Superbowl Hangover? Maybe!

[The Raven]

Some people talk about the Superbowl hangover, and I'm starting to think it has merit. I also think that it's not as tragic as some say. I know this sucks right now, but let's look at recent Superbowl winners.

 

First, let's look at the 2001 Patriots. They won the Superbowl, and then in 2002, they missed the playoffs and went 9-7. That's us. Then, they went right back into the storm and won back to back Superbowls.

 

Now, let's look at the Steelers. They won the big dance in the 2005 season. The very next year they went 8-8, 3rd in the division, and out of the playoffs. The next year, they won the division, and the year after that, they went back to and won the Superbowl.

 

Next, let's look at the New York Giants. Won the Superbowl, then went 12-4, making the playoffs, but losing in divisional round. In 2009, they went 8-8, and in 2010 they went 10-6. They missed the playoffs both years. Then they went back to and won the Superbowl in 2011.

 

The Green Bay Packers appear to be the slight exception to this rule, although it's worth noting that they have declined gradually every year since, and they are currently 5-3.

 

What does this all mean?

 

We might have a losing season, and I've already accepted that possibility. However, it is not the end of the world. In the current era of the NFL, it appears to be the norm. But, recent history indicates that good franchises will rebound fast. Look at the teams above. They made it all the way and struggled. Then, they came back to success.

 

TL;DR? We might have a losing season, but we're going to be right back in it in a year. Book it.

[SecretAgentMan]

 

TL;DR? We might have a losing season, but we're going to be right back in it in a year. Book it.

I have been saying that for awhile. We still have one of the best GMs in the business, and a good HC to go with it.

We'll get some talent

[K-Dog]

*shrugs*

 

Shorter off season?

 

Being cocky and arrogant ?

 

Every one gunning for you because you are the champions ?

 

I dont know but dang if I can present any arguement.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

I have been saying that for awhile. We still have one of the best GMs in the business, and a good HC to go with it.

We'll get some talent

 

Well, you're right about one thing. We still have one of the best GMs in the business. That's why we will get some talent. At their zenith, the Washington Professional Football Team had two GM who were great --- Bobby Beathard and Charlie Casserly. The only difference between their team and ours is that they also had a great coach --- Joe Gibbs.

[easternshore97]

*shrugs*

 

Shorter off season?

 

Being cocky and arrogant ?

 

Every one gunning for you because you are the champions ?

 

I dont know but dang if I can present any arguement.

Cohesion. Ed and Ray could make adjustments on the fly. They lost 2 key weapons on offense. One of them was an unexpected loss (The silver lining though was Marlon Brown), and as a result, opposing defenses have decided that they refuse to let Torrey Smith and Joe execute on the big play.
 

[ratedr]

Well, to have a hangover you gotta win it first

[TSizzle00]

Happen to the Steelers again and again the last few wins.

[jimmypowder]

Honestly , I think after making the playoffs 5 straight seasons, the low picks in the draft are starting to catch up with us . This is of course what the NFL intends, creating more competition as time goes on .

[ravens533]

I don't know if or what "Super Bowl" hangover really is. I just know if we give our players more time to play together they will become a tight knit group that work like a well oiled machine together not as the individual players we have now. Yes, we have talented players but working as one in a team takes time. We have so many new clogs  that it will take time. Unfortunately I am afraid we will not get that team until late in the season. Hope I am wrong but we will see this week and next if it is going to happen.

[JO_75]

Only thing I know is this. We are freaking out way too much over the FIRST losing season in the Harbaugh/Flacco era. How many fan bases would take five straight seasons of going to the playoffs including a Super Bowl victory BEFORE the new staff suffered their first losing season. 

 

- 5 Straight Playoff Appearances

 

- 3 AFC Championship appearances

 

- At least ONE playoff win each of the five seasons

 

- 1 Super Bowl Victory

 

Considering how bad other teams have been, we really don't have any reason to be mad over our first losing season. It was bound to happen, and because we have been spoiled with nothing but playoffs and 1 Super Bowl victory under Harbs/Flacco, we just really don't know how to react when we are losing. We have gotten use to winning and making the playoffs, we forgot what it's like to have a losing season. 

 

So now everyone is like, OMG why aren't we locked in the playoffs by now, Joe sucks even though it's been pointed out how bad our O-line is. Of course Joe is going to struggle. Oh Harbs doesn't know what he is doing, etc. Let's face it, with this line even Peyton Manning would have re-injured his neck again. 

