If it’s true that history always finds a way to repeat itself then the Ravens, along with their fans, should be all smiles with the team sitting at 5-2 through the first seven weeks of the season.
In fact, they should be down right giddy about their chances to get back into the postseason after missing the playoffs last season for the first time under head coach John Harbaugh.
Sitting atop of the AFC North, the Ravens, under Harbaugh have held a 5-2 record three times since he took over in Baltimore in 2008. In each of those years (2010, 2011, 2012), after starting off with a 5-2 record through seven games, the Ravens made the postseason. In 2010, they managed a divisional playoff game appearance, in 2011, a trip to the AFC Championship game and, in 2012, a Super Bowl victory.
One important reason for the Ravens’ current record has been the play of their red zone defense. Their bend-but-don’t-break style has paid off, as they’re allowing opponents touchdowns on just 36.4% (8 touchdowns in 22 trips) of red zone attempts.
“First of all,” defensive coordinator Dean Pees explained when asked about the elements that go into a good red zone defense, “just good communication – it starts with that. Whatever the call is down there, you can’t have a mental mistake. When you have a mental mistake and break down in the red zone, it’s usually a touchdown.
“Second of all, I think you have to be physical on defense, because you can’t allow them to run the ball in. That’s always the No. 1 priority.”
And three, I think you just have to have a mindset that you’re not in a panic mode. It’s just like when you have a sudden change. After a turnover or something, you can take two mindsets: You can either run in there or go in all upset because the ball was turned over or they had a big play or something happened, or you can go in there with the mindset that, ‘Hey, we have to really hunker down and get it done.’ So, I think those three things in the red area are really the keys.”
As a whole, Pees’ group ranks first in the NFL in every major scoring category, including points allowed per game (14.9) and overall touchdowns permitted (10, tied with Detroit.)
The Ravens can certainly buy themselves some breathing room in the division with wins in the next two games before their match-up at home against the Titans just before the bye week.
Barring serious injuries or a complete and utter meltdown in the second half of the season, it appears as if the Ravens have set themselves up quite nicely for another postseason appearance.
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