Are We A Snakebit Franchise?

[RavensAllTheWay]

I'm not sure whether I believe in curses or jinxes, but it seems like every time we lose in the playoffs, it's because we found a way. This team has had to sit back and watch the Colts, Steelers and Patriots represent the AFC in the last nine SBs, while we've had mutlipe playoff failures.

This team is talented and should be back next season. But a good offseason and a good regular season won't cure postseason failure.

I have literally seen one SB in which someone other than those three others has played, and that was us in SB 35. So nine out of ten SBs that I've ever seen live have been played by those three (after SB 46).

I have to think at some point we're going to win one under Flacco/Harbaugh, but despite the fact that drops or fumbled snaps or 32 yard misses are easy fixes, we CONTINUE to make those boneheaded plays in playoff games. The silly mistakes and the easy fixes really are proving to be very difficult to get under control, as they often do.

[Gordo52]

We have been young and unfortuante.
But we're only going to bet better from this. Every year we have been getting better.

[T3hRaven]

I have no doubt in my mind that Joe Flacco will bring glory to the city of Baltimore one day before he hangs up his pads and call it a day. I think we saw Joe grow up starting in the second quarter of the game today, and with a competent offensive coordinator he's only going to get better. When you see things like this happen to the team it sucks, but I have no reason to believe we're cursed. We're an inconsistent team that just hasn't gotten all the parts clicking at the right time yet, but we will.

[reediddy]

Oh not at all. We have been healthy for the most part all year and came out of the AFCN as champions.

Now you wanna talk about snakebit that's Oakland...

[H8R]

It's the Dilfer Curse.....



Kidding, young offense, still finding a way to be more consistent, Special Teams failing miserBly . We're getting closer as a team

[vonbonds]

Seattle, NY Jets, Bufallo, Jacksonville, Detroit.....do I go on? By the way, they all say hello.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='vonbonds' timestamp='1327297482' post='967760']
Seattle, NY Jets, Bufallo, Jacksonville, Detroit.....do I go on? By the way, they all say hello.
[/quote]
Minnesota, Cleveland, SD, Cincinnati, Philly, Arizona, Tennesse Titans/Houston Oliers, KC....

[vonbonds]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' timestamp='1327297766' post='967778']
Minnesota, Cleveland, SD, Cincinnati, Philly, Arizona, Tennesse Titans/Houston Oliers, KC....[/quote]

Absolutely! The NFL mirrors our economy, a few haves to a great majority of have nots. Baltimore in the scheme of things is a great franchise.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='vonbonds' timestamp='1327298023' post='967791']
Absolutely! The NFL mirrors our economy, a few haves to a great majority of have nots. Baltimore in the scheme of things is a great franchise.
[/quote]
My favorite topic/epsiode of NFL's top 10 is NFL's top 10 Snakebitten Franchises. I mean as much as this thing hurts along with the last three before it, it's only a glimpse of what fans of other franchises have endured.

[vonbonds]

Hell, just look at the Chicago Cubs for all time worst franchise...YIKES!

[JO_75]

Snake bit, no. What I will say is that I feel like we are in the same area the Giants were in before they won Super Bowl 42. Everyone questioned whether Coughlin could get it done as a Head Coach, everyone wondered if Eli could get it done as a QB. Giant fans wanted Coughlin gone, they probably want Eli gone before they won the Super Bowl. Right now I feel like Harbaugh will have questions around him on whether he can win the big one as a Head Coach, just like Coughlin, Flacco is already getting criticized just like Eli was and right now we need to do what the 2007 Giants did and put those questions to rest by finally getting to the Super Bowl, then winning it just like Coughlin and Eli did.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1327298743' post='967819']
Snake bit, no. What I will say is that I feel like we are in the same area the Giants were in before they won Super Bowl 42. Everyone questioned whether Coughlin could get it done as a Head Coach, everyone wondered if Eli could get it done as a QB. Giant fans wanted Coughlin gone, they probably want Eli gone before they won the Super Bowl. Right now I feel like Harbaugh will have questions around him on whether he can win the big one as a Head Coach, just like Coughlin, Flacco is already getting criticized just like Eli was and right now we need to do what the 2007 Giants did and put those questions to rest by finally getting to the Super Bowl, then winning it just like Coughlin and Eli did.
[/quote]
We're either the Colts/Giants/Steelers under Cowher, or we're the Eagles/Vikings/Chiefs under Montana. We either get over the hump or we don't.

[chesapeakeaviator]

Not unless we let ourselves be. Ask the elder fans of the team that just beat us. A good front office will cure any curse, jinx, or provide the antidote to any snake bite.

