8-2 and nobody is happy

[44Defense]

This has been a strange year for the Ravens. They have played the toughest schedule in the NFL and are 8-2 with the 2nd best record in the AFC. They are also playing without their best cB, a HOF linebacker and Suggs for 6 games. All 3 phases are know good for the Ravens. Not Just a great D. Harbaugh should win coach of the year in my book to hold this team together. 10 years ago we would have loved this team. The problem is the Ravens are becoming victims to the prior success and failures. This lack of positive support could be the chip on the shoulder they need to win it all. I also expect the Ravens to win in San Diego. What do u guys think???

[baltimoreron]

I'm happy. There is no category and no bracketing for 'style points'. A win is a win.

We have become spoiled as a fan base.

[PEZ]

I'll believe that the Ravens win in San Diego when I see it. Last year they lost big in SD and they have played terrible on the road this year. What makes you so optimistic for a win there?

[LarryN]

They should be 9-1, save for that BS OPI call on Jacoby Jones against Philly.

But you're right, I just don't feel like I'm watching a 9-1/8-2 teams every Sunday.

[Aclobat]

Gosh. Is it baseball season yet?

[bmore_ken]

I'm happy with 8-2. They're not all going to be pretty. For the most part we're basically 2-3 wins away from a playoff spot with 6 to go, who's not happy about that?

[PEZ]

I'm happy with 8 - 2. I'm just not so sure they win against SD.

For the most part, the Ravens have beaten the teams with winning records, with few exceptions. And most of their remaining matchups are against teams with winning records. Here's the recap of their last 6 losses going back to last year.

2011
Sep 18 BAL 13 @ TEN 26
Oct 24 BAL 7 @ JAC 12
Nov 13 BAL 17 @ SEA 22
Dec 18 BAL 14 @ SD 34

2012
Sep 16 BAL 23 @ PHI 24
Oct 21 BAL 13 @ HOU 43

[PEZ]

Hmmm.. I see a pattern here.

They tend to lose a game a month.

[OriginalColtsFan]

There's a huge difference between saying one is happy with an 8-2 record and saying one is not happy with Cam Cameron. The Ravens are more dependent on the offense now than at any other point in their history. And the inconsistency and head scratching moves by Cameron is legitimate cause for concern as the regular season moves into the "second season" (i.e. playoffs), where everything is intensified. Cameron simply does not instill confidence that he can get the job done. And frankly Pees does not inspire confidence either.

[Frank Costanza 831]

I was at the game in Cleveland two weeks ago and i was very unhappy with the play there and was pretty pessimistic about the rest of the year. But the last two weeks the defense has looked vastly improved and the offense has been serviceable. 8-2 is very, very good

[Kawalimus]

I'm happy with the record and unhappy that we have the same idiot stooge running the offense and now another one running the defense. We're probably going to win the division unless Roethlisberger has a miracle recovery but it's annoying to see that we keep having the same problems on the road with the offense.

[JohnnyUrulz]

I was unhappy and ready to jump ship after the Houston game. But I've been very happy with the last 3 games. I'm seeing reasons to be optimistic but still apprehensive, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hopefully that shoe stays put.

Figures we play our only west coast trip right after a huge emotional divisional game. That's when they tend to have a letdown. Last year after we clobbered Pitt at M&T they went down to Tennessee and laid an egg.

[Steveg85321]

Of course I'm happy with the record, but while I'm actually watching the games, I'm envisioning playoff games with Houston or New England (not to mention NY and Denver lurking in the schedule) and I'm seeing an offense full of 3-and-outs and a ragtag defense that has issues, and it is hard to feel optimism. And yet, the wins happen; it is like a baseball pitcher who goes out without his best stuff and yet still manages to gut it out. The Ravens have found ways to win, and maybe they'll continue to do so.

[rick and roll]

I'm forever disappointed but never really surprised about how some people can't look beyond the surface. You think any other city is happy with their coordinators? How can you complain about lack of talent, injuries, and then slam the coordinators? Just talking out of both sides of your mouth.

If anything, the coaching staff has performed well. We are 8-2 with a ton of injuries, a line that hasn't done well, and receivers that for the most part don't get open often enough.

