Terry Ford: Ravens - Good News & Bad News
The Good News… The Ravens, despite the 27-24 loss in Cincy, are 5-3. They are still in the thick of the AFC North and AFC Wild Card races.
The Bad News… The Ravens have played only two squads that made the play-offs last year and they are 0-3 against them. The teams the Ravens have beaten are a combined 15-22-1. Baltimore has pounded on the awful NFC South to the tune of 3-0. The Panthers, Bucs and Falcons have totaled six wins… COMBINED. I think the University of Maryland could win the NFC South.
The Good News… The Ravens offense under their new offensive coordinator is Top 10 in the league. They can run it and throw it. As a matter of fact, when the Ravens run the ball 30 or more times they are 5-0 and Joe Flacco is statistically having his most consistent season. The offensive line has protected Flacco better and has opened lots of holes in the running game. They are 8th in the league in points per game.
The Bad News… The Ravens have only scored 53 points in their three losses. In all three of those games the Ravens have run the ball less than 30 times. Flacco has not been sharp in the losses and has faced a lot pressure in the pocket in those games.
The Good News… The Ravens defense is second in the NFL in points allowed per game. And recently the pass rush has come alive with Elvis Dumervil, Pernell McPhee and Terrell Suggs. And a better pass rush has helped mask the trouble with safety coverage.
The Bad News… In the two Cincy losses the pass rush wasn't as fierce and the secondary paid the price. And in the two Bengals games the Ravens defense couldn't get the big stop in the 4th quarter after the team took the lead. I think that Chykie Brown and Terrence Brooks are still spinning in circles looking for the ball.
The Bad News… The Ravens travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers next Sunday night. The Steelers and the Ravens are tied at 5-3. If the Steelers win at home they will vault over the Ravens in the division. And if Pittsburgh does grab the "W" the Ravens will go from 5-2 and in first place in the AFC North two weeks ago to 5-4 and possibly third place or even last in the AFC North.
The Good News… After the Steelers game, the best team record wise the Ravens will face is the San Diego Chargers, who are 5-3. Miami and Cleveland are next at 4-3. And that's it. Besides that there are lots of Houston, Jacksonville and Tennessee on the schedule. I think you could pick twenty-two drunks out of the tailgate parties in the parking lot and they could beat Jacksonville and Tennessee.
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