Are The Ravens Officially The Best Team In The Afc North, After The Steelers Loss?

[J-man]

Look at it this way.
The Steelers are 1-2. That's two loses. And by the looks of it, they could lose another to some random team down the line.
The Bengals are 2-1. That's one lose. The Bengals are gaining momentum, however, I can see them burn out by the season's end and finish 10-6 or 9-7.
The Ravens are 3-0. That's zero loses. And some people think we can go 12-4 or 13-3.

Now the point I'm try to get across is that if we beat the Bengals twice and the Steelers once, we can win this division straight up. However, the thing I'm not so sure about is two against the Bengals. But they might not have a tiebreaker against so it won't matter as much. The key is, and always will be, divisional games, and as far as I'm concerned there are 2 legitimate contenders (Us and the Steelers) and one below the radar team (the Bengals) that can be easily over looked. And you may be like, "Oh it's just the Bengals, they cant do any damage, easy win, Yea!" But No. No divisional game is easy (except against the Browns), I'm always worried about going into those games (except against the Browns), and with the Bengals have something to prove, which is they are as good as they were in '05, they will be fighting.

Now to take a Ravens stand point on this. Our team is so well formed and balanced. Yea we may not have the best WR or CB that will catch everything or shutdown everybody, but you can't have all the weapons. Every team has a weakness, and to help that weakness, you have to depend on your strengths to play better then just "great". So Joe Flacco playing like a knock on wood "Pro Bowler" greatly helps the fact that we dont have a top 5 WR. Or on defense, the fact that absolutely nobody can run the ball on us, greatly helps the secondary.

Boom Boom Pow! In My Opinion, we will win this division.

[WACKO4FLACC0]

[quote name='wacko4flacco5' date='27 September 2009 - 07:25 PM' timestamp='1254093931' post='242955']
Now that the Steelers have lost to the Bengals, are the Ravens officially the best team in their division?
[/quote]
yes well even if we won we would be officially the best lol cuz we are 3-0 and they would be 2-1 if they won...

[BaltimoreRavens88]

One thing learned from the KC game is that nothing is ever guaranteed in the NFL, so right now the Ravens are guaranteed at least a 3-13 record

The Ravens just need to stay healthy, and keep improving each week. If they do that then they have a great chance at winning the AFC North IMO. How many times can Big Ben lead the Steelers to 4th quarter come backs with that offensive line? I hate to admit it but I mean, it's amazing to see, but they won't always get luck on their side.

Bottom line.. I think we'll know what kind of team the Ravens are after their visit to Foxboro.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='wacko4flacco5' date='27 September 2009 - 09:02 PM' timestamp='1254099766' post='243100']

I would consider Polamolu the leader of the defense, but i still don't understand why the offense would be effected by his absense, according to idiot Steeler fans, Saint Ben is their almighty leader!
[/quote]

thats according to the fans.... Steeler players will probably say differently

[flynismo]

[quote name='Reddawn36' date='27 September 2009 - 09:16 PM' timestamp='1254100571' post='243118']
thats according to the fans.... Steeler players will probably say differently
[/quote]

It's also according to Wines Hard; he said that's Ben's team.

[wacko4flacco5]

[quote name='Reddawn36' date='27 September 2009 - 07:16 PM' timestamp='1254100571' post='243118']
thats according to the fans.... Steeler players will probably say differently
[/quote]
I do think you're right on with Palomalu, but i would still think that the Steelers players would consider Big Ben a leader because of the times that he's saved them in the 4th quarter.

[Aaron Vaught]

The Ravens are working together like a well oiled machine. The defense is doing a great job of stopping the opposition on the big downs and getting the offense the ball. The offense is complimenting everything the defense is doing by getting the ball down the field and capitalizing with points. The last time the Ravens were this synced up we obliterated the Giants at Super Bowl 35.

[Ed_Reed20]

I think the Ravens are definitely the cream of the crop in the AFC North and maybe the AFC. They're moving the ball seemingly at will and the defense is still very stout.

