Like many of you I sit this morning with great anticipation and optimistic expectations for what will go down in Denver this evening. You know that Ray Lewis believes the Ravens will pull it off and that deep within his heart and soul he’s ready to go to war and he’ll try to will his teammates to do whatever it takes for the man playing next to him. “In any war, you put your back to mine, I put my back to yours, and let’s do what we gotta do.” … Continue reading →

Most of the country gives the Ravens little chance on Saturday in the Mile High City. Vegas initially pegged the Broncos as a 9-point favorite and so far there has been no movement in the line. But regardless of what that blockhead on NFL Network Heath Evans might tell you, the Ravens have a shot in this game – a good one. And if you aren’t buying into this way of thinking, let me remind you of a few things in Ravens playoff history. Last season in the AFC Championship … Continue reading →

Now that Baltimore Ravens certain first ballot Hall of Famer Ray Lewis has announced that he’ll be retiring at the end of the season, many are pondering the post-Lewis Ravens. What will they look like? Will they lose their identity? How will the Ravens replace Ray Lewis? The simple and probably most accurate answer to the last question is, “You don’t!” Ray Lewis is a one in a billion player. The Ravens will have to look to other areas of their locker room for leadership. Ray Rice and Terrell Suggs … Continue reading →

Some great players aren’t necessarily leaders. Some leaders aren’t necessarily the best players. Some of the best players aren’t necessarily the most dedicated ones. Some dedicated players are overachievers. Some overachievers aren’t necessarily gifted athletes. But every now and then a rare player comes along who is blessed with God-given abilities yet still driven by some insatiable desire to excel; to reach unprecedented heights without limitations – or at least refusing to admit that they exist. During his uncommon pursuit of excellence he can will his team through his infectious … Continue reading →

Although he’s listed as “Probable” for today’s game in Cincinnati, Ray Lewis will not see the field. Technically it will go on the Gamebook as a “DNP” with an asterisk of some sort in the team’s records labeled “coach’s decision.” Clearly the Ravens and the future Hall of Famer have their collective sights set on next weekend’s Wild Card Game as a return date for No. 52. Many wonder if that WC Game at M&T Bank Stadium will be the last time Ray exits the tunnel and does his squirrel … Continue reading →

Week 17 of the NFL season includes six games that have absolutely no bearing on the postseason whatsoever. Of the games that are meaningful, three have an average point spread of over 14 points. Two games will take place that include teams that have nothing to gain or lose in terms of playoff positioning regardless of the outcome of their respective games. So if you’re counting, that’s eleven of the sixteen games likely to be snooze fests. Some will play out like preseason games, as teams will field some rookies … Continue reading →

Yesterday during Christmas Eve gatherings family and friends seemed more proud and stood a little taller when they discussed the Ravens or rocked their purple or their Ravens gear. One game can make a big difference. And it has! Our resident NFL historian here at RSR, Kurt Backert, shared some interesting historical facts. Collectively they may not represent what WILL happen over the next couple of weeks however, in the NFL, history does have a way of repeating itself. Let us take you on a little trip down memory lane, … Continue reading →

This is a story about a little girl who just a few days ago celebrated a birthday. She’s a happy child with a magnetic personality, engagingly social who laughs and hugs often. Having entered the world just seven years ago Joey is known for her affection and incredibly wonderful sense of humor for someone so young. She loves to swim, swing, play with her Barbie dolls and enjoys her iPad and computer. And she really loves her sisters. Joey’s hair is sandy brown and her cute little bangs rest comfortably … Continue reading →

Forward: Our goal from the day Ravens24x7.com launched back in 2003 was to deliver from the perspective of a fan, Ravens news, opinions and insight in an informative and fun way. Along the way our journey has taken twists and we’ve ventured down new paths. Sometimes those paths have little to do with the Ravens or the NFL because it seemed to make sense to travel such paths if for no other reason than it was the right thing to do. Such is the case today with this…   Perhaps … Continue reading →

Whenever results don’t match up with or exceed expectations, there’s bound to be disappointment followed closely by the blame game. If achievement falls short of the mark, it’s only natural to want to know why and correct the flaws. Clearly the Ravens have fallen short of expectations and there’s little that we’ve seen from them in recent weeks to believe that the decline will end any time in the foreseeable future. The first attempt towards reversing the slide was made by Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti when he called for the … Continue reading →

