Yes or No. Do we make the playoffs?

[pep_meister]

I don't see this team doing damage in the playoffs even if we get in... I think we beat Pitt and I think if that happens we likely beat Cinci... but Just too many mistakes. Flacco playing as bad as he ever has, run defense starting to wear down and get exposed, Jimmy Smith out/always hurt, penalties, clock management/play calling. If Jimmy is out our playoff lives depend on how well Shereece Wright/JP play and flacco not turning the ball over ( which he's good for 1 a game). 

[AsianRice]

8 hours ago, Ravensfan23 said:

Every playoff team is flawed, we just have a front row seat to the flaws the Ravens have. Yes the Ravens are a playoff ready team because they play ugly, physical rind it out games and that's usually what Playoff football looks like. Is this team Super Bowl ready? That's another story. 

However if you look at all 9 teams who could possibly be in the playoffs, who's playing lights out? Win the next 2 games which are both winnable and you possibly have the Dolphins coming back to M&T Bank. Not saying that game will turn out the same as before but do they really strike fear in anyone? Then you're looking at a Divisional Playoff game in perfect weather conditions in Oakland vs a young team playing in their first playoff game in 14 years. Honestly other than having a really good oline what about the Raiders strikes fear? Win that game and you're right back in Foxboro for the AFCCG game or even better somebody knocks them off and that game is played in Baltimore. 

What's the likelihood of all this happening? Who knows, the point is the Ravens are capable of being both the Steelers and Bengals to win the Division and come playoff time they are good enough to beat any team they'll face in the wildcard and the divisional round. I think the only question for this team is will they play well enough to beat those teams and can they play well enough in Foxboro to win. 

 

Love all the scenario above; if we show up and beat Pitts and Bengals, we can beat anybody!

[JoeyFlex5]

I don't see it. We lost the 2nd most critical player on the team and we generally just seem to have lost our way. And this is coming from one of the more optimistic fans on these boards. 

I wouldn't be surprised at all with a blowout loss 1 of these last 2 weeks.

[ravensdfan]

1 minute ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

I don't see it. We lost the 2nd most critical player on the team and we generally just seem to have lost our way. And this is coming from one of the more optimistic fans on these boards. 

I wouldn't be surprised at all with a blowout loss 1 of these last 2 weeks.

I have no idea if we manage to make the playoffs or not but we can beat anyone when we're on point. The talent is there. I don't see the field this season and think ...well, don't know that we could beat that team, they're just too dominant.  I'm beginning to think the coaching staff - from Harbs on down - just need to get out of the teams way.

 

[January J]

Yes- if the bills beat the fins Saturday, and if Oakland wins so new England has something to play for week 17.

Edited December 19, 2016 by January J

[pep_meister]

44 minutes ago, ravensdfan said:

I have no idea if we manage to make the playoffs or not but we can beat anyone when we're on point. The talent is there. I don't see the field this season and think ...well, don't know that we could beat that team, they're just too dominant.  I'm beginning to think the coaching staff - from Harbs on down - just need to get out of the teams way.

 

Anything can happen. Thats a fact. No one really thought in 2014 we COULD have made the superbowl with the injuries we had including Jimmy Smith out... We went to Pitt and laid the hammer down then went to NE Jimmy Smithless and held two 14 point leads... Yes Jimmy Smith out is the reason we lost but the secondary was pure garbage by week 18... Starting safetys Stewart and Elam...  We make it past NE, we beat the Colts because they did not come to play whatsoever and end up in our 3rd superbowl in 14 years. 

The offense on paper should be better but flacco is holding everything back. The backs are better, the line is healthy, Wallace is better than Torrey Smith. The defense if they can get back in gear is as good as it's been in a decade. No reason to think we can't win these two games. it's just what Joe Flacco are we going to see.

Edited December 19, 2016 by pep_meister

[Ravens419]

I was just pondering some things and does anyone else think there is a situation where the Dolphins lose this week and we lose and obviously we have the tie breaker with them and the Patriots let the Dolphins win to keep us out of the playoffs since they already clinched the east and a playoff spot 

[JonnyBaltimore]

21 hours ago, Ravensdoordie said:

No... And no matter if the steelers win they are a disgrace to the division as well... 

They really don't beat a team... The teams they play beat themselves...

The afc north is a complete joke... 

Whoever wins is a one a done....

==============================

will marvin  lewis ever be fired as the head coach of the bengals... 

I men how long and why do they put up with him as a head coach... 

That is my fear with Harbaugh... Hopefully we aren't the second coming 

of the bengals...in this type matter.