 

In the draft thread, I see posts about how it would be nice to have a top pick to get a top player. Well here is our chance but now your singing a different tune. Patience is what is needed, I believe this season was supposed to been what everyone thought 2008 would be, a rebuilding year. This is a young team, and hopefully it doesn't take another five years to win our 3rd Super Bowl. Losses will hurt now but overtime we will become a better team once again. 

 

In Oz We Trust

[rlh445]

Well, you're right about one thing. We still have one of the best GMs in the business. That's why we will get some talent. At their zenith, the Washington Professional Football Team had two GM who were great --- Bobby Beathard and Charlie Casserly. The only difference between their team and ours is that they also had a great coach --- Joe Gibbs.

 

[Ravenseconbeast]

Still got way too many games to be 'back in a year'.

 

We beat the bengals and put some winning streak and we're right back in the thick of things.   

[gabefergy]

I think its only natural for a championship team to have a hangover. We had been knocking in the door for five seasons, and it finally came together. Guys had been playing through injuries and setbacks because that ultimate goal was so close. Now that the goal has been achieved are all of the vets going to fighy 110% on every play? Its hard to find the same motivation.

[gabefergy]

Well, you're right about one thing. We still have one of the best GMs in the business. That's why we will get some talent. At their zenith, the Washington Professional Football Team had two GM who were great --- Bobby Beathard and Charlie Casserly. The only difference between their team and ours is that they also had a great coach --- Joe Gibbs.

You are always good for a laugh.

[runamuk]

I think there is validity to the idea of a hangover. If we don't make the playoffs I will disappointed but not surprised . Losses sting but if you step back and look we have a corp of young talented men .Our oline needs help and it's not looking like we have the personnel to fix it .I see improvement every week .Our weaknesses can be addressed in the draft .the offense is not going to be productive until the line is fix. I think we have a chance , I'm a homer .Another valid argument we were gutted in the offseason I don't think any team lost more veteran talent then we did this past off season .We lost players who played well and made others around them play better that's not easy to replace.

[EricH]

First, let's look at the 2001 Patriots. They won the Superbowl, and then in 2002, they missed the playoffs and went 9-7.

 

Now, let's look at the Steelers. They won the big dance in the 2005 season. The very next year they went 8-8,

 

TL;DR? We might have a losing season, but we're going to be right back in it in a year. Book it.

Right now, I don't think we will beat either of those records.  .500 does seem like a successful season at this point, especially if Pittsburgh goes below .500.  Oddly, that would ease the pain.

 

And I have to agree with your final statement.  We will be back!

[AsianRice]

Only thing I know is this. We are freaking out way too much over the FIRST losing season in the Harbaugh/Flacco era. How many fan bases would take five straight seasons of going to the playoffs including a Super Bowl victory BEFORE the new staff suffered their first losing season. 

 

- 5 Straight Playoff Appearances

 

- 3 AFC Championship appearances

 

- At least ONE playoff win each of the five seasons

 

- 1 Super Bowl Victory

 

Considering how bad other teams have been, we really don't have any reason to be mad over our first losing season. It was bound to happen, and because we have been spoiled with nothing but playoffs and 1 Super Bowl victory under Harbs/Flacco, we just really don't know how to react when we are losing. We have gotten use to winning and making the playoffs, we forgot what it's like to have a losing season. 

 

So now everyone is like, OMG why aren't we locked in the playoffs by now, Joe sucks even though it's been pointed out how bad our O-line is. Of course Joe is going to struggle. Oh Harbs doesn't know what he is doing, etc. Let's face it, with this line even Peyton Manning would have re-injured his neck again. 

 

In the draft thread, I see posts about how it would be nice to have a top pick to get a top player. Well here is our chance but now your singing a different tune. Patience is what is needed, I believe this season was supposed to been what everyone thought 2008 would be, a rebuilding year. This is a young team, and hopefully it doesn't take another five years to win our 3rd Super Bowl. Losses will hurt now but overtime we will become a better team once again. 

 

In Oz We Trust

Bump ^ this.....

 

Well said...to be the truth I am getting used to winning than losing, so our first losing season is kind of bitter for me to deal with..

 

Time to get back to earth....

[Hardbaugh]

*shrugs*

 

Shorter off season?

 

Being cocky and arrogant ?

 

Every one gunning for you because you are the champions ?

 

I dont know but dang if I can present any arguement.

