Will We Win The AFC North?

[scrock]

man with the Steelers having all these cap troubles, OC and QB not seeing eye to eye...should they run, should they pass...they got old on defense, they are a team in transition...now having the QB helps but they are weak right now

its going to be the Ravens and Bengals division...who will win it ? i'd go with us

[Militant X 1]

not sure cause it is way too early to tell. also, our "window" of opportunity to win it all was this season. the so-called, "stars" lined up perfectly for us to do so:

-Ravens swept the Steelers
-Ravens go undefeated at home
-Ravens win 4 games str8 w/o Ray Lewis on the field
-Ravens win the AFC North
-steelers got knocked out of the tournament by tebow
-Ravens prevent a Brady td pass in the AFCCG
-Gronkowski gets injured and leaves the AFCCG
-then....the Lee Evans dropped game winning td pass in the AFCCG

now, i am not saying that we can't make it back...but...things fell nicely into the Ravens lap this season to get to the SB and they were unable to finish the job with the present roster. i'm waiting to see what new pieces are added in the off season.

~Mili

[RivenHale]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1330386951' post='1005576']
not sure cause it is way too early to tell. also, our "window" of opportunity to win it all was this season. the so-called, "stars" lined up perfectly for us to do so:

-Ravens swept the Steelers
-Ravens go undefeated at home
-Ravens win 4 games str8 w/o Ray Lewis on the field
-Ravens win the AFC North
-steelers got knocked out of the tournament by tebow
-Ravens prevent a Brady td pass in the AFCCG
-Gronkowski gets injured and leaves the AFCCG
-then....the Lee Evans dropped game winning td pass in the AFCCG

now, i am not saying that we can't make it back...but...[b]things fell nicely into the Ravens lap this season[/b] to get to the SB and they were unable to finish the job with the present roster. i'm waiting to see what new pieces are added in the off season.

~Mili
[/quote]

They didn't fall in our laps, we went out and TOOK several of them. Undefeated at home: that's not luck, that's M&T Bank. Prevent a Brady TD pass: that's Ravens D. Win the AFC North: that's sweeping division and playing hard when we had to. Swept the Steelers: that's Joe Flacco, that's Torrey Smith, and that's 92 yards.

We got lucky, but it wasn't ALL luck. The window hasn't shut.

[redrum52]

[quote name='RivenHale' timestamp='1330396032' post='1005839']


They didn't fall in our laps, we went out and TOOK several of them. Undefeated at home: that's not luck, that's M&T Bank. Prevent a Brady TD pass: that's Ravens D. Win the AFC North: that's sweeping division and playing hard when we had to. Swept the Steelers: that's Joe Flacco, that's Torrey Smith, and that's 92 yards.

We got lucky, but it wasn't ALL luck. The window hasn't shut.
[/quote]

Ya only see he team getting better next year. I feel the pass rush will be better with Kruger and Mcphee seeing more time as well. The passing game should be better with and off season and hopefully Pitta starting or Dickson holding onto balls(pause). Something I am worried about is health though because it is rare for a team to get through a season the way we did and usually have secondary health problems.

[BmoreRavens732]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1330401792' post='1005933']


Ya only see he team getting better next year. I feel the pass rush will be better with Kruger and Mcphee seeing more time as well. The passing game should be better with and off season and hopefully Pitta starting or Dickson holding onto balls(pause). Something I am worried about is health though because it is rare for a team to get through a season the way we did and usually have secondary health problems.
[/quote]im always scared of injuries!! i love preseason to see how our rookies and new pick ups are coming along but i hate it at the same time cuz all it takes is one little twist or turn and a star player is gone for the season or good portion of it

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='RivenHale' timestamp='1330396032' post='1005839']

[u][b]They didn't fall in our laps[/b][/u], we went out and TOOK several of them. Undefeated at home: that's not luck, that's M&T Bank. Prevent a Brady TD pass: that's Ravens D. Win the AFC North: that's sweeping division and playing hard when we had to. Swept the Steelers: that's Joe Flacco, that's Torrey Smith, and that's 92 yards.

[u][b]We got lucky, but it wasn't ALL luck[/b][/u]. The window hasn't shut.
[/quote]

dude, you are playing semantics here. to say that things [u][i][b]"fell in our laps"[/b][/i][/u] is an expression! smh!

~Mili

[RivenHale]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1330443669' post='1006239']

dude, you are playing semantics here. to say that things [u][i][b]"fell in our laps"[/b][/i][/u] is an expression! smh!

