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Ravens: 10 reasons they will win the Super Bowl in 2015, #3

By Carlos Avent

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New Ravens, new destiny.

After winning Super Bowl XLVII, Ray Lewis retired and took a 17-year era with him. Since then, the question looms: “Who are these Ray-less Ravens and what will they do?”

Nov 24, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; ESPN commentators Ray Lewis and Steve Young watch the New Orleans Saints play the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

That question can be answered a million different ways. I see a team of destiny led by some of the best young talent in the league. But before every triumph, there must be a trial or two. Let’s first take a look at another team that seems to be staring destiny in the face these days.

2011: The Indianapolis Colts released Peyton Manning. That year, they went 2-14.

2012: The Indianapolis Colts select Andrew Luck as Manning’s successor and add speedy receiver T.Y. Hilton. Also, former Ravens Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano becomes the new Head Coach. This leads to a Wild Card playoff appearance. The Colts were eliminated from the playoffs by………. the RAVENS!

2013: The Indianapolis Colts add another piece to the puzzle with Bjorn Werner. This time, the Colts find themselves in the divisional round of the playoffs. Only to be eliminated by the New England Patriots.

2014: More pieces added to the puzzle with Donte Moncrief and former Raven Arthur Jones. The Colts find themselves in the AFC Championship game, only to be eliminated by 13 deflated footballs, uh…. I mean the New England Patriots.

2015: ???

Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano during the third quarter against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

Seems pretty inevitable that the Colts will make their way to the Super Bowl right? Well they’ll have to go through the Ravens. On this side of the football, there’s just as much of a destiny in the making.

2011: The Baltimore Ravens miss a chance at Super Bowl XLVI on account of a missed TD catch and a missed field goal. 

2012: The Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII; Ray Lewis retires

2013: The Baltimore Ravens draft Matt Elam, Arthur Brown, Brandon Williams and Kyle Juszczyk, but struggle through the season and finish 8-8. Thus missing the playoffs for the first time in the Harbaugh/Flacco era.

2014: The Baltimore Ravens draft C.J. Mosley (1st Ravens rookie to be elected to the Pro Bowl), Timmy Jernigan, Terrence Brooks (Jernigan and Brooks just came off a BCS championship win), Crockett Gilmore, Lorenzo Taliaferro, and Michael Campanaro.

This time the Ravens finish with a 10-6 record, defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time in the playoffs on Heinz field, only to allow the New England Patriots to slide away with a win by a mere 4-point margin.

2015:???

Aug 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stands on the sidelines during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints the in a preseason NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

So far in 2015, the Ravens are seeing an uptick in production from the recent rookie classes. The newest rookies, Breshad Perriman, Maxx Williams, Carl Davis, Buck Allen, Darren Waller, and Za’Darius Smith have all shown a great deal of potential since training camp began.

So far things look encouraging, with Carl Davis owning the field, Maxx Williams hurdling over a defender, and Darren Waller showing off his height advantage, all versus the Saints in week 1 of preseason.

Aug 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Javorius Allen (37) carries the ball as New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison (95) defends during the second quarter in a preseason NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

In addition to the new class, C.J. Mosley is looking to top his rookie campaign, Michael Campanaro is spreading his wings at the receiver position, Brandon Williams is ready to fill in for the departed Haloti Ngata, and Kyle Jusczcyk is coming alive out of the backfield.

The undrafted guys have something to prove as well, including Marlon Brown and Jeremy Butler, who are both vying for a chance to be one of the top 5 receivers on the final 53-man roster.

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I’ll make a prediction within the predictions: The 2015-16 AFC Championship game will be the Indianapolis Colts versus the Baltimore Ravens with a final score of 30-17.  The RAVENS WIN, and march on to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 50.

So the answers to the questions of “who are these Ray-less Ravens and what will they do?” are simple. We’re the team of destiny. The team of destiny that is being built right before your eyes and that team of destiny is going to win the Super Bowl.

Counting down the 10 reasons the Ravens will win the 2015 Super Bowl:

Reason #4

Reason #5

Reason #6

Reason #7

Reason #8

Reason #9

Reason #10

Next: Ravens are already showing a big commitment to the running game

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