Reality: Sunday’s game was the first time the Ravens scored more than 30 points in a game since their Super Bowl victory over the 49ers, 34-31.
Perception: It’s about time! With Joe Flacco, Torrey Smith, and others over the years, the Ravens should always have been a more prolific scoring team than they have been. Yesterday, they blew out a team that many were saying could have been the best team in the NFC. It was a complete effort and got people to start seriously considering the Ravens as an AFC contender.
Think about this for a minute. The Ravens scored 38 points yesterday… all without the second best running back in franchise history, their starting tight end, and their starting left tackle. Plus, their #2 running back didn’t play. To me, that Ravens game was just like the Orioles season… without all your top guys, you find a way to win.
Reality: Steve Smith was the best free agent signing this off-season in the NFL.
Perception: After just four games with the Ravens this season, Smith has the same amount of 2+ touchdown games as he had in three seasons in Carolina. Smith is the oldest player in NFL history with 400 yards in his first four games.
Smith said “I’m 35 years old and I ran by those guys like they were schoolyard kids.” He also said, “No 30-year-old has ever had 700+ yards receiving. I’m gonna smash that!”
Is Smith the best Ravens receiver ever? The Ravens have never had top-notch wide receivers, always struggling with finding quality guys as free agents or in the draft. Torrey Smith was looking to be that guy, but has been non-existent this season. Derrick Mason and Anquan Boldin were cut from the same mold as Steve Smith, but Smith has a bigger chip on his shoulder. Smith just had the best 4-game span for a wide receiver in Ravens history. If he continues for the other 3/4ths of the season in the same way, we could be saying that Smith had the best season of any wide receiver in Ravens history.
Reality: John Harbaugh’s success has linked his name to head coaching jobs around the country.
Perception: Ian Rapoport and Gil Brandt from the NFL Network continue to push this thought that the University of Michigan and John Harbaugh have mutual interest. Both John and Jim Harbaugh have been linked to the job, but Rapoport and Brandt said over the weekend that “Michigan prefers John Harbaugh over Jim.”
I’m sorry, but I just don’t see it. I could see Jim making the jump back to college after all his struggles in San Francisco as of late, but I just don’t see John going back to college. This morning, Jerry Coleman of 105.7 The Fan confirmed my thoughts, when he tweeted:
I can tell you affirmatively that #Ravens John Harbaugh has 0 interest in #Michigan job, despite rumors. Not going anywhere @1057TheFan
— Sports With Coleman (@sportswcoleman) September 29, 2014
John Harbaugh has already won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, and he might be doing his best coaching job this season. He has to be Coach of Year at quarter mark of season. After going through all that he has with the Ravens this off-season and this season, and to be 3-1 and have his team playing extreme well, it’s simply been an amazing job.
The Ravens are now 3-1 for fifth time under Harbaugh… and each of the previous four times they started 3-1, they made the playoffs. Not only that, but the last six times the Ravens started a season 3-1, they made the playoffs and twice won a Super Bowl.