~Mili
[/quote]

Not really. To say it fell in our laps is to say we were just trundling along and tripped over the Lombardi trophy, but decided to be kind and let New England and New York fight over it instead. Luck was involved because it's always involved - there are probably ten or twelve legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and only two can make it to the big one; those two will HAVE to have things fall their way. But we didn't sit around and do nothing all year.

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='RivenHale' timestamp='1330445286' post='1006274']

Not really. [u][b]To say it fell in our laps is to say we were just trundling along and tripped over the Lombardi trophy[/b][/u], [u][b]but decided to be kind and let New England and New York fight over it instead. [/b][/u]Luck was involved because it's always involved - there are probably ten or twelve legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and only two can make it to the big one; those two will HAVE to have things fall their way. [u][b]But we didn't sit around and do nothing all year.[/b][/u]
[/quote]

dude...that is your mental complex about that [i]"fell in our laps" [/i]statement...not mine!

what you've said here (in bold underline) is NOT how i view that statement whatsoever! the [i]"fell in our laps" [/i]statement did not nor does it diminish the Ravens awesome gameplay or what they personally accomplished this season. it is no different than saying; [i]"the stars were all lined up" [/i]or, [i]"all of our ducks were lined up in a row" [/i]etc. etc. etc. the [i]"fell in our laps"[/i] statement imo is nothing negative but simply implies...[b]THAT THINGS WENT THE RAVENS WAY FOR THEM TO WIN IT ALL!! [/b]and if you can't see that bruh...oh well!

~Mili

[cursona pirate]

We can. The bengals will be great next year. so we got to watch out for them.

[RivenHale]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1330462010' post='1006607']

dude...that is your mental complex about that [i]"fell in our laps" [/i]statement...not mine!

what you've said here (in bold underline) is NOT how i view that statement whatsoever! the [i]"fell in our laps" [/i]statement (to me) did not nor does it diminish the Ravens awesome gameplay this season. to me...it is no different than saying; "the stars were all lined up" or, "all of our ducks were lined up in a row" etc. etc. etc. so to me...the "fell in our laps" statement simply implies...[b]THAT THINGS WENT OUR WAY TO WIN!! [/b] and if you can't see that...oh well!

~Mili
[/quote]

If I said something to make you angry, I apologize; that wasn't my intent. I was disagreeing with you, but trying to do it in a reasoned, mature manner. I still disagree with you, but I see now that it's over the meaning of a phrase rather than the meaning [i]behind[/i] the phrase. It's off-topic, pointless, and an argument both of us are I'm sure far too busy to have - besides which, it's not an argument I even [i]want[/i] to have.

Basically what you're saying is that things went our way this season, right? Well, we're in agreement there. You suggested that our window [i]was[/i] the 2011-12 season, with which I have to disagree with you. Honestly, I see us winning the North again next year. It's a tougher schedule, but we proved that we do BETTER with tougher schedules - plus, we get a couple of the harder games at home. Patriots are coming to the Bank, right? We'll show them what for this time. I don't see us sweeping the Steelers again sadly, but we can normally count on the Browns to go out of their way to violently trip over their own toes (even if they get RGIII, rookie quarterbacks don't do well against the Baltimore D.) I actually don't see much from the Bengals next year. It's not based off of anything football-related, but I think Andy Dalton was over-rated due to his schedule and will be overwhelmed with a season's worth of tape on him.

I see us at the number 2 seed again, with an outside chance of snagging the number 1. Jimmy and Torrey will be one year better, Dickson and Pitta will be one year better, Webb will finally get the respect he deserves and force opposing quarterbacks to throw at Jimmy Smith (which is like choosing a drink between bleach and furniture polish.) Ngata will get healthy in the offseason and McPhee will come on strong, Suggs proved he can do it consecutive years. Joe is gonna explode this year.

Man, when does football start again?

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='RivenHale' timestamp='1330463116' post='1006628']

[u][b]If I said something to make you angry, I apologize;[/b][/u] that wasn't my intent. I was disagreeing with you, but trying to do it in a reasoned, mature manner. I still disagree with you, [u][b]but I see now that it's over the meaning of a phrase rather than the meaning [i]behind[/i] the phrase[/b][/u]. It's off-topic, pointless, and an argument both of us are I'm sure far too busy to have - besides which, it's not an argument I even [i]want[/i] to have.

