What will become of the 2013 Baltimore Ravens?

[3-4ravdef509]

Thought I'd start a poll to entertain us during the bye week, to see where we all think the final 9 games are going to take us.

 

Looking at our schedule, I think we split with the Bengals unless we manage to beat them at their house at the end of the year. I think we take Cleveland. I think we'll take the Jets, and I think we'll take the Bears seeing as Cutler will most likely be out. I think we'll beat the Steelers at home, and I actually like us to beat the Pats. That leaves the Lions and Vikings. I can't see us losing to the Vikings. The Lions are up and down, and we face them in Detroit on Monday night...where we traditionally play poorly...

 

So I can see us going from 7-2 to 6-3, losses coming from Cincy, possibly Detroit, and possibly another loss coming from a stinker game against a team we should beat. I'll say 9-7, probably a wild card.

[CalvinSmoke]

I can see us making the playoffs as a wild card team. Getting atleast a win before being sent home

[Ravensfanspls]

Repeat SB Champs :D

[runamuk]

Repeat SB Champs :D

I second this .

[flynismo]

I can see us making the playoffs as a wild card team. Getting atleast a win before being sent home

Same here. We'll make the playoffs, and none of the likely 3 - 4 seed teams worry me too much (Indy, NE and Cincy are the likely 2nd to 4th seeds, assuming KC comes down to earth).
But at some point, we will have to face Denver, barring an upset, and unless we see massive improvement from our OL like we did last postseason, I don't think we'll hang with them this time around, even with the usual Peyton postseason choke job

[SeaHawk]

Same here. We'll make the playoffs, and none of the likely 3 - 4 seed teams worry me too much (Indy, NE and Cincy are the likely 2nd to 4th seeds, assuming KC comes down to earth).
But at some point, we will have to face Denver, barring an upset, and unless we see massive improvement from our OL like we did last postseason, I don't think we'll hang with them this time around, even with the usual Peyton postseason choke job

 

I'm very glad you pointed out the "usual Peyton postseason choke job". Everyone is saying that the Broncs are shoo-ins for the super bowl. However, because of this reason, I am not thinking this way. I'm thinking that he chokes against the KC D one too many times.

[MrPlankton]

I'm very glad you pointed out the "usual Peyton postseason choke job". Everyone is saying that the Broncs are shoo-ins for the super bowl. However, because of this reason, I am not thinking this way. I'm thinking that he chokes against the KC D one too many times.

 

After seeing that game against the Colts, there is no reason for me to believe he won't choke again. If you can create that playoffs atmosphere and get in his face, he will crumble eventually.

[SeaHawk]

After seeing that game against the Colts, there is no reason for me to believe he won't choke again. If you can create that playoffs atmosphere and get in his face, he will crumble eventually.

 

Which is why I don't understand why Irsay is taking so much heat for just saying the obvious... it's like its a sin to speak against Peyton Manning, almost like he's the football god or something like that.

[The Raven]

Frankly, I think we either win the division or don't make the playoffs. There is a lot of competition in the AFC East and AFC West for the wild card spots. We could do it for sure, but I think there's a greater likelihood of making the playoffs as a division winner, given the current standings. 

[flynismo]

I'm very glad you pointed out the "usual Peyton postseason choke job". Everyone is saying that the Broncs are shoo-ins for the super bowl. However, because of this reason, I am not thinking this way. I'm thinking that he chokes against the KC D one too many times.

Proud to say I won almost $400 on the Denver - Indy game.
And KC is a team that on paper is built to whoop up on Denver. Teams like us and Indy can beat Denver in a shoot out,but the score will be close. A team like KC, again, on paper, could beat Denver by a couple scores, because of the matchups, philosophies, etc. Smith playing game manager, a huge game from Charles, and a good performance from their defense...that game could get ugly for Denver. But if anyone of those three aren't clicking, they won't have a prayer.

[SeaHawk]

Proud to say I won almost $400 on the Denver - Indy game.
And KC is a team that on paper is built to whoop up on Denver. Teams like us and Indy can beat Denver in a shoot out,but the score will be close. A team like KC, again, on paper, could beat Denver by a couple scores, because of the matchups, philosophies, etc. Smith playing game manager, a huge game from Charles, and a good performance from their defense...that game could get ugly for Denver. But if anyone of those three aren't clicking, they won't have a prayer.

 

I've always been under the impression that if you were able to put pressure on Manning early on in the game, then you could force him into making mistakes later on in the game, and eventually pull out a win. That's the way the Chargers always played him, and the way the Patsies always played him early on in their rivalry (before their D went to crap), and it worked wonders for them. But that's just my opinion, and this is wayyy off topic lol.

[3-4ravdef509]

Denver will win at least a playoff game this year...unless we see them in the divisional round... Heh heh... #history repeats itself #see Joe Flacco out playing Tom Brady in every post season game they've ever played against one another

[PurpleCityLights]

If we can make it to the playoffs those other teams going to have a problem on there hands, Its just getting there's is our problem.

[omar586]

schefter tweets that Fitzgerald and cardinals might go their separate ways come off-season, should ozzie go after another cardinal??

