Ravens Falling Apart...

[oldno82]

or so says Rothelexxisburger:

from the Ravens website:

"

Ben Roethlisberger Says Ravens Are 'Falling Apart, Window Has Closed'

The Ravens are widely regarded by pundits as the team to beat in the AFC North and a Super Bowl contender, and the oddsmakers agree.

One person who disagrees is former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

On his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast, he didn't pull any punches about his belief that the Ravens are a team on the decline.

"I think they're falling apart. I really … I don't think they're the same team," Roethlisberger said. "These feel different. They feel like their window closed.

 

"To me, losing [John] Harbaugh … [Derrick] Henry's a year older, his body's taken a beating. You just feel like, 'What was going on with Lamar [Jackson] last year?' He just didn't seem like the Lamar that we've been used to seeing. Maybe he was injured. I think he took some shots last year that we didn't think about. So, maybe he'll have a bounce-back year and be great again."

Roethlisberger did offer some hope. He predicted the Ravens and Steelers would split their meetings during the regular season.

Ultimately, Roethlisberger had the Steelers going 12-5 and winning the division. He didn't predict final records for the other AFC North teams.

As to Roethlisberger's suggestion that Henry could be slowing down, it's worth pointing out that the five-time Pro Bowl running back got stronger as the season went on last year.

Henry had four consecutive 100-yard games – including a 216-yard output in Week 17 – to close out the season. In the season finale at Pittsburgh on Jan. 4 – Henry's 32nd birthday – he ran for 126 yards and a touchdown, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

 

And, yes, Jackson was injured for much of last season."

 

[tsylvester]

Wait, losing Harbs was worse for the Ravens while losing Tomlin wasn't for the Steelers?

Ravens have Lamar Jackson while the Steelers have who? 

Yet the Steelers will go 12-5 and win the div, with a harder schedule than last year?

Talk about taking shots, to the head, Ben needs to sit down and shut up, rest that moddled head

[papasmurfbell]

I agree with the window being closed.  12-5 is laughable though.

[tsylvester]

I cant see the window being closed, were this next year, maybe, but it is not.

Ro has trimmed back down, a clear sign that fresh blood is flowing through his veins.

The 2ndary is stacked, now with young, experienced talent.

The rush ends hwve been upgraded 10 fold, with a legit vet, not an aging hanger-on. 

The defensive line, while not completely proven, has the talent and some experience, & that does not count Madds. 

Listen to Stanley and Rose, better coaching on the line 100% better than last year. Just by replacing the bog oaf who rarely if ever blocked anyone, the offensive line is much, much better.

We've seen what can happen when the offensive line is at least average- a top 5 offense.

Yes, you put that together with a proven defensive coordinator, and the Ravens have 2 on staff in Weaver and Minter, and this team, with some growing pains this year, can easily take the AFC North with Pit and Cleveland in disarray, Cinci still busy trying to find a defense and fix their own offensive line.

Take the a North while tinkering with the team and come playoff time, all bets are off.

Lamar is healthy again, has new weapons, at least 2 very good possession receivers, another athletic tighend to go along with old man and 2 shots having a deep threat; one of them should turn out.