Who Is The Ravens Top Threat?

[Halden52]

I was thinking today about the Ravens schedule this year and possibly the next few years. I was trying to decide who I thought would be the toughest team in the AFC North against Ravens. I left the Steelers out because with Worthlessberger out I think those weeks will be the best and once he's back they're done. Next I thought of the Bengals, who had a pretty good year last year but significantly slowed down at the end. Finally were the Browns, but who can take them seriously? Some say the made some "offseason upgrades" but those are easily argued against. Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, and Colt McCoy instead of Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson? Obviously they still have qb problems, and still not much of an offense with Mohamed Massaquoi as number one receiver? I don't know. I think that, excluding the Ravens, the AFC North won't be that great of a division. Now my question is who will be #2 in the AFC North behind Baltimore?

[eandb17]

Honestly, (coming from a die-hard Ravens Fan) the Steelers are actually the Ravens biggest threat. Roethlisburger is gone and sure that will be a big hit, but come on. Do you guys remember that game against Pitt. when Dennis Dixon started. I was pretty scared, he showed some potential. Im just saying even though I am pretty sure the Ravens will win the division this year I'm just saying don't disregard the Steelers for future years, their a tough team.

[Halden52]

[quote name='eandb17' date='13 June 2010 - 08:41 PM' timestamp='1276479704' post='421506']
Honestly, (coming from a die-hard Ravens Fan) the Steelers are actually the Ravens biggest threat. Roethlisburger is gone and sure that will be a big hit, but come on. Do you guys remember that game against Pitt. when Dennis Dixon started. I was pretty scared, he showed some potential. Im just saying even though I am pretty sure the Ravens will win the division this year I'm just saying don't disregard the Steelers for future years, their a tough team.
[/quote]

Fair enough. I agree with that but from what I hear the Steelers are again making it as hard as possible for Dixon to get the ball. Roethlisberger practiced this week even ahead of Leftwich, adding on to the fact that Leftwich will most likely be the starter. I love the Ravens but I agree with you that Dixon has alot of potential, he plays like Kordell Stewart. But I'm not to sure when the Steelers will give him a real chance. But I agree with you overall, I'm not to sure the Bengals will repeat last year's success.

[Ngata92NT]

The Bengals are looking pretty intimidating at this point. They beat us soundly last year twice and swept the division. Of course they aren't the model of consistency so we don't know what they'll be like next year; they've added a lot of weapons(Bryant, Gresham, Shipley). If these moves pan out well they'll be an extremely dangerous offense. Add that to their solid defense (especially good corners) and they look to be the most balanced team in the AFC..... other than the RAVENS of course.

[Shammy]

Pittsburg and Indy , Nobody is expecting much of pittsburg this season for some reason and i think they're gonna be a lot better than people think without Ben ... And Indy we just have yet to beat in the longest

[Alexir]

well since we haven't beat Roethlisberger since 2006 I wouldnt call him "worthlessberger"....

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='Alexir' date='13 June 2010 - 11:32 PM' timestamp='1276489952' post='421558']
well since we haven't beat Roethlisberger since 2006 I wouldnt call him "worthlessberger"....
[/quote]

He's a very valuable player, but with a worthless character.

[Romo Ravens]

He's an idiot is what he is.

The Bengals are a threat, but not really. I don't think they'll be like how they were last year, but we'll see I suppose.

The Steelers are always tough, and they'll give us yet another headache on our Sunday night game.

In terms of "threatening" to our season, like the difference between a win and a loss, it's the Saints. I've read where people actually think we can blow then out of the water. Be real. Do I think we'll beat them at home and control the TOP with a nasty defense and our running attack? Of course. Do I think we will keep Brees on the bench? Yep. But it will be a close one, maybe a nail biter.

[Alexir]

[quote name='Ngata92NT' date='14 June 2010 - 12:53 AM' timestamp='1276491199' post='421561']
He's a very valuable player, but with a worthless character.
[/quote]

True but this is football not Miss America contest. Rather have a valuable player with worthless character than a worthless player with valuable character.

