Our Advantage

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

Although we have seen some heartbreaking games, we are the only fans in the NFL who can say we haven't seen our team blown out. That leads me to thinking that we play to the level of our opposition every week. In other words, each week we play just well enough to survive. Teams like the Patriots, Chiefs, and Steelers have played their best football, or close to it, so there is little room for them to bring their playing level higher heading into these playoffs. IMO, this is our advantage. I can't help but think about the '07 Giants, and how mediocre they were during that regular season. Although their mediocrity held them back that year, much like the mediocrity we've seen constantly this year, they finally found their potential and showed consistency in their historic Championship run. The Patriots, however, played so well throughout that year that there was no way to elevate their game when they needed to. I know it sounds like I'm pointing out the obvious, but If we can find a way to raise our game to where we are playing "like ravens", there is no stopping us from making our run to Dallas.

Thoughts?

[RivenHale]

That's been the case all year - if we play to our potential, there is literally no one who could stop us. You could put together an All-Star team from around the league, set Bill Belichek up as a coach, and I can't say I wouldn't bet on the Ravens if we were playing to potential. That's just the point, though. If we can get it going now and keep it going, we're hoisting that trophy in Dallas.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

[quote name='RivenHale' timestamp='1294173857' post='593290']
That's been the case all year - if we play to our potential, there is literally no one who could stop us. You could put together an All-Star team from around the league, set Bill Belichek up as a coach, and I can't say I wouldn't bet on the Ravens if we were playing to potential. That's just the point, though. If we can get it going now and keep it going, we're hoisting that trophy in Dallas.
[/quote]

We have to start by getting our BEST playmakers involved. I'm an old fashioned guy when it comes to ground and pound offenses, but not getting Boldin and Stallworth the ball more limits our potential IMO.

[Mick0311]

[quote name='BALTIMOREFLACCO' timestamp='1294173570' post='593287']
Although we have seen some heartbreaking games, we are the only fans in the NFL who can say we haven't seen our team blown out. That leads me to thinking that we play to the level of our opposition every week. In other words, each week we play just well enough to survive. Teams like the Patriots, Chiefs, and Steelers have played their best football, or close to it, so there is little room for them to bring their playing level higher heading into these playoffs. IMO, this is our advantage. I can't help but think about the '07 Giants, and how mediocre they were during that regular season. Although their mediocrity held them back that year, much like the mediocrity we've seen constantly this year, they finally found their potential and showed consistency in their historic Championship run. The Patriots, however, played so well throughout that year that there was no way to elevate their game when they needed to. I know it sounds like I'm pointing out the obvious, but If we can find a way to raise our game to where we are playing "like ravens", there is no stopping us from making our run to Dallas.

Thoughts?
[/quote]


You know, we have seen quite a few "let's be optimistic" threads the last week or so, but this one takes the cake. Those are some solid points BFlacco, and this post has boosted my spirits a bit, thank you. Not that they were on the floor, I always had faith in the birds!

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

[quote name='Mick0311' timestamp='1294249692' post='593892']
You know, we have seen quite a few "let's be optimistic" threads the last week or so, but this one takes the cake. Those are some solid points BFlacco, and this post has boosted my spirits a bit, thank you. Not that they were on the floor, I always had faith in the birds!
[/quote]

I think this week is going to tell a lot about this team. I'm pretty confident about winning this one. The question is what type of team will show up. If the answer is the one we are looking for, then were going places.

[Harlemknight]

[quote name='BALTIMOREFLACCO' timestamp='1294183743' post='593481']
We have to start by getting our BEST playmakers involved. I'm an old fashioned guy when it comes to ground and pound offenses, but not getting Boldin and Stallworth the ball more limits our potential IMO.
[/quote]
I agree 1000%. I just can't understand why they only bring Stallworth in for double reverses and End arounds. He was killing in preseason before he hurt his foot. And a couple games back when Mason got hurt he had a nice long completion. Put him in the f@#$ing game.

[reediddy]

[quote name='BALTIMOREFLACCO' timestamp='1294173570' post='593287']
Although we have seen some heartbreaking games, we are the only fans in the NFL who can say we haven't seen our team blown out. That leads me to thinking that we play to the level of our opposition every week. In other words, each week we play just well enough to survive. Teams like the Patriots, Chiefs, and Steelers have played their best football, or close to it, so there is little room for them to bring their playing level higher heading into these playoffs. IMO, this is our advantage. I can't help but think about the '07 Giants, and how mediocre they were during that regular season. Although their mediocrity held them back that year, much like the mediocrity we've seen constantly this year, they finally found their potential and showed consistency in their historic Championship run. The Patriots, however, played so well throughout that year that there was no way to elevate their game when they needed to. I know it sounds like I'm pointing out the obvious, but If we can find a way to raise our game to where we are playing "like ravens", there is no stopping us from making our run to Dallas.

Thoughts?
[/quote]

I agree, if we can somehow get a complete game out of our offense and defense we should have no problem in this game. It comes down to the preparation, and we as fans can do nothing but trust that our coaching staff is ironing out all the wrinkles and errors and ensuring that we are fully prepared for all the weapons that the Chiefs possess.