As for the Steelers, one defender shouldn't make or break a team. In 05, when Ray went down, the defense STILL played very well despite usually being on the field longer than the offense.

[meckman71]

Yes . But it is still early we have not faced an elite defense yet. That said there is not a team Right Now that really scares me, hard games yes but the Colts,Pats and Pit just dont seem to be the dominate teams they were in the past .YET

[wolfzie06]

I'm really trying to take everything one week at a time. Today, we beat up on a pretty bad Browns team. Next week, we have to travel to a tough place to play in Foxboro and we have to face an eventual H.O.F. quarterback who is trying very, very hard to find his rhythm. I'm pretty pumped up to see how this one plays out. I've learned to just take things one week at a time. The 2006 season was too much of a letdown for me to think otherwise.

[PuRock]

[quote name='meckman71' date='27 September 2009 - 09:53 PM' timestamp='1254102819' post='243156']
Yes . But it is still early we have not faced an elite defense yet. That said there is not a team Right Now that really scares me, hard games yes but the Colts,Pats and Pit just dont seem to be the dominate teams they were in the past .YET
[/quote]

Colts are looking pretty good right now offensively and defensively against the Cards in Arizona. They are still one of the best teams in the league. Probably be 3-0 after this week as well.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='wolfzie06' date='27 September 2009 - 09:58 PM' timestamp='1254103089' post='243161']
The 2006 season was too much of a letdown for me to think otherwise.
[/quote]

I know what you mean. The difference with this team though is that the offense is definitely better. In 06, the offense was basically McNair throwing to Mason, Clayton and Heap with Demetrius making the occasional catch. And the running game just featured Jamal Lewis.

This year, it's completely different. Flacco spreading the ball around much more and there are 3 capable runners in the backfield.

[Guest maryland1]

[center][font="Verdana"][/font][/center][center][font="Verdana"][size="5"][color="#ff0000"][b][i]AS OF WEEK 3[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Verdana"][size="3"][b][size="4"][/b][/size][/size] [/center][/font][center][font="Verdana"][size="3"][b]09/27/09[/b][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Verdana"][size="3"][b]M&T BANK STADIUM[/b][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Verdana"][size="3"][b]BALTIMORE MARYLAND[/b][/size][/font][/center][center][b][size="2"][size="4"][/size][/b] [/center][/size][center][center][font="Verdana"][size="2"][/center][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="6"][color="#ff0000"]3[/color]-[color="#0000ff"]0[/color][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="6"][color="#ff0000"]#1[/color] [color="#0000ff"]AFC NORTH[/color][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][size="2"][size="4"][/size] [/center][/size][center][font="Verdana"][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][color="#800080"][b]QB JOE FLACCO[/b][/color][/size][/font][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]342[/color] YARDS - CAREER HIGH[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]25[/color]-[color="#ff0000"]35[/color] ([color="#ff0000"].714[/color]), [color="#ff0000"]342[/color] YDS, [color="#ff0000"]1[/color] TD, [color="#ff0000"]0[/color] INTs[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]118.2[/color] QB RATING[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]72[/color]-YD TD PASS[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][b][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="2"][/size][/font][/b] [/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="1"][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="5"][color="#800080"][b]SEASON[/b][/color][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]839[/color] YDS, [color="#ff0000"]6[/color] TDs, [color="#ff0000"]2[/color] INTs[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]101.4[/color] QB RATING[/size][/b][/font][/center][size="5"][center][/size][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][size="4"][color="#800080"][/color][/size][/size][/font] [/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][color="#800080"][b]DEFENSE[/b][/color][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]2[/color] SACKS, [color="#ff0000"]4[/color] INTs[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="1"][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][size="+0"]RUSH DEFENSE - [color="#ff0000"]#1[/color] [color="#0000ff"]NFL[/color][/size][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][size="+0"]Not allowed a 100-yard rusher in [color="#ff0000"]38[/color] consecutive games [/size][size="+0"]([color="#0000ff"]NFL record[/color]).[/center][center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][color="#800080"][b][size="4"][/b][/size][/color][/size] [/center][/font][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][color="#800080"][b]OFFENSE[/b][/color][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="5"][color="#ff0000"]#1[/color] [color="#0000ff"]AFC[/color][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="5"][color="#ff0000"]#2[/color] [color="#0000ff"]NFL[/color][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="3"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"][color="#000000"]SEASON:[/color] 105[/color] PTS, [color="#ff0000"]13[/color] TDs[/size][/b][/size][/font][/center][/center][/size][/size][/b][/font]

