Are the Ravens in trouble?

[Midnightangel]

This off season they lost 8 men on the defensive side of the ball alone - and they've lost some people on the other side as well. Anquon Boldin most notably, and Pitta to injury.

Last night they did NOT look good in the second half. I saw a defense that was gassed and, as expected, receivers that were out of step with Joe Flacco.

There's a reason no one has repeated since the 2004 Pats - the champ is marked. This is a copy cat league and you can expect every team to use a hurry up offense against them. Granted, not everyone has Payton as a QB and the weapons around him but still...the teams listed below can do it.

In the coming weeks they've got a few tough ones....Texans, Packers and Steelers - then after the bye they've still got the Bengals twice, Bears, Lions and Pats.

They COULD be looking at 3-4 headed into the bye.

 

[bksballer89]

No they got beat by one of the 3 best teams in the league and they actually looked really good in the first half.

 

[BF4L]

They played a good first half defensively but it sure did look like they ran outta gas or Manning and company stepped up the game.

That blown call that Harbagh did not challenge really swung the momentum and Denver rolled after. Not sure if he throws the challenge flag if it would have made a difference or not.

 

[Midnightangel]

They played a good first half defensively but it sure did look like they ran outta gas or Manning and company stepped up the game.

That blown call that Harbagh did not challenge really swung the momentum and Denver rolled after. Not sure if he throws the challenge flag if it would have made a difference or not.

I don't think so. The Ravens were already running out of gas at that point. I don't think it would have made that much of a difference.

 

[mcro_rave_2001]

Other than the drops and not beating man-to-man coverage the Ravens offense looked okay last night. I expected 27 points from them and that's what i got. The defense just got gassed and you can chalk that up to a lot like altitude, first game of the season, Peyton running the no huddle and our offense going 3 and out all 3rd qrt. This was a good teat for the Ravens and showed many flaws that they will need to correct. I think things get better and remember it's only one game there are still 15 games left to play.

 

[catchbluefish]

This off season they lost 8 men on the defensive side of the ball alone - and they've lost some people on the other side as well. Anquon Boldin most notably, and Pitta to injury.

Last night they did NOT look good in the second half. I saw a defense that was gassed and, as expected, receivers that were out of step with Joe Flacco.

There's a reason no one has repeated since the 2004 Pats - the champ is marked. This is a copy cat league and you can expect every team to use a hurry up offense against them. Granted, not everyone has Payton as a QB and the weapons around him but still...the teams listed below can do it.

In the coming weeks they've got a few tough ones....Texans, Packers and Steelers - then after the bye they've still got the Bengals twice, Bears, Lions and Pats.

They COULD be looking at 3-4 headed into the bye.

They are in trouble if they keep playing like they did last night. Peyton was on fire without question but the ravens didn't put up much of a fight when the game turned when Harbough, for some bizarre reason, didn't challenge the welker non catch. That game showed they have some serious work to do to get back to where they were.

However, they were no where near the most talented team last year and look what happened. Its one game so you guys shouldn't be firing up the duck boats (if that is what you use in the steeler town) just quite yet.

 

[mcro_rave_2001]

I don't think so. The Ravens were already running out of gas at that point. I don't think it would have made that much of a difference.

well, if he did challenge the play if forced Denver to punt so the defense would have gotten a rest there, but the offense at that point was just going 3 and out every time so who knows.

 

[Midnightangel]

Joe Flacco passed for 50+ last night. I don't know if you can do that and win many balls games.

Yeah - I know, Flacco had a great year last year.

But he's without a few of those guys catching the ball.

I just don't know that you can ignore Ray Rice (one of the best RB's in the game) and expect to win on Flacco's arm if he doesn't have the receivers to catch it.

 

[mcro_rave_2001]

Joe Flacco passed for 50+ last night. I don't know if you can do that and win many balls games.

Yeah - I know, Flacco had a great year last year.

But he's without a few of those guys catching the ball.

I just don't know that you can ignore Ray Rice (one of the best RB's in the game) and expect to win on Flacco's arm if he doesn't have the receivers to catch it.

WTF did you want us to do when we were down buy 20+ points, run? stop it, and think.

 

[SomeGuy]

Other than the drops and not beating man-to-man coverage the Ravens offense looked okay last night. I expected 27 points from them and that's what i got. The defense just got gassed and you can chalk that up to a lot like altitude, first game of the season, Peyton running the no huddle and our offense going 3 and out all 3rd qrt. This was a good teat for the Ravens and showed many flaws that they will need to correct. I think things get better and remember it's only one game there are still 15 games left to play.

