Sobering Fact About Our Record Under John Harbaugh

[PuRock]

From our own BR.com article.
[url="http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2009/10/Eisenberg_Bengals_Matchup_a_Must_Win.aspx"]Bengals a Must-Win[/url]

[quote]The Ravens have lost only 7 of 23 regular season and postseason games under John Harbaugh -- 3 to Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh, 3 on the road against top-tier teams (Giants, Colts, Patriots) and one at home against a Titans team that ended up with the AFC’s best record.[/quote]

I don't know about you guys, but this line makes me feel great about our team and management. There is no way we lose to the Bengals this weekend.

We are beating up on the teams that we're suppose to beat up on and losing the tough situational matches. It's about time we take the next step, and start beating the *elite* teams ON THE ROAD.

It's going to happen. It's only a matter of time. Harbs is a year older as a head coach. And the sky's the limit.

[Purple Nurple]

Warm and fuzzy, indeed. Thanks.

[Gtown Purple]

Good stat, thanks for sharing.

[theFRANCHISE]

It sounds so simple, but good teams win the games they're supposed to win. There's only so many great teams in the league ("elite," if you will), and so few of them occupy each team's schedule in any given season. Losing to the "elite" in the regular season, bad as it sounds, isn't so bad so long as you win those games in the postseason. Good teams know how to bounce back from a loss, so therefore, a good team that loses to a "better" team will take what they've learned and apply it the next time they meet, when it matters most.

Case-in-point: the 2008 Ravens lost to the Titans in Week 5 (despite dominating the game), yet took what they learned from the loss and applied it in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, ekeing out a narrow victory that was a [u]victory[/u] nonetheless. On the flip side, that same Ravens squad also lost to the Steelers in Week 4 and appeared to learn from their mistakes in the rematch, but simply didn't finish the job; in attempting to finish the job in the AFC Championship game, the Ravens took one risk too great and will have to learn from that if they expect to gain a measure of revenge in November and again in December.

[PuRock]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='09 October 2009 - 11:45 AM' timestamp='1255103148' post='252194']
It sounds so simple, but good teams win the games they're supposed to win. There's only so many great teams in the league ("elite," if you will), and so few of them occupy each team's schedule in any given season. Losing to the "elite" in the regular season, bad as it sounds, isn't so bad so long as you win those games in the postseason. Good teams know how to bounce back from a loss, so therefore, a good team that loses to a "better" team will take what they've learned and apply it the next time they meet, when it matters most.

Case-in-point: the 2008 Ravens lost to the Titans in Week 5 (despite dominating the game), yet took what they learned from the loss and applied it in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, ekeing out a narrow victory that was a [u]victory[/u] nonetheless. On the flip side, that same Ravens squad also lost to the Steelers in Week 4 and appeared to learn from their mistakes in the rematch, but simply didn't finish the job; in attempting to finish the job in the AFC Championship game, the Ravens took one risk too great and will have to learn from that if they expect to gain a measure of revenge in November and again in December.
[/quote]

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with losing to elite teams on the road. I'm just saying in Harb's second season, its time we elevate even more and start beating the elite teams, specifically, in the playoffs.

Like you said. He's learning from our losses. Next time when we face the Pats, Colts and Steelers in the playoffs. We're poised to win based on our previous losses.

I've got a great feeling this year about snagging two from the Steelers. Harbs has a motivation factor unlike any coach in the NFL.

[Ed_Reed20]

Good post. The worst thing about Billick's regime towards the end was how the team consistently failed to take care of the opponents they were supposed to beat. The '07 season was the perfect example. After the '06 season, people expected the team to go even farther considering how easy the schedule looked. Not only did the team fail to win the games they were expected to win, they got embarrassed against the good teams.

Under Harbaugh, this team takes care of business. As bad the losses to Indy and New York were last year, part of those losses had to do with Flacco's inexperience. This year, against a good team, in their house, some bad calls by the referees and some costly mistakes, the team was STILL only a few plays away from pulling out a game-winning drive. That's the sign of a well-coached team and that's what gives me confidence they'll take it to Cincy on Sunday and win comfortably.

[PuRock]

Here's a fun page from ESPN. Weekly Head Coach Approval Ratings from Sports Nation.
[url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/sportsnation/ratings"]ESPN Coach Approval Ratings[/url]

Going into week 5. Harbs is 8th. Behind the likes of Swartz (DET), Payton (NO), Coughlin (NYG), Singletary(SF), Lovie Smith (CHI), McDaniels (DEN) and Caldwell (IND).

