Merged: Playoffs Threads

[Runnin Raven]

No, we are not good enough. I think we've proven that.

[Ravens549]

[quote name='Moderator 3' date='08 November 2009 - 05:09 PM' timestamp='1257718193' post='277672']
Playoffs? Playoffs? We're just trying to win a game.
[/quote]
Makes me think of the Jim Mora commercial for Coors Light.
I honestly am looking to beat Pittsburgh at home- that's it.
You know how most of us say 'Just beat Pittsburgh at home!'?
THAT is this season.
9-7 for this season will be lucky.

[Ravens549]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' date='08 November 2009 - 08:16 PM' timestamp='1257729382' post='278010']
LOL @ 7-1
[/quote]
Yes, that is fantasy land. Not with this team...not with this team.

[FlacAttack]

There's still plenty of more football to be played, but the future is not bright for the Ravens who still have to play the Colts and the Steelers twice. Indeed, the playoffs are starting to look like a distant memory for us.

[CecilRavensFan]

Well in 2006 Manning didn't rip us apart, we held that offense to 5 Field Goals, but we could only kick 2. If our D can tighten up and stay in Mannings face (Which we'll need with our Corner play) I think we can make it a game if we keep them off the field and our O is a lo better too. For everyone waiting for 30-40 rushes, that'd better be the game we see Rice,McGahee, and McClain alot more. No sense in trying to have a shootout with Indy, so this is when you want to play "Boring" smash mouth football. Flacco's should only be expected to hand it off in that game. Green Bay shouldn't be too hard assuming we get pressure.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='CecilRavensFan' date='09 November 2009 - 04:55 PM' timestamp='1257803713' post='279049']
Well in 2006 Manning didn't rip us apart, we held that offense to 5 Field Goals, but we could only kick 2. If our D can tighten up and stay in Mannings face (Which we'll need with our Corner play) I think we can make it a game if we keep them off the field and our O is a lo better too. For everyone waiting for 30-40 rushes, that'd better be the game we see Rice,McGahee, and McClain alot more. No sense in trying to have a shootout with Indy, so this is when you want to play "Boring" smash mouth football. Flacco's should only be expected to hand it off in that game. Green Bay shouldn't be too hard assuming we get pressure.
[/quote]
Our defense does not even vaguely resemble the unit of 2006. They were also aided by the fact that they were playing Manning in the post-season and not the regular season. Short of Peyton Manning missing the first game in his career, the chances of our beating Indy are slim to none.

Cold weather is generally kind to defenses, but our team has yet to make any quarterback not named Anderson look even average. As long as Rodgers is healthy going into that game -which given the nonexistence of GB's O-line- is not a sure thing, he will have a field day unless we manage to keep him on the ground.

[Ravnet]

I mean, assuming that the Bengals/Steelers make the playoffs as the wildcard/division champs, then there is one additional wildcard slot leftover.

Our competition is:

San Diego - (5 - 3)

Houston - (5 - 4)

New York - (4 - 4)

Jacksonville - (4 - 4)

I'm going to eliminate the Jaguars as they're 4 - 4 after hitting a recent hot streak, they have no homefield advantage, and I simply don't believe in their talent.

The Jets have a remote shot, but they're in the same position we are, in terms of their overall record, but New York has to deal with a Sanchez who is struggling mightily, and New England/Indianapolis/Cincinnati/Atlanta.

The Texans have Tennessee, St. Louis, Seattle, New England, Indianapolis, and Miami coming up. They're a pretty good team, and will probably be battling San Diego for the wildcard.

The Chargers are probably our biggest threat as they're in the best position at 5-3, and have gimme games in Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and Tennessee, which pretty much puts them at 9-3 considering that they're a second-half team, with four additional games in Dallas, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Denver. In a perfect scenario, they only take one from the Bengals/Broncos/Cowboys/Eagles trio, and finish at 10-6.

We have three gimme games in Detroit, Oakland, and Cleveland, which automatically puts us at 7 - 4 for rhetorical purposes, meaning that we'll need at least three, and likely four, wins against Pittsburgh (X2), Indianapolis, Chicago, and Green Bay.