 

[BF4L]

well, if he did challenge the play if forced Denver to punt so the defense would have gotten a rest there, but the offense at that point was just going 3 and out every time so who knows.

Exactly that was a huge gaffe on Harbaugh. Like I said would it have changed the outcome who knows..but it would have slowed Denver down right then.

 

[Midnightangel]

WTF did you want us to do when we were down buy 20+ points, run? stop it, and think.

Flacco lost to many receivers to just think he could come in and pick up where he left off from last year. The game plan should have reflected that.

Your defense needed rest. Quick three and out's aren't going to do that. You should have had more Ray Rice. He only got 12 carries and Pierce only 9. You gotta make more of an effort to get him involved in the first half.

Do you realize that Flacco had 20 more attempts than Peyton Manning?

Call it laws of probability - the more attempts you have the more INT's you'll have.

On the other side....some of those Bronco TD's don't happen if you have Ed Reed and Pollard back at safety.

 

[mcro_rave_2001]

Flacco lost to many receivers to just think he could come in and pick up where he left off from last year. The game plan should have reflected that.

Your defense needed rest. Quick three and out's aren't going to do that. You should have had more Ray Rice. He only got 12 carries and Pierce only 9. You gotta make more of an effort to get him involved in the first half.

Do you realize that Flacco had 20 more attempts than Peyton Manning?

Call it laws of probability - the more attempts you have the more INT's you'll have.

On the other side....some of those Bronco TD's don't happen if you have Ed Reed and Pollard back at safety.

yet another statement you can't back up....you're on a roll

 

[Midnightangel]

yet another statement you can't back up....you're on a roll

Watch Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos [09/05/2013] - NFL.com

Fast forward to 2:50 in...you'll hear them make the same statement.

Thank you.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Don't know about being in trouble. LY I thought they were a 9 or 10 win team and obviously we see how that turned out. Not to take anything from it b/c every SB team will needs a rabbit foot (converting 4th & 50..lol) somewhere along the way.

This yr...last week I thought they were a 9 win team...still feel the same way.

DEF...Strong DL/OLB, yes, they got younger and more athletic @ ILB but you just don't know how the intangibles that Lewis brought (especially on the road) really affects the team.

OFC...Very solid RB/FB, in spite of his big contract Joe imo is a very good QB not a great one...the issue is @ WR/TE...I will say the UGA kid @ WR Brown imo will be better than Jacoby Jones.

Being the hunted every week is tough, and I don't think they have enough on OFC to overcome that.

Trouble? As in a losing season, no, but playoffs this year...doubtful.

 

[mcro_rave_2001]

Watch Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos [09/05/2013] - NFL.com

Fast forward to 2:50 in...you'll hear them make the same statement.

Thank you.

they can't back it up either...two wrong don't make a right.

 

[night]

Too early to tell. I don't think they can lean too hard on Flacco but they can get Rice more involved. They'll have to sure up their defense somehow throughout the season. Losing two future hall of famers was definitely a big hit to that side of the ball.

 

[Black Belt Disciple]

This off season they lost 8 men on the defensive side of the ball alone - and they've lost some people on the other side as well. Anquon Boldin most notably, and Pitta to injury.

Last night they did NOT look good in the second half. I saw a defense that was gassed and, as expected, receivers that were out of step with Joe Flacco.

There's a reason no one has repeated since the 2004 Pats - the champ is marked. This is a copy cat league and you can expect every team to use a hurry up offense against them. Granted, not everyone has Payton as a QB and the weapons around him but still...the teams listed below can do it.

In the coming weeks they've got a few tough ones....Texans, Packers and Steelers - then after the bye they've still got the Bengals twice, Bears, Lions and Pats.

They COULD be looking at 3-4 headed into the bye.

It's been one game. What a ridiculous question. I'd be more worried about the crappy Steelers or cruddy Raiders.

 

[#1BostonFan]

Wouldn't hit the panic button yet, but they don't look like a contender.

 

[mcro_rave_2001]

Wouldn't hit the panic button yet, but they don't look like a contender.

many said the same thing last year, i think the Ravens still make the playoffs, it's only one game and it's Denver is a very hard place to open up at.