Don't Give Up On Our Ravens Yet...

[20ReedsAll]

So after another excruciating loss that seems to have, once again, forced us all to lose faith in our team's chances, I ask you all to simply wait.

First to explain a few things: The Ravens will indeed make the playoffs if they can defeat the Raiders on the road. I know we all have enough faith in our team to get at least this win. Now I know I may be overlooking the Raiders, the same Raiders who took down the Steelers, Eagles, and Broncos, but I feel this team has enough in it to easily deal the Raiders another loss. I predict a blowout in the Ravens favor.

This assumption puts our Baltimore Ravens into the playoffs. Now before everyone starts talking about how the playoff berth is worthless because we will get nowhere, we need to consider a few things. How may times have we all seen the great teams of a season go down by a random team that just barely makes it into the playoffs? Just look back to the last few Superbowl winners...who would have thought the Steelers would have done it with their serious offensive line troubles and inconsistent ground game? Who would have thought Eli Manning would go on the road three games in a row, and then take down the 18-0 Patriots? Who would have thought that the Colts, with their 32nd ranked run defense, would not only roll through Larry Johnson, but through our super powered 13-3 Ravens team in our house, and erase a 21-3 deficit against the "been there, done that" Patriots?

History tells us that each regular season's best teams don't fare well in the playoffs; why this is, nobody really knows. What happened to the Titans and Giants of last year? What happened to the Patriots, Colts, Cowboys, and Packers of 2007? What happened to the Ravens, Chargers, and Bears of 2006? What happened to the Colts and Seahawks of 2005? I could go on, and on forever.

The teams that do well in the postseason can usually be generalized into two categories: teams that get hot late into the season (2007 Giants, 2008 Cardinals, 2008 Eagles), or teams that make appropriate adjustments to fix the mental mistakes and lack of discipline (2006 Colts).

So no one knows how the Saints, Cardinals, Vikings and Eagles will fare...no one knows how the Colts and Chargers will fare. But I hope we can all understand, that after week 17 of the regular season, EVERYONE is 0-0.

Everyone knows how close ALL of our losses have been. The missed field goal in Minnesota; the last second drive after mental mistakes took over when Cincy beat us in Baltimore; the Mark Clayton drop in New England; the bad game plan and inept execution in Cincy; the two point loss to the Colts; the Packers game was close through 3 quarters, we all know we could have had that game as well; and then yesterday's Pittsburgh loss. Every game was to be had by the Ravens; we played hard and had a shot in every game, against the NFL's finest teams. Every team that the Ravens lost to (except Pittsburgh) are headed to the post season. This season wasn't like last season when we got blown out by a few teams (Colts and Giants).

Now, should we be able to make into these 2009 playoffs, I have full faith Harbaugh and Co will have the Ravens ready. Let's fix these stupid penalties; lets fix these dumb mental mistakes; lets play naturally and not over think an easy catch. We have the good fortune to only have to worry about fixing STUPID mistakes. We, by no means, suffer from a lack of talent on our squad. We have more than just hung with EVERY AFC playoff bound team (expect the Jets, should they make it). Should we make appropriate adjustments and go into the playoffs well prepared, then our Ravens are to be immensely feared.

So if we do make into the playoffs by beating Oakland, lets have faith. Our Ravens have more than just a shot. Even if our season falters in the post season, lets be happy...the last 8 or so seasons have been flip flopped between a winning and losing season. We have a shot to change that trend...two back to back winning seasons. This is a new era in Ravens football. Our defense may not be a Top 3 anymore (even though it currently is lol), but it still will remain a top 10; our offense, led by Ray Rice and Joe Flacco, will only get better and continue to make leaps between seasons. Our team is turning into a regular winner. Lets appreciate it.

So, moral of the story: No one knows what these super powers of the NFL will do in the post season, but we do know that history shows they usually don't fare well. We also know that with a few adjustment, our Ravens CAN finish games. Everyone still alive after next week will be 0-0. Guys, don't lose faith...we have a shot.

So buckle them chin straps people, lets enjoy some Ravens football!

[Ed_Reed20]

Good post. I'm optimistic about this team's chances if make the play-offs. No AFC team scares me, even San Diego.

[20ReedsAll]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='28 December 2009 - 04:57 PM' timestamp='1262037423' post='325105']
Good post. I'm optimistic about this team's chances if make the play-offs. No AFC team scares me, even San Diego.
[/quote]

Same...we have hung with all of the AFC bound playoff teams.

[ravens_4life]

good post 20reedsall. i was thinking that exact same thing. some of the nfl guys say that if the ravens make it they will be the most feared.

[20ReedsAll]

[quote name='ravens_4life' date='28 December 2009 - 05:06 PM' timestamp='1262038019' post='325124']
good post 20reedsall. i was thinking that exact same thing. some of the nfl guys say that if the ravens make it they will be the most feared.
[/quote]

Im not even tryin to say that we'll be the best team in the post season, Im just saying we have just as good a shot as any other team, and that we need to continue supporting our team.

