I began the day looking to write a piece on the Ravens’ unnecessary risks and miscues in Cleveland on Sunday, and how those issues (unfortunately) become an afterthought thanks to the win.
After some thought, that stream of consciousness turned into “you know what? Those risks are okay given the opponent and knowing the Ravens should win their final three games regardless of a few off-the-wall risks taken!”
Then I went to check stats to prove why they should win…
I was (checks thesaurus for biggest word possible)…
FLABBERGASTED.
FLOORED.Â
SHOCKED I TELL YA!
Just look at these stats through 14 weeks for the offense…
24.6 ppg- 8th in NFL
844 rushing yards for Alex Collins– 10th in NFL (in a split-back role)
4.9 ypc for Collins– 6th in NFL
And the defense…
18.4 ppg allowed– 4th in NFL
324.7 ypg allowed– 10th in NFL
3 shutouts– leads the NFL
33 turnovers forced– leads the NFL
22 Interceptions– leads the NFL
+17 turnover differential– leads the NFL
How about the special teams?
37 punts inside the 20 yard line– leads NFL
Surely the penalties are still an issue, right?
81 penalties against– 5th fewest in NFL
Those are real stats and rankings for your 2017 Baltimore Ravens folks. Seriously.Â
Now think about this: they’ve done this through 14 weeks sans the services of Dennis Pitta, Tavon Young, Alex Lewis, Kenneth Dixon, Darren Waller, and Zach Orr, while replacing stud WR Steve Smith Sr. with a lackluster Jeremy Maclin, as Breshad Perriman continued his downward spiral into healthy scratch-ville, and going stretches of the season without the likes of Danny Woodhead, Marshal Yanda, Jimmy Smith, Maurice Canady…
You get it. The theme is here is the short-handed Ravens are actually really exceeding expectations!
Can it get better than this?
Since the bye week (4-1 record), the team has progressively gotten better, having scored 31 points per game (up a touchdown from their season average), and allowing 17 points on average (down a point & change), despite a 39 point thrashing by the Steelers.
The Ravens are clearly trending upward at the right time…
And what’s better than this momentum?
The Ravens will end the season with two cupcakes in the Colts and Bengals, both at home, both with lame duck coaches, and both playing for absolutely nothing.
Understanding the team is currently in a ‘win and in’ position for the playoffs, the Ravens should be absolutely salivating…as should we as fans.
Let’s pack The Vault over these last two weeks, huh? See you there.