[Greatness]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1327297028' post='967732']
[b]We have been young and unfortuante.[/b]
But we're only going to bet better from this. Every year we have been getting better.
[/quote]

Housh'meh'zadah and Boldin' say hello to you from last year. It's not the young that's frauding us, it's the veterans! And it's not being unfortunate, no, its not being [b]clutch[/b]. Big players make big plays and we've yet to do it when it matters the most. End of story. No snakebites or anything, just fraudbites.

[Npane171]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1327297028' post='967732']
We have been young and unfortuante.
But we're only going to bet better from this. Every year we have been getting better.
[/quote]

I completely agree with you here. This is thing I'm taking comfort in right now, as this is such a tough loss to deal with. Hopefully we actually do get new play-calling, which utilizes the talent we have in our WR corps.

Our secondary came up so big this year, with such youth and "no-namers". Webb forced people to look at him. Jimmy is going to be even better next season (Cary, too). I'm excited about our secondary. We were 4th in the league in pass defense. With advancements and more practice for these young guys...WOW. I'm excited.

I'm hoping Sergio can add to our pass rush. I hope we let JJ go (not that he hasn't done well, but he isn't providing that "x" factor we need him to anymore). I hope Sergio is our guy.

New play calling. A better Torrey. A reinforced O-line! Man, we're going to be even better....you're right.

[Bmoreazfan]

The AFC North is only getting tougher... this was our year plain and simple and we blew it. We have no chance at sweeping our division again next year in my opinion. Its been nice watching our team go to the playoffs 4 years in a row under Harbs and I'm proud of our boys this season. But I just can't see this team winning a Super Bowl.... maybe they are cursed or maybe they enjoy the rush that comes from losing the big one. Either way I'll be cheering for them next year when they probably don't even make it to the post season

[Gordo52]

[quote name='Greatness' timestamp='1327301528' post='967878']

Housh'meh'zadah and Boldin' say hello to you from last year. It's not the young that's frauding us, it's the veterans! And it's not being unfortunate, no, its not being [b]clutch[/b]. Big players make big plays and we've yet to do it when it matters the most. End of story. No snakebites or anything, just fraudbites.
[/quote]
You just cant plug vets into a new system with a young QB and expect great results

[Greatness]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1327304658' post='967943']
You just cant plug vets into a new system with a young QB and expect great results
[/quote]

lol, at the very least I should expect them to CATCH the football. Nothing about catching the ball has to do with systems, QB, etc. When the ball is in your hands, hold and catch the football. You've been doing this since you were a teenager. At the very least early 20's. Don't apologize for people not having clutch hands in big games. This is two years in a row we're walking home empty handed because people can't catch the freakin' football. It's that simple.

[ckgeisl]

For all the raven fans that offer their "NAIEVE" point of view about being snakebit......... the "agony of defeat" only comes when you get close and not succeed. It simply means that you are BETTER than 27 other teams that wish they could get to YOUR LEVEL......... YOUR TEAM IS A CLASS ACT and trust ME...any team that plays you .......doesn't need to know what a "sphicter consricting" means including Steeler fans...You are a very classy team not to mention GOOD. You should be proud and you played a very good game and did not win..that's alllllllll.

[LiquidSnake]

You guys have no idea what being "snakebit" or cursed means.

I"m a ravens fan and and Vancouver Canucks fan and resident. 41 Years. 3 Finals, 0 Stanley Cups (Championships).

Trust me when I say that this Ravens franchise is blessed. And I'm proud to be a fan of both.

[RedFire]

[quote name='LiquidSnake' timestamp='1327307808' post='967999']
You guys have no idea what being "snakebit" or cursed means.

I"m a ravens fan and and Vancouver Canucks fan and resident. 41 Years. 3 Finals, 0 Stanley Cups (Championships).

Trust me when I say that this Ravens franchise is blessed. And I'm proud to be a fan of both.
[/quote]


it's just so hard to see positive when the Ravens play in the same division with a team holding 6 rings over your head and winning 2 during the Ravens time span. AFC north is tough so opportunities must be valued. Colts and pats can easily dominate. Ravens will always have to go through the steelers and terefore travel the roughest path.