[AwakenTheDemon]

You can't really write off Pittsburgh just because of six (possibly less) games without Ben. Like I said in another thread, they will still win some of those games. Leftwich isn't a horrible quarterback, granted he's no Ben however. He's shown that he can win games, despite his long wind-up and so-so mobility. Wallace will fill in for Holmes just fine, as much as I hate to say it. While he won't gouge defenses with long runs after the catch quite like Holmes did, Wallace showed everyone last year that he can make the plays in tough situations.

At very least, Pittsburgh goes back to the traditional Pittsburgh football: run the ball and play defense. Even should they go that route, they'll still be able to pick up a game or two. Mendenhall had a pretty solid season last year, and should improve this year. So it's not far-fetched that they focus on running the ball more this year. No matter the route they go on offense, Polamalu will be back, so hopefully (for the Steeler fans), their defense will play like a Pittsburgh defense this year. All in all, I wouldn't say they aren't a threat this year. The Steelers have an annoying habit of squeezing by when they need to.

As for the Bengals, they've had good seasons before, and they've never shown much of anything in the seasons that followed. So I'm not too concerned about them, until they've shown that they've overcome their battle with consistency. Add in the fact that Carson Palmer is injure prone, and if he goes down, there's really no talent behind him. If that situation plays out, Cincy could be in for a long road next year. If not, then we could see an AFC North with three good records. No matter how Pittsburgh and Cincinnati plays, I think Baltimore can win the division this year.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='Alexir' date='14 June 2010 - 01:09 AM' timestamp='1276492140' post='421563']
True but this is football not Miss America contest. Rather have a valuable player with worthless character than a worthless player with valuable character.
[/quote]

Even better, have a valuable player with valuable character.

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='Zhamtao' date='13 June 2010 - 09:51 PM' timestamp='1276494693' post='421571']
Even better, have a valuable player with valuable character.
[/quote]

Brandon Marshall or Mark Clayton?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' date='14 June 2010 - 01:09 AM' timestamp='1276495784' post='421574']
Brandon Marshall or Mark Clayton?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
[/quote]

Anquan Boldin =P

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='14 June 2010 - 02:45 AM' timestamp='1276497911' post='421578']
Anquan Boldin =P
[/quote]

What he said.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

Cincy appears the obvious threat within the division, but do not count out those Steelers. They'll hang around and make life tough down the stretch, you just know it.

With our improvements in talent on both sides of the ball and better discipline, we should thrive anyway. 9-7 last year could have/should have been 12-4 really, but wasn't thanks to ill-discipline and penalties. So with our improvements, we should do better in our division; not to mention, in all match ups.

[FlaccoFlicker]

I am inclined to say the Bengals but as history has shown one decent season then a downfall.This is the season Palmer and company have to prove they aren't a fluke.Now the Steelers still have to rank up there basically because we haven't beat Ben in years and we sqeaked by them with Dixon last season.A win is a win tho.
I would say
Cincy then Pitt,and thats mainly because we play them twice like every year,Pats and Saints are one game but we have proven we can beat the Pats and it will be interesting to see how we match up against the newer version of the Saints.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

This is why I'd be happy with 4-2 in the division. I think we will be better against common opponents though.

[Ed_Reed20]

Depending on what the Steelers do during Ben's suspension, I think Cincy is still the team the Ravens have to worry about.

Palmer isn't the same guy he was in '05 but always plays big against the Ravens and has soke got some new weapons this off-season. On D, Cincy has some young talent.

[Twoo]

Our top threat on a year to year basis regular season - Steelers

Our top threat on a year to year basis post season - Colts

Our top threat for the 2010 season - Patriots

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

I just looked at our schedule and predict 12-4; with losses coming in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and New England - with New Orleans beating us at M&T.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Twoo' date='14 June 2010 - 09:57 AM' timestamp='1276523832' post='421630']
Our top threat on a year to year basis regular season - Steelers

Our top threat on a year to year basis post season - Colts

[b]Our top threat for the 2010 season - Patriots[/b]
[/quote]

I just see NE as another game. Brady isn't as effective without Welker and their D has holes.

[Runnin Raven]

Bengals, IMHO.

