Perception Is Reality: Week 16
I remember growing up reading the sports pages of the Baltimore Sun newspaper every single day. I really looked forward to one specific article that happened every month or so that was a “Fact and Opinion” column by John Eisenberg. It must have been popular, because I remember the sports editor of The Aegis in Harford County, Randy McRoberts, copying the idea every now and then in his column.
It was a favorite of mine, and when I started writing for the Eutaw Street Report and the Russell Street Report a few years ago, I wanted to do something similar. That’s when “Perception is Reality” was born. The “reality” is basically the fact, while the “perception” is my opinion on the topic of the fact.
REALITY: After Buck Allen fumbled Sunday, he was benched for the rest of the game.
PERCEPTION: With Allen on the bench, Towson University alum Terrance West got a chance to prove his worth. The Ravens took a chance on West after he had been let go by both Cleveland and Tampa. What most fans saw on Sunday was a guy who ran hard and did what he could to be successful. No one questioned his talent. What they did question was his effort and attitude during the week to prepare for Sunday. That’s what failed for him on his prior teams. If West can fix his attitude, then the Ravens have themselves a nice team of running backs.
As far as Allen goes, if he’s going to fumble, you need to see what your other players will do. These last few games will help this team see who can help them next season. And against opponent’s first stringers, the experience is more valuable than the preseason, especially with a couple teams who are, most likely, bound for the playoffs coming up the next two weeks.
If Allen is going to fumble, you have to treat it like you would if the team was in the playoff hunt and stick with the mantra of “Next man up.” Let’s see what West and the others can do.
REALITY: Baltimore has never seen a Ravens team like this.
POW-POW-POWER RANKINGS
Let's do this: https://t.co/gsXY0P7ZCc pic.twitter.com/H1Pyx7XDv6
— NFL on CBS ? (@NFLonCBS) December 22, 2015
PERCEPTION: I couldn’t care less about power rankings, but just stop and look at that graphic for a minute. Eight months ago, the Ravens were predicted by many to be in the AFC Championship, if not the Super Bowl. Now, for the first time in their history, the Ravens are playing regular season games after being eliminated from the playoffs, and people are ranking them as the worst team in the NFL. Amazing.
But like many Ravens fan, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports says, “They will be back next season.”
REALITY: The Baltimore Ravens have more players on Injured Reserved than any other team in the NFL and are tied for most players on IR in franchise history.
Ravens have now tied their record for most guys on IR under Harbs. Had 19 in 2008, 2014 and 2015. https://t.co/XcZ5MW8Yzc
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) December 21, 2015
PERCEPTION: Yup, it’s been that sort of year. A huge reason the Ravens have struggled so mightily this season is the amount of injuries and the importance of the players injured. If they had half as many players,, this season could have turned out drastically different.
Joe Flacco, Steve Smith Sr., Justin Forsett, and Dennis Pitta. All four of those players are among the best at their positions when they are active. Campanaro, Taliaferro, Gillmore, Monroe, Waller, and Zuttah are all also solid contributors. That’s 11 players offensive players off the active roster. How do you expect to win games when so many integral players can’t contribute at all?
You don’t, and that’s why this team has 4 wins.
REALITY: Seven teams, including the Ravens, have used at least three quarterbacks this season.
Seven teams have used at least three QBs this season. Only one of those is above 500: #Steelers
— Amy Lawrence (@ALawRadio) December 20, 2015
PERCEPTION: The lone team with a winning record of those seven teams is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The difference between them and the Ravens? They have a defense that has been solid throughout the year, and three receivers who might be better than any pass catcher on Baltimore’s active roster. Their running game has been solid all season, whether DeAngelo Williams or Le’Veon Bell was toting the ball. Simply, their roster as a whole has had a much better season than the Ravens.
REALITY: The Ravens could be headed to their 4th starting QB.
Ravens could turn to Ryan Mallett on Sunday https://t.co/gELpDLcOZs
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 22, 2015
PERCEPTION: The Ravens need to be able to evaluate Ryan Mallet in their system. They have seen what the team looks like with Matt Schaub and Jimmy Clausen under center, and now it’s time to see Mallett. If they start Mallett in these last couple of games, they will now have real game film on each of their three QBs.
With Flacco returning next year, they won’t be able to keep all three of them, so this offseason they will need to decide who will be Flacco’s back-up. Most likely, they will pick up a rookie – either through the draft or free agency – for the practice squad. I can’t imagine any of the three would accept a third string role, nor would the team want to carry that many veteran quarterbacks.
Let’s try out Mallett and see who will be the best option for this team moving forward.
REALITY: The Steelers lead the regular season series against the Ravens 21-17. They also lead the Postseason series 3-1. One of the Ravens’ four wins this season was against Steelers in Pittsburgh October 1st. It was the Ravens’ first win of the season, after losing their first three games of the year.
PERCEPTION: Do you remember it? It feels like a world away. It was a Thursday Night game. Mike Vick was the starting QB for the Steelers. Justin Forsett had a huge night with 150 yards rushing. Justin Tucker hit two field goals in the 4th quarter over 40 yards, and then hit the game-winner in OT at 52 yards. The now unemployed kicker Josh Scobee missed two field goals in the 4th quarter that made it possible for the Ravens to even be in the game. Simply put, they were lucky, and the flaws of the 2015 Ravens continued to show.
This game definitely slants toward the Steelers. The Ravens could start their 4th QB of the year. They have more players injured than any team in the NFL. The Steelers are getting healthy. Pittsburgh needs to win to stay in the #6 slot of the AFC Playoff Picture, and they want to avenge their loss to the Ravens earlier this year.
Baltimore hung tough for the first 12 games of the season, playing within one score every game. But this team is out of gas, losing the last two by a combined 69-20. The next two games are looking like they will follow the same trend.
Steelers win 37-16.
