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This team is seriously banged up and hurting. They are at the bend/break point IMO. Already a bunch of guys are on IR. Also Flacco's hurting. Now...depth has covered the absence of Clayton, Ngata, and Gaither but if Johnson can't go and Suggs has a gimpy knee...then it's Ray and some Special Teamers.

"Kepp pounding that drum crav. The more you say it, the more believable it gets."

Agreed... On defense they are improving. Over the last 7 games the D has given up the fewest points in the NFL so there is hidden improvement in Landry, Carr, Foxworth, Kruger...Edwards definately...Gregg. Hopefully this continues. Perhaps with a new DC and defensive roster turnover it took this long for the secdondary to develop within the game plan and get the allighnment, assignment and technique down. We'll see. LJ Smith...useless. Gooden...he gets lost and is late at the point of attack...has problems shedding blocks. Speeds great but if you hesitate or don't know where to go it's a waste. He's not an answer at LB. A lot of us want to see gerrard. He may develop well...like Webb. Can't say enough positive things about the Oher pick. With Terry out where would the Ravens O be without him and his versatility? He's on a learning curve as a rookie but he is the final piece to an offensive line that should be very good for years to come.

The fact that only 3 players have hit that stratosphere shows what an incredible season Ray is having. He should be in the Pro Bowl. The question is: Does he have enough national recognition amoung the fans since the Ravens are a 'small market team'?

Here's more from Preston on moving Oher to LT...

I think the Pats are going to lose a game...they are unraveling...but not bad enough to lose to the Bills.

What if the Pats lose a game and don't win their division? The Ravens would be out....right?

They started the season fast and well but it's not a sprint.

I stand reminded cleetz... 1. It was the Lions so Oher had no real competition. 2. Gaither has been playing hurt.

Banks gives his views on the Ravens chances and others... I don't think the Colts will rest too many players Thursday night...home field advantage is at stake. So the Jags will go down.

Could have fooled me! I thought it was beer...

OK...so it was just the Lions. The worst team in football. Good teams are supposed to dominate them and the Ravens crushed them More thoughts... Lost in this is the defense only giving up 3 points...they continue to get stingy when it comes to surrendering points. The pass rush was...not much. Cullpepper was running for his life at times, then there were times that he had plenty of time to throw. Only 1 sack and 2 QB hits...Still inconsistent and that won't do against the better O lines and QB's. Reed, Gaither and Clayton were absent and remember...a lot of Ravens played banged up so they are fortunate that they were not playing an Elite team. Only 5 penalties...that's improvement. The game started out like all the others...fumble, penalty..missed opportunity...stall... but this time they broke the weak 1st half starts in the second quarter. That's progress. It was a good confidence boost and get healthy game. Quietly Cundiff is comming through...the kick offs were short but the weather was bad. Oneil Cousins had a good game and he was terrible in the pre season. I don't know...Oher looks like a natural upgrade at LT to me...I say move him there permanent. He's better than Gaither and coupled with Grubbs they did some serious road grading. Gaither won't like it and I don't know if he can make the switch to RT. Maybe give him the whole off season and camp to do it. NOTE TO CAM CAMMERON: In any wet games just run Ray Rice! Teams cannot grab, hold onto or tackle him. Like trying to catch a fish with your hands. Game ball to all the Ravens fans who braved the weather. Damn...I loved watching the Ravens run!

Now... just maintain your discipline for the rest of the season.

But a franchise record of 548 yards and 48 points(ties franchise record) says something....right? Ray Rice would have had 300 yards rushing if they didn't pull him early...no doubt in my mind. Nevertheless I'm fine with sitting him. It was a smart move that let McGahee and McLain shake some rust off. Joe had an easy day and he needed it. The O line was on fire...execution was terrific and the intensity was great. I like Oher at LT. Hey even Demetrius Williams made some plays. Loved the Mason catch and TD run... Ellerbe, Barnes, McLain were bringing it. Gooden better watch out.

It seems the Patriots can't buy a break...

There...I just corrected the Topic title by using my magic keyboard powers invested in me by the ExtremeRavens Moderation Staff (pictured below), who for some unknown reason, harbor a belief system that I can use them responsibly...

No ice here in Baltimore...too warm for that. Wind is the only factor that could hurt and that's not in the forecast. Detroit's a Dome Team...let's see if they like getting their footsies cold and wet. The Steelers couldn't handle the cold Thursday. Their nuts shriveled up. "Todays English lesson... :

They won't post crav...you'll have to use this from the ER Annual pool party...

Remember: The Chiefs, Raiders and Brownies became Trap Games for a Pittsburgh team who was supposed to unleash hell. "Let's go inside the Ravens locker room and see what Ray has to say about this..." Here's the trap: The Ravens start slow as usual and let the Lions hang around. Suddenly there's Cullpepper to Johnson and those 4th quarter Obligatory Defensive Game Losing Penalties. Here's the escape: Flacco has a field day against a poor Lions secondary with Mason, Washington and Williams. Williams has everything set to have a great day. They can't cover him. He can make a big difference. Oh...Ray Rice should have a fun day. Conclusion: I don't see how this can be a close game. The Ravens offense will put up the points against a Lions defense that gives up the most points per game in the NFL. Thank You crav for not putting 'The Curse' on this game... ...then there would have been no hope...season over...

thanks bmw. So I'm doing the math and speculation-wise I'm with crav's original post of this thread with the exception that I see the 2 losses for Denver and the Jags... Now...the Ravens chances of winning out are not too good IMO, yet given the schedule it's not impossible. What we have is an average .500 team trying to win out over sub .500 teams (that helps). Do it one game at a time but they must get better as a team each game and hit Pittsburgh on a roll. It will make each game and each week, if it's a win, very exciting.

"May The Schwartz Be With You!"

I definately have my doubts. They looked like a team that quit last Sunday...they looked like the Steelers who have lost 5 straight (3 to slappies!)...that wasn't supposed to happen. But I'll go with my head...the Ravens beat teams with losing records. Every team on their remaining schedule has a losing record..... I'll say this...it will be a war in Pittsburgh because that's their season now...to avenge their loss to the Ravens and knock them out of the playoffs. That is the stuff that makes the great rivalries.

What's with the thread title? I know you want to get in. I always want to make the playoffs. The Playoffs were a factor in getting PSL's...I want that guaranteed seat. If I could get through the 4-12 and 6-9 seasons, then I think I can handle a playoff loss... Remember...it's a looooooong off season so every extra week of Ravens football is icing on the cake. Remember this too....the Ravens almost beat the Colts and Pats and who knows what a 3rd shot at the Bengals will bring? One key here is to enter the playoffs on a roll...like the Ravens winning out the rest of the schedule. They'd be dangerous then...to any AFC opponent.

5 straight losses and the Steeler house is burning down. Losses to KC, Oakland and a 1 win Brownie team.