The Ravens got out of the Motor City with a win last night and their magical run to a potential sixth-consecutive postseason continues on.
It’s never easy, it’s never pretty; in fact, it is down right nerve wracking it seems each and every week. But it’s Ravens football.
Each week someone comes out of the shadows to pick the team up and give them the opportunity to smack adversity in the face.
Against the Lions on Monday Night Football it was once again on full display for the nation to see just how the Baltimore Ravens continue to thrive when no one gives them a chance.
Yes, the Ravens still have a load of issues when it comes to red zone offense and sooner or later they will need to score touchdowns, but for now, it’s not how you get there, it’s that you get there.
With games remaining against the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals all the Ravens need to do is find ways to win. They are a scary team, one that if you asked around the league, no one wants to see come January.
“We’re playing our best football right now and we’ll have to improve down the stretch,” said Head Coach John Harbaugh after the Ravens’ second road victory. Very true for sure coach, but what you see is what you get this time of year.
What I see when I watch the Ravens is a scrappy team that doesn’t throw in the towel no matter how bleak it looks to many of us. I am guilty of it myself – countless times I have counted this team out and in the blink of an eye they are right back in it.
Last night was thrilling and there were many plays – and players – to point to that had such a huge role in the Ravens getting their first ever win in an NFC North venue.
There were Justin Tucker’s six field goals that gave the Ravens their only points of the game. There was Jimmy Smith having rookie Matt Elam’s back when it came to containing Calvin Johnson.
“We told Matt from the get-go, if they go after you, we got your back,” Smith stated after the game.
There was also the play of Daryl Smith, Jacoby Jones coming up with a huge catch on third down late in the fourth quarter and Ray Rice’s blocking in the face of a grueling pass rush. The point is they are doing just enough to survive.
Everything isn’t all roses and rainbows and we all know that. Do the Ravens wish it could be? Of course; however, at times they give you the feeling they prefer to play under the gun.
We can run the playoff scenarios until we all are blue in the face but the answer is simple. Â “Just Win.”
Win pretty, win ugly. It doesn’t matter as long as the Ravens “Just Win.”
Follow me on Twitter @SportguyRSR
