3-1 With This Schedule? Be Proud Of Your Team And Your Quarterback

[Kwothdaraven]

Here are the 4 games that the Ravens have played so far to be 3-1:

Jets- on the road
Bengals- on the road
Browns- at home
Steelers- on the road


I count 3 teams that people considered superbowl favorites at some point this season. ALL ON THE ROAD. The only home game in that stretch? the bottom-dwelling Browns.

The Jets win has gotten more impressive each weeks as the jets continue to win. we made them look pathetic.

We deserved the bengals loss, no excuses there.

Then Flacco shows why hes considered to be a canidate for elite status by a 3 TD perfromance against the browns and a 4th quarter comeback against the leagues best defense a week later.

All I am saying is that your team 3-1 after facing the toughest schedule by far, so far in the league. Be proud guys. Then, the Ravens have to play the leagues #1 offense this week and then goto Foxborough to play Tom Brady on the patriots. Tough 6 week schedule huh?

If the ravens can come out of the first 6 weeks at 4-2 or 5-1 then watch out because its cake from there on out.

Be proud of your team guys! and especaily your road warrior quarterback

[svt2nv04]

Yeah, definitely a good start so far. Hopefully, we can keep it up.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

[quote name='svt2nv04' timestamp='1286321891' post='499645']
Yeah, definitely a good start so far. Hopefully, we can keep it up.
[/quote]
The N.F.L. dealt us one tough road to travel,and by road, I do mean road. It will be nice to get back to the "Bank" and hear the love against Denver. What the team has done so far has shown character and guts that can only feed off itself and benefit the team as the season goes on! I for one am proud of how we are doing so far. The turnover issue will come around as we continue to form the continuity that injuries have not afforded us. Roll on Ravens!!!

[berad]

No doubt a tough start. Only two home games in the first six. Two road games against playoff teams to start out, three divisional opponents in a row, three playoff teams in the first six. 3-1 at this point is fantastic. This team has high standards, though, they're not done and they still need work.

Good thing is, after the Patriots, Ed Reed will be back. Imagine our secondary, then.

[ravensdfan]

What I really like is this: Ravens played 3 divisional games. Two on the road. We came out of those 3 games with a divisional record of 2-1. The only divisional road game we have left is the Browns. Bengals and Steelers both have to come to the Bank. Not bad. Add to that our other win is a Conference win and yep, I'm proud of those Ravens.

[Ravensfan23]

The Ravens have no doubt had the toughest opening schedule of any team in the NFL. 4 out of our first 7 games are on the road and against playoff caliber teams. In order to be a strong playoff team you have to be able to play well on the road. The Ravens played well in NE both times last season and that should continue this year. To go 3-1 on the road in the AFC to start would be huge, add that to the fact that we'll only have 2 more AFC road games(Hou & Cle) and you might be talking about the Ravens getting homefield advantage because of playing so great on the road.

However what has me really excited about this team right now is the potential of the next 8 weeks. People talk about the Ravens offense not playing as well as expected so far, but when u look at the teams we've played and u think about the fact that we are still jelling, you can understand why things have be a little tough on the offense.

But when i look at the Defenses the Ravens will play over the next 8 weeks, i only see one or two strong teams imo.

Week 5 vs Den.....Ranked 17th vs Pass(221 ppg) and 12th vs Run(101 ypg)
Week 6 @ NE.......Ranked 28th vs pass(271 ppg) and 18th vs Run(113 ypg)
Week 7 vs Buf.....Ranked 12th vs Pass(208 ppg) and 32nd vs Run (174 ypg)
Week 9 vs Mia.....Ranked 6 vs Pass(181 ypg) and 23rd vs Run(118 ypg)
Week 10 @ ATL.....Ranked 18th vs Pass(224 ypg) and 11th vs Run(96 ypg)
Week 11 @ Car.....Ranked 16th vs Pass(220 ypg) and 19th vs Run(113 ypg)
Week 12 vs TB.....Ranked 10th vs Pass(193 ypg) and 28th vs Run(141 ypg)

Now obviously it's only been 4 weeks of the season so far and these ranking could change, but if the first quarter of the season is any indication, the Ravens offense will be able to work out some of the kinks in both the pass and rushing department over the next 8 weeks before heading into a really tough 4th quarter schedule consisting of Pit, Hou, NO, and Cincy.

