Rob Long: Ravens Building A Resume
The Baltimore Ravens have made it to the post-season each of the past three seasons. After Sunday, it looks like they are headed there for the fourth consecutive season. What makes this season any different from the previous 3 seasons? This team is in a position where they have to go beyond where they've been since 2008. Just making the playoffs isn't good enough.
Up until this week, a huge question mark was whether this team could stay focus enough after an emotional win. Last week was the San Francisco 49ers. This week they had to stay focused and beat the Cleveland Browns on the road. They handled their business and did exactly that in the form of a 24-10 win as they cruised to a 9-3 record. That win also made their AFC North record an impressive 4-0.
They'll be plenty of time to nitpick the stats. I chose not to at this moment because I watched a lot of football yesterday. I saw the New England Patriots struggle in the second half against the worst team in the NFL. Even though the Houston Texans won, they aren't impressive and will be very beatable in the post-season.
I'm confident that the AFC will come down to the Ravens and their dreaded rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens will have to do the "near" impossible and beat a team for the third time in one season. It's not impossible. The Steelers did it to the Ravens just a short while ago. With this group of Ravens' players, anything is possible.
Rob Long
