche.But,all good things really do come to an end.Unfortunately,our window is closing pretty quick.I hope I'm wrong,I honestly do.But,given the various/numerous injuries we sustain week after week,it's gonna be a bit much to overcome.I mean,two more West Coast trips.The Colts,Pats,Chargers,and Steelers....SCARY!

[Slick]

Yeah,it's great looking back.That was definitely a magical season.But,I'm a realist.And,I fear our second half schedule.This defense is merely a shell,of what it used to be.I know it's cliche.But,all good things really do come to an end.Unfortunately,our window is closing pretty quick.I hope I'm wrong,I honestly do.But,given the various/numerous injuries we sustain week after week,it's gonna be a bit much to overcome.I mean,two more West Coast trips.The Colts,Pats,Chargers,and Steelers....SCARY!

just think though...what ELSE happened in 200 that SHOULD happen this year?

HINT HINT....Dilfer and Boller complex perhaps?

[BamBam]

just think though...what ELSE happened in 200 that SHOULD happen this year?

HINT HINT....Dilfer and Boller complex perhaps?

Okay,but what else DIDN'T happen in 2000?...INJURIES! Think about this,GOOD teams turn into GREAT teams,when they have few injuries.And,losing A.D. hurt alot more,than we'd all like to admit.

[Raven07]

you know the more i think about it...the more i realize that this year is like 2000....i mean in a way, sure we have injuries right now, but Rolle should be back very soon, Heap should be back this week and so should Wilcox....Pryce is coming along, the Stitches and cast are off his hand and he's making great progress....so all in all yes we have injuries but we've been blessed with that fact that none are season ending injuries, excluding BJ Sams injury earlier in the year

[Guest Crowdog89]

lol in 2000, the year we won the SuperBowl! haha....the first 6 games we scored no touchdowns...only field goals...and the best part of it...We won every single one of them!!!

Actually, that is incorrect. The Ravens went five games without scoring an offensive td, winning two and losing 3 of those games in 2000. The first two games were a 16-0 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh and a 39-36 win of the Jaguars in Baltimore(one of the best all time ravens games IMO, Tony Banks had like 4 td passes in that one).

[Raven07]

well, i see you've done your research lol shows just how young i was at the time (5th grade..10 years old) but still none the less......we won with field goals! cant deny that! lol

[buckeyewayne]

Just think about it a little: Winning games without having to score any touchdowns, when did we do that before?

well, I would say every game just about for the last 3 years, it is very hard for them

to score in the red zone and it may work against the not so hot teams but later

on it will not work in the 2nd half of our schedule, the Colts and Patriots are

probably licking their chops just waiting for us..........we will not win those

games.

[Raven07]

lets face the facts here......every single team in the NFL wants to win and meaning ANYTHING can and will happen (example?....Cowboys Sunday night game, they werent supposed to win...stat said Romo had 5 or 6 INT's....usually the team with that many turnovers loses the game...but they won it)....sure the Pat's and Colts are 5-0 and what not but who''s to say that they wont suffer some big injuries that will cost them....lets face every single time teams square off against each other, doesnt matter their record...they want that win, because when your out on the field, the wins and losses dont matter, what matters is the game at hand....and players do whatever it takes to win or try to at least.....every team in the NFL is putting forth (or at least trying to) put their teams BEST efforts to win the game's.....so why would anyone think "oh yea we play them..thats a win, oh yea we play them thats a win to" and stuff like that when your opponents are trying their best to do the exact same thing you are.....win.........so i see Billick's point of view when he says "nfl games are not easy, in ANY retrospect......teams are gonna give u their BEST shot"....i totally see his point there

All in all......and bottomline is that this is the NFL, anything and everything can and will happen

[JonM229]

I never thought I could start an actual conversation with a sarcastic comment. But I do think that we may be able to turn things around once our injured players come back. And if you really think about it, the we seem to play better when there's less expectations. I certainly didn't expect us to win the Superbowl in 2000. Nor did I think we'd go 13-3 last season. As opposed to our Superbowl playoff run, nobody gave us a chance. But when people were saying we would run the table in the playoffs last year, we puttered out in our first game (bad enough, to the Colts). So, I wouldn't say I have very high expectations, I certainly am holding on to some hope that we'll at least make the playoffs.

