Realistically, do the Ravens have a shot at representing the AFC in the Super Bowl?

[JoeyFlex5]

ok, so, we control our own destiny, if we lose a game we still have a really good shot at the playoffs, we may even be able to survive losing 2 games. Making it to the playoffs may actually be the hard part here, and heres why... 

who scares you in the AFC? the raiders? we had that game won and 2 really bad coaching decisions literally cost us the whole thing, this was also before the emergence of tavon young, and we nearly won that game with zero pass rush, terrell suggs was still finding his footing and dumervil was out. also, i havent checked this yet, but wasnt forsett still our starter at this point? we could absolutely beat the raiders, its a game i actually feel pretty solid about if we were to see them again. 

the chiefs? theyre still a question mark, great defense, that would be a task, good secondary, they force turnovers, but i dont think alex smith is gonna beat us with his arm, and most of their strength in the front seven is on the edges, and our tackles have been playing very well lately. 

the dolphins? we'll find out sunday, i still dont believe in them, but as far as matchups go they can exploit us better than any team in the afc with their interior. 

texans? lol. 

and then the big boys, the road to the SB goes through foxborough, the team that just doesnt scare us. every team in the AFC will see the pats on their playoff schedule and start preparing for next season writing it off as a loss, that just doesnt happen with us. and among all things, i think we match up well. with a healthy jimmy and tavon and powers playing at their highest level, they can no longer exploit us on quick passes for 200 yards per quarter. blount wont be running against us. their OL is suspect at best, its improved from where it was early last season when it was a disaster, but with our front playing the way it has been, and if our secondary is healthy, we can potentially dominate their offense, they wont be able to work the shallow hashes if our line continues to bat balls as well as they have been, hot reads will be limited against our top 2 corners, and brady hasnt faced an ILB duo as great in coverage as mosley and orr since he faced trevathan and marshall in the playoffs last year, and our boys may be far better than that duo. as funky as this team has been this year, there is no better matchup to beat the patriots than us, i firmly believe this. 

and one team that truly worries me if we see them in the playoffs, is the steelers. we seem to have their number, but that will stop eventually, would hate for it to be in the playoffs.  

if we make it into the playoffs, all of the possible teams were facing should all give us genuine reason to believe we have a shot. god willing we stay healthy, we could get rolling in january. do not write this team off until its over, there is real reason to think the ravens can make it to the super bowl, as optimistic as it sounds. at this time in 2012 some posters were actually talking about tanking because the team had no chance to win it all.

[redrum52]

Yes.

[RavensFanMania]

We can play with anyone, as we are in every game.  I actually see us having a decent chance against the Pats as well, but lets get by this weekend first before we make any predictions. 

[reed20]

Our defense being so great gives us a chance against anyone.

[RaineV1]

I think the only chance is if Flacco plays out of his mind again, like he did the last time they went to a Super Bowl. As for who scares me the most, I'd probably go with the Patriots. Great pass defense, decent run defense, and of course a great offense. The Raiders could go all the way too.

[JoeyFlex5]

17 minutes ago, RavensFanMania said:

We can play with anyone, as we are in every game.  I actually see us having a decent chance against the Pats as well, but lets get by this weekend first before we make any predictions. 

no predictions, just discussion. im saying of all the afc playoff hopefuls, not one of them appears to be even close to unbeatable for us. 

[redrum52]

40 minutes ago, RaineV1 said:

I think the only chance is if Flacco plays out of his mind again, like he did the last time they went to a Super Bowl. As for who scares me the most, I'd probably go with the Patriots. Great pass defense, decent run defense, and of course a great offense. The Raiders could go all the way too.

He really doesn't even have to play  out of his mind.   If we can get even average offensive production we'd probably be in contention for a top seed.

[Sherly_Tebow]

Our D is super bowl caliber. They aren't perfect, but they do good enough to win.

Special Teams, outside of some of Hester's decisions even though I like him at returner, is A+.

If the offense can put a little more points on the board, we should be able to beat any team.