[u][b]Basically what you're saying is that things went our way this season, right?[/b][/u] Well, we're in agreement there. [u][b]You suggested that our window [i]was[/i] the 2011-12 season[/b][/u], with which I have to disagree with you. Honestly, I see us winning the North again next year. It's a tougher schedule, but we proved that we do BETTER with tougher schedules - plus, we get a couple of the harder games at home. Patriots are coming to the Bank, right? We'll show them what for this time. I don't see us sweeping the Steelers again sadly, but we can normally count on the Browns to go out of their way to violently trip over their own toes (even if they get RGIII, rookie quarterbacks don't do well against the Baltimore D.) I actually don't see much from the Bengals next year. It's not based off of anything football-related, but I think Andy Dalton was over-rated due to his schedule and will be overwhelmed with a season's worth of tape on him.

I see us at the number 2 seed again, with an outside chance of snagging the number 1. Jimmy and Torrey will be one year better, Dickson and Pitta will be one year better, Webb will finally get the respect he deserves and force opposing quarterbacks to throw at Jimmy Smith (which is like choosing a drink between bleach and furniture polish.) Ngata will get healthy in the offseason and McPhee will come on strong, Suggs proved he can do it consecutive years. Joe is gonna explode this year.

Man, when does football start again?
[/quote]

an apology is not necessary. i wasn't offended nor was i arguing over this. i was just clarifying my position of what i meant by the term, "fell in our laps." and neither did i suggest that this past season was our only season to win it all, just stating again...that everything lined up perfectly (i feel) for us to do so this season. and i don't mind cats disagreeing with me...i'm a big boy and always stay true to my own viewpoints, thoughts and feelings. i'm never swayed by cats in here. so, we're good bruh! [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.png[/img]

~Mili

[Ravenslifer]

A lot of people seemed to be worried about the Bengals. I'm not, and here's why:

1) the biggest problem we had the first 3 years under Harbaugh was specifically the inability of Flacco to solve the Bengals' cover 2 defense, and JJ specifically. JJ is now in Houston, and the addition of Torrey plus Joe's own maturation has, I believe, shifted this in favor of the Ravens.

2) Andy Dalton will only be a second year player. It took Joe 4 years to figure the entire division out. People keep acting like Dalton murdered us last year - he didn't. And AJ Green played the second game, but Dalton still looked poor. In the 2 games combined he completed about 52 percent of his passes for about 600 yards, 1 TD and 3 picks. Yes he threw a bunch of yards on us - that's it. I don't know where this idea is coming from that somehow Dalton outplayed Flacco - Matt Hasselbeck and Philip Rivers probably played the best of any quarterbacks we faced. Besides, I seem to remember everybody and his brother in the media, and a lot of people on this board, telling us that Josh Freeman was a better quarterback than Joe Flacco. Looks like Freeman really fell back to earth this year, doesn't it? Andy Dalton's success this year may be nothing more than a fluke, only time will tell.

3) We will be better next year. We had no offseason this year and had to find emergency help at tackle and wide receiver. Our starting receiver was a drop-prone rookie who is going to be way better next year, and that's saying something - we are just finding out that he had a sports hernia, and he STILL broke like all our rookie receiving records. Our tight ends got their first taste of a full NFL season, and they will be better next year. Our offensive line should be overhauled. We may have a new weapon at wide receiver. Our young cornerbacks will grow up some more. McPhee and Kruger will be better, and maybe even Kindle. We will probably draft an impact pass rusher at some point. Maybe we will draft a good young ILB to sit behind Ray.

Again, I don't see why we need to fear the Bengals. The only way I see them winning against us next year is if we beat ourselves i.e. Flacco has another 4 INT performance against them.

[baltravens]

Football is block and tackling. We will win the AFC North if the Ravens improve in the trenches. Address the OL because that is the key to Rice running for more yardage and Flacco being that top-notch passer that everyone cries that he is not. This means [b]no [/b]WR in the first round and upgrades in our pass rush with selections in the early part of the draft. Ozzie does a stellar job, and I do not think he will botch this draft because I believe the formula is simple for our success. ...Yeah, I love Konz.

[PurpleDrink]

Get ready to not make the playoffs this year.

[VJax83]

[quote name='PurpleDrink' timestamp='1330827496' post='1011108']
Get ready to not make the playoffs this year.
[/quote]

I agree especially if they bring back soft Lee Evans.

[edreedfromtheu]

The biggest thing to winning the division... is winning your divisional games.

While I don't agree with many things the Ravens do, they have managed to keep a core together that is built to beat the division opponents.

The Steelers are losing some of their defense, and perhaps their biggest offensive threat in Mike Wallace.

We don't know what will happen in free agency, but it should be fun.