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/394477031292825600

[jaege]

I am hoping they get their crap together and start a little winning run. It is still probable that we can take the division. The Bengals are hot right now, but no team stays hot all season. Particularly one with Dalton as the QB. Where as we are (hopefully) due to get hot. I think the Steelers will win a few but not really get in range of the division. They're just to banged up and depleted this year.

[SecretAgentMan]

schefter tweets that Fitzgerald and cardinals might go their separate ways come off-season, should ozzie go after another cardinal??

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/394477031292825600

Too expensive

[NorthernCaliforniaRaven]

Understandable, this has been an adjustment after last seasons Super Bowl victory. Sports teams are always either in transition to remain competitive or tweaking to retain some degree of past success.

 

This years team had to be transformed, with the defense a priority, but holes were definitely in place regarding the offense. We never really answered the wide receiver issues after letting Boldin go, and relied on Thompson to be a factor, when the jury was still out on how he would actually perform. The TE position was seemingly a strong point, but reasonable people would have come to the conclusion with todays sophisticated passing attacks TWO quality personnel were required, and Dickson had many questions.

 

The offensive line was another area, especially with Birk retiring, and leaving this to a 2nd year player with little actual playing experience was inane. The special teams play has also been in considerable flux, with the same inconsistencies, the revolving player attempts to address this recurrent problem.

 

These problems won't go away with out serious decisions to acquire the right talent quotient, but we seem to be trying to patchwork these matters. This year has indeed been a trying year for Ozzie and the organization as a whole. Is this team playoff material, or will events deny us that scenario as we endeavor to fix these things on the fly?

 

 

[rmw10]

No offense meant as I think this is pretty well written, but this is nothing that hasn't been discussed in numerous other threads over the past couple of weeks.

[CorvusCorax]

This is hard to predict. We are truly at a crossroad. Do things continue the way they are or do we turn things around? Given the fact that late season moves have been made in the past, things can turn around for the Ravens.

 

Good things in our favor:

WRs development

Some players getting healthy and/or coming back

Latest player aquisitions

Schedule for the rest of the season can help turn things around

Played close games

 

Things against our favor:

O-Line consistency issues

Offensive struggles - deep ball concerns

RBs still hurt

Lack of turnovers

Run defense can be porous

 

 

I say we clinch the division. Barely. Not sure how the playoffs will play out though. I'll be there supporting my team either way, win or lose.

 

I won't be upset if we don't make the playoffs.

[JEEPercreepermd]

Wow so many new posters after we won the SB. Anyway, I think we'll make the wildcard, win one playoff game and then wind up in Denver..after that the crystal ball is a little hazy.

[Poes Crows]

After watching Cincinnati dismantle a good Jets defense, its ambitious to project this Raven's team beating them in either game.

 

If this was the 2012 Ravens, you'd say, "Sure, we can overcome 3-4". But it's not the 2012 Ravens.

 

This is Ozzies "New Raven Team". The Offense is not as good as last year and neither is the Defense.

[Tank 92]

Our "rebuild on the fly" hasn't gone so well up to this point and was severely hampered by the loss of Pitta, poor O line performance and inconsistent defensive performance. But there's no reason to think that things won't come together for a second half and post season run. Hopefully we see steady improvement beginning this week.

[ravens533]

I see us making it to the playoffs as a wild card team. After that I think this team will take fire and go deep into the playoffs. Will they repeat? I am not sure, but I can hope. Any way it goes, I believe in this team and organization. We will be a team that turns it around during this year. No way to know if it will be in time to make the playoffs. Let's just back our Ravens and watch them get it done. Go Ravens!!

[MARYLANDMIKE21224]

I say we finish 5 and 11 only ones left we can beat are the vikings and maybe steelers next time , browns end there losing streak this week, bengals will sweep us, cutler, strafford and brady  will cut us to shreds, rex finally gets his revenge 5 years to late LOL

We are just a poorly coached football team.

[JoeyFlex5]

i dont see us winning it all this year, this team just isnt built for it yet. but i do expect a wild card berth, and i think our coaching staff is gonna wise up and realize that this is joes team, and i think we are gonna ride joes arm for 2 road playoff wins, and fall short in the championship game. 

[rlh445]

I voted like a homer.  We're gonna run the table.  We're gonna win the rest of our games for the rest of the regular season and then win every game in the post season and hoist that trophy.

[stone fresh]

Dannell Ellerbe just picked off Andy Dalton in the 4th quarter. Looks like hes still helping us after all 

[flaccopoe]

Let me get this straight: BAL will be eliminated from division contention if they lose another division game, barring a biblical collapse by CIN and PIT?

[flaccopoe]

Dannell Ellerbe just picked off Andy Dalton in the 4th quarter. Looks like hes still helping us after all 

 

I was just about to say this myself!

[RavenzOz]

I'd love to say "ask me again in two weeks" because I think they will be the barometer for the rest of the season.

 

I have to say I was dissapointed at all the articles last week with player-x heads off to such and such for bye week.  I know a bye week is meant for recovery, but I thought a team of defending champs in this position after seven weeks might see value in putting in some hard yards over the bye week, whether it be on the training field, in the lecture theatres, watching tape, or heads in the play book.

 

That might sound mean, but if the company I worked for slipped from being industry leaders to being mid-tier in the space of eight months, we'd be putting in the extra hours or being told to start looking at the want-ads.