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Ravens poll: fans seem pretty confident about 2017 season

By Chris Schisler

Nov 27, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (9) high fives fans after beating the Cincinnati Bengals 19-14 at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (9) high fives fans after beating the Cincinnati Bengals 19-14 at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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We took to Twitter to see what Baltimore Ravens fans thought their team would do in the 2017 season:

The Baltimore Ravens have missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. The last time the Ravens made the playoffs was in 2014. In 2013 the purple and black went 8-8 and had to watch the playoffs at home. The fans in Baltimore saw their team go five straight seasons with playoff football from 2008-2013. For Baltimore football fans, winning is simply an expectation.

I was curious to see how fans thought things would go in the 2017 season. I asked a simple question. What will the Ravens record be for the upcoming season. I gave four multiple choice answers. The answers started out with good results and the ended with the option of 8-8 (Or Worse).

While the poll was rather unscientific and only 40 people participated in the poll question, this sample of Ebony Bird followers (who we can pretty much presume are Ravens fans) saw reason for optimism.

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83% of the voters in this poll, saw the playoffs as a real possibility. 20 percent of the vote went to the Ravens going 12-4, which would likely win the division. 63 percent of the vote went 10-6 which is usually good enough for the postseason. 10 percent did go with 9-7, a record the 2014 team sneaked into the playoffs with before. This is a really positive response, considering the brutal way in which the 2016 season ended.

Reasons For this optimism?

A big source of this optimism may be the defense. Ozzie Newsome drafted four defensive players after signing Brandon Carr and Tony Jefferson. They also retained the services of Brandon Williams. A good defense is strengthened going into 2017. That’s a big deal. The team took steps forward from their 2015 debacle of a season. Maybe 2017 is the final step back into prominence in the AFC playoff equation. Baltimore always liked to win with a dominant defense. Now the purple and black look to do it again.

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The Ravens faithful could be feeling the excitement that a new season brings. Let’s just hope the Ravens make this hope justifiable. Another great playoff run would be just what the doctor ordered for the Ravens’ fans.

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