If we win the division, I don't think the Steelers make the playoffs. If the Steelers win the division, I still have a slight hope for a wild card spot, but eh..

All we have to do is make it to the dance, and then it becomes a 4 game season. I believe in this Ravens team. They have the players, but need more from the offense.

[terrynjulia03]

 

Had a meme, but it would've gotten deleted anyway as there's no sense of humor on here. "Could" we? Sure, if we suddenly developed a ground game. However the reality is, nope this could be Brady's last ride. He'll be 40 next season, if he plays. Yeah I know makes a lot of us feel old. Let's put that in perspective. Peyton gave his final run at 39. Favre was 41, after retiring twice. NE will be in the SB, prob against the Giants, kinda a rematch where Brady wins and rides off into the sunset. 

Edited December 3, 2016 by terrynjulia03

[Inqui]

Just get to the play-offs and see what happens. Less likely teams have won before, and truth be tbh I don't even think this would be the least likely Ravens side to win.

[Sherly_Tebow]

1 hour ago, terrynjulia03 said:

 

Had a meme, but it would've gotten deleted anyway as there's no sense of humor on here. "Could" we? Sure, if we suddenly developed a ground game. However the reality is, nope this could be Brady's last ride. He'll be 40 next season, if he plays. Yeah I know makes a lot of us feel old. Let's put that in perspective. Peyton gave his final run at 39. Favre was 41, after retiring twice. NE will be in the SB, prob against the Giants, kinda a rematch where Brady wins and rides off into the sunset. 

This definitely isn't Brady's last ride. He's still got 3+ years left. I want him to retire as soon as possible, but I don't see him slowing down any time soon. He could win the super bowl this year and he wouldn't retire. Just being realistic 

Edited December 3, 2016 by Sherly_Tebow

[Tru11]

unless the offense becomes above average over night and everyone is healthy , id say the odds are pretty low.

the teams we would meet in the play offs will have a competent offense and most likely a pretty good defense.

we will need to score points which this offense has struggled all season to produce even against lesser teams.

its possible but id say lets try to make the play offs first.

the room of error is very small.

[kjbmore]

100% - AFC is wide open.

Pats losing Gronk and sending off their best defenders leaves them ripe for the picking in my eyes

also having enjoyed some success in the post season may give us a small edge over the other teams in the mix

 

[OUravensfan]

1 hour ago, kjbmore said:

100% - AFC is wide open.

Pats losing Gronk and sending off their best defenders leaves them ripe for the picking in my eyes

also having enjoyed some success in the post season may give us a small edge over the other teams in the mix

 

I want revenge for 2014 so badly. I feel great about this team if they can make the playoffs, we just have the it factor to get it done there.

[VermontRaven]

8 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

ok, so, we control our own destiny, if we lose a game we still have a really good shot at the playoffs, we may even be able to survive losing 2 games.

Just to add to this. We still control our destiny if we lose 1 game, as long as that game is not to the Steelers (assuming no ties)

[Wildabeast88]

Honestly we do have a pretty good chance assuming a couple things.

1. Jimmy Smith is healthy and on the field.

2. Offensive line stays healthy and can open holes and give Joe time.

3. Our pass rush is good and fresh Suggs is looking great and Dumervil can stay healthy he missed half the year so I hope he has fresh legs and can continue to produce. If Judon can continue to grow and wreak havoc like at the end of last weeks game. 

4. If a WR/TE other than SSS or Wallace can step up. Aiken/Perriman/Pitta or someone else can produce and make some big plays or clutch catches.

The Pats are beatable and especially with Gronk out, Broncos have a nice D but no offense, Raiders we hold have beaten the last 2 years, but honestly are in my mind the biggest threat, Chiefs have a great D offense is average at best, AFC South whoever is no impressive, Steelers if they get in we know who they are, Dolphins we see this week. 

Edited December 3, 2016 by Wildabeast88

[RavensFanMania]

10 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

no predictions, just discussion. im saying of all the afc playoff hopefuls, not one of them appears to be even close to unbeatable for us. 

