It’s laborious to inform the place the Ravens match within the NFL image as a result of there are few good groups.
Maybe there are 4, however three could be a protected guess proper now. The San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are the highest groups, after which there’s a vital drop-off.
The Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills may be within the subsequent tier, after which there may be one other drop-off.
Where are the Ravens? It’s but to be decided.
Right now, they’re nomads looking for an id. They have potential, however apart from the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals, so do 28 different groups.
How good the Ravens look depends upon the half. They totaled 242 yards of complete offense and scored on their first 4 drives in opposition to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, after which the offense disappeared within the second half earlier than the crew held on for a 24-16 victory.
“Well, right now it’s a process,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated after the sport. “At this time limit, it’s an early season. No championships are received in Week 4, Week 5 [or] Week 6. We’re type of wanting by way of what we’re able to turning into. We misplaced some video games we should always have received. We performed good soccer in stretches, however we made errors. We’ve shot ourselves within the foot means too many occasions.
“What success looks like right now is heart, the ability to overcome adversity, keep fighting till the end, find a way to win, make plays when it counts and to keep improving. We keep improving, at some point in time you get over the top, you break out and you start winning by larger margins. That’s what we’re going to try to do.”
That’s the purpose, however the Ravens haven’t been in a position to put collectively a full 60 minutes of soccer in two years. Since the beginning of final season, they’re tied with the Las Vegas Raiders for probably the most blown double-digit leads with 5.
In the NFL, a number of groups escape of their pregame huddles by saying the phrase “win.” With the Ravens, it’s “when,” as is when is that this crew going to lastly put it collectively? The Ravens gave up 10 third-quarter factors Sunday to permit the Titans to drag inside 18-13, however they need to have been up by much more.
The Ravens have already misplaced to groups they need to have overwhelmed simply within the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers, so it brings me again to my earlier query: When?
It’s early within the season and the Ravens are alleged to be making progress, however it’s laborious to see. There are virtually as many questions now as there have been when coaching camp opened in late July.
The accidents to starters are comprehensible as a result of that’s part of the sport, however this lack of focus from one half to a different is definitely not.
Right now, the Ravens can win in opposition to a number of the groups within the NFL, however it’s a thriller why they will’t dominate groups they need to beat, or why they lose within the first spherical of the postseason.
Maybe they only aren’t adequate.
They spent some huge cash within the offseason bringing in free agent receivers Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr., and to date they’ve added little — definitely not their cash’s price. They employed coordinator Todd Monken to place new life into the offense in February after which gave quarterback Lamar Jackson a five-year, $260 million contract two months later.
This offense, although, is in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde mode.
One half it exhibits up, after which the following it disappears. Jackson has made progress, however his solely constant weapons have been rookie receiver Zay Flowers and tight finish Mark Andrews.
Defensively, the Ravens’ entrance seven can play with virtually any crew within the NFL, however they haven’t performed a top quality or wholesome quarterback all season. The well being of security Marcus Williams nonetheless seems to be in query and cornerback Marlon Humphrey is best on the within than the skin.
Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is having a powerful season, however there are considerations concerning the 30-year-old’s longevity after 10 years within the league. There are occasions whenever you wonder if the Ravens can maintain tempo with high-powered offenses akin to these in Kansas City with quarterback Patrick Mahomes or in Buffalo with signal-caller Josh Allen or in Miami with its abundance of velocity.
On Sunday, it appeared as if Harbaugh lastly began to maneuver away from his normal aggressive philosophy. Instead, he despatched out the most effective kicker in NFL historical past in Justin Tucker to aim six subject objectives.
That most likely received’t get it finished within the postseason, however it was sufficient to beat the Titans as a substitute of counting on Jackson and an erratic offense. The Ravens have been nonetheless 1-for-6 within the purple zone and had solely 118 yards of complete offense within the second half.
This can’t proceed.
“It’s just another win, but it was the most important win because it was the opportunity that we had today,” Beckham stated. “I think our group of people [knows] exactly where we’re at and where we’re supposed to be. There’s always that goal to keep working and keep climbing.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com