Travis Thomas: Ravens Flying In Crowded Skies
Can anybody figure this division out?
A better question may be can anybody figure out the NFL's playoff picture as a whole?
I have covered this team and the team down I-95 that doesn't deserve to be named all season long and I still can't figure this league out. There have been several moments where I felt the Ravens were the best team in the AFC North and deserved consideration for being an elite team in the AFC. But inconsistencies, injuries, and overall mayhem have prevented that from being the reality.
Now honestly, I have no clue what to think. My eyeballs and my brain tell me that the Ravens will win the division. Not necessarily because of talent, but because of the schedule. The Ravens play Jacksonville in the Big Crab Cake on Sunday, then head to H-Town for a date with the Texans and end at home against Cleveland.
So again, on paper I love the Ravens chances. But this division and this team has been unpredictable to say the least.
The Steelers worry me; they are coming off the biggest win of their season against Cincinnati. But they play the Bengals again and two desperate teams fighting for playoff berths of their own in Kansas City and Atlanta. The Steelers have shown a habit of crapping the bed in big moments so far this season.
Speaking of pooping the bed, does anybody trust Bengals Quarterback Andy Dalton in big games? Cincinnati finishes with three of them: Cleveland, Denver and Pittsburgh. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Bengals lost all three.
As far as Cleveland goes, I'm really not concerned unless the Texas A&M - Johnny Manziel shows up to the party.
So almost by default I think the Ravens win the division. The problem is that, in the AFC, twelve teams will enter Week 15 with a winning record, which is the most any conference has ever had this late in the season. Factoring in everything we have seen all season, I'm lead to believe this race will come down to the wire.
Let's all enjoy the ride.
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