Baltimore Ravens hopeful of reaching Super Bowl more than ever before – NFL News Update
The Baltimore Ravens aim to end an 11-year drought of reaching the Super Bowl event with a win over the Houston Texans, when they host the playoff newbies at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, on Sunday, January 15, 2012, in their first playoff game of this
season.
The team finished the 2011 National Football League (NFL) regular season among the top five teams on the league’s points table.
They now aim to go for a must win over the Texans on the weekend, while Houston will be playing their first playoff game in the franchise's history, after coming out of a wild-card game win over Cincinnati Bengals this past Sunday.
Baltimore's coach, John Harbaugh’s side has many historical factors coupled with this season’s positives, that are likely to make them considered as favourites for a win over the Texans this weekend.
It is for the fourth time straight in the last four years that the Ravens have reached the playoff round, but failed to get past it in all the previous three attempts, and are hoping for something much different this time around.
This time around, the situation is rather different for them.
Baltimore has availed a bye in the wild-card round of the playoff, courtesy of their regular season's performance, as the Ravens finished the regular season at 12-4.
It is for the first time that they have a home-game in the postseason and keeping in view their perfect record on their own home field marinated throughout the regular season, they will certainly have the edge to go for a win.
The side, which is rather weaker in road games, has ended all previous playoff seasons with a 4-3 score and the home-game against the Texans can give them the advantage to pull off a victory.
The historical record against the Texans is also in favour of the Ravens.
They have played six games and won all so they will be looking to increase the head-to-head stats to 7-0.
John Harbaugh has backed his side to aim for a win on the weekend. However, he warned them against any complacency.
Some of Ravens' players are hopeful of getting it past the playoff round successfully more than ever before.
In addition to expectations of reaching the Super Bowl expressed by Terrell Suggs earlier, Ravens' linebacker, Ray Lewis has spoken of similar hopes.
"We have the team to do it now. We don't have too many more excuses", Lewis said.
"Let's go do it right now. Then whatever else comes after that for all of your careers, you go enjoy it, but go win a championship. There are a lot of men that came in this business, and that's the one thing they have left this business without, and that's
the ring. I have touched it before. To go back with this group of men could be a special thing".
Another thing that tilts the odds for a win in Ravens' favour is the injury problems confronting the Texans.
The side will be going into the game without their quarterbacks, Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, since both of the players are out of the scene due to foot and collarbone injuries, respectively.
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