Sports Nation Comments: [quote]ptglj517: Why didn't the Ravens rush the football more? Rice was running all over the place.

Jon_Young: The Patriots DID NOT shut down the last drive. Clayton simply didn't catch the ball that hit him right in the numbers. That wasn't a GOOD play for the Patriots, it was a BAD Play for the Ravens. A good play for the Patriots would have included a defender close enough to stop him from making the catch.

BigPuppyRules: Harbaugh was far more responsible for this loss than the refs.[/quote]

[Ravens549]

To me sobering fact means something negative. You know, sober=negative! You had me worried.

[Ravens549]

Under Billick, out star players were too arrogant and lazy. The players ran the team.
Plus, I will NEVER, EVER forget the year after the Super Bowl and kicking Trent out the door for Grbac. Grbac...

[PuRock]

[quote name='Ravens549' date='09 October 2009 - 12:15 PM' timestamp='1255104924' post='252205']
To me sobering fact means something negative. You know, sober=negative! You had me worried.
[/quote]

Yeah. I should have realized that using the word "sobering" in a message board filled with 20-year old guys, probably would take on a different connotation.

I was aiming for this definition: Become more realistic.

Damn Drunks!

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='Ravens549' date='09 October 2009 - 12:15 PM' timestamp='1255104924' post='252205']
To me sobering fact means something negative. You know, sober=negative! You had me worried.
[/quote]
+1

I had no idea what he could mean from the title he gave this thread.

[PuRock]

Let us not forget that we are on track to break the trend of having one good season followed by one bad season. (The season is still young, but seriously how many people think we will end up as 5-11).

Harbs has instilled a singleness of purpose in the locker room. Something Billick lost. The "What's our Name!" and the "Play like a Raven" quotes are direct results of Harbaugh's influence in making this team a motivated single unit.

[Ravens549]

[quote name='PuRock' date='09 October 2009 - 12:20 PM' timestamp='1255105227' post='252211']
Yeah. I should have realized that using the word "sobering" in a message board filled with 20-year old guys, probably would take on a different connotation.

I was aiming for this definition: Become more realistic.

Damn Drunks!
[/quote]
Ummm....I'm 38.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='PuRock' date='09 October 2009 - 12:27 PM' timestamp='1255105626' post='252215']
Let us not forget that we are on track to break the trend of having one good season followed by one bad season. (The season is still young, but seriously how many people think we will end up as 5-11).
[/quote]

I certainly don't. Harbaugh knows how to keep this team motivated and hungry.

[flynismo]

[quote name='PuRock' date='09 October 2009 - 12:27 PM' timestamp='1255105626' post='252215']
Let us not forget that we are on track to break the trend of having one good season followed by one bad season. (The season is still young, but seriously how many people think we will end up as 5-11).


[/quote]


That "trend" is a myth started by Pittsburgh commies. I believe it's only happened twice in the history of the Ravens franchise, which hardly constitutes a trend.
In fact, I think we've had two winning seasons for every losing season this decade.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='flynismo' date='09 October 2009 - 11:33 AM' timestamp='1255109624' post='252235']
That "trend" is a myth started by Pittsburgh commies. I believe it's only happened twice in the history of the Ravens franchise, which hardly constitutes a trend.
In fact, I think we've had two winning seasons for every losing season this decade.
[/quote]
lol Pittsburgh commies, the great YELLOW scare!

[J-man]

we win the games we are supposed to

[POPS1]

Your mention of team management is right on point. Success on the field starts with success at the top. Every Ravens fan should be proud of that front office. From Bisciotti to Cass to Newsome to people like Kevin Byrne to Harbs and through the organization. It is the best managed and best run organization in the league -- and with the most honor and class. All you have to do is look 50 miles south and see what an absolute mess a lousy owner with terrible senior management can do to a once proud and successful franchise. Every year when I write that check for next season's tickets I think how proud I am of those people and the work they do.

[hammer]

[quote name='Ravens549' date='09 October 2009 - 12:15 PM' timestamp='1255104924' post='252205']
To me sobering fact means something negative. You know, sober=negative! You had me worried.
[/quote]

My sentiments exactly. I am still on cloud 9 about the job Harbaugh is doing so far.