Not to mention that the teams will be getting guys like Reed and Stallworth back and that's like getting to big name free agents at mid season. Also guys like Kurger, Cody, Webb, Nakamura, Dickson, Pitta, Redding, and others will start to come into their own with this team and kind of define their roles even moreso then they have.

I think coming out of that tough 1st quarter schedule with a 3-1 record is a great thing for the Ravens. Believe it or not, but we won't see a defense with the all around toughness and physical talent of the Jets Bengals or Steelers, in the next 8 weeks or so.

So if you are lookin for the huge numbers from Flacco and the passing game, or you are somewhat concerned about the lack of rushing yards we have gotten so far, pay attention over the next 8 weeks or so, because the Ravens might just have an offensive explosion, and go on a dominate winning streak like we've never witnessed here in Baltimore.

I know they have to take the games one at a time, and nothing is won on paper, but when i see the way this team has been palying and i think about the fact that we will actually get better, no matter if it's because of the players we'll get back or just the competition we'll play, i can't help but be jacked up about where we are going.

It should be fun.

[RavensAllTheWay]

Keep in mind we still have to go to Atlanta on a short week and Houston in another Monday Nighter. The schedule actually doesn't get that much easier. But luckily, we'll more than likely be healthier come November and December than we are right now.

[Ed_Reed20]

Just another thing to think about, I read in The Sun that that 5 other teams have had the same type of schedule as the Ravens(three away games and one at home) and none have emerged with a winning record.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1286330138' post='499783']
Just another thing to think about, I read in The Sun that that 5 other teams have had the same type of schedule as the Ravens(three away games and one at home) and none have emerged with a winning record.
[/quote]
Ravens 3-1
Bengals 2-2
Colts 2-2
Cardinals 2-2
Lions 0-4
49ers 0-4

[berad]

Jeez I'm glad not to be moderating a 49ers board, they must be maddddd!

I thought the Cincinnati game was tough - how about 3 more?

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' timestamp='1286329971' post='499776']
Keep in mind we still have to go to Atlanta on a short week and Houston in another Monday Nighter. The schedule actually doesn't get that much easier. But luckily, we'll more than likely be healthier come November and December than we are right now.
[/quote]

IMO it's more about the Ravens being able to iron some kinks out and becoming the complete team that everyone is expecting this season, moreso then the schedule getting easier.

The schedule never really gets easy, regradless of who you play. We saw how tough the Raiders were last year and they had nothing to play for while we were fighting for a playoff spot. So no game is ever easy.

However i don't think there will be many people that could agrue against the Jets, Bengals, and Steelers being really good/dominate defenses and when you are an offense that's looking to jell, and get comfortable with new weapons and some position changes on the oline, those aren't the defenses you wanna be palying.

The Jets, Bengals, and Steelers all had the mindset of......run blitz on first and second down and make Flacco beat you on 3rd down. Now because all 3 of those defenses have great talent on all 3 levels of their defense they were able to have some success with that, even though Flacco was able to get it done in the Jets and Steelers games.

IMO none of the defenses we play over the next 8 weeks have the overall talent to have success with that type of gameplan for an entire game imo. With the teams we have coming up, if they load the box, Flacco and company will be able to put up huge numbers, if they decide to sit back and take some of our passing attack away, Ray Rice will be able to break out. Will we light everyone up for 500 yards and 5TDs a game? No, but some of the false steps, and mistimed plays, and near misses will start to result in big plays for the offense.

I just think that this 8 week strecth the Ravens are heading into is very important for the offense and it could go a long way to getting this team where they wanna go. As a result of the offense potentially getting everything worked out during this time frame, the defense will have more opportunities for sacks and turnovers, and the Ravens could be in position to have a real special season.

