Ravens Playoff Hopes Have Been Earned

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 31, 2009 3:39 PM EST

Due to the trend of losing the tough games in such frustrating fashion this season, many fans of the Baltimore Ravens feel that the team has not earned the right to play in the post season. However, as everyone probably knows by now, if the Ravens win this Sunday at the Oakland Raiders, they will indeed have earned a spot in he playoffs as either the 5th or 6th seed. Depending on how the New York Jets do when they host the Cincinnati Bengals in the Sunday night game will dtermine which of those two Wild Card seeds we end up with.

However, like it or not, if they win, they absolutely did earn the right to play for a chance to go to the Super Bowl. While many people think they have little or no shot at the Big Game, we've all seen what can happen once the regular season is history and the hot team usually comes out on top. We saw the Ravens go from the Wild Card to the AFC Championship Game in 2008 and should also recall that we won the 2001 Super Bowl from the Wild Card slot.

The feeling that this team doesn't deserve a post season berth is one for debate. There are 20 other teams that will be sitting home when the playoffs start and when you look at those teams, I find it hard to spot one that is more "deserving" or "earned" the right to go while we didn't or don't. Yes, the Ravens lost games they should have won, but against either first place teams or teams already in (Green Bay Packers) or still fighting (Pittsburgh Steelers) for a playoff spot. Every other team either already out of contention or still remaining had embarrassing losses to team of significantly lesser quality than the ones the Ravens lost to. Repeatedly not being able to win those close games to playoff contenders might end up being the Ravens downfall and they could easily be "one-and-done" in the playoffs, but so will three other teams on the first weekend of the post season. At the same time, the entire league knows the Ravens can do a lot of damage once they get their act together and if they do, can go as far as they want. By this I mean, the Ravens have beaten themselves as much this season if not more than the teams they lost to in 2009. If they can limit their mistakes and penalties, there is every reason to believe that they can go far into the playoffs and would make every team they face not look forward to the match up.

So before you go and say that we don't deserve to be part of the run for the Super Bowl, take a look at the "leftovers" and tell me who else "earned" that right more than the Ravens did by coming so close so many times against some very good teams that have also "earned" that right!?

Poll

When the Baltimore Ravens win this Sunday at the Oakland Raiders and guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs, do you think the spot was actually "earned" or not?

Yes, they did what they needed to do to get in.

283 votes

No, they backed in because the other teams faltered.

81 votes

364 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Luck, Luck, and more Luck

Is the only reason we even have a remote chance.

The key to success in life is doing what people constantly say you cannot do.

by Zachary Beard on Dec 31, 2009 6:13 PM EST reply actions

Thank you!!

We’ve playedd about 10 contenders this year, and most of our losses have been ridiculously close. A few bad penalties, missed kicks, lack of discipline and we are 8-7. If we could even correct half of those problems we would probably be leading our division. This tea, is going to get much better as the years go on. And I still have faith in them for this year..

by ravsagain on Dec 31, 2009 8:16 PM EST reply actions

our points for and against is like 3rd in the league

and our defense is 3rd overall. who would have thought we could recover like that. we’re a top-3 defense again.

"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden

by jackmca on Jan 1, 2010 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

Defensively,

we rank #1 in points allowed.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 1, 2010 11:26 PM EST up reply actions

yeah mattison needed some on-the-job training... but he has come along quite well

"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden

by jackmca on Jan 2, 2010 1:57 AM EST up reply actions

Deserve To Be There, Not To Advance

We deserve a first round spot, perhaps even a first round victory. We don’t deserve to beat the Colts or Chargers (now that they are hot) and to do so will be pure luck.

by davver on Dec 31, 2009 9:48 PM EST reply actions

Wish them well 2

While I agree the Ravens most likely will not do much damage this year if they make the playoffs, if they do so, it will be because they’ve earned it. Why don’t we deserve to win if we do beat one of the good teams you mentioned? Did George Mason not deserve to go to the final 4 a few years ago? That just doesn’t make sense..

by 60minuteassassin on Jan 1, 2010 9:48 AM EST up reply actions

If the Ravens beat either the Chargers or Colts..

