I give up. I cannot figure out this year’s version of the Ravens. How can they tear apart a semi-decent Browns’ team for 15 minutes, then go to sleep for two and a half quarters? How can Joe Flacco be spot on (10 for 10) for two series, then play like he couldn’t hit the side of a garage door?
Cam Cameron crafted an efficient and time-consuming game plan that disappeared from the middle of 2nd period to the middle of the 4th. Where did it go?
There were only two constants in this game; a defense that (for once) bent but did not break, and the continuing excellent play of the special team units.
Look, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the Ravens were in for a bad time in Houston two weeks ago. But they looked even more dreadful than the final 43-13 score. After I tossed that game out with the rest of the my emotional football baggage, I waited to see if they would use their bye wisely and regroup to play against a rebuilding team, a divisional opponent on the dreaded road, that was on a bit of a roll.
I predicted they would win in Cleveland and cover, and they did, but the result still leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth. I refuse to buy the “win is win mantra” that emanates from a locker room that seems to wipe its collective brow with a “we’ll take it any way we can get it” attitude.
John Harbaugh can plays up the opposition all he wants, but his comments are belied by the player’s vocal lack of concern. Check Joe Flacco’s comments after the Chiefs’ and Cowboys games.
Fans should be concerned because the Ravens could very easily be 1-7 rather than 6-2. Think about it. The only game we really dominated was the first – the 44-13 rout of the Bengals. Excluding that game, the Ravens average winning margin is 4 points.
Next Sunday the Ravens play another bad team from the AFC West, the Oakland Raiders, who will be playing on the road at 10 am their time. I expect a good game, a win, and a 7-2 winning percentage. Then the schedule gets decidedly tougher.
Steelers, Chargers, Steelers, Broncos, Giants.
This team has to get a lot better and soon.
