Ebony Bird
FanSided

Ravens: Doomed to failure in 2015?

By Brett Foote

facebooktwitterreddit

Sep 27, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) catches a pass over Baltimore Ravens defensive back Kyle Arrington (24) during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Cincinnati Bengals defeated Baltimore Ravens 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

How could so many pundits, experts, and fans around the world be so wrong?  We often look to history when making predictions, and in the case of the Baltimore Ravens, playoff predictions for the 2015 season seemed like a sure thing.

After all, this is a team that had never started a season 0-3, missing the playoffs only once in the John Harbaugh era.  The Ravens have been a rarity in the NFL for many years – the team that is able to consistently compete.

Now that we’re three games into the 2015 season and the Ravens are coming off their third consecutive baffling loss, it’s entirely appropriate to press the panic button.  But is it time to say that we were all wrong about this team, that they aren’t as good as we thought?

It’s easy to dismiss the team and be bearish on their prospects for the remainder of the season.  But the optimist will point to the fact that all these losses have come by a margin of 6 points or less, with the three totaling only 14 points collectively.

The Ravens were in all three games late in the 4th quarter, and with just one or two less mistakes might be 3-0 instead of 0-3.  One call here, one less blown coverage there, and you get the point.

More from Ravens News

But the reality, as always, lies somewhere in the middle.  This is a team that has not played well in any aspect of the game.  Steve Smith has, truthfully, been the lone bright spot on a roster full of disappointment.

Perhaps this year’s annual purge of free agent talent, combined with the loss of Terrell Suggs and Gary Kubiak is simply too much adversity to overcome for a team that has always found a way to do so masterfully.

A lot of things need to improve if the Baltimore Ravens are going to pull themselves out of the deep hole they have dug for themselves.  Players must step up and do their jobs, coaches must coach better, and the playcalling has to change.

Facing a Ben Roethlisberger-less Steelers team next week might just be what the doctor ordered.  Unless Michael Vick can turn back the clock, that is.  In reality, the only thing that stands in the Ravens’ way of a win is the Ravens themselves.

Next: Ravens fans react to latest loss

More from Ebony Bird

Home/Ravens News