Is AFC North outdated?

[RavensDomination]

Good blog by James Walker from ESPN. (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/9447/is-the-afc-north-outdated)

He makes some good points. He mentions the Steelers being ahead of the curve, but that's because they drafted Ben R. years before we drafted Flacco. By the time Flacco hits his fourth or fifth year I think we will be the best offensive team in the division.

[RavenDavey]

I see our offense stepping up to this level over the next couple of years providing we get better talent at receivers. With a #1 WR...we could have had a dominant pass offense along with everything else already.

IMO...Give me the stout Ravens defense with better shut down CB's that we lacked this year! Aside from all of our pass interference penalties and missed opportunities.....we could have been there in the end.

AFC north "smash mouth" football will NEVER be outdated.....

[NC Raven]

That is an interesting article. One thing it sort of glosses over though, is the fact that when the Ravens got back to the run-first approach, they saved their season AND won a playoff game to boot.

Doesn't invalidate the point, and I understand the basic idea of it, but I think we will find that too many teams "selling out" to become the Mike Martz-era Rams will screw themselves in the process. No matter the rule changes, there's only 60 minutes in a ballgame, and if you eat up the clock for the majority of those minutes, and have a strong D, the odds favor you.

That, and turnover ratio is still far more determinative for W/L than anything else. A great D improves that ratio and takes pressure off the offense. If you own the clock, and don't turn the ball over, you're more than halfway home in football, no matter what kind of little tweaks they make to the game. They'd have to radically revise the rules for that not to remain true.

[RavensNTerps]

That is an interesting article. One thing it sort of glosses over though, is the fact that when the Ravens got back to the run-first approach, they saved their season AND won a playoff game to boot.

Doesn't invalidate the point, and I understand the basic idea of it, but I think we will find that too many teams "selling out" to become the Mike Martz-era Rams will screw themselves in the process. No matter the rule changes, there's only 60 minutes in a ballgame, and if you eat up the clock for the majority of those minutes, and have a strong D, the odds favor you.

That, and turnover ratio is still far more determinative for W/L than anything else. A great D improves that ratio and takes pressure off the offense. If you own the clock, and don't turn the ball over, you're more than halfway home in football, no matter what kind of little tweaks they make to the game. They'd have to radically revise the rules for that not to remain true.

Football is cyclical. When the 49ers and Packers were dominating the NFC in the mid 90s it was a similar league to how it is now; passing ruled. In the first part of the decade with teams like the Ravens, Steelers, Raiders, Bucs, etc playing well it was running and defense. It goes in cycles, like anything else.

Hell, look at another example...when Mike Nolan came in 2004 and installed the 3-4, we were like the 2nd tema in the NFL with a 3-4. Now half the league plays one.

[Darklight1216]

Good blog by James Walker from ESPN. (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/9447/is-the-afc-north-outdated)

He makes some good points. He mentions the Steelers being ahead of the curve, but that's because they drafted Ben R. years before we drafted Flacco. By the time Flacco hits his fourth or fifth year I think we will be the best offensive team in the division.

If Ben declines by that time, then that's a definite possibilty.

Right now, there's no reason, in my opininion, to believe that Flacco will be better than Jen two or three seasons from now, nor that our non existent WRs will suddenly overshadow those of the Steelers. They do have two SB MVPs after all.

[Jeremiah W]

If Ben declines by that time, then that's a definite possibilty.

Right now, there's no reason, in my opininion, to believe that Flacco will be better than Jen two or three seasons from now, nor that our non existent WRs will suddenly overshadow those of the Steelers. They do have two SB MVPs after all.

That is over. Big Jen may stay ahead of Flacco for years in terms of stats rankings and SB rings, but the Ravens are just as far ahead in the O line and RB groups. If the Ravens catch up in the WR group then Flacco will lead the division's best offense for years to come.

There is no reason to think Ben would not decline the way he is getting beat up, but there is much more reason to think Flacco would catch up even if he does not. The Ravens already score more ppg. Flacco had a sophomore slump mostly do to injuries to him and Gaither, less than average WR play and a very effective running game that was #1 in TDs and top 5 in yards and ypc.

Flacco should average 5-10 less attempts per game and 4-7 ppg more than Ben unless the Steelers revamp the O line like the Ravens did.


The article is sort of ridiculous in the first place since 2 AFC N teams made the playoffs and the Steelers almost did and have 2 rings in the last 4 years. The Clowns even went 10-6 not long ago and finished strong last year. The article should be, is the AFC N ahead of the curve in the race for a balanced and good to dominant in all phases football teams. There are 3 for sure franchise QBs and the Clowns with 2 solid back ups. Three teams played great D most of the year and had return men that can change the game. The Bungals and Clowns have had the high flying star studded pass happy type Os in the past but got beat down by dominant D and now seek balance and more depth.

[baltimore_hokie]

If Ben declines by that time, then that's a definite possibilty.

Right now, there's no reason, in my opininion, to believe that Flacco will be better than Jen two or three seasons from now, nor that our non existent WRs will suddenly overshadow those of the Steelers. They do have two SB MVPs after all.

Flacco's stats so far in his career compare favorably to Worthlessberger's in just about every category. I expect that he will continue to get better, especially if we finally add some weapons.

Big Jen, on the other hand, has taken an absolute beating since he has been in the NFL. Ozzie has made sure to keep Flacco protected, so I expect him to continue to get better, where Jen will regress with age early.

[AirFlacco]

afc-n is still most physical division in football.