Subscribe to our newsletter

Is This the Most Balanced Team in Franchise History?

Share
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Seven weeks into the 2014 season Ravens fans have a lot to be excited about. The team is off to one of their best starts in the John Harbaugh era and looks impressive on both sides of the ball.

They currently have a staggering point differential of +89, and rank highly in most categories on both offense and defense. They are allowing the fewest points per game at 14.9, and they rank sixth in total scoring averaging 27.6 points per game.

Its early in the season, and the Ravens have beat up on some mediocre competition, but it’s fair to ask the question – is this the most balanced Ravens team in franchise history?

The Ravens have won two Super Bowls, so those two teams no doubt rank as the greatest in the team’s 19-year existence, but neither of those two teams had great balance. The Ravens lifted the Lombardi in 2000 with arguably the most suffocating defense in NFL history, and had game manager Trent Dilfer behind center. In 2012 they had an aging defense that rode the momentum of Ray Lewis’ last ride, and Joe Flacco turned into Joe Montana in the playoffs.

Perhaps the most balanced team to this point was the 2006 Ravens led by Ray Lewis and Steve McNair. The Ravens finished with their best regular season record of all time at 13-3. Their defense allowed a ridiculous 12.6 points per game. Their offense was more prolific than it had been in recent memory and averaged 22.1 points per game. Despite their impressive regular season, the playoff run was short when they lost to Indianapolis in the divisional round.

Now let’s be honest, that 2006 defense was good, historically good. Lewis and Ed Reed in their prime, a young Sizzle and Haloti Ngata fresh out of Oregon. Not to mention Bart Scott, Chris McAlister and Kelly Gregg. The thought of that squad would send shivers down any offensive coordinator’s spine. But the 2014 defense up to this point isn’t that far off. Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs are wreaking havoc on quarterbacks, Ngata and Brandon Williams are suffocating any attempt teams make at establishing a run game, and CJ Mosley isn’t just playing like one of the best rookie linebackers, he’s playing like a top 5 linebacker overall.

This year’s offense is more explosive and up to this point is averaging over five more points per game than in 2006. Steve Smith hasn’t been just a complement, he’s been a legit #1 receiver, Justin Forsett is seizing his first opportunity as a feature back, and Torrey Smith’s play is improving with each week. The offensive line has gone from a weakness to a strength and Flacco is having his best year with Gary Kubiak calling the plays. He has gone from struggling early in games to being the third best QB in the first quarter behind Aaron Rodgers and Phillip Rivers with a rating of 123.8.

Stats aside this team is playing with an edge. Their biggest acquisitions this offseason were released from their previous employers, and they all are playing and coaching with a chip on their shoulders. They’ve set out to prove to their past teams that they made a mistake by parting ways with them, and up to this point they’ve been right.

The Ravens have a lot left to prove. Other potential playoff teams they’ve played, the Colts and the Bengals, are their only two losses. They have an opportunity to make a statement this weekend that they are one of the most complete teams in 2014.

Don’t Miss Anything at RSR. Subscribe Here!
Latest posts
Join our newsletter and get 20% discount
Promotion nulla vitae elit libero a pharetra augue