Are Baltimore Ravens on course to playoffs, yet again? – NFL Feature
The Baltimore Ravens have been through to playoffs for last four consecutive seasons. So reaching playoffs has never been difficult for them. This warrants that the question of the title headline here should be: Are Baltimore Ravens on course to Super Bowl
game, this year at least? – and the answer could be a big YES and NO.
NO, because this is what they have been doing for last four years: show some superb form and skills in regular seasons, play in the playoffs and then get eliminated towards the end. Even a layman in Baltimore can predict that the Ravens can reach the playoffs.
For him, to answer the question whether they will play in the Super Bowl game is very difficult.
YES, because this time they have reviewed and changed their strategy. Traditionally, they have been relying on the mantra of suffocating opposition teams and score on opportunities such as turnovers. The strong defence was core of their schemes. Not anymore,
though.
This season they have given more responsibility to their offence. To start with, they hired a fulltime coach for quarterback Joe Flacco and his bunch. Jim Caldwell, who has groomed Peyton Manning and other players, has become new mentor and tutor of Flacco.
Also, the new coach has changed his scheme for Flacco and relied on high-paced offence, and the quarterback seems to have been enjoying it since very first day.
So the team has appeared on the field as a completely transformed unit. Surprisingly, Ravens they have let go players like Ray Rice in the course of the shift, which may not be a wise decision. Yet the team has proved that the decision of the change was
worth making.
The team have won all but two games this season, and are on top of American Football Conference (AFC) North. They made an impressive start to the season by thrashing divisional rivals the Cincinnati Bengals in the very first game, and have never looked back
since then. Unfortunately, they lost one game, but apart from that they maintain a perfect record. They have taken revenge against the New England Patriots, who defeated them in the conference championship game last season.
As Ravens appear to be heading to the right direction, with the season halfway through, some commentators and onlookers see them lacking the X-factor. Although they have won six games so far, their majority of wins are low-margin victories.
Irrespective of the question whether it is a part of offensive strategy or otherwise result of sudden shift from defence to offence, it is a point that needs attention of coaches. The team is no doubt doing fine, but the main question remains about the thrill
and match-winning performance.
The team have failed to produce a thriller. Joe Flacco has starred in a few victories. Other than him, all players have not shown impressive skills, which they are known for. Even coach John Harbaugh has sounded an alarm that the team needs to improve in
certain areas. He could be right; given the present style can carry the team off the course.
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