[PuRock]

[quote name='maryland1' date='27 September 2009 - 11:20 PM' timestamp='1254108055' post='243231']
[center][font="Verdana"][/font][/center][center][font="Verdana"][size="5"][color="#ff0000"][b][i]AS OF WEEK 3[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Verdana"][size="3"][b][size="4"][/b][/size][/size] [/center][/font][center][font="Verdana"][size="3"][b]09/27/09[/b][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Verdana"][size="3"][b]M&T BANK STADIUM[/b][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Verdana"][size="3"][b]BALTIMORE MARYLAND[/b][/size][/font][/center][center][b][size="2"][size="4"][/size][/b] [/center][/size][center][center][font="Verdana"][size="2"][/center][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="6"][color="#ff0000"]3[/color]-[color="#0000ff"]0[/color][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="6"][color="#ff0000"]#1[/color] [color="#0000ff"]AFC NORTH[/color][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][size="2"][size="4"][/size] [/center][/size][center][font="Verdana"][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][color="#800080"][b]QB JOE FLACCO[/b][/color][/size][/font][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]342[/color] YARDS - CAREER HIGH[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]25[/color]-[color="#ff0000"]35[/color] ([color="#ff0000"].714[/color]), [color="#ff0000"]342[/color] YDS, [color="#ff0000"]1[/color] TD, [color="#ff0000"]0[/color] INTs[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]118.2[/color] QB RATING[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]72[/color]-YD TD PASS[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][b][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="2"][/size][/font][/b] [/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="1"][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="5"][color="#800080"][b]SEASON[/b][/color][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]839[/color] YDS, [color="#ff0000"]6[/color] TDs, [color="#ff0000"]2[/color] INTs[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]101.4[/color] QB RATING[/size][/b][/font][/center][size="5"][center][/size][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][size="4"][color="#800080"][/color][/size][/size][/font] [/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][color="#800080"][b]DEFENSE[/b][/color][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"]2[/color] SACKS, [color="#ff0000"]4[/color] INTs[/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="1"][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][size="+0"]RUSH DEFENSE - [color="#ff0000"]#1[/color] [color="#0000ff"]NFL[/color][/size][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="4"][size="+0"]Not allowed a 100-yard rusher in [color="#ff0000"]38[/color] consecutive games [/size][size="+0"]([color="#0000ff"]NFL record[/color]).[/center][center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][color="#800080"][b][size="4"][/b][/size][/color][/size] [/center][/font][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="6"][color="#800080"][b]OFFENSE[/b][/color][/size][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="5"][color="#ff0000"]#1[/color] [color="#0000ff"]AFC[/color][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][b][size="5"][color="#ff0000"]#2[/color] [color="#0000ff"]NFL[/color][/size][/b][/font][/center][center][font="Bookman Old Style"][size="3"][b][size="4"][color="#ff0000"][color="#000000"]SEASON:[/color] 105[/color] PTS, [color="#ff0000"]13[/color] TDs[/size][/b][/size][/font][/center][/center][/size][/size][/b][/font]
[/quote]

I need to break out my "Radio Orphan Annie Decoder" before I can digest this colorful puzzle.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='27 September 2009 - 07:37 PM' timestamp='1254094663' post='242979']
Record-wise, yes, we are the best team in the AFC North... but until we beat Pitt ourselves, we can't say that.
[/quote]

What he said.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Currently yes, on record and performance. A long way to go though! So don't worry about it now. Right now, Denver is better than Pittsburgh and Detroit is equal to Pittsburgh if you want to look at it on that basis

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Lol, of course they're gonna talk, they support a team with Chad Ochocinco as a receiver! If we can win with our actions doing the talking, I'll be thrilled. That is ultimate swagger!

