Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens Have Potential In Both Directions

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:53 p.m. ET

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Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws the ball in the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens have shown plenty of signs for a great season in their 3-1 start. However If we’re being honest with ourselves, they’ve given just as much reason for concern:

The 3-1 Baltimore Ravens remain a mystery in 2016. A deep playoff run wouldn’t be shocking after a highly ranked defense lifted them to three straight wins to start the season. Missing the playoffs also wouldn’t be completely shocking after ranking 20th in points scored and 20th in yards earned per game. Who are the Ravens?

When the Ravens were undefeated it was easy to feel good about the team. When the Ravens won three close games, we justified it by saying “A win is a win.” However the Ravens have not had a complete performance all season. The Ravens will prove that they are contenders only when they can put it all together.

This season feels a little like the 2000 season did. A dominant defense is responsible for carrying the entire team to a winning record. The Ravens offense was horrible in their first Super Bowl run, but at least they had an excuse. The 2016 Ravens offense has talent and is led by a Super Bowl MVP quarterback. On paper the offense should not be as bad as it is in actuality.

If you want to jump on the defense after the Raiders game, I’m not going to stand in line with you. The Ravens defense did it’s job, it really did. They held Derek Carr under 200 yards passing. The four touchdowns hurt, but a good team is going to capitalize on short fields. The defense stayed strong, the dam broke after being put in unfair situations. I don’t know how much more you can really expect from Dean Pees and company. It seems like we’re asking too much from one part of the team.

Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (57) tackles Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas (80) in second half at EverBank Field. Baltimore Ravens won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Flashing Potential

When you look at how good the Raiders are, and how bad the Ravens played for nearly three quarters, it’s almost miraculous that it was just a 1 point loss. Carr is one of the most up and coming quarterbacks in the NFL. The Raiders got all of their scores from big plays rather than sustained drives. When you set a good team up with golden chances, they take advantage of it. That doesn’t mean the defense isn’t on the hook for giving up big plays. However in bad situations, good things don’t happen with a high frequency.

A defense like this gives the Ravens a chance. In every game this season the offense has gotten off to a slow start and the defense has kept the win within the Ravens reach. How many times have promising Ravens drives been stalled this year? How many times has the offense put the Ravens defense in a bad spot? The offense has to be better.

The offense has clearly shown flashes of brilliance. The Ravens found big plays to comeback every time they have been down this season. Against Cleveland, the purple and black heated up enough to overcome a 20-2 deficit. The Ravens were able to set up Justin Tucker for a game winning field goal against the Jaguars. However these flashes of brilliance have only come when the team has had their backs against the wall. When you wait for it to be a do or die scenario, sometimes it’s too late.

It seems like the Ravens potential for a great offense is there. Joe Flacco is capable, he just needs to play his best. Steve Smith Sr. Mike Wallace and Dennis Pitta seem like a rock solid core of go to players. When you add a talented backfield to the mix, you should see good results. In theory the Ravens offensive roster is amazing. This leads us to the thought that Marc Trestman can figure it out. However, Trestman seems to have a very intimate relationship with Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity.

Oct 2, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) pressured by Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack (52) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

But Something Does Not Add Up

Look at the Ravens statistics. On one side of the ball it’s a thing of beauty. On the other side of the ball it’s a bad horror movie and you see it coming every step of the way. It seems like having the 20th ranked offense isn’t something a 3-1 team typically has. If feels like putting up just 21 points per game is a little low. Baltimore can’t find it’s groove. When your franchise quarterback is playing like a shell of himself and the run game has really only shown up n one game, you might be in trouble.

Before the season I thought the game against Washington would be an obvious win for this team. Now, I really have no clue what I should expect. We know that the defense will keep the Ravens in the game. Even after giving up 28 points, the first quarter of the season is good evidence of this. The problem is that there are two Ravens teams. There are the Ravens who perform when they’re down. This team looks pretty solid. Then there is the Ravens team that gets themselves down in the first place. This team looks pretty flustered. There comes a certain point when we have to stop giving the Ravens credit for gritty wins when their flaws are what made it gritty.

This feels like a Super Bowl caliber team when things are rolling. That feeling is all well and good, however when it’s not rolling they don’t even look like playoff contenders. Something is not adding up. Something is missing. There is a piece of the puzzle hidden under all of the other pieces. When the Ravens fit it into place, the problems should subside. The clock is ticking though; if they don’t find their answer soon it will be too late.