WIndow of opportunity closing....

**Boulderraven** · 01-22-2012, 11:34 PM

Window closing? Nobody knows the future. You only get so many chances in life. Take it from me I'm old. Seen times with promise fizzle and times where things looked bleak blossom. You only get so many chances so you better cash them in.

**Tyrian** · 01-23-2012, 03:48 AM

Injuries are always the great leveller. Yes, the Packers survived it in 2010, but that is rare. We've been very lucky in the last two years, but have fallen short.

If we're lucky with that for another year, there's no reason not to be optimistic. Teams have been successful consistently for longer than five years. Ray, Ed and Ray Rice are the only main worries going forward (age x2 and then the contract - Suggs and Ngata have not played well the year of their contract and you hope that will not happen to Rice as well). Aside that, we're looking good. Most of the key players are young and have room for improvement. It's amazing how the rookies stepped up this year and will only be better next year.

Ravens do need to find an area they're excellent at, I think as they don't have one. Good to great at everything, excellent at nothing. Find a real strength or cultivate one that scares the rest of the league. Top teams all have that one strength (usually pass attack or pass rush). Right now, you'd think it could actually be the secondary (funny, considering what it was like in 2009). If Webbie continues to play at this level and improves to a shutdown corner and we've got Jimmy playing to his talent level, that's one hell of a tandem going forward.

**HolyHaloti** · 01-23-2012, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by Lime in the Coconut

The Steelers are in a lot worse shape than us. I think we have a lot of young studs, some we don't even know about.

True, at the same time I feel like they will keep on competing and the Bengals will definetly be a harsh competitor if they have another good draft and the Browns have an abundance of picks... The AFC North will be a tough, but fun, division to be a part of for the next few years.

**JAB1985** · 01-23-2012, 07:31 AM

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/B...ip-Game-012212

This type of horrible writing is why people even say theres a window. This team will be a perennial playoff team because we have the type of front office and coaching staff to make that happen. I truly believe well be better next year than this, and i feel that way almost every year with this team. There is no window, except for getting Ed and Ray a superbowl before they retire, but well be contending still long after theyre gone.