A win at home over a mediocre Chicago team is definitely possible, we'd need a steal in Green Bay, and then between Indianapolis and the two Pittsburgh games, we could only afford to lose one game.

So, no, we won't make the playoffs, but it is possible if we a.) win all the games that we should win while stealing two additional contests or b.) lose two games, end up 10-6, and are lucky enough to have Houston collapse, and San Diego end up with the same record as we hold the tiebreaker.

I could definitely the Ravens finishing the season at 10 - 6, and it's not completely out of the question that San Diego loses one gimme game and to two of their four tough opponents, although I honestly cannot foresee that happening.

In the end, we would need to go 7-1, but a team gets hot at the end of the year every season, and we definitely have the talent to do that, so why not us?

[PuRock]

[quote name='Ravnet' date='09 November 2009 - 05:38 PM' timestamp='1257806305' post='279063']
I mean, assuming that the Bengals/Steelers make the playoffs as the wildcard/division champs, then there is one additional wildcard slot leftover.

Our competition is:

San Diego - (5 - 3)

Houston - (5 - 4)

New York - (4 - 4)

Jacksonville - (4 - 4)

I'm going to eliminate the Jaguars as they're 4 - 4 after hitting a recent hot streak, they have no homefield advantage, and I simply don't believe in their talent.

The Jets have a remote shot, but they're in the same position we are, in terms of their overall record, but New York has to deal with a Sanchez who is struggling mightily, and New England/Indianapolis/Cincinnati/Atlanta.

The Texans have Tennessee, St. Louis, Seattle, New England, Indianapolis, and Miami coming up. They're a pretty good team, and will probably be battling San Diego for the wildcard.

The Chargers are probably our biggest threat as they're in the best position at 5-3, and have gimme games in Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and Tennessee, which pretty much puts them at 9-3 considering that they're a second-half team, with four additional games in Dallas, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Denver. In a perfect scenario, they only take one from the Bengals/Broncos/Cowboys/Eagles trio, and finish at 10-6.

We have three gimme games in Detroit, Oakland, and Cleveland, which automatically puts us at 7 - 4 for rhetorical purposes, meaning that we'll need at least three, and likely four, wins against Pittsburgh (X2), Indianapolis, Chicago, and Green Bay.

A win at home over a mediocre Chicago team is definitely possible, we'd need a steal in Green Bay, and then between Indianapolis and the two Pittsburgh games, we could only afford to lose one game.

So, no, we won't make the playoffs, but it is possible if we a.) win all the games that we should win while stealing two additional contests or b.) lose two games, end up 10-6, and are lucky enough to have Houston collapse, and San Diego end up with the same record as we hold the tiebreaker.

I could definitely the Ravens finishing the season at 10 - 6, and it's not completely out of the question that San Diego loses one gimme game and to two of their four tough opponents, although I honestly cannot foresee that happening.

In the end, we would need to go 7-1, but a team gets hot at the end of the year every season, and we definitely have the talent to do that, so why not us?
[/quote]

Very good points.

San Diego then Houston I would list the likely hood. We are lucky we beat San Diego because it could possibly pay dividends if we are able to right the ship.

Houston took a big loss with Owen Daniels going down. They also lost a huge mental game for them at Indy. Plus Schaub is always frail. Grossman is their backup.

And your right. I can't see Mark Sanchez helping the team win in December. And Jacksonville is very shady.

All-in-all I like our chances against this bunch much more than last year when we were competing against the Colts, Patriots, Jets & Dolphins for that final spot.

[Corvus]

Playoff assumptions are COMPLETELY speculative at this point because every team still has 8 more games to play. However, assuming that the current AFC division leaders with big leads(Bengals, Pats, Colts) maintain control of their divisions, our competition for the two wild card spots looks to be the AFC West runner up (6-1 Broncos or 5-3 Chargers), the Steelers (5-2), the Texans (5-4), the Jaguars (4-4), the Jets (4-4).

Of those teams, I think at this moment, the Steelers are ALMOST a lock for the first wild card. Let's face it, they are simply playing better football so far, so it is absolutely critical we win both games against them now. As far as the other teams go...