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='13 June 2010 - 10:45 PM' timestamp='1276497911' post='421578']
Anquan Boldin =P
[/quote]

I was thinking about Q as I was writing that lol

So happy

[markmullen]

[quote name='Alexir' date='14 June 2010 - 12:32 AM' timestamp='1276489952' post='421558']
well since we haven't beat Roethlisberger since 2006 I wouldnt call him "worthlessberger"....
[/quote]
This is one of my pet peeves. We've struggled beating THE STEELERS AND THEIR AWESOME DEFENSE (not to mention the ref favorites((don't get me started))) for awhile, not Roethlisberger. Yeah he's big as **** and hard to take down, but let's face it, he's not any better than average. I believe you hate them as much as I do, and I still give them credit where credit is due, and none of that credit goes to Roethlisberger.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='markmullen' date='14 June 2010 - 06:06 PM' timestamp='1276553193' post='421766']
This is one of my pet peeves. We've struggled beating THE STEELERS AND THEIR AWESOME DEFENSE (not to mention the ref favorites((don't get me started))) for awhile, not Roethlisberger. [b]Yeah he's big as **** and hard to take down, but let's face it, he's not any better than average.[/b] I believe you hate them as much as I do, and I still give them credit where credit is due, and none of that credit goes to Roethlisberger.
[/quote]

That statement is laughable. Considering the numerous game-changing plays, comeback victories and his most recent Super Bowl performance, I'd say Ben is one of the best QBs in the league.

[darklight1216]

I think that the Ravens might be the biggest threat if they continue to find exotic ways to lose.

[quote name='Twoo' date='14 June 2010 - 09:57 AM' timestamp='1276523832' post='421630']
Our top threat on a year to year basis regular season - Steelers

[b]Our top threat on a year to year basis post season - Colts[/b]

Our top threat for the 2010 season - Patriots
[/quote]
You could make an argument for the Steelers as the biggest post-season threat. The Ravens have lost to them in the playoffs as many times as they've lost to Indy.

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='14 June 2010 - 10:52 AM' timestamp='1276527178' post='421642']
I just see NE as another game. [b]Brady isn't as effective without Welker[/b] and their D has holes.
[/quote]
Yeah, he never would have won those Superbowls without Wes Welker.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='darklight1216' date='14 June 2010 - 07:00 PM' timestamp='1276556421' post='421779']
Yeah, he never would have won those Superbowls without Wes Welker.
[/quote]

Was that a joke?

Since Welker became a Pat, Brady's numbers haven't been as good without Wes in the line-up. I'm not saying Brady becomes a lesser QB but his security blanket might not play and the NE's only other proven threat in the passing game is Moss.

[Romo Ravens]

Why is everyone saying NE will beat us? What have they done positively since we dismantled them in the playoffs? Welker will not play in this game, and the only reason why Edelman was so shifty against us was because we didn't have a lot of tape on him. That should change this year. It doesn't even seem like Moss has his heart in it anymore, same reason why the Vikings traded him. We shut him down in the playoffs and in the season, he didn't put up Moss type numbers against, so what'll change this time?

Their defense is mediocre at best, and we'll easily shut down their running attack while I expect to see a lot of pressure put on Brady. Ray Rice will have yet another epic game, and they don't have a single DB that can cover Q.

Our only threat this year is the Saints. If we lose to anyone else, it'll be because of mental lapses or penalties. We have to much talent this year. To much to have any one team dominate us on both sides of the ball.

[WinnipegRaven]

nice to see stuff like this posted by a Pats fan on NFL.com.....

"all teams rise and fall,some rise higher and fall lower than others but none stay the same.they will be better than last year but not as good as the last decade.i think the ravens will be the new afc team to beat"

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='WinnipegRaven' date='15 June 2010 - 06:53 AM' timestamp='1276613585' post='421902']
nice to see stuff like this posted by a Pats fan on NFL.com.....

"all teams rise and fall,some rise higher and fall lower than others but none stay the same.they will be better than last year but not as good as the last decade.i think the ravens will be the new afc team to beat"
[/quote]

You know, that's pretty humbling to see. As much as I dislike the Patriots, they truly had one of the best dynasties going on for a few years. It's good to see some respect from a perennial power house.