While some might think having to play the Patriots hurts the Ravens, I think the Steelers having to play the Jets actually hurts them more.

Then again... having to play Houston, that definitely benefits the rest of the AFC North because we know they are good and I doubt they will have the injuries they did last year.

Either way, I'd rather have a season full of good opponents than a bunch of games against sub-par opponents and watch the Ravens struggle against them. Those losses last year were not even competitive. Just ugly. Most of them you could tell how the game was going to be after the first few series.

But yeah, like most years... it will come down to what happend in free agency and the draft, injuries, and the officials. Then of course there's the whole execution thing. haha

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='VJax83' timestamp='1330829381' post='1011126']
I agree especially if they bring back soft Lee Evans.
[/quote]

Considering we had Evans and he did barely anything to help us reach the playoffs, I don't see any way that having a healthy Evans could hurt the team next year like you seem to think.

[PurpleDrink]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1330484104' post='1007034']
A lot of people seemed to be worried about the Bengals. I'm not, and here's why:

1) the biggest problem we had the first 3 years under Harbaugh was specifically the inability of Flacco to solve the Bengals' cover 2 defense, and JJ specifically. JJ is now in Houston, and the addition of Torrey plus Joe's own maturation has, I believe, shifted this in favor of the Ravens.

2) Andy Dalton will only be a second year player. It took Joe 4 years to figure the entire division out. People keep acting like Dalton murdered us last year - he didn't. And AJ Green played the second game, but Dalton still looked poor. In the 2 games combined he completed about 52 percent of his passes for about 600 yards, 1 TD and 3 picks. Yes he threw a bunch of yards on us - that's it. I don't know where this idea is coming from that somehow Dalton outplayed Flacco - Matt Hasselbeck and Philip Rivers probably played the best of any quarterbacks we faced. Besides, I seem to remember everybody and his brother in the media, and a lot of people on this board, telling us that Josh Freeman was a better quarterback than Joe Flacco. Looks like Freeman really fell back to earth this year, doesn't it? Andy Dalton's success this year may be nothing more than a fluke, only time will tell.

3) We will be better next year. We had no offseason this year and had to find emergency help at tackle and wide receiver. Our starting receiver was a drop-prone rookie who is going to be way better next year, and that's saying something - we are just finding out that he had a sports hernia, and he STILL broke like all our rookie receiving records. Our tight ends got their first taste of a full NFL season, and they will be better next year. Our offensive line should be overhauled. We may have a new weapon at wide receiver. Our young cornerbacks will grow up some more. McPhee and Kruger will be better, and maybe even Kindle. We will probably draft an impact pass rusher at some point. Maybe we will draft a good young ILB to sit behind Ray.

Again, I don't see why we need to fear the Bengals. The only way I see them winning against us next year is if we beat ourselves i.e. Flacco has another 4 INT performance against them.
[/quote]

Lol @ you for saying Dalton played poor against us. You mean to say Flacco played poor against them, don't know what games you where watching. Really it was Rice and the D who won them games for us not Flacco the 100m dollar man.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='PurpleDrink' timestamp='1330863876' post='1011244']
Lol @ you for saying Dalton played poor against us. You mean to say Flacco played poor against them, don't know what games you where watching. Really it was Rice and the D who won them games for us not Flacco the 100m dollar man.
[/quote]

Flacco didn't play badly whatsoever against the Bengals this year. He threw one bad pick but other than that he was great. He finished both games with 100+ ratings, something he'd never come close to against them before this season.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='PurpleDrink' timestamp='1330863876' post='1011244']
Lol @ you for saying Dalton played poor against us. You mean to say Flacco played poor against them, don't know what games you where watching. Really it was Rice and the D who won them games for us not Flacco the 100m dollar man.
[/quote]

Maybe you're thinking of the games in 2010? PWNEDbyDEANO just gave you the facts, but here are the game stats

Joe Flacco vs. Bengals 2011: Game 1 63 percent completion percentage, 2 TDs 1 INT rating 105
Game 2 79 percent completions, 1 TD 0 INT rating 113 - Flacco without Boldin

Andy Dalton Vs. Ravens 2011: Game 1 53 percent completions, 1 TD 3 INTs rating 61- Dalton without Green
Game 2 50 percent completions, 0 TD, 0 INT rating 65

[Cville-Raven]

[quote name='VJax83' timestamp='1330829381' post='1011126']
I agree especially if they bring back soft Lee Evans.
[/quote]
You guys have plenty of problems to deal with, so I would stop talking