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Baltimore Ravens: 5 thoughts following the Week 4 loss

By Joe Schiller

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 01: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs past Tony Jefferson #23 of the Baltimore Ravens the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 01: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs past Tony Jefferson #23 of the Baltimore Ravens the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 31: Head Coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens on the field before a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 31, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the Saints 14-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 31: Head Coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens on the field before a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 31, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the Saints 14-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

1. This isn’t a playoff team (right now)

I’m sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but the Ravens aren’t a playoff team. Everything we’ve seen through the first four games has given us that indication. I know there have been Ravens teams in the past that have turned things around, but this year feels different. There are problems on both sides of the ball that can’t be addressed in the short-term.

Most of these problems come on the injury front, which is what you expect when there are 16 players on injured reserve. No team is going to play well when they’re missing three of their best interior lineman on both sides of the football. Marshal Yanda was the last bit of glue holding together the cracks of the offensive line and the loss of Williams and Urban hurts any kind of interior pressure on defense. Add all of that with poor play of Joe Flacco and it’s not a recipe for success.

Next: 3 reasons firing Marty Mornhinweg would not accomplish anything

If the Ravens have any saving grace, it’s that the AFC looks a lot weaker than we thought. With a manageable schedule going forward, it’s possible to turn things around. But from what I’ve seen, I can’t get my hopes up now. I sure hope the Ravens prove me wrong come the end of the season.

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