…it will not be luck, it will most likely be a surprisingly “complete” game, which we knew this team was capable of all season, hence our high expectations at that point and the frustrations we’ve felt with every close loss.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 1, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

Wish Them Well

Let’s hope that the Ravens maintain discipline against Oakland and limit their penalties and mistakes. One never knows which Raven team will show up. The Ravens actually have the talent to do well in the playoffs. Deserving has nothing to do with it. With a little luck the Ravens can beat any team (or any team can beat the Ravens.)

by snark38 on Dec 31, 2009 10:15 PM EST reply actions

Tgere is no such thing as deserving or not deserving.............

Nobody has ever gone into the playoffs who didn’t belong. Even the Jets who this year could go into the playoffs after two lay down victories is a team who can compete very well.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 1, 2010 12:03 AM EST reply actions

they stink...

Anyone who thinks this team has earned a spot in the playoffs is nuts…this team stinks…they are weak on special teams, offense, and defense…they can’t beat a legitimately good team, and they will lose first round, period.

They beat SD early in the season before SD got it together…they’ve lost to Cindy 2x, NE, Indy, MN, GB, Pitt, etc…who have they beaten of any caliber…don’t count the first Pitt game as Big Ben wasn’t playing…they’ve beaten SD and that’s it…Denver doesn’t count as they stink too….all other wins were creampuffs…

by Ravenator on Jan 1, 2010 12:42 AM EST reply actions

I must be nuts...

I agree this team is not a perfect Superbowl contender, but how does a team that is on the verge of making the playoffs stink? You can discount any win you would like to suit your argument, but the fact is that the Ravens played one of the if not the toughest schedule in the league and have beaten some good teams. I can not for the life of me understand where all of this negativity is coming from. C’mon, let’s support this team as they make a playoff push.

by 60minuteassassin on Jan 1, 2010 9:54 AM EST up reply actions

Honestly 60minute

I think a little research will tell you that Ravenator rarely (if ever) posts anything positive about the Ravens. He’s free to do that of course, but you’ve got to consider the source…

"Talk’s cheap. Let’s go play." - Unitas

by D-Fensive on Jan 1, 2010 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, a top five defense

and #1 in yards/rush on defense and #2 in defensive points allowed is a team that stinks, just like we stunk last year and in 2000-01.

Frustrating, maybe even playing just average at times, but stink. Doubtful, very doubtful (see Detroit for “stinks”)

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 1, 2010 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

Sorry - dumb conclusion

To say that they stink is ridiculous. By your contention, at least half the teams in the NFL stink, since half the teams have at least an above .500 record which means they are better than the other half of the teams. There are NO “legitimately good” teams. This is NOT a league built on parity no matter how much they’d like you to believe it. There are about 4 levels of teams in the NFL – great, good, average and bad and ALL teams hit at least three of four of those levels in different games throughout the season. A lot of that depends on luck – a tipped ball here, a penalty there, etc.. The level you hit most is the level you are at. Right now, the Ravens, imo, are somewhere between average and good.

BUT, it really is a matter of “luck of the draw”. If the Ravens schedule had comprised entirely sub-500 teams, the assumption is that they’d have beat most all of them, all things being equal. If so, and we were now 13-3, would you still be saying we stink because we played crap opponents. I’m not saying that theory wouldn’t have a little academic validity, just that because at least half the league is comprised of mediocre and worse teams, NO TEAM plays a schedule of only great – and therefore “fitting” – teams. So to say that we stink because of who we’ve played (and beat) is just dumb.

"Talk’s cheap. Let’s go play." - Unitas

by D-Fensive on Jan 1, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

Earned it!!!!

The Ravens have earned their spot if they beat the Raiders. Yes, there have been some problems along the way but it is a grueling season and they have beaten the teams they were supposed to have. Yes, their record could be much better and that’s why other playoff teams won’t want to face them. Yes, they will be dangerous!!!!!

by jklein on Jan 1, 2010 8:47 AM EST reply actions

Dead on!