The Jets have a tough climb uphill. They still have New England, Indy, Cincy, Atlanta on their schedule, plus an important game for early wild card ramifications against Jacksonville up next.

The Jags have it a bit easier, sans games against the Pats and Colts. They would definitely need to beat the Jets and get that 2nd win against Houston to help them in.

The Texans have an absolutely critical 3 game divison series in the next 3 weeks (vs Titans, vs Colts, @ Jags). If they lose at least 2 of those games we shouldn't need to worry about their playoff chances, despite getting "freebies" against the Rams and Seahawks as well.

In the two AFC West teams' regards, all I can say is at least we have the tie breakers over both the Broncos and Chargers.

As far as we go, we have the two Steelers games and the Colts game. The game against Green Bay could be tough at Lambeau, but the Packers seem to have just as many problems as we do, if not more. Otherwise, very winnable games (@ Cleveland, vs Detroit, vs Chicago, @ Oakland) if we show up beat the teams we should.

I think we have a solid shot at this moment of getting the 6th seed (or 5th if we manage to beat the Steelers both times), but even these teams I am pitting us against for these playoff spots are speculative as well right now. So it all starts with us taking care of business next week against Cleveland and playing the way we should be. Period.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Corvus' date='09 November 2009 - 06:07 PM' timestamp='1257808050' post='279075']
I think we have a solid shot at this moment of getting the 6th seed (or 5th if we manage to beat the Steelers both times), but even these teams I am pitting us against for these playoff spots are speculative as well right now. So it all starts with us taking care of business next week against Cleveland and playing the way we should be. Period.
[/quote]

Amen. I want to entertain the discussion about the play-offs but Cleveland has nothing to lose and will likely throw everything they have at the Ravens next Monday. The team needs to take care of them before we can start talking about the play-offs.

[admartian]

I dunno if we win 6 out of 8. I think the Steelers sweep us this year, and loss against Indy; and possibly Green Bay. That's 4 there.

I'm scared of Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, and their Defense. I don't know if we pull it off. Not the way we're playing at least.

If we play like we did against Denver ([b]*ahem* 3-4[/b]) then we have a good chance.

[PurpleUnkindness]

No way. We would have to sweep Pittsburgh and that is not gonna happen. I've having nightmares thinking about what Rothlisberger is gonna do to our defense. I can just see him standing back there all day long throwing darts. Scary stuff!

[Ravnet]

[quote name='PuRock' date='09 November 2009 - 05:46 PM' timestamp='1257806814' post='279065']
San Diego then Houston I would list the likely hood. We are lucky we beat San Diego because it could possibly pay dividends if we are able to right the ship. [/quote]

The issue I have with San Diego is that they're usually a second half team, which does not bode well for us, especially considering that they have four really easy games.

[quote]Houston took a big loss with Owen Daniels going down. They also lost a huge mental game for them at Indy. Plus Schaub is always frail. Grossman is their backup. [/quote]

I forgot about Daniels which does really hurt; that makes me believe that their ceiling is 10-6, in which case we would need quite a few more conference wins, although the Texans could easily finish at 9-7 eliminating themselves completely.

In the end, though, this is San Diego's race to lose by any measure.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Twoo' date='09 November 2009 - 08:32 AM' timestamp='1257769965' post='278482']
We'll need to win at least 6 of our last 8 to even be in contention. 7/8 probably gets us in if we finish well in the division.

We're tied for 8th place in the AFC right now. 2 games behind 5th (4-4 compared to 5-2). Look at the schedules of the teams who are in the wildcard situations right now- Chargers/Steelers/Texans.

Steelers: unbelievably easy schedule
Chargers: Mid level schedule- hard teams but also cake walks
Texans: BEAST of a schedule for the remaining season

If we win 6/8 or 7/8 we can pretty much guarantee ourselves a playoff spot. The Steelers will clinch a wildcard- 99% sure about that- so it's up to the Chargers, Texans and... hopefully us. If the Chargers and Texans fare well then we're done. Harb knows this, everyone knows this.