 

I'd agree with all you wrote but add the possibilities of professional jealousy. There could be some in the locker room not happy with how well the quarterback was taken care of.  We'll never hear about it because it wouldn't play well in town.

 

Some of the players the Ravens jettisoned especially Boldin and Pollard getting canned. The Pollard move considering the dollars wasted  in retrospect made no sense because it looks like  the Ravens drafted Pollard lite with Elam.

 

The front office and coaching staff believing the press clippings made a number of mistakes this offseason.

[Guest Omerta]

I think it is just the nature of the NFL. I don't believe in the Superbowl Hangover though I cannot say definitively as there is no evidence supporting either side of the argument.  What I can say is that the league tries and almost overcompensates to try to achieve as much parity in the NFL as possible. What we do know is that we are losing but I think every single team is case specific as to why the encounter trouble the next season. Although it could be argued FA seems to be the only common denominator. 

 

Looking at us it is no shock that we are struggling. People are going to point to all of our turnover which there is some validity to. That said it does not even come close to encompassing the issues that we are seeing. Most the time a player does not retire with the team that drafted him. When they do they are not players of 52's caliber and are not made of the leadership fabric that seemed to be woven into Ray from the time he was a rookie. When we lost him we lost a lot of our identity not only on the defense which may be the most pronounced but on the team as a whole. I really don't think that all of the sudden we have a lack of leadership the year after he retires. I know people hate it, but  I just don't see John harbaugh as an ideal fit for this team. I see no real leadership qualities in him and the players are starting to react in kind. That is all debatable and subjective but the fact that we have never had a decent offense under Harbaugh while having arguably the most talent we have ever had on that side...Just some things to think about.

 

Then there is injuries. While we dont have a lot of them and are actually healthy compared to last year, but the loss of Boldin could have been absorbed if not the injury to Pitta, that hurt us quite a bit. 

 

And then just the nature of the Superbowl. You have to be the ultimate tam to make that happen which usually takes years of chemistry and it takes a lot of knowing how to play with each other which leads to playing for each other. Those bonds take years and are a beauty to watch. The bad thing is that once they do reach the pinnacle often times you have a lot of turnover form a core of your team so now you have to put that energy into achieving that synergy again which brings it full circle to FA.

 

I really dont think this is a hangover I think had we never been to the SB last year this would still be happening. It is bad coaching mostly, lack of leadership from coaches, huge turnover to our core players, and the fact that we are in fact rebuilding (which there is nothing wrong with).

[frozen joe flacco fan]

You are always good for a laugh.

I feel the same way about your posts but we must be careful not to become a mutual admiration society. To be honest, you're all that I ever have aspired to be - an elite, esoteric, brilliant, fanatical student of all subjects.

[The Mom Gene]

Only thing I know is this. We are freaking out way too much over the FIRST losing season in the Harbaugh/Flacco era. How many fan bases would take five straight seasons of going to the playoffs including a Super Bowl victory BEFORE the new staff suffered their first losing season. ........................................

.............................. overtime we will become a better team once again. 

 

In Oz We Trust

 

Well said J.O.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

We might have a losing season, and I've already accepted that possibility. However, it is not the end of the world. In the current era of the NFL, it appears to be the norm. But, recent history indicates that good franchises will rebound fast. Look at the teams above. They made it all the way and struggled. Then, they came back to success.

We can criticize the 2013 season and we should; critical thinking is a prerequisite for improvement.

But quitting on the season/team? C’mon man!

[The Raven]

 

We can criticize the 2013 season and we should; critical thinking is a prerequisite for improvement.

But quitting on the season/team? C’mon man!

 

 

Who said anything about quitting on them? Just accepting possibilities and looking at the big picture.

 

However, our potential for this year just took a step forward.

[1/28/01]

Yes, we have two of them. Two hangovers.

[Static]

Yeah lets excuse everything and mark it down as A superbowl hangover.

 

 

O-line can't block at all. SB hangover.

Rice worst RB in the league. SB hangover.

 

 

No, there are issues that need to be addressed and shouldn't be passed over because of some jinx phenomenon. 

[The Raven]

Yeah lets excuse everything and mark it down as A superbowl hangover.

 

 

O-line can't block at all. SB hangover.

Rice worst RB in the league. SB hangover.

 

 

No, there are issues that need to be addressed and shouldn't be passed over because of some jinx phenomenon. 

 

Who said anything at all about excusing the issues? Lol!