[lonesome Raven]

i cant belive so meny of you ppl are still gonna back the ravens, im done with this team, iv watched them year after year fail.im done with this team , joe flaco is garbage cundif is a piece of [profanity deleted] fire them both. i had to watch that game last night in a room full of steelers fan that knew from the start we couldnt do it..and i did too sorry b more but iv had my fill i not gonna waste my time cheering for a team that will always let you down ..btw got 4 like new jerseys for trade any of you want them, lewis flaco suggs rice if noone wants them then there going in the trash , sorry im sure ill get max flame for this, but ravens are a joke and always will be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[callahan09]

Flacco is the unluckiest playoff quarterback in the NFL. People have said all his career that he only has the wins because he's surrounded by a great team, but frankly I think he has the wins despite being surrounded by a poor offense. How many times do we see Ray Rice run into a wall, his blockers completely failing to get him some yards, or Rice himself making the wrong read on what lanes he thinks he's going to find, etc.

In the last 4 playoff games, Flacco has a 93.0 passer rating, scoring 7 TDs and throwing only 2 INTs, while his running backs contribute a paltry 3.1 yards per carry.

If you subtract Kansas City, where the rest of the offense performed at a high level, then in the last 3 playoff games, Flacco has had to deal with a dozen dropped passes, two of which were game-winning touchdowns that prevented him from going forward in the postseason, and he has had a running backs support system contributing only 2.9 yards per carry. And let's not forget the duress that he's been under, running for his life on nearly every play of the past 3 postseason games.

It's just sad what Flacco has to put up with, get no credit for the great job he does despite his surrounding players, and he doesn't get the win despite doing everything necessary to get that win for his team.

[callahan09]

[quote name='lonesome Raven' timestamp='1327315830' post='968081']
i cant belive so meny of you ppl are still gonna back the ravens, im done with this team, iv watched them year after year fail.im done with this team , joe flaco is garbage cundif is a piece of [profanity deleted] fire them both. i had to watch that game last night in a room full of steelers fan that knew from the start we couldnt do it..and i did too sorry b more but iv had my fill i not gonna waste my time cheering for a team that will always let you down ..btw got 4 like new jerseys for trade any of you want them, lewis flaco suggs rice if noone wants them then there going in the trash , sorry im sure ill get max flame for this, but ravens are a joke and always will be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[/quote]

Did you just say FLACCO is GARBAGE? Are you kidding? That's a joke, right? Flacco is the only player on this offense who has been playing at a consistently high level this postseason.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

The Ravens just seem to lose in heartbreaking fashion in the playoffs.

2003 Playoffs vs Titans (last second FG)
2006 Playoffs vs Colts (15-6 Game)
2008 Playoffs vs Steelers (Pick 6 by Troy)
2010 Playoffs vs Steelers (Steelers comeback)
2011 Playoffs vs Pats (Evans/Cundiff)

The only playoff loss in the last 10 years that wasn't a heart breaker was the 2009 Colts loss.

[PuRock]

[quote name='vonbonds' timestamp='1327297482' post='967760']
Seattle, NY Jets, Bufallo, Jacksonville, Detroit.....do I go on? By the way, they all say hello.
[/quote]

Exactly what I was thinking. Or just look at Houston. They are in a division with the Colts and Manning. Manning goes down and they finally have a chance. Only to loose their 2 starting QBs, their stud WR for nine games and their star pass rusher.

So many organizations only wish to have the level of success that we have. Sure we aren't racking up the SB wins (but that's a tough thing to accomplish).

[bmorefan444]

Not snakebitten, just having some problems in the clutch over the past few years.

[ratedr]

We just need clutch players on offense. Veteran receivers continue to let us down.

[ninpiggy]

I definitely don't think that the Ravens are a snakebit franchise. I agree with an earlier comment - we're getting better every year. I also believe that we will get another SB will Flacco as QB. Flacco has a beast of an arm and he's definitely got what it takes. Our O-line needs work, that's for sure, but I don't believe the problem is with Flacco. The Ravens had a great season and I'm sure next season will be even better.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='lonesome Raven' timestamp='1327315830' post='968081']
i cant belive so meny of you ppl are still gonna back the ravens, im done with this team, iv watched them year after year fail.im done with this team , joe flaco is garbage cundif is a piece of [profanity deleted] fire them both. i had to watch that game last night in a room full of steelers fan that knew from the start we couldnt do it..and i did too sorry b more but iv had my fill i not gonna waste my time cheering for a team that will always let you down ..btw got 4 like new jerseys for trade any of you want them, lewis flaco suggs rice if noone wants them then there going in the trash , sorry im sure ill get max flame for this, but ravens are a joke and always will be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[/quote]
That's okay. I won't flame you. Go be a fan of another team. You're free to do that. The Patriots have a great quarterback and they are in the Super Bowl and have 3 rings.