We need the Texans and Chargers to drop at least 3 games and we'll take a wildcard spot. Remember, if we end up with the same wins as the Chargers we get the spot over them because of our win earlier this season.

DONE.
[/quote]

We have the tiebreaker on SD, so all we'd have to do is match their record. The Texans are the Texans, they'll choke, especially if they have a tough schedule.

[1defense]

I'm just looking forwards to next week.There is a way, but all we can do now is hope that things will start in the positive direction.If they can't than so be it but I'm here regardless of the outcome with the Ravens and will continue to back them.

[RavensAllTheWay]

We'll see. I just hope the team isn't looking ahead, looking past CLEVELAND could even be a bad move. I know we have a tough schedule, but we're just one game out from the 6th seed right now (SD currently has that spot, but we already own a tiebreaker over them)

Jaguars-Jets will be a big game next week. Were inconsistent, were not BAD, so I'm not giving up on the following 4 games:

Colts, Steelers 2x, Packers.

I just have no idea which Ravens team were gonna see in those 4 games, I guess we'll find out.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' date='09 November 2009 - 11:37 PM' timestamp='1257827821' post='279410']
We'll see. I just hope the team isn't looking ahead, looking past CLEVELAND could even be a bad move. I know we have a tough schedule, but we're just one game out from the 6th seed right now (SD currently has that spot, but we already own a tiebreaker over them)

Jaguars-Jets will be a big game next week. Were inconsistent, were not BAD, so I'm not giving up on the following 4 games:

Colts, Steelers 2x, Packers.

I just have no idea which Ravens team were gonna see in those 4 games, I guess we'll find out.
[/quote]
What is inconsistent about us? For the most part, we beat lousy teams and lose to good teams.

[BmoreSports09]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='08 November 2009 - 05:12 PM' timestamp='1257718356' post='277681']
We MUST sweep Pitt and beat Indy to have a chance
[/quote]

That's simply not true. The Indy game is essentially a foregone conclusion. We won't win that game, so let's consider ourselves 4-5 with a bye week in 2 weeks, because there is literally a 0% chance of us beating Indy. At the same time, we will beat the Browns on Monday Night. That's 5-5, and since we already have lost to Indy, let's skip ahead to the Steelers game. Suppose we win. That puts us at 6-5. Do you think we won't beat Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit, Oakland? We won't sweep Pitt either. If we win one of those 3 games and win the other games that we are supposed to, we finish the year at 10-6, and POSSIBLY even playing Denver in the first round of the playoffs. Can we beat them? You decide. We don't have to beat Indy, and we won't. We don't have to sweep Pittsburgh, and we won't. We have to beat Pittsburgh once. The rest we can take care of. Harbaugh has not ever lost to a non-super bowl contender. Look back to last year. 3 losses to the Steelers. 1 to the Titans. 1 to the Giants. 1 to the Colts. All Super Bowl contenders. Look at this year. New England, Cincy x2, Minnesota. All Super Bowl contenders. If 10-6 cuts it in the AFC this year, we can still make it.

[hammer]

Yeah, I see 5 very win-able games out there. If the Ravens can just Steeaaaalllll just 1 more, then they are in! Stranger things have happened. Please don't forget, the Ravens are 4-4 at the halfway point of the season and they are really not as bad as we think.

We have just become accustomed seeing three and outs by the defense for the last ten years. Now, when the defense takes the field, they look like they are wearing "short skirts in a high wind."

[ravens1977]

Yes if we can beat Indy and the 2 Pitt games and no if we lose these.

[flynismo]

[quote name='BmoreSports09' date='10 November 2009 - 02:07 AM' timestamp='1257833254' post='279453']
That's simply not true. The Indy game is essentially a foregone conclusion. We won't win that game, so let's consider ourselves 4-5 with a bye week in 2 weeks, because there is literally a 0% chance of us beating Indy. At the same time, we will beat the Browns on Monday Night. That's 5-5, and since we already have lost to Indy, let's skip ahead to the Steelers game. Suppose we win. That puts us at 6-5. Do you think we won't beat Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit, Oakland? We won't sweep Pitt either. If we win one of those 3 games and win the other games that we are supposed to, we finish the year at 10-6, and POSSIBLY even playing Denver in the first round of the playoffs. Can we beat them? You decide. We don't have to beat Indy, and we won't. We don't have to sweep Pittsburgh, and we won't. We have to beat Pittsburgh once. The rest we can take care of. Harbaugh has not ever lost to a non-super bowl contender. Look back to last year. 3 losses to the Steelers. 1 to the Titans. 1 to the Giants. 1 to the Colts. All Super Bowl contenders. Look at this year. New England, Cincy x2, Minnesota. All Super Bowl contenders. If 10-6 cuts it in the AFC this year, we can still make it.
[/quote]


