Has Our Window Closed?

[Hjulmann]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1327286175' post='966752']
Let's think about it. The AFC was down this year...waaaaay down. The Colts were a mess, the Steelers were out, and the Pats just weren't that good.

Next year, the Colts will have Manning back, the Steelers and Texans will be healthy, and the Pats will probably be better. Not to mention teams like the Bengals, Titans, and Jets who are often in the mix.

I just feel like we blew our best shot for years to come. I don't get terribly emotional in real life over sports but I actually had a few tears fall seeing the look on Ray's face after Cundiff shanked that FG.

Thoughts?
[/quote]
Felt worse when I saw LaQuan Willams' reaction to the missed FG... Don't know why

[keebl3rs]

If the A/C is on, it better be closed.

Steve Bisciotti isn't paying to heat the whole neighborhood!

Sorry, couldn't resist and I'm about to pass out.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1327288270' post='966995']
Houston @Houston is a loss to me. We also get NE.

I wouldn't sleep on KC either. I think they could.be formidable when healthy. Same with SD.
[/quote]

Where does it say we get New England? I just see AFC East Opponent listed under the "future opponents" section.

[rayrayven]

[quote name='sharkh20' timestamp='1327289212' post='967076']
It is closed if we don't get rid of Cam.
[/quote]

I don't feel like watching another Cam coached game. Running straight over center at Wolfolk on 4th and a few was dumbest thing I've seen in awhile.

At least I can feel better knowing either the Giants or San Fran is better than Ravens. AFC game was like JVs compared to NFC game

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1327286175' post='966752']
Let's think about it. The AFC was down this year...waaaaay down. The Colts were a mess, the Steelers were out, and the Pats just weren't that good.

Next year, the Colts will have Manning back, the Steelers and Texans will be healthy, and the Pats will probably be better. Not to mention teams like the Bengals, Titans, and Jets who are often in the mix.

I just feel like we blew our best shot for years to come. I don't get terribly emotional in real life over sports but I actually had a few tears fall seeing the look on Ray's face after Cundiff shanked that FG.

Thoughts?
[/quote]

Colts, Steeelers, Bengals - the reason we kept losing to them year after year was that Joe could not make plays against them. We didn't have a cover-2 beater, now we have Torrey. For whatever reason those teams kept getting us, and Joe did nothing almost every time he went up against them. He, I think, got a huge monkey off his back this season with regards to those teams, and that I believe will be a huge difference going forward.

Titans and Jets - the Jets, if they stick with Sanchez, will I think come up short again. Given the reports out of their locker room, Sanchez flat doesn't care and wants to be Broadway Mark. Rex's defense sunk this year, and his players are getting older. Titans - I like Jake Locker, but I don't think he is going to be a threat any time soon.

Texans and Pats - we've never lost to the Texans, ever. I don't see how that's going to change, especially if Wade Philips leaves for a HC gig and their defense flounders again. The Patriots, it's three gut-wrenching losses in the Harbaugh era, but each time we played them close - 1 more TD in each game and we're 4-0 against them. The Ravens are a great team - they'll be even better without Cam Cameron. We have a great shot next season if we continue to build on the success of this season.

[jaege]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1327286175' post='966752']
Let's think about it. The AFC was down this year...waaaaay down. The Colts were a mess, the Steelers were out, and the Pats just weren't that good.

Next year, the Colts will have Manning back, the Steelers and Texans will be healthy, and the Pats will probably be better. Not to mention teams like the Bengals, Titans, and Jets who are often in the mix.

I just feel like we blew our best shot for years to come. I don't get terribly emotional in real life over sports but I actually had a few tears fall seeing the look on Ray's face after Cundiff shanked that FG.

Thoughts?
[/quote]

No, I do not think so. Manning MAY be back, thats is a big "if". And even if he is back, will he be as good as he has been? The domination of Indy is over for a while I think. I think the Steelers are going into rebuild mode, they really need to. Bengals will be good in a few years but I don't think next year will be that year. I am not worried about the Titans or the Jets. If anything the Jets are going to continue their downward spiral, unless they get rid of Sancheez. The only real up and comer that will be a problem next year is the Texans. Sure all the other teams will improve but so will we. There is still a fairly wide window open for us.

