What I like about this team is…

[RAVENOUS52]

They’ve shown the ability this season to take an embarrassing loss and use it as motivation.

Following the Colts blowout our guys could have self-destructed, but they didn’t. Guys stepped up to the challenge that faced us as a team with a 2-3 record.

They put together a 4-game winning streak with a rookie QB and coach, keeping us solidly in the playoffs mix with a favorable home schedule remaining.

So then we get smacked around and embarrassed by the defending World Champions in front of a national television audience.

Perhaps this wasn’t as bad an occurrence as we first thought because now our team is back to adopting the old “us against the world” mentality that helped us win Festivus Maximus…

So if you add a rapidly improving offense with a pissed off defense with something to prove, plus a stadium full of 70,000+ earsplitting Purple Lunatics, you have a pretty good recipe for us to kick off another multiple-game winning streak.

Perhaps the Giants loss was the one we needed to wake us up for the final stretch run to the playoffs.:taz:

[Gwaihir]

That's kind of what I've been quietly thinking to myself! I just hope our Tackles hold up! I just heard on Bruce Cunningham's show, that Gaither is out al least 2 weeks! They apparently re-signed Slaughter and cut McCune.

Also, I was hoping I wouldn't open this thread and see the word NOTHING! That would have pissed me off! I should have known, coming from you, that would be the last thing I would See!

[camdenyard]

The loss to the Giants was bad on the scoreboard, but it was a good loss in that:

1. It was an NFC team
2. It was a road game
3. Many other teams incl. PIT have lost to them so it has fewer tiebreaker implications

I expect the team - esp. the defense - to come out spitting fire on Sunday.

[factmeister]

The Chicago Bears of a couple years back dominated the NFC in their going to the Super Bowl.
However,they also had the scheduling anomoly of having to play 3 road games in a row.
They also imploded in that third game,which happened to be against the Patriots
As far as Joe Flacco's performance,I consider the drive that went the length of the field with a couple successful scrambles, culminating in a touchdown pass to Mclain to be absolutely awesome.
If you review the tape,you will see that he basically took the team on his back and made every play on his own.
The next time we got the ball, down 10,he just may have gotten us back in the game, had Derick :hammer: Mason been able to lift his arms up and make the catch.
We would have been near midfield.
No matter.
I am looking forward to his next game against the Eagles on Sunday.
After watching Trent Edwards and Brady Quinn play on MNF.,I am even more excited about what the future holds.

[Jeremiah W]

I am not very concerned about the run defense either. First of all, how often are Ray Lewis and Trevor Pryce going to miss those tackles on the 2 long runs? Trevor had Jacobs 5 yards deep while getting held and tackled himself. Had he made that play and Ray made his, that completly changes how the game and stats look. Those 2 runs went for 113 yards instead of -5. Take away those 2 runs and it is normal Ravens run defense @3ypc, even though they did get blocked at the goal line, the other team is the best blocking team in the NFL.

I think the Ravens will respond like the last time they got beat, and may actually get another shot at the Giants at a neutral site in south Florida.

[RAVENOUS52]

That's kind of what I've been quietly thinking to myself! I just hope our Tackles hold up! I just heard on Bruce Cunningham's show, that Gaither is out al least 2 weeks! They apparently re-signed Slaughter and cut McCune.

Also, I was hoping I wouldn't open this thread and see the word NOTHING! That would have pissed me off! I should have known, coming from you, that would be the last thing I would See!

You know I love the Ravens too much to go negative on them after a big loss!

I will say this, however: There are a lot of dudes in that locker room looking at themselves in the mirror and seething...
http://aura.zaadz.com/photos/3/23939/large/Raven.jpg

They're hurting inside and they don't like what they saw last Sunday.
It's PAYBACK time and you know what they say PAYBACK is!

That, err, eagle in your sig-line might not even be safe come Sunday!!:eek:

[Mikerobe]

What I like about this team is;

The future growth of Joe Flacco. This kid is going to be something special, count on it.

The growth of the offensive line. This young group will grow together and become one of the best in the league.