[Ravensdiciple96]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1286321537' post='499640']
Here are the 4 games that the Ravens have played so far to be 3-1:

Jets- on the road
Bengals- on the road
Browns- at home
Steelers- on the road


I count 3 teams that people considered superbowl favorites at some point this season. ALL ON THE ROAD. The only home game in that stretch? the bottom-dwelling Browns.

The Jets win has gotten more impressive each weeks as the jets continue to win. we made them look pathetic.

We deserved the bengals loss, no excuses there.

Then Flacco shows why hes considered to be a canidate for elite status by a 3 TD perfromance against the browns and a 4th quarter comeback against the leagues best defense a week later.

All I am saying is that your team 3-1 after facing the toughest schedule by far, so far in the league. Be proud guys. Then, the Ravens have to play the leagues #1 offense this week and then goto Foxborough to play Tom Brady on the patriots. Tough 6 week schedule huh?

If the ravens can come out of the first 6 weeks at 4-2 or 5-1 then watch out because its cake from there on out.

Be proud of your team guys! and especaily your road warrior quarterback
[/quote]

Yeah well the "bottom dwelling Browns" almost gave us a loss in our house. So sleep on them all you want, next game is in Cleveland and those bottom dwelling Browns are looking like they are going to start making some noise in this already tough division.

We will also see how the #1 pass defense stands against the #1 pass offense, find out if we just got that label because of the teams we have played, or we are really that good against the pass. I certainly hope it's the latter, and I also hope our season doesn't turn out how Denvers did after we played them last year. I honestly think we will be able to get pressure on Orton and get him shook and of course he is already out of his comfort zone facing our defense at the BANK! They are only averaging 55ypg rushing, yeah they will of course prepare for the run, but I see them going straight for the kill of Orton FAST & EARLY!! Going to be a great game!!!

[MagicianCamille]

On the flip side most of our games from here on out will be home games.

[Kwothdaraven]

Id say the scariest game from here on out is the Houston game. Arian foster, matt schaub and andre johnson are worth having sleepless nights over.

But hey, we got Spiderman Lardarius Webb to cover Andre, can he do it?

[Rav'n Maniac]

I agree with most of the OP's statement. We should be damn proud of our team through this stretch! It is true that the majority of our games following week 6 will be played at home. I wouldn't go as far as to say that the schedule is cake following week 6. We will still have some considerable teams to face, all with playoff aspirations of their own. The Falcons, Texans, Saints, Steelers & Bengals will be no easy task, as well as 5 other teams we should be favored against but shouldn't underestimate their abilities.

[Kwothdaraven]

Yea i shouldent have said it will be cake, but the tougher games at home makes it more manageable. The game i anticipate the most the falcon game. The great showdown weve all been waiting for. I sure hope our d embarrasses matt ryan

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

When Stallworth does come back will it be a repeat of the development we are watching with Houshmenzadah? I think Flacco will need time to develop that chemistry with a blazing fast WR.

When does the Flex scheduling start? Week 8? How will this impact our players when night games start falling into the schedule that orginally were 1:00?

Off to a great start and a definite AFC North and NFL threat this year. I am loving no longer being one dimensional. Just wait until Flacco realizes that the check down to Rice is still an option. Not as often as last year, but after the D is already stretched chasing Q, Housh, Stall, & Mase. Great things!!

Beat the Broncs!

[irie5000]

Very happy- but don't think anything is "cake"

[SnOoPy]

Take it one game at a time. Proud of our team. Keep up the good work. Can't wait till Raven vs Saint game. Two of my fav. team!!

[yakraven]

I agree w/ all said about our sched, our team,and our chances.
My only comment is abt our turovers - we had two that should have been caught in the
Cincy game; if they had been, we may have won that game.
We would have had one in Pitt off the Kruger tip, but Washington saw Ngata coming and wanted to live;
Ngata saw Washington anddidn't want to kill a teammate, so they both verred off