When the Ravens opened the season, most observers believed that they would be anywhere from a (7-9) team to a (9-7) team. When injuries ravaged their offseason and training camp, those modest expectations dropped. Fans checked into betting sites targeting the “under” for number of wins during the 2017 season.
Right about now those fans are wishing they bet the over!
This week the Ravens look to advance to (9-6) on the season. They are currently listed as 13 ½ point favorites to do so over the Colts, and if the game goes down as oddsmakers suggest, only the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that looks as if they’ve mailed it in, stand in the way of a Ravens playoff berth.
The team deserves credit for weathering adversity. When they fell to (4-5) on the season thanks in large part to an offense that then ranked 31st in the league, many of us laughed when head coach John Harbaugh said, “We’re in it!”
Harbaugh hasn’t wavered. His belief in his team and coordinators and all of the next-men-up who have filled in admirably for many competent vets lost for the season, has resonated. Today, the 2017 Baltimore Ravens appear more galvanized than at any point during the season. Their collective focus appears razor sharp and while their long-term goal is a championship, as a team, they possess steely-eyed conviction with short-term sights – one game at a time.
The Ravens lost Kenneth Dixon to a knee injury. Terrence West was sidetracked by a calf injury early during the campaign and they were forced to look towards the league’s running back scrap heap to find Alex Collins.
Meanwhile they lost starting offensive linemen Marshal Yanda and Alex Lewis to injuries; John Urschel to retirement; Rick Wagner to free agency and a promising rookie guard, Nico Siragusa, who damaged everything in his knee ending with “CL”. The ragtag group that remained was tasked with moving a back who was recently unemployed and protecting a quarterback who had a bulging disk and didn’t practice all summer.
Defensively the Ravens lost Zach Orr to a career-ending neck injury. Fresh off an outstanding rookie season, Tavon Young was lost to an ACL tear; promising Brent Urban went down with a Lisfranc injury; Brandon Williams was out for a few games and then Jimmy Smith, who was playing like an All Pro, went down with a torn Achilles.
The 2017 season could have and should have been a colossal mess, yet for the moment, the Ravens appear stronger than they’ve been for years. And the oft-maligned coaching staff deserves credit for navigating the turbulent waters that 2017 has presented.
The team has maintained its resolve. They’ve been fundamentally sound. They minimize mistakes while forcing them, resulting in a league best turnover ratio of +17. In 2016 the Ravens were the 6th most penalized team. This season they have the 4th fewest. Last season they struggled with fourth quarter let downs and gave up 6.8 points per game, good for 17th in the league. This season they give up just 4.5 points in the final frame, good for 5th best in the league. Last season, a healthier offensive line was ranked 20th in run blocking and 8th in pass blocking. This year? Joe D’Alessandris’ unit ranks 6th and 7th, respectively.
The Ravens also field the NFL’s best special teams unit.
Add it all up and it screams, “attention to detail”.
So, despite the odds, despite the injuries, the Ravens are playing meaningful football in December and more than likely, January too.
It isn’t about how you start, but how you finish. And from the looks of it, the players and the coaches are gelling at exactly the right time.
And that’s clearly a testament to the commitment of Harbaugh and his staff and their collective ability to keep their vessel moving in the right direction despite the many obstacles they’ve been forced to overcome.
Obstacles that may have sunk most coaching staffs.
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