It's possible that we win the AFC North with a 10-6 record and Pitts finishes 10-6 and captures the last Wild Card spot. Then it would be Pitt @ BAL for the playoffs.

[Rav'n Maniac]

11 minutes ago, Ravens419 said:

I was just pondering some things and does anyone else think there is a situation where the Dolphins lose this week and we lose and obviously we have the tie breaker with them and the Patriots let the Dolphins win to keep us out of the playoffs since they already clinched the east and a playoff spot 

If the Phins lose and we lose, they would control the wildcard spot as they would still be a game ahead of us as they are right now.

[codizzle]

Without Jimmy, not confident in this game at all.

 

ravens can definitely win but the margin for error changes greatly without Jimmy 

[Sherly_Tebow]

17 minutes ago, Ravens419 said:

I was just pondering some things and does anyone else think there is a situation where the Dolphins lose this week and we lose and obviously we have the tie breaker with them and the Patriots let the Dolphins win to keep us out of the playoffs since they already clinched the east and a playoff spot 

We would need to beat the Bengals, the Broncos to lose either this week or week 17, and the Patriots to beat the Dolphins week 17. The Patriots won't bench their starters if the Raiders win this week. 

[Ravens419]

23 minutes ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

If the Phins lose and we lose, they would control the wildcard spot as they would still be a game ahead of us as they are right now.

If the Dolphins lose this week and we lose they're a game up that's why I'm saying would the pats let them win cause if we beat the bengals and they lose we are in we hold the tie breaker cause I figure the Pats fear us a bit more then the phins 

[Dilferian]

45 minutes ago, Ravens419 said:

If the Dolphins lose this week and we lose they're a game up that's why I'm saying would the pats let them win cause if we beat the bengals and they lose we are in we hold the tie breaker cause I figure the Pats fear us a bit more then the phins 

Breaking News.....the Pats don't fear anybody. And the Pats aren't like Tony Dungy's Colts, where they do other teams favors.

The Pats are certainly the team to beat, and they won't beat themselves. 

As far as the Ravens go, the season will be doomed Sunday. Coal for Christmas folks, sorry.

[Steve0x]

Bills Are fighting for survival and if Bills lose one more game Rex Ryan loses his job. And Dolphins cant beat the Pats. 

[Steve0x]

19 minutes ago, Dilferian said:

Breaking News.....the Pats don't fear anybody. And the Pats aren't like Tony Dungy's Colts, where they do other teams favors.

The Pats are certainly the team to beat, and they won't beat themselves. 

As far as the Ravens go, the season will be doomed Sunday. Coal for Christmas folks, sorry.

Then Harbaugh and Pees will be fired after the Bengals game

[Deflated Football]

I'm going to go with my gut feeling and say our season will end in Pitt, but I'm still hopeful. I'll just make it simple and say that I'd be *pleasantly* surprised if we made the playoffs. 

[Deflated Football]

8 minutes ago, Steve0x said:

Then Harbaugh and Pees will be fired after the Bengals game

Pees and Marty* 

[ellicottraven]

No. I don't see us beating either the Steelers or the Bengals at their Stadiums. I expect us to finish a tepid 8-8 this season. Not a losing season but a lost season for sure. This season has been far more disappointing and frustrating than last season where we won only 5 games but could at least rationalize it due to significant injuries to significant players. This year no injury excuses, better roster and pathetic performances and abysmal coaching across the board.

[K-Dog]

Can I answer this question Sunday night about 8:PM ?

 

[Moderator 3]

I believe in Christmas miracles.

[PurpleCity5]

Hopefully the offense shows up. They have been a very disappointing unit this year. That very is in bold because that's how disappointing of a unit they have been. I honestly have to say that this years Ravens offense has been the most frustrating offense I've seen in years. Unlike years prior we had missing elements, but coming into this year we have a good starting duo of Steve Smith Sr. and Mike Wallace, a guy coming off a 900 yard season, and a 1st round pick who technically is a "rookie" but still talented, however when he makes strides he just seems to disappear and take a step back. Pitta has been a surprise but for the most part, but we still would like to see more production from the TE group which we thought was the deepest unit on the team, now it looks like the weakest unit on the offense. 

Then you add the run game that I don't even feel like talking about right now and of course the play of Joe which has been up and down all year.

Overall, this offense has been a massive disappointment and I hope that even though its very late in the year, they turn it around. 

[PurpleCity5]

Lol how are you guys going to predict what is going to happen just like that? Yeah the offense has been a massive let down but I will say this, its possible to turn on the burners when the post season arrives. Let's see what happens on Sunday, I still believe in this team, there have been times where the Ravens have proved us and the world wrong. 