We might not have a good record, but every team in the league knows we were in every game we played this year and made our opponents fight for every yard. No one wants to face a team, much less in the first round and then hope to beat us much less go onto another round the next week They’d all prefer to play the Jets, Jags, Dolphins than us. Same goes fo rthe better teams that definitely don’t want to see the Steelers in the playoffs either!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 1, 2010 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

ditto

by sam_ravens on Jan 1, 2010 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

You just keep telling yourself that Bruce.

However, I don’t think the Ravens are Steelers any more dangerous than any other team in or near the playoffs. I think both of you have very questionable defenses. I would rather play you than the Jets for instance.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 2, 2010 9:52 PM EST up reply actions

wow thats just daffy

our defense is #2 in points allowed, #3 in yards allowed, and has been getting alot more pressure recently. we were in a funk the last time you played us but since then we’ve jumped from #19 in yards allowed to #3.

i wouldn’t put it past the bengals to put the three-game sweep on us like Pitt did last year, but you’d rather play the JETs than us? CHILD PLEASE.

"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden

by jackmca on Jan 2, 2010 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, I really didn't mean any disrespect

I know you have improved and I have a lot of respect for your team. But the Jets have the #1 overall D and #1 Run D and they have Ryan. BTW I think you meant rather play us than the Jets. I think we have around a 50/50 chance of beating any of the wild card teams and we pretty well know your team, plus we are at at home. There are no easy teams in the playoffs. It all depends on how you execute on that day. Everyone, with the exception of the Colts have laid eggs this year, even when they played games that mattered. I would say that the edge should generally go the home team but it is not an overcomable (is that a word?) advantage. You play the Pats away without Welker and we play the Jets again at home this time and we will actually want to win. Any of these 4 teams could win and it would not surprise me.
It is all about who comes to play that day and can execute. I would say however that both of us could very well win this weekend. I only wish we played on Sun rather than Sat.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 4, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

BTW this is a good playoff year

The Steelers are watching from home. I hope there is a way we can meet in the playoffs but to do that we, I think, each have to win 2 games to do it.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Jan 4, 2010 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

Of course it's luck

Every team is where they are because of luck… read why:

NFL Playoffs, Strength of Schedule, and Keeping It Real – http://bit.ly/6qRXOf

by joet on Jan 1, 2010 9:55 PM EST reply actions

good luck Black birds

Let’s take this one home and play to the level we’re capable of. Then, let’s carry some swagger into the playoffs. We’re better than our record shows. Go Ravens!

by Smiley4660 on Jan 2, 2010 3:56 PM EST reply actions

We played a tough schedule and almost beat all the top teams. We stomped the bad teams. That defines a 1st round team. We deserved it.

by Killer Kahn on Jan 2, 2010 7:34 PM EST reply actions

I’d like to add that a few very young players (Flacco, Oher and Rice) almost beat Manning, Brady, and Favre. A total of about 13 points separated them from those 3 victories. How close are we to being amongst the elite teams. That close. One of those 3 elite teams mentioned have a great chance on being in the Super Bowl. With that said, we are a fumble, FG, penalty away from seeing them there.

by Killer Kahn on Jan 2, 2010 7:41 PM EST reply actions

this year its no excuse

but i do think we’re a few small steps away from closing that gap this offseason. if we can grab anquan or some other guy at receiver (which i really think we will finally do) and draft a guy in the second or third round (like Arrelious Benn from Illinois who is 6-2 and 220), i think our offense will take the next step and really become a powerhouse.

add to that our defense, which is young except for D-Line, and i think we will be quite good.

"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden

by jackmca on Jan 2, 2010 9:53 PM EST up reply actions

A DB or Receiver. Not sure what I’d take first. We pride ourselves on defense and have had success paying that side of the ball. It would be risky to start gold plating the offense but to get to the next level it’s probably necessary. It is not a guartantee that a better offense will get you into the playoffs. The Steelers have a 4000 yard QB, two 1000 receivers and a good back. They lose a key defensive player and they miss the playoffs. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.

by Killer Kahn on Jan 3, 2010 12:11 AM EST reply actions