What would you have done against Pittsburgh differently? I totally agree that the last third and two was hideous - they didn't even try to make a first down. But the offense didn't have any turnovers and played to win. You've been hollering about running more and now we're seeing more as the weather changes and the situation dictates it.

I can't change your mind, but you know, we went to the playoffs with an unproven rookie quarterback, thumped NE in the playoffs, and oh yeah were a dropped pass from going to the Super Bowl (which we would have won considering we matched up well with the Giants last year). I'll bet Cameron was a real idiot in that game, and told Lee Evans to drop that pass.

Sometimes Flacco gets too pass happy, and there are times when the OC makes a bad call. But the vast majority of mistakes are poor execution or the other team well, you know, playing hard.

How can you say the Ravens are "dependent" on the offense, yet say Cameron is bad, when we are 8-2? Which is it? Are you saying that our talent level is that good to overcome a bad OC? That's ridiculous.

8-2 is all that matters. I was one of the few people at the beginning of the year that thought our first half schedule was not bad. You have to look at the things like we played Thursday at home, when the bye is etc. Now it gets hard - but we did what we had to do.

You don't have to praise anyone but give the people credit when it's due. Complain complain complain....who cares how you or I "feel". We are 8-2. For now, yes, but two games up.

[Ravens2006]

People would only be completely happy if they won every game by 20+ points. They probably won't win the SB, and that's simply a reality of statistics. 31 of 32 teams won't. 11 of the 12 that make the playoffs won't. And if they don't you'll hear the usual refrain... "See, I told you <FILL IN REASONS> was going to kill them". And of all the teams we view as "favorites" to win it all (Pats, Texans, Broncos, 49ers, Falcons, Packers, Giants, etc.) at most ONE of them will pack up their lockers this year feeling completely satisfied. And fans in every one of those cities will be saying the same things.

[can you hear me now!]

I'm happy. There is no category and no bracketing for 'style points'. A win is a win.

We have become spoiled as a fan base.

concis and to the point...you are 100% correct....

[OriginalColtsFan]

concis and to the point...you are 100% correct....

So says the same poster who declared (finally) that the OC needs to be gone. In order to make that statement, you have to be unhappy about the OC. So how does that balance?

[OriginalColtsFan]

People would only be completely happy if they won every game by 20+ points. They probably won't win the SB, and that's simply a reality of statistics. 31 of 32 teams won't. 11 of the 12 that make the playoffs won't. And if they don't you'll hear the usual refrain... "See, I told you <FILL IN REASONS> was going to kill them". And of all the teams we view as "favorites" to win it all (Pats, Texans, Broncos, 49ers, Falcons, Packers, Giants, etc.) at most ONE of them will pack up their lockers this year feeling completely satisfied. And fans in every one of those cities will be saying the same things.

A typical strawman argument. No one is saying they'd only be happy winning by 20+ points. It's a polarized, irrelevant argument since no one is actually saying or implying that other than you. What most rational, normal people can see without your attempts to obfuscate the matter is that Cam Cameron's offenses simply do not consistently look like other high quality NFL offenses. It's obvious to most fans, and it's obvious to analysts who have taken the time to look closely at the game films, and it was obvious enough to the organization which is why Cameron has been on the hot seat for the past 2 seasons. So the obvious reaction is to say: This is a problem that needs to be fixed, but isn't getting fixed. Yet for you, for some reason, that DOESN'T make sense. Why is that, do you suppose?

[can you hear me now!]

So says the same poster who declared (finally) that the OC needs to be gone. In order to make that statement, you have to be unhappy about the OC. So how does that balance?

like you said earlier...I'm happy they are 8 and 2...no where did I say that some changes weren't necessary..

and yes, this is a very spoiled fan base...

[OriginalColtsFan]

like you said earlier...I'm happy they are 8 and 2...no where did I say that some changes weren't necessary..

and yes, this is a very spoiled fan base...

Riiiiight....

And why is a fan base that's intelligent enough to see problems and point out the problems "spoiled"? What have the Ravens "won" aside from a Super Bowl over 10 years ago to "spoil" their fanbase? What it is is a frustrated fan base -- frustrated with 10 years of Billickball and Cameronball, while wasting opportunities when the D was at its strength to become a true contender, instead of a perennial also-ran pretender. (And of course, those apologist "fans" who rush to the scene to try to tell the fans they should be happy with sloppy seconds.)