Totally agree

[Willbacker]

Realistically yes. We can beat anybody.

[RaineV1]

12 hours ago, redrum52 said:

He really doesn't even have to play  out of his mind.   If we can get even average offensive production we'd probably be in contention for a top seed.

I don't really have faith in the defense to help win a championship. If you can't get to the QB then a team like the Raiders or Patriots will happily throw fifty times and pick the defense apart. Even Alex Smith can be dangerous without the pass rush pressuring him. I think our offense will have to out score them to win.

[ravens rule]

Yes ans no.Yes, because of this defense being fully loaded. The offense is a problem. They have to be able to run the ball and I'll be more confident. I just love how teams play zone all day against us. You have to make teams bring the safties in the box so Mike and Perriman can have 1 on 1 matchups.

[VermontRaven]

43 minutes ago, RaineV1 said:

I don't really have faith in the defense to help win a championship. If you can't get to the QB then a team like the Raiders or Patriots will happily throw fifty times and pick the defense apart. Even Alex Smith can be dangerous without the pass rush pressuring him. I think our offense will have to out score them to win.

Really?!!  Our defense is what's holding us back?  I guess the other 30 teams that have a worse-ranked defensethan us are really in trouble!

Edited December 3, 2016 by VermontRaven
Typo

[robbie29]

We've got the NFL's best kicker and the #4 defense in the league. So, from those two standpoints- YES, we can rep the AFC in the Super Bowl.

But this offense is terrible and is clearly what is holding the Ravens back. I can't say this with 100% certainty, but I'm willing to bet that no team with an offense ranked 24th (which is what the Ravens' offense is currently ranked) or worse ever won a Super Bowl. Even with a lights out defense, you've gotta have at least an average QB and offense. Joe is ranked 29th in the league, and was 30th last year even before he got hurt. That's one of the worst returns on a $120 million dollar investment ever. Ever.

Edited December 3, 2016 by robbie29

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

The AFC is wide open so yea I think anyone that gets to the dance and gets on a roll can win it. 

But not playing the way we are. The offense needs to improve. 

Our D isn't as dominant at 2000 and our offense is worse than 2000 believe it or not. On pace to score 20 less pts and only 300 more yds. 

 

This offense is is really really bad. I have hope we can still get it together in the playoffs but we need to survive the regular season. 

[RaineV1]

2 hours ago, VermontRaven said:

Really?!!  Our defense is what's holding us back?  I guess the other 30 teams that have a worse-ranked defensethan us are really in trouble!

Did I saw it was holding us bad? I said I don't have faith in a defense that can't get a consistent pass rush to win a title for us. Nor can I see it happening when they seem to collapse at the end of games.

[VermontRaven]

35 minutes ago, RaineV1 said:

Did I saw it was holding us bad? I said I don't have faith in a defense that can't get a consistent pass rush to win a title for us. Nor can I see it happening when they seem to collapse at the end of games.

My point is that I believe our defense will keep us in every game. Our offense just has to be a touch better than it has been o be just enough to beat too teams

[Gtown Purple]

Anyone can get hot, remember 2012?

[Wildabeast88]

2 hours ago, RaineV1 said:

Did I saw it was holding us bad? I said I don't have faith in a defense that can't get a consistent pass rush to win a title for us. Nor can I see it happening when they seem to collapse at the end of games.

That is the DC's fault. Pees and his prevent D playing 10 yards off and rushing 3 or 4 

Edited December 4, 2016 by Wildabeast88

[Deflated Football]

If Flacco has another Montana-esque playoff run, I'll go one step further and say we will win the Super Bowl. 

[edthehead]

talent wise yes

coaching need to be up to par

put joe in position for success, 

and it's not all joe,everybody just need to play   

[Jonah DeVito]

Do we have a chance? Yeah, if everything goes perfectly. If Joe plays up to par, if we get the running game going, if we stay as healthy as we are right now, but that's a lot of ifs. 

Edited December 4, 2016 by Jonah DeVito
Added content