I think we're in for a rude awakening!

[Fang]

11-5 and the Ravens win the division and goto the Superbowl finally under John Harbaugh. You heard it here first.

[LarryN]

wow.

2 games into pre-season is not the time to panic.

But the sky is falling. Run.

[bmore_ken]

11-5 and the Ravens win the division and goto the Superbowl finally under John Harbaugh. You heard it here first.

It's too early for that prediction too

[yeah]

numbers avatar (his brother maybe?) looks constipated

[rick and roll]

What you see out of preseason games is not indicative of what the season will be. It's like using too many Sabremetrics in baseball, a lot of talk about nothing.

When the schedule came out, people were cryiing the blues. I actually think the schedule, especially the way it's spaced, favors the club. A lot of the tougher games are at home, and two on the road, SD and Houston, don't scare me this year.

Not worried at all. 11-5 sounds reasonable. But predictions are kind of meaningless. Gotta get home playoff games.

[CajunRaven]

I'm thinking you left out a word there. Since it's technically up for grabs....I'll take a shot at it and predict you ommitted 'questionable.'

Post fixed!

You are consistent with your predictions.

[Slidemaster]

Locker combo is jerking off something fierce to this thread.

[The_Man]

When the schedule came out, people were cryiing the blues. I actually think the schedule, especially the way it's spaced, favors the club. A lot of the tougher games are at home, and two on the road, SD and Houston, don't scare me this year.

Not worried at all. 11-5 sounds reasonable. But predictions are kind of meaningless. Gotta get home playoff games.

San Diego destroyed the Ravens last year. And our defense will be worse this year. They scare me.

[RIKMAN]

Wow. A bit early for the parachutes. Preseason means NOTHING!!!!!

I think they are still the team to beat. However, I don't think they're nearly as good as last year.

But I hope I'm wrong!

[AntiMoon]

Hopefully the OP is basing this on the roster and not on the preseason. This being the NFL there is no such thing as a ridiculous prediction. Wouldn't surprise me if Ravens went 13-3 or 6-10. Every team is a couple of injuries from 8-8 and a few more injuries from 6-10. Crap happens. But don't believe in preseason. You just can't simulate the intensity, speed, game planning, adjustments,etc. Ravens so far aren't rolling coverages, disguising blitzes, playing in tough road stadiums or a loud and crazy home stadium, dealing with a heartbreaking loss or a comeback victory. How do we respond to those? Look how different last year is if we don't come back in 2nd half against Arizona. The roof could've caved in with guys pointing fingers,blaming the OC/DC etc. But until Harbaugh has a bad season I need to see it to believe it.

[Local Boy]

I see a 5-4 start and a 5-2 finish. Should be good enough for the playoffs.

[cprenegade]

Wow. A bit early for the parachutes. Preseason means NOTHING!!!!!

I think they are still the team to beat. However, I don't think they're nearly as good as last year.

But I hope I'm wrong!

I don't put much stock in preseason results, but there are some takeaways from the games. A lot of times when a team has a disappointing season you can make the statement that "we should have seen this coming during the preseason." I'm not ready to downgrade my 10-6 prediction, but there are some definite concerns that can be seen. The O-line was inconsistent last year, and looks weaker this year. Those who said "next man up" when Suggs went down are badly fooling themselves. The D-line is going to have a tough time getting pressure and that is going to tax the secondary. It was bad luck to lose JJ to free agency right before losing Suggs to injury. You just can't replace a guy like Suggs that easily. If you could, the Ravens wouldn't have given him a huge contract. Upshaw doesn't look nearly ready enough to step in. These are two big problems that I don't see magically getting fixed before the season starts. I think the Ravens are still a playoff team, but given the tougher schedule that they have I don't see them getting that bye this time around which means most likely at least two games on the road in tough places to play come January.

[RestonRaven]

I'll bet if I went digging through the archives, I'd find a thread from last year, just like this one.

Doom.and.gloom.