[Ravens549]

What was the average amount of points our defense allowed in that year though as opposed to today's?

THAT is the biggest difference between the two, I am guessing.

[JonM229]

What was the average amount of points our defense allowed in that year though as opposed to today's?

THAT is the biggest difference between the two, I am guessing.

That's a very good point. Although I think the defense uses a different philosophy. Before it was bend, but don't break. Now it seems like a high risk, high reward. With all the blitzes we throw, there's going to be times where we may give up a big play.

[ravensfan1996]

The ravens D is not as dominating as the 2000 team is the big difference. The other thing is the Ravens offense in 2000, had a "plan"...run run run run jamal, and play great D. This year our offense doesnt have a plan, doesnt know what it wants to do and is still trying to figure itself out and the D can stop the run, but cant stop the long pass play that happens each game on us.

The first 5 games of this year we have given up 97 pts, in 2000 we gave up 42pts and had 3 shutouts already. (2007 avg 19.4 pts a game, 2000 avg 8.4pts) Not the same.

[Slick]

of course the two teams arent going to be identical but injuries have skewed the possibilities. all I'm saying is that this team this year has the potential to turn around and start beastin' just like the 2000 team did when Dilfer stepped up. I'm not saying our defense is as dominating, or the offense just as bad, but the possibility of pulling out of this season with a similar Superbowl Run as before is THERE. that's all i care about, and i don't care how much people will deny it or rag on my team I stick by my gut on this one. The Ravens have the personnel, the potential, and the hunger to finish out strong. Injuries and a hobbled and aged McNair have dampened this belief but I still say once we're healthy and Boller steps in we'll take it. I dont care if the Pats look unbeatable: they are. They can't tromp on through the season without a problem but I say that only sets them up for failure. They can get all cozy thinking nothing can stop them until BAM they're upset by a team that wanted the win more than they did. This is the NFL and nothing is ever, EVER, clear cut.

[JonM229]

They can't tromp on through the season without a problem but I say that only sets them up for failure. They can get all cozy thinking nothing can stop them until BAM they're upset by a team that wanted the win more than they did. This is the NFL and nothing is ever, EVER, clear cut.

Like the Ravens did against Indy in the playoffs, when everyone said we were going to the Superbowl.

[Jesse Conroy]

But still we have scored touchdowns, lost 2 games, and dont have as good of the D we had then. Not looking the same to me.

[Slick]

But still we have scored touchdowns, lost 2 games, and dont have as good of the D we had then. Not looking the same to me.

not many, could've lost all 5, and our d is still amazing but our offense is at least a little better than the 2000 team. it doesn't have to be exactly the same, it just has to work. dont hate. lol

[Slick]

Like the Ravens did against Indy in the playoffs, when everyone said we were going to the Superbowl.

precisely my point, I was one of many who thought we could do it, but we played hard despite a overall bad performance. all that game did was illustrate what i'm beginning to believe: McNair isn't the answer for this offense.

But Boller? Who knows, that kid may have grown in a much better way than McNair did over the offseason....

edit: sorry for double posting

[Jesse Conroy]

not many, could've lost all 5, and our d is still amazing but our offense is at least a little better than the 2000 team. it doesn't have to be exactly the same, it just has to work. dont hate. lol

I am not hating, I am just saying that the Ravens are looking scary so far this year. I hope we get to the playoffs.. atleast

But it is a game at a time with us, we need to think about beating St Louis first..

[JonM229]

Maybe Billick should fine players for saying "Playoffs" again.

[Slick]

I am not hating, I am just saying that the Ravens are looking scary so far this year. I hope we get to the playoffs.. atleast

But it is a game at a time with us, we need to think about beating St Louis first..

they looked really scary in the 2000 season too, give it time I just don't like people giving up on our team so quick.

[ravensfan1996]

Slick, people arent hating, they are just disagreeing with you....this isnt the superbowl team of 2000, the offense in 2000 played very conservative and didnt have alot of turnovers, this offense just isnt playing well or in synch and is turning the ball over alot and has alot of penalties. All we are saying is this team doesnt compare to the 2000 team. Doesnt mean we hate the team just our opinion. But until this team shows it can beat and control the lower end teams it aint going nowhere. right now every game they are fighting for their lives. that spells 8-8 and no playoffs. if we can beat the rams and the bills, get healthy during the bye, we will see where we stand when we play 3 divisional games in a row....pitt, cincy, cle. Then we will know where we are..

