With three games remaining the Ravens have positioned themselves well to return to the playoffs after a one year absence. After a critical victory in Miami, they return home to face the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, and are once again in control of their playoff destiny. Win out and they’re in. Their schedule is favorable, with their toughest game remaining being a matchup with the Texans next week, on the road against a stout defense lead by the likely Defensive Player of the Year J.J Watt.
[RELATED: RAVENS PLAYOFF PICTURE AT 10-6]
I read a couple of pieces and looked at some fan boards this morning and noticed a common opinion.
The Ravens should rest Torrey Smith this weekend in the event he’s not completely healthy for two reasons:
- Kamar Aiken and Marlon Brown played well in his absence.
- More importantly (according to some) the Ravens are playing the Jaguars at home in a game that should be lay-up.
It’s true that the Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t very good. They have 2 wins and are 0-6 on the road. They have a rookie quarterback under center who is prone to making mistakes, and playing in Baltimore is challenging for any signal caller. But considering how crucial every remaining game is for for the Ravens, they need to be careful not to look overlook them.
This match-up has the words “trap game” written all over it if they do.
There is no doubt that last week was both physically and emotionally exhausting for the Ravens. Aside from facing a challenging opponent on the road, they lost one of their best defensive players for the rest of the regular season to a suspension.
There is also little doubt that next week in Houston is their toughest remaining game. The Texans have played well recently and sit at 7-6. They by no means are out of playoff contention and next week could be a pivotal game for them in the event that they win this week.
Sandwiched between those two challenges for the Ravens is a game that anyone and everyone expects them to win easily. But if we’ve learned anything this year in the NFL, it’s that it’s as unpredictable as ever. Whether it’s been the Broncos losing to the Rams, the Chiefs losing to the winless Raiders, or the Steelers getting beat soundly by the Jets after embarrassing the Ravens, parity is at an all time high.
While the Jaguars may only have two wins, they’ve built a reputation as a team that despite having little to play for, plays hard week in and week out. And they have playmakers like Denard Robinson and Marqise Lee that are a threat to score every time they touch the ball.
If the Ravens want to rest Torrey Smith in week 15 that’s fine. Their reasoning though should be more about their confidence in the players that they have behind him, and less about their opponent on the field. Overlooking below average teams trying to play the part of spoiler is a dangerous trap for playoff contenders in the final stretch of the season.
Let’s hope it’s not one the Ravens fall into in week 15.