There actually was a pre-season thread like that last year, I wish I could find it (BTW- does anyone even remember last year’s pre-season record). Generally, it went something like this: 1.) There is no way this team will recover from blowing the playoff game against Pittsburgh, no team can recover from a devastating playoff loss like that - get ready for an 8-8 hangover; 2.) What the hell was Ozzie thinking cutting Heap, Mason & Gregg – he just doomed the season – it is over before it begins; 3.) Torrey Smith is a bust with too many drops in preseason and practice - way to blow a high draft pick Ozzie - cut him now and bring back Mason; 4.) The offensive line is a mess, Oher is out of a position, McKinnie is washed up *** were they thinking plugging him in to the line – what a joke – it is going to be a long season with that line, Ozzie should have worked something out with Gaither 5.) Ray & Ed are way too old to contribute

The team thrashed Pittsburgh in the opener, swept the division, finished 12-4 and came 27 seconds from the Super Bowl. Will that record happen again this year – probably not. But, The Bengals and Steelers have to play the NFC East as well, and also have playoff qualifier schedules + the division schedules (and we’ll leave the Browns out of the discussion). It is not how you start, it is how you finish. I hear everyone talking about 10-6, or 9-7. I can see that. I can also see 10 wins winning the division this year. The Ravens through the scheduling quirk, play 4 games (3 in primetime national tv) in 19 days to start the season. Fortunately, 3 out of those 4 are at home. If they come out of that 2-2, I like how the season + bye shakes out the rest of the way. I’ll wait for the quarter point of the season to make a judgment – not the second game of the pre-season.

[demopublican]

Locker combo is jerking off something fierce to this thread.

That is a nasty word picture

[18-87-44-29]

I see a 5-4 start and a 5-2 finish. Should be good enough for the playoffs.

Reverse those #s and you might be closer to actuality I'm betting. (maybe 1 game better tho.)

[yeah]

youre betting? lol

turn that frown upside down mr scowlface! life is easier when youre less angry

[18-87-44-29]

youre betting? lol

turn that frown upside down mr scowlface! life is easier when youre less angry

Whose angry? I have a feeling I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this season in many ways.

YEAH I said it!

[RAVEN FAN]

we are still looking at the players no panic is right on. Ozzie will pick the best 53 players to to keep. lets not go crazy yet. they may get some players who are cut.

[CharmCityCrab]

I think this is a playoff team. We do need to figure out a way to generate more of a pass rush, maybe bring in Lights Out and see if he's got anything left in the tank, but this is a pretty good team.

Hand the ball to Ray Rice 30 times a game, give it Pierce another 5-10 times. A few long balls to Torrey Smith. A defense that is good all facets of the game except a pass rush. No Billy Cundiff (Hopefully). We can do this thing.

I just hope Cameron doesn't go his yearly thing where he decides "Now we're a passing team.", we lose a few games we should win, and then he finally comes to the same realization he comes to every year- that we're a run first team that wins when we run first. Just start running from the get-go this year. We might not have the same margin of error as in previous seasons.

I love Joe Flacco, but the truth is, he's a *much* better quarterback statistically when he has fewer passing attempts. When the number of pass attempts per game for him go up, his statistics go down. He doesn't seem to realize this judging by his public comments, but hopefully the coaching staff does realize it. You've got a guy in Flacco who can be a pretty good QB and help us win games for years to come in the right system- but if you trying to make him a Payton Manning or a Tom Brady who throws the whole game, and defenses key on the pass, it exposes his weaknesses and makes him much less than he otherwise is.

[West Chester Raven]

I love Joe Flacco, but the truth is, he's a *much* better quarterback statistically when he has fewer passing attempts. When the number of pass attempts per game for him go up, his statistics go down. He doesn't seem to realize this judging by his public comments, but hopefully the coaching staff does realize it. You've got a guy in Flacco who can be a pretty good QB and help us win games for years to come in the right system- but if you trying to make him a Payton Manning or a Tom Brady who throws the whole game, and defenses key on the pass, it exposes his weaknesses and makes him much less than he otherwise is.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! You are are 100% correct! That is exactly what we have. He is just OK. That is why Ray has a contract and Joe doesn't people. Joe will get taken care of later - based on how things go. He is fine - I want him here - but if we think we're going to lean on him and he is going to carry our team this year you are dreaming. P.S. The Patriots pass defense was atrocious last year. Don't get too drunk on the AFC title game. He sucked *** against the Texans the week prior. He did get that pass off to Lee Evans and that should have done it - but it was still against a suck-*** pass defense starting a WR at corner.