Can The Ravens Discover it Again?
For the moment, the Ravens are the sixth-seed in the feeble AFC. They control their own destiny.
Marinate in that for a moment.
The playoff perch the Ravens currently occupy is rather shocking given the club’s numerous and obvious weaknesses. Even if the team successfully punches its postseason dance card, you have to wonder if such a short-term gain flies in the face of long-term success. Put another way, could this chase for a playoff berth usher in more of the same mediocrity next year, and the year after?
Based upon past experiences, many will rationalize that once the playoffs commence anything can happen. A team can get on a roll and you just never know where a hot streak can end. We only need to look to the Ravens 2000 and 2012 seasons for proof.
But is this 2017 edition of the Ravens capable of such a run?
It’s unlikely, but you never know…
Think back to 2011. Not so much at the Ravens missed opportunity to play in Super Bowl 46, but rather their would-be opponent in that big game – the New York Giants.
The Giants that season, started strong and after 8 games their name sat next to a (6-2) record. They then went on a four-game slide during which they gave up on average, 33 points per game. Even when they snapped the skid, lifting their record to (7-6), the defense yielded 34 more points only to be saved by Eli Manning & Co.
But eventually, the Giants defense got it together, giving up just 15 points per game the rest of the way, reeling off six consecutive wins, finishing as World Champions after beating the New England Patriots 20-17.
For the Ravens, it’s the offense that needs to get its act together.
It remains to be seen if they can.
The more likely scenario is that if the Ravens do make the playoffs, they’ll fall short of the ultimate goal but in doing so, they’ll have paved the way for the return of John Harbaugh and his entire staff in 2018. And if that happens, is it a good thing for the organization?
Will the Ravens then continue to field a bland team that offers little excitement and one missing an identity? Will they continue to draft players and then force said players into a system that might not match up with the unique skill sets that attracted the Ravens scouts in the first place?
Exactly who are the Baltimore Ravens?
The fans apparently don’t know. Take a look on Stub Hub for tickets to Monday’s game against the Texans. An important game for the current 6th-seed in the AFC, don’t you think? Yet tickets are plentiful and heavily discounted.
I have friends trying to unload a pair of tickets in Section 113, row 7 for Monday Night’s game. The face value is $120 each and they aren’t getting a sniff. Why? Stub Hub is offering the same for $57 each.
Fans are struggling to relate to the team.
Of course, ticket sales are struggling for other reasons such as the overall costs of attendance, the conveniences of staying at home (particularly on a school night) and of course the backlash from the player protests.
But if the Ravens had an identity that fans could embrace, if they were more consistent and if they fielded a couple of exciting players, the electricity in the stadium would elevate – perhaps enough to increase the demand for tickets. And maybe my friends could get face value for seats that not long ago earned a premium.
Winning can cure a lot.
Moving forward, it doesn’t matter what the Ravens have already done. What matters is what they do during the weeks to come.
In 2000, the Ravens dropped to (5-4) while in the grip of 21 consecutive quarters without a touchdown. In 2012, they were thumped at home 34-17 by the Broncos in Week 15 (it was 31-3 until Denver eased up on the throttle) yet they recovered and eventually beat the Broncos at Mile High a few weeks later on their way to the title.
Enjoy the ride. The scenery might not always be pleasant along the way and no matter how unsavory the style of play is, the Ravens football games remain meaningful and until further notice, as surprising as it seems, they really do control their own destiny.
And on this special holiday, it’s one more thing to be thankful for.