For this game specifically, I think what puts us at a HUGE advantage is obviously the playoff experience. For a lot of the Chiefs players, this is the first ever playoff start, and like a lot of former NFL players are saying, there is an increased sense of urgency and as such the game speed is increased as well. With a veteran team like we have, we will be well prepared mentally for this game.

[ryan23945]

i disagree with your assesment of the pats not "elevating" there play, the giants had a good pass rush, rush any passer and he will b mediocre, brady was the same qb and the pats were the same team, they just didnt have time, and then manning pulls out that pass to one play wonder tyree, giants just proved that old cliche, defense wins championships, i would like to here anyones arguement against the fact that the pats although goin 18-1 and losing the only game that mattered, were still the best team in the league that year, but any given sunday, and any given hail mary prayer to any given receiver, they may not have won the big one, but those pats were easily top 3 teams of all time, and they lost to the d line, simple as that

[Jabara]

This is an interesting take on things, at least the way I see to respond.
Basically, we've had the lead in every game going into the 4th quarter, no other team can say that, nor have we been blown out.
The fact that we haven't played our best football yet, may be an area or idea that is being overlooked, perhaps we have and it was dismal, maybe against the Saints, some may argue on the road against the Steelers.
But we need to consider that we are playing the Chiefs and most fans think it'll be a sure win, for the most part, maybe a close one, but who knows?
Would we have this same attitude against the Colts, or Pats, even though they have a bye and aren't close to playing this week.
I think some of us would.
The Colts aren't the Colts that we are used to so perhaps we'd have a similar feeling about this, but I would say I am optimistic too, based on some of the points the OP touched on, and the fact that out of all these teams, I think the Ravens have to be the hungriest due to the veteran talent we have not to mention Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
Ray has tasted it and craves more, has been for a long time, yet his time is running out, he knows that, the whole team knows that.
Factor in Mason, Heap, Housh, Boldin (having been so close) Rice, Birk, Redding, Gregg, Suggs, JJ, Ngata these guys, and you could throw Flacco and Stallworth in there, are starving for a Championship.
Give me a team, with those players or vets that are starving for it, name one in the playoffs, the closest I can come up with is the Steelers, but I don't think anyone on that team wants it as bad as Ray, and some of our other guys, Reed and Suggs come to mind.
I feel this has been such a strange season, and such strange things have gone on with our team in particular, that there is something moving us forward that is unexplained.

For as much as we want to blame Cam for haunting this team, or blame Flacco, I'd put it beyond that.
As far as facing another team such as the Pats or Steelers, we may as fans, have a bad feeling about the game, but I think there is something special going on.
Something special that stats, rankings or logic can't explain, and I think our team is tapping into it at the right time.

The players are clearly saying it doesn't matter, any longer, what plays Cam calls, it's up to the players to execute those plays.
I've heard multiple Ravens say that, perhaps there is an issue with the players and Cam, but the players are taking over, and will do their best to win, it's up to them, and they realize it. That is a team making themselves a team, the way it should be.
Now, since this is the case, it does come down to Flacco, and hopefully he's on the same page as the team, and can let [b]himself[/b] lose, no matter what play is called or what cuffs may be on him, as long as he can be a part of this team, the team will do special things.
That would give him elite status, doing what he is told, even if it's not the best playcall at the time, but making it work, and the team around him doing everything they can to get open or make a play, in order for it to work.
When I think of the team in this light, I think we have a very good shot of going above and beyond, and bringing it on home.

[usmccharles]

^very well said. Problem i have is i have seen hardly any progression in our team, one week we look awesome, next week we cant explain why were are playing so bad. take the the texans game, we looked awesome, then our defense gives up two 95+yard drives. Im not saying we dont have a chance because any given sunday any team has a chance. But lets say we win sunday, then we have to go play the steelers in their house, i dont think we can beat them twice at home. if we win that game, more than likely we will play the pats/ colts. I don think anyone can beat the pats, you may say look what we did last year- well last year they didnt have welker and they are running a completely different offense. our offense is not producing enough, periond, and thats comming back and hurting us on the defense side bc they get no rest.

As far as addressing the play calling, as much as i love flacco he is missing a lot of throws a qb of his caliber should be making, a lot of easy reads, etc

As far as hunger, you can say that we want it more, but i dont know what team in the playoffs doesnt want to win more than anything else, just bc brady has 3 doesnt mean he doesnt want another, i dont think thats much of a factor.


I think its going to come down to our offense. maybe not putting up TDs, just staying on the field so our defense can rest. if we can put up 17+ points i think we have a great chance at beating anyone other than pats. Chiefs also played horrible last sunday, i wouldnt expect the same thing again.

[Ravenseconbeast]

We'll beat this game. Our players goals even on the beginning of our preseason know we are meant to be superbowl bound. I just dont see Chiefs upsetting us to take away our date with to get a chance to face our more-than-needed rematch with the Patsies.