So you have it all figured out, do ya? Well, someone better call Oz and let him know we're going to lose to Indy, and we're not sweeping Pitts, since our season is already over in week 9 there's no point playing it out.
What's the lotto numbers this week? I need a new car, and figured you'd be the guy to ask.

[RavenMadness]

I'd like to think we could still pull off a WC berth.... gonna be very tough and we'd need some help along the way...

GO RAVENS!

[Bltravens]

[quote name='flynismo' date='10 November 2009 - 06:25 PM' timestamp='1257899114' post='279898']
So you have it all figured out, do ya? Well, someone better call Oz and let him know we're going to lose to Indy, and we're not sweeping Pitts, since our season is already over in week 9 there's no point playing it out.
What's the lotto numbers this week? I need a new car, and figured you'd be the guy to ask.
[/quote]
And if Cincy is a super bowl team I might pledge my allegiance back to the CFL lol.

[YABOY]

the main team we have to keep a eye on is the texans because the jets & dolphins won't get in & we beat the chargers & broncos another thing is the nfc looks better than the afc this year 9 wins might get us in we still have a good chance

[BleedPurple92]

Yes we get in.

[Mishel]

The only bright side for next week against Indy is that the majority of their starting secondary are all rookies...they've lost quite a few players to injuries the last few weeks. But the question is going to be if Flacco, Mason, Clayton, & Washington can exploit them or not? I just have this horrible image of Stover kicking the game winning field goal for Indy against us...hoping I'm wrong!

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Wildcard race against Cincinnati, Houston, San Diego? Yeah we can get in.

[Steelerkillers]

[quote name='neepo13' date='08 November 2009 - 06:13 PM' timestamp='1257721987' post='277824']
I wouldnt say that. [b]If our defense can play like they did last year[/b], I think we can win out. [b]Our offense has improved.[/b][/quote]
These are the reasons why we may not make the playoffs. Constantly have to Wonder if our Defense will play like last year. Our has improved with their scoring capabilities..but are inconsistent at the same time. On D, we dont know if we wanna use 3-4 or 4-3. On Offense..not sure if we wanna turn Ray Rice into Ladanian or Ground & Pound with Willis & Leron Mclain..or become Trigger-Happy with Joe. Our team is goin through an identity crisis. They dont know what they wanna be or who they are. Sure..we have clumsy, short Corners. But everything else about our team is equally annoying. I just hope we learn from our Hated Rival Steelers and use them as study material to comprehend what consistency means. Keep an eye on Cincy, the Chargers, etc wont matter if we keep this up. Im scratchin my head right now though!

[funky141]

[quote]The only bright side for next week against Indy is that the majority of their starting secondary are all rookies...they've lost quite a few players to injuries the last few weeks. But the question is going to be if Flacco, Mason, Clayton, & Washington can exploit them or not? I just have this horrible image of Stover kicking the game winning field goal for Indy against us...hoping I'm wrong!
[/quote]

I hear this all the time but make note the Colts have been starting rookie CBs every game so far this season. If anything the rookies gained game experience so far and have been playing pretty good. Bob Sanders came back for one game and got hurt again, "he's been a bust."

[McBoller]

[quote name='flynismo' date='09 November 2009 - 09:07 PM' timestamp='1257818843' post='279218']
We have the tiebreaker on SD, so all we'd have to do is match their record. The Texans are the Texans, they'll choke, especially if they have a tough schedule.
[/quote]
I thought division record would be the first consideration for a tie-break...or is that only if the two tied teams didnt play head-to-head?