Baltimore Ravens: Defense Wins Championships (Can it this year?)
Let be first to say that in the past I was never a big fan of the Baltimore Ravens. For somereason (maybe how pathetic Denvers defense has been the last 2 years) I want them to win this week and would like nothing more than to see them win another Super Bowl.
That defense is consistently good year in and year out. Ed Reed is just a monster back assafety and is a game changer,
evidenced by last week. The Dolphins set an NFL record in 2008of only committing 13 turnovers the whole season
and last week in the WC game vs Balt they committed 5. 4 picks by Pennington when he only had 7 all season long.
Terrell Suggsgets tons of pressure on the QB and this defense swarms to the ball and can be very confusing to any QB
in the NFL. Ray Lewis has never been on my most favorite list but you have to admire the way he plays LB with such a
tenacity that you know he has the burning desire
to win. Bart Scott is an underrated LB. Samari Rolle will go against his former team this week and hopes to make an impact
against them.
On the other side of the ball Joe Flacco did struggle at times as a rookie QB but after starting the season with 1 TD and 7
picks through week 6, he finished with 13 TDs and 5 picks the rest of the season. He will get better IMO as time goes on
as he has a rifle for an arm. LeRon McClain and WillisMcGahee form a good 1-2 punch at RB and do help control the clock
for the Ravens. Derrick Mason did add 80 catches while being banged up all season long and also will be going against
his former team. Todd Heap and Mark Clayton round out a solid receiving corps.
The Ravens did not have explosive special teams as in the past but still have a solid unit with Yamon Figures as a PR/KR
and the very reliable Matt Stover as their kicker.
John (not Jim lol my bad) Harbough did a commendable job this year in his first year coaching in the NFL. Coming off of a 5-11 season,
he showed guts putting in a rookie QB when injuries dictated thatand he will be much better off in the future for this.
I wish the Ravens well and hope they cause 3-4 turnovers in an exciting game at Tennesse