I'll give them a shot, I think they can win this game, will they? I don't know, but even if we lose we can still make it, all that we would require is another Denver loss and two Miami loses which is very possible since they have to go to Buffalo (Who are also playing for their playoff lives & did spoil NYJ's playoff hopes last year), then we have to take care of Cincinnati and I don't know why people are writing us off there, it's not like the Bengals are unstoppable. I wouldn't even assume AJ Green returns for that game, there's a good chance they shut him down as of now.

[RavensDieHard21]

This team will go as far as Flacco takes us. At this point the team should rally around a cause bigger than themselves. Maybe getting behind SSS's last season and making sure he at least gets one last chance in the playoffs. The guy is a bonafide top 10 receiver all time and he chose the become here to try to win a ring, we cannot let him down like this. 

[reed20]

Yes. It's our year to sweep this division.

[FerrariFan87]

No, sadly. We make too many mistakes and are self-destructive, especially in Road prime time games. We're just never ready to play. Yes, it's the Steelers, but without Jimmy Smith, I don't see us having enough to win on the Road. Plus, we'll have to contend with the Refs, who always favor Pitt.

[VermontRaven]

13 hours ago, Deflated Football said:

Pees and Marty* 

Marty I think is definitely gone after this season. Don't see use parting ways with Pees though.  We are a top-notch defense when our #1 corner is healthy.  In reality, I think we need 1 more "solid" corner behind Jimmy and Tavon....Not out of the question at all to find that in the draft (or possibly free agency) 

Only way I see Pees gone is if 1) he gets a head coaching job somewhere OR 2) The front office decides to fire Harbaugh--which I don't think will happen and I think it'd be a big mistake if they did!

[January J]

9 hours ago, PurpleCity5 said:

Lol how are you guys going to predict what is going to happen just like that? Yeah the offense has been a massive let down but I will say this, its possible to turn on the burners when the post season arrives. Let's see what happens on Sunday, I still believe in this team, there have been times where the Ravens have proved us and the world wrong. 

I'll give them a shot, I think they can win this game, will they? I don't know, but even if we lose we can still make it, all that we would require is another Denver loss and two Miami loses which is very possible since they have to go to Buffalo (Who are also playing for their playoff lives & did spoil NYJ's playoff hopes last year), then we have to take care of Cincinnati and I don't know why people are writing us off there, it's not like the Bengals are unstoppable. I wouldn't even assume AJ Green returns for that game, there's a good chance they shut him down as of now.

The wildcard is what I'm confused about. The LFW article the other day stated we also needed Houston and Tennessee to BOTH finish 1-1? confused me BC 1 of them will win the division and they play each other week 17 which is a guaranteed loss. Were they wrong or am I missing something?

Edited December 20, 2016 by January J

[VermontRaven]

31 minutes ago, January J said:

The wildcard is what I'm confused about. The LFW article the other day stated we also needed Houston and Tennessee to BOTH finish 1-1? confused me BC 1 of them will win the division and they play each other week 17 which is a guaranteed loss. Were they wrong or am I missing something?

I think the LFW article is wrong.  According to nflplayoffpredictor.com, they are wrong.  The only way the Texans/Titans could mess us up is if they both win Week 16, then TIE on Week 17 to both finish 9-6-1--which of course ties are extremely unlikely.

[January J]

1 hour ago, VermontRaven said:

I think the LFW article is wrong.  According to nflplayoffpredictor.com, they are wrong.  The only way the Texans/Titans could mess us up is if they both win Week 16, then TIE on Week 17 to both finish 9-6-1--which of course ties are extremely unlikely.

Alright cool, thought so. Go ravens and go bills.

Edited December 20, 2016 by January J

[trevorsteadman]

Depends on if the defense makes proper adjustments. They have yet to thus far when Jimmy Smith has gone out. The team hasn't came out and said if he will return... Hopefully he does because the team is miles ahead with him than without. But it is unlikely so planning ahead they have got burned without him. Odell with 200+ yards and 2 touchdowns in the second half of the Giants game, 2 Dez Bryant touchdowns against the Cowboys and the team couldn't stop the run, Patriots started marching when he went out, and then last week even the EAGLES were looking good. 

I like Pees and this defense has far exceeded expectations this year... But he has been awful adjusting during the game and even before games without personnel. You never would think a corner had that big of an effect on a defense in both the run and pass game unless you looked at the stats. I don't think I have seen such a mind blowing statistic as a Raven fan. Going from a #1 defense to a #27 ranked defense when a corner a lot of the fan base calls average at best.... Seems like he is a more important piece than most fans will ever know. Which is why he is definitely a top 5 corner this year.