[TXRaven]

3-0 Ravens > 1-2 steelers... looks that way to me

[Twoo]

I won't consider the Ravens the best in the division until we have beat the Bengals and Steelers.

[funky141]

Right now the Ravens are the best team in the division untill someone beats them.
Nothing else to say...

[PIG 20]

Yes, because we stand at 3-0. Other than that, its still a long season.

Oh, and to all the Bengals fans running their mouths, [i]<Mod Note: Please don't feed the trolls>[/i]

[Gtown Purple]

We beat a pretty good chargers team but I'd like to see the results of the patriots game before making any bold statements.

[slayback0317]

Who knows whats going to happen but its looking real good right now for the Ravens. Even though it was the browns i was impressed with the way the ravens played last night. But ya next week will be the big test for us cant wait.

[Allan]

[font="Times New Roman"] [size="4"] [color="#9932CC"]I must say that it is a privilege and an honor to be a fan of a team that is in the same division as the Ravens. After only three weeks, the Ravens are now "The Best Team In All Of Football", so say the experts. What's up next? Oh, the Patriots in New England. No doubt the "Best Team In All Of Football" will dispatch Brady & Company, quickly. Then it's those pesky, upstart Bengals. Do the Bengals actually think they could beat the "Best Team In All Of Football"? And the last game before the break, in Minnesota against the Vikings. Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, Chester Taylor will have no chance against the "Best Team In All Of Football"! [/color][/size][/font]

[size="6"] [font="Times New Roman"]GO STEELERS! [/font][/size]

[FlaccoFlicker]

well we haven't beat 2 of the teams in the afc north but yeah record wise we are. after head to heads then we know for sure.

[Steelerkillers]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='27 September 2009 - 07:37 PM' timestamp='1254094663' post='242979']
Record-wise, yes, we are the best team in the AFC North... but until we beat Pitt ourselves, we can't say that.
[/quote]
I think you can throw the Colts in there with the Steelers. We must overcome those teams this year. Everybodys ridin the Favre, Manning and Rex wagon's right now. So, what we think about our team doesnt matter to the rest of the sports world. Of course we'll say our team is the best. But 1st things 1st, our rant for being the best will need to be proved this Sunday. One game at a time yall!

[flynismo]

We're undefeated. Everyone else needs to overcome us. Especially Pittsburgh, since they are in our division. Last year, five years ago, 1984....all means nothing.

[Steelerkillers]

[quote name='flynismo' date='28 September 2009 - 06:51 PM' timestamp='1254178287' post='243936']
We're undefeated. Everyone else needs to overcome us. Especially Pittsburgh, since they are in our division. Last year, five years ago, 1984....all means nothing.
[/quote]
I disagree! The Colts and Jets are undefeated as well. Plus, when was the last time we beat the Colts and Steelers? The Steelers swept us last year. The Colts have beaten us just about every single game and/or season. I think its fair to say "we need to overcome the teams who have been overcoming us"

[kash96ravenstotalfan]

[quote name='wacko4flacco5' date='27 September 2009 - 07:37 PM' timestamp='1254094632' post='242978']
I thought i was supposed to do that, i've only been a member for like 10 days, but i get now.
[/quote]
Relax, rookie. Some Veteran posters believe that all posters should be as savvy as they are. I have been 'called out" in the past for posts. You will get the hang of it. Welcome to the board.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Steelerkillers' date='28 September 2009 - 06:57 PM' timestamp='1254178629' post='243941']
I disagree! The Colts and Jets are undefeated as well. Plus, when was the last time we beat the Colts and Steelers? The Steelers swept us last year. The Colts have beaten us just about every single game and/or season. I think its fair to say "we need to overcome the teams who have been overcoming us"
[/quote]


Different years, different teams. What happened in the past means nothing with how we perform next Sunday.

I'm wondering, if NYJ, Indy and Bal are all undefeated, why is it that we have to overcome them, but they don't have to overcome us?