[Tighthead420]

Yeah of course they have a shot. Assuming they don't fall apart next week (and I wouldn't put it past them judging from some games this year), then yeah...they are in and that is all that matters for now.

You also say they have a chance in the playoffs based on past seasons. Usually, I would absolutely agree. But until the Ravens [b]PROVE[/b] they can actually win a game agaisnt a good team, until they show that they do belong by ceasing the penalties then there will always be that shadow of doubt.

[McBoller]

yep, we've hung with SD, NE, and IND so all we need is another crack at them. String a few perfect performances together and there's no reason we cant be in the big game.

[mdrsharon]

I will never give up, I still think we will win the Super Bowl.
All the guys on ESPN make picks about who's the best, but in the last two weeks we see anyone can be beaten, and we are just the team to do it. Hopefully Ed Reed will be back.
That could do it.

[Skip727]

We did beat SD and Denver both playoff contenders. Our loses have been to playoff caliber teams. A kick, a catch and we are talking about resting our guys for the playoffs instead of "win and we're in". Most pundits say if the Ravens get into the playoffs they are a team to be feared, I agree.

If we play like we played in the 3rd quarter of the the Steeler game I don't see anyone stopping us.

[BuckWilds]

[size="2"]Super Bowl score: Ravens 27, Eagles 17[/size]


With all of the negativity out there I'm just going to throw the insanity around for the fun of it. Who says we can't dream?

[AlaskanRavensFan]

Good post! The playoffs are an entirely different season. All we need to do is finish games. That's it! IF WE FINISHED our games this season we would be damn near undefeated. We have seen that any team can show up and win if they stay in the game and finish. (Bucs over Saints, Bears over Vikings)

We just need to finish what we started last year and finish our games. Even last year in the AFCCG we were in position to finish the game with a score and take the lead. If we finish that drive we could be defending champs.

It's what Ray Lewis was ranting about during the pregame to the other players. FINISH!!

[Jamal]

I'm not afraid of any team in the AFC, but I am afraid of ourselves. The biggest question I have is we can stop killing ourselves. That in itself scares me more than any team in the AFC.

[ravens88]

Going into the playoffs saying we best oakland, we have a very strong team. We have an offense that has found a beat. The defense proved they can step up after watching the steelers game. I think we have a dangerous team that is offensively stronger than last years and if we go the cincinati route i feel we can make a third a charm. I think the bengals have peaked after beating Pittsburg. Our defense is a different unit since the last we played them and i think we can effectively run as well. I feel like we are good team and cant wait for next few weeks. A little sense urgency i think we have a very strong Ravens team.

[jaege]

Honestly, if they can clean thier act up, they could go all the way. The talent the experience and the skill is there.
IF they can clean thier act up. Big if.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

This weekend's game reminded me of the Cardinals hiding in New England a few weeks before they made the Playoffs as a 9-7 squad. All seemed lost and it looked like the Cardinals weren't worthy of a Playoff berth. I realise we lost narrowly, I'm comparing the demoralising nature of these defeats for both teams.

So what did Arizona do? Fix their problems, adjust their attitude - and it took them to the Superbowl. Why can't we do the same? We're a talented team who went deep last season, let's do it again!!!

[Ravens549]

I have to agree here.
I was sick to my stomach when we lost to Pitts.
However, once I found out we can still make it to the playoffs with a win and possibly be the 4:00 team to knock the Steelers out....

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Being the 4pm team to knock out Pittsburgh would be sweet!!!

[FlaccoFlicker]

never gave up on the ravens never do,even during losing seasons,frustrated tho very much.We are a much better team then the record states and we get our act together we could make a huge splash in the playoffs.Discipline is the main factor in my opinion,knowing we shouldn't be in this position to where we should have already locked up a playoff spot is very frustrating.but never gave up.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='FlaccoFlicker' date='30 December 2009 - 10:06 AM' timestamp='1262124399' post='325983']
never gave up on the ravens never do,even during losing seasons,frustrated tho very much.We are a much better team then the record states and we get our act together we could make a huge splash in the playoffs.[b]Discipline is the main factor[/b] in my opinion,knowing we shouldn't be in this position to where we should have already locked up a playoff spot is very frustrating.but never gave up.
[/quote]
Indeed it is.

[20ReedsAll]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='29 December 2009 - 04:57 PM' timestamp='1262123851' post='325972']
This weekend's game reminded me of the Cardinals hiding in New England a few weeks before they made the Playoffs as a 9-7 squad. All seemed lost and it looked like the Cardinals weren't worthy of a Playoff berth. I realise we lost narrowly, I'm comparing the demoralising nature of these defeats for both teams.

So what did Arizona do? Fix their problems, adjust their attitude - and it took them to the Superbowl. Why can't we do the same? We're a talented team who went deep last season, let's do it again!!!
[/quote]
EXACTLY my point. I agree completely.

[RavenFanFromPackerLand]

excluding the 2nd game vs the bengals, against the top 4 seeds we're at a -2 point differential. in 240 minutes thats the slimmest of margins..

and just imagine having ed and gaither back healthy?