[Slick]

Slick, people arent hating, they are just disagreeing with you....this isnt the superbowl team of 2000, the offense in 2000 played very conservative and didnt have alot of turnovers, this offense just isnt playing well or in synch and is turning the ball over alot and has alot of penalties. All we are saying is this team doesnt compare to the 2000 team. Doesnt mean we hate the team just our opinion. But until this team shows it can beat and control the lower end teams it aint going nowhere. right now every game they are fighting for their lives. that spells 8-8 and no playoffs. if we can beat the rams and the bills, get healthy during the bye, we will see where we stand when we play 3 divisional games in a row....pitt, cincy, cle. Then we will know where we are..

lol i know they arent hating i jsut threw that in for fun. no this isn't the super bowl team from 2000 and im not saying it is. I only say that we could have a similar season this year if Boller is forced to step up for McNair and he actually performs well. if he did that and we won the superbowl how many people would think of the parallels between Boller with the current Ravens and Dilfer eith the 2000 Ravens? a hell of a lot more than do right now I'll tell ya that.

[ravensfan1996]

Im still hopefull the ravens can make the playoffs, i think their only shot is to win the division which i think they can do, just have to beat the steelers, the bengals are going downhill fast and the browns are an ok team this year. But alot of it relies on the injuries and mcnair playing better and not hurt, and billick running a better offense.

If boller wins 11 straight games (vs the pats, colts, bengals, browns, steelers, phins,seahawks) to win the super bowl....then we can talk about comparisons. Otherwise i dont see any, that team was known for its defense, this team right now isnt known for anything right now but a pathetic offense and an ok defense. The defense is bending this year and breaking some games in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

if we lose either of the next two games to the rams or bills, IMO they wont make the playoffs.

[Ravens549]

if we lose either of the next two games to the rams or bills, IMO they wont make the playoffs.

Oh yeah...that is truly the number one concern right now. We cannot lose these 'patticake' games.

[Raven07]

last year Raven fans were all cheering McNair coming here, and he delivered greatly....13-3 and a divisional title....and everyone was praising him for his play, now turn up the clock to now and raven fans are ready to throw him out.....Last year Mcnair Luckily didnt have any injuries that kept him out of a game (hardly).....and now this year, he injured his groin and yet STILL delivers and drives the ball down the field, into scoring range and you are all ready to throw him out.....

there is wayyyyyyyy to much people here that are focusing on the Bad points and not focusing on the good and more positive points that McNair HAS done for this teamand alot of people on here saying McNair is finished and washed up, yes i'll admit that some of McNairs throws are over thrown or under thrown....but lets focus on the POSITVE things and face the facts here.....even with him being injured....he still continues to drive us down field regardless of what people say, for the most part he is doing his job well....may not be the big and bad plays we all WANT to see but he's making smart decisions about who to throw it to...."hmmmmm do i throw it to the open man, or the guy who is blanketed in coverage....i wonder" it really doesnt take too much sense to realize You'll throw it to the open man, we dont need more turn overs than we already have, so with him making those smart precise decisions he's getting us the yards none the less and keeps the time running which ultimately means the opposing team's defense stays out on the field longer and will get tired faster...aka CLOCK management

[SoCaLRavensFan]

Our defense is good but its not what it was back in 2000. I think that our offense will definately have to step it up from here on out for us to make a serious run at the SuperBowl. We need Heap to get healthy and stay healthy. He has the ability to be as productive as Antonio Gates if only he could stay healthy and get more balls thrown his way.

[Raven07]

both heap AND Rolle Returned to the Practice field today, in Full pads and practiced......Ogden was in Full pads but was only allowed to participate in a "light" practice....., Trevor Pryce also returned to the field, the cast is off, the stitches are out and he's back practicing..keep in mind thoughm he still has the Metal rods in his arm so i dont think he'll play this week but he'll definately play SOON....

in my oppinion Heap is better than Gates....i mean just look at him, Speed, Blocking ability, Skill, Leadership, GREAT hands, GREAT athletic ability...and can break those tackles for extra yards, those are just some of the few categories that Heap is GREAT at....