John Harbaugh. He is the breath of fresh air this team needed, and he's made a huge impact in his first year. Just think of how he can mold this team in the years ahead.

Ray Lewis. He isn't anywhere near being a has been. The man is phenominal, and he will lead our younger players to understand, and uphold what it means to be a Raven defender.

This season is just the beginning of a true powerhouse that will kick ass for years to come.

[ravenjoe]

The loss to the Giants was bad on the scoreboard, but it was a good loss in that...
I'm sorry, but IMO a loss is NEVER a good loss, for whatever reason! This team has to come out with more focus and emotion than last week, or else they'll find more ways to lose this coming week.

[RAVENOUS52]

I'm sorry, but IMO a loss is NEVER a good loss, for whatever reason! This team has to come out with more focus and emotion than last week, or else they'll find more ways to lose this coming week.

I'll bet you last year's Patriots team wishes they had lost at least one game during the regular season so they could refocus and remove the complacent "we can't be beat" attitude they showed in the Superbowl.

[RavinDonnie]

I like the way the way the fans have embraced this team. Sure, two stupid, undisciplined penalties cost us the Titans and especially the Pittsburgh game, the clock management and challenges have been as awful as ever and the penalties are as numerous as they have ever been and overall offense really isn't any different than it has been the last decade. But it's great the fans don't complain about having a good record padded by beating the lousy teams in the parity driven NFL like they used to!

[YRKPARAVEN]

What I like about this team is the way this team is adaptable. The coaching staff has them ready to play every week. They are unpredictable to me, the common fan, and seem to be unpredictable to the other teams. There is nothing like a season when your team is expected or predicted to be sub par or worse and they come out and compete for a chance at the playoff's. So far, this year is very close to be one of the best years ever for watching Ravens football for me. I love it. Can't wait for this Sunday, finally a home game and a chance to watch the boys live. Going to be a beat down in Baltimore this week. Fly home Eagles or better yet, take the bus.

[RavensDomination]

I like the way the way the fans have embraced this team. Sure, two stupid, undisciplined penalties cost us the Titans and especially the Pittsburgh game, the clock management and challenges have been as awful as ever and the penalties are as numerous as they have ever been and overall offense really isn't any different than it has been the last decade. But it's great the fans don't complain about having a good record padded by beating the lousy teams in the parity driven NFL like they used to!

I disagree about the Titans game, that penalty was certainly NOT a penalty, just a horrible call.

And yesterday all I did was hear about how the Ravens haven't beat anyone. It kills me because if you remember before the Houston game a lot of people were saying "oh, the Texans are good at home," "the Texans put up a lot of points at home," blah blah blah. We blow them out and it's "well they don't have a winning record." Whatever.

You're right though, with all the parity in the league any win is a good win.

[sailorsam]

losing to the Giants doesn't bother me at all. what are they, 8-1? our losses were to arguably the 3 best teams in the NFL (Giants, Titans, and, ugh, Stoolers) and to Peyton Manning in his dome (he can light it up on anybody, anywhere, anytime). Iggles game will be a good test as they are good but not top tier.

[Dave Lap]

I still think that the Giants game was an off game for the Ravens. I think it's probable that the 3 game road trip caught up with them that day and it was a big factor in the game.

[xmradiodave]

They are not going to win every game. Even the best teams get embarrassed from time to time. I want to see continuous growth. Bouncing back from an embarrassing loss falls into the growth category, and that is just what they did yesterday against the Eagles. Are the Ravens going to get accolades from the big sports networks as a team? Probably not, but there are certainly aspects of this team that are getting noticed.

Once the Ravens learn to play as a single entity, and are not dissected into two different teams (Defense, and Joe Flacco), then they will get the recognition they deserve from national media.

I like what I am seeing from this team and it is giving a lot of hope for the future. A few key playmakers (deep-threat receiver) will make the difference. But for now, sit back and enjoy the ride. right now, the ravens are in a playoff hunt. If they keep that momentum going, good for them and us fans. if they stumble again along the way, get up and shake it off. That goes for both the team and the fans.