[ratedr]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1327316167' post='968083']


Where does it say we get New England? I just see AFC East Opponent listed under the "future opponents" section.
[/quote]We will get the first place schedule. NE won their division, so we'll definitely be playing them.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

The Ravens' window hasn't closed. Ed, Ray and Birk might not be able to have the same opportunity but I think we're capable of contending for a number of years.

[scrock]

I think I said this already somewhere, as long as you have a QB now in this league you can be competitive every year

And once you make the playoffs anything can happen

Ozzie and company will make the moves once again to have us knocking on that door

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1327320104' post='968114']
We will get the first place schedule. NE won their division, so we'll definitely be playing them.
[/quote]

Is that why we keep getting New England? I demand a shot at Miami or Buffalo every once in a while.

[cobrajet]

[quote name='Scotty410bmore' timestamp='1327286708' post='966820']
i think the window's closed...u got a stonger Pittsburgh team, GB, New Orleans, HOU, NE, SD, and the return of Peyton Manning next year...this was the last chance for our older guys to get in the Super Bowl...life is too short to look WAY ahead to next season....what about the opportunity we just lost today??? just a tragedy[i]..<deleted>[/i]
[/quote]
Hey, don't even joke about that and thank you moderators for deleting that it wasn't funny at all. I am upset about the missed FG but let's not go there.

[gotekiraven]

I looked at our schedule for next season. I can' see why we can't get 12 wins easily. If Ray thought the team wasn't going to be good to compete next season, we wouldn't have decided to come back. With a new OC our offense production will hopefully increase, Joe has proven he is a great franchise QB. There are a few tweaks tht need to be made, I expect us to get back to the playoffs and continue forward. Even if Peyton comes back for the colts, their team is clearly in a rebuilding year. We know how to hang with New England, and I know we can take care of the Steelers. Look at our schedule once again and tell me why any of you are worried, because I don't see a reason to be.

[Dnyce215]

nope the window is still open

[jdynamite]

Why would the window be closed with so many young players in position to improve across the roster.........

Sure the window is closing on Ray Lewis and Ed Reed as they near retirement in the future.....

We have young players in place developing to replace almost any other "older, over 30" players not Ray and Ed....

RB Williams 34 -- Ricky played very tough football this year we have RB A.Allen already in place....
OT McKInnie 32--- already in place Jah Reid, Harewood don't know how they will develop
LB J.Johnson 30-- Kruger has that locked down in future...
Redding 31 --- Redding is consistent may be back at the right price, but McPhee could be there and who knows what McAdoo could become.
L.Evans 30 --- T.Smith already has his spot of #2 WR lol so!
Center - is a problem because both Birk(35) and Gurode (32) are older and declining fast......

so much young talent on both sides of ball (under 27).......
Offense:
Flacco, Rice, Dickson, Pitta, Grubbs, Yanda, T.Smith, Oher ,( Doss and L.Williams haven't played enough yet )
Defense:
L.Webb, J.Smith, C.Williams, Kruger, McPhee, T.Cody ( McClain and Ellerbe are good players )
Ngata just turned 28 recently, Suggs is 29....

We have plenty of talent

[gabefergy]

LMAO no. Our window is not closed, its opening up wider. Our defense is younger than it has been for years and we have a lot of young talent on offense as well. It's just silly to look at next year's schedule and try to count W/L's.

[oldguy99]

Let me first say that I am a dyed in the wool cowboys fan, BUT, I am an even bigger Ray Lewis fan. Ray Lewis is what every football player should aspire to be. Ray Lewis loves football, has a zest for life in general. Without a doubt Ray Lewis IS THE BALTIMORE RAVENS. This is not meant to diminish the other members of the team nor should it be construed as such. I believe that next year the Ravens will be in the superbowl. Flacco will improve as he has been for some years. I watched the Ravens this year and could see that this is a defense that will do what ever it takes to become better and better, and one that other teams should fear. The Ravens should have won the game but for two lapses, they certainly would have. No other team has exposed the weakness of the Patriots like the Ravens have, no other team has a tougher defense then the Ravens. So I salute the Ravens and their fans and hope that what I predict should become reality.