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Baltimore Ravens: Top 5 Surprises Through Week 5

By Chris Schisler

Oct 2, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) pressured by Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack (52) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) pressured by Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack (52) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (L) and wide receiver Kamar Aiken (11) celebrate while leaving the field after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Ravens won 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (L) and wide receiver Kamar Aiken (11) celebrate while leaving the field after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Ravens won 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Surprise 4: Kamar Aiken Has Vanished

I know that Aiken was forced to step up because of injuries but I thought he could continue where he left off last season. Aiken caught 75 passes last season and was the Ravens number one target. Now he is barely in the fold. Of Flacco’s 138 completions, only six of them were to Aiken. When you account for such a small percentage of the offense, that six players have more receptions than you…Houston we have a problem.

Aiken has a whopping 28 yards through five weeks of football. If he kept up at this pace, he’d have just 84 yards going into the last week of the season. It seemed like Flacco had such a chemistry with Aiken during training camp. What the heck happened?

One explanation is that Steve Smith Sr. is back. The veteran wide receiver is Joe Flacco’s favorite target, there is no doubt about it. Flacco also leans on Dennis Pitta, who he is always in sync with. Mike Wallace is leading the Ravens with touchdowns, yet he has only three. The offense has had problems and it has dipped into everyone’s stat line.

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