Mark Zinno: Ravens Reactive - The Road Ahead
It's an odd feeling for the Baltimore Ravens. They aren't playing football in January. They have done so every year since John Harbaugh took over as head coach.
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It's an odd feeling for the Baltimore Ravens. They aren't playing football in January. They have done so every year since John Harbaugh took over as head coach.
What's next for the 8-8 Ravens after winning the Super Bowl just a season ago?
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh usually spends this time of year getting his team ready for the postseason.
The Ravens 2013 season ended in bitter disappointment for players, coaches and fans. But while the year ended on a sour note, the front office, in terms of personnel, has taken a step backward – the correct step – in hopes of producing a consistent Super Bowl contender in the coming years.
The Baltimore Ravens went from Super to mediocre in 2013, finishing 8-8 following an offseason in which the NFL champions shuffled the roster because of salary-cap concerns.
Every week Mike grades the Ravens performance, and here are his grades for the Ravens season ending loss to the Bengals 34-17.
The season has expired for the Ravens after a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that could have taken them to the playoffs. Ravens fans all across the city are sad after what they call a disappointing season.
Too many field goals. Not enough wins. And for the first time in six years, no place in the playoffs. The Ravens aren't used to any of this. The defending Super Bowl champions were eliminated on Sunday with a 34-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, who took away their AFC North title and pulled away at the end of a game that Baltimore needed to win.
The Ravens face a pivotal Week 17 matchup against their division foe in the Cincinnati Bengals. But with star players dealing with nagging injuries, they may be playing shorthanded on Sunday.
After taking a week off for the Christmas holidays, I am ready to get back to the football picks this weekend.
The Ravens took a huge hit to their playoffs aspirations on Sunday when they lost to New England. Now Baltimore will face off against the newly crowned division champs in a game that they must win in order to continue their season. It's truly win or go home for the Baltimore Ravens.
On the surface, you can look and say the Ravens blew their chance to get in the playoffs by getting smoked by the Patriots.
Joe Flacco's knee is problematic for the Ravens. With Flacco banged up, the passing game is a concern for Baltimore heading into its critical regular season finale in Cincinnati.
Before absorbing the most lopsided home defeat in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens hoped a win at Cincinnati in the season finale this Sunday would provide them with a third straight AFC North title.
The Ravens may not make the playoffs in 2013. After losing to the Patriots on Sunday, Baltimore no longer controls their destiny. They'll need some help to get in to the playoffs. But they also need to win to have any kind of shot.
Let's just settle this right now. Yes. However, that doesn't explain the whole story.
It was embarrassing. It was ugly. It hurt them in the standings. And most of all, it was unexpected.
After not scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions on Monday night football their woes continued as the Patriots shut down the Ravens in a 41-7 rout.
This was as close to a playoff game as it gets in the regular season for the Baltimore Ravens. If they won, they'd be guaranteed a shot at a division title. With a loss at the hands of New England, they may now miss the postseason all together.
Every week Mike Preston grades the Ravens performance, and here are his grades for the Ravens blowout loss to the Patriots 41-7.
Tom Brady leads his Patriots into a road showdown with Baltimore.
The best way to beat the New England Patriots is with strong play from your quarterback. That's what makes Joe Flacco's injury the focal point as the Ravens game against New England approaches.
The Patriots certainly bring out the best in number 5, if not the entire team.