You know I think I must be nuts. Maybe you are too. I’m talking about my investment in the NFL. My tickets are $120 each. Parking is another $40. So at minimum I invest $280 per game. But we all know it goes well beyond that. There are tailgating and in-stadium food and refreshment expenses. On a smaller scale there’s the time invested in the commute and the accompanying tolls. Then if you are as unfortunate as me, you have a couple of knuckleheads around you who complain whenever you … Continue reading →

I am so fed up with Roger Goodell! There was a time when I thought he was exactly what the NFL needed – not the empty suit that MLB is saddled with or the master manipulator who treated Baltimore like a street whore during the expansion process. But right now, and I can’t believe these words are appearing on this page… I miss Paul Tagliabue. Any relationship is grounded in trust. Take it away and there’s no relationship at all, only angst and contempt. Is there any compelling reason to … Continue reading →

We’ve heard the rumors of the sideline argument between John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron. And some want to believe that the mildly heated debate led to Cameron’s firing. Let’s not be naïve here – it’s not that simple! These two men who have been friends for a long time. They probably share cookies and hot cocoa during Christmas. If it were only about the play calling against the Redskins, Cameron would be at practice today implementing a game plan to take on the Denver Broncos. Instead the Ravens have at … Continue reading →

The Ravens will soon venture into dangerous and in many ways unchartered waters – waters that include a Joe Flacco contract extension. So why is this dangerous? Because how the Ravens handle it could drastically affect the future of the franchise. The Ravens must be careful not to overpay an above average quarterback. There I said it! Is it wrong? Is Joe Flacco better than an above average quarterback?  If you answered yes, we aren’t watching the same player. Can’t be! Now Flacco supporters will point to his winning ways … Continue reading →

The highly criticized offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, Cam Cameron has been relieved of his duties after nearly five tumultuous seasons guiding Joe Flacco and the team’s offense. Maybe he is the team’s sacrificial lamb, a scapegoat of sorts, or maybe like millions in the area, you believe Cameron is the devil with a headset on. Clearly the offense is dysfunctional leading to extreme inconsistencies. This move wasn’t about the Ravens loss to the Redskins at FedEx Field yesterday. This move is about the Ravens trying to gauge Joe … Continue reading →

The Baltimore Ravens are making the turn towards the homestretch of the 2012 season as they reach the three-quarter pole. The good news is that the team is 9-3 with a 2 game lead in the AFC North. One win during the next 4 games pretty much assures them of a playoff berth. More good news lies in the fact that the Ravens have yet to peak and as we’ve seen in the past, particularly with the Eli Manning led New York Giants, championships are not as much about how … Continue reading →

In all probability the Baltimore Ravens will be a postseason participant for the fifth consecutive year. At this point how they might perform on the “dance floor” is anyone’s guess particularly in light of their inconsistencies. Only fans completely blinded by their devotion to the team believe that the Ravens are as good as their record suggests. Fans with a more objective outlook understand that their (9-3) mark is extremely fortunate. Seriously, does anyone really think this edition of the Baltimore Ravens can win a Super Bowl? But what if … Continue reading →

The Ravens will soon venture into dangerous and in many ways unchartered waters – waters that include a Joe Flacco contract extension. So why is this dangerous? Because how the Ravens handle it could drastically affect the future of the franchise. The Ravens must be careful not to overpay an above average quarterback. There I said it! Is it wrong? Is Joe Flacco better than an above average quarterback? If you answered yes, we aren’t watching the same player. Can’t be! Now Flacco supporters will point to his winning ways … Continue reading →

The Ravens are a team of destiny. That’s what we heard after their comeback win against the San Diego Chargers last week at Qualcomm Stadium. Following a successfully converted 4th and 29 on a near miraculous play by Ray Rice I admit that I started to buy into all of John Harbaugh’s clichés. Maybe he’s right (I thought) and there really is something special going on with the Ravens. I mean, c’mon man, who converts a 4th and 29? And then this past Wednesday we heard of a near mutiny … Continue reading →