Ebony Bird
FanSided

Baltimore Ravens would be serious contenders with better offense

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 26: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens throws the ball in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on October 26, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 26: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens throws the ball in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on October 26, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /
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28 Jan 2001: Head Coach Brian Billick of the Baltimore Ravens signals on the sidelines during the Super Bowl XXXV Game against the New York Giants at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens defeated the Giants 34-7.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
28 Jan 2001: Head Coach Brian Billick of the Baltimore Ravens signals on the sidelines during the Super Bowl XXXV Game against the New York Giants at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens defeated the Giants 34-7.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

A plan from the past:

Remember how I brought up the 2000 defense? It was kind of hard not bring them up because of the the multiple shutouts. However that 2000 team won a championship with the same formula of the 2017 Ravens. In 2000 it was all about defense and the running game. In 2017 the Ravens are trying to replicate that success from 17 years ago. It doesn’t work in the NFL anymore.

The 2000 defense wouldn’t have given up over 200 yards to a Bears team that was desperate to hide the shortcomings of their rookie quarterback. The 2000 team wouldn’t have had the run defense drop off to 26th best in the league if Sam Adams went down for a few games. The 2017 defense lost Brandon Williams for a bit and they looked like a brand new team (in a bad way). The 2000 offense may have been better too. Jamal Lewis beats Collins every day of the week. Shannon Sharpe was amazing and that offensive line was fantastic.

The Ravens are trying to win a Super Bowl with a blueprint from 2000 (With a lesser version of their first championship team). You have to give Ozzie Newsome some credit, this plan may end up getting the Ravens to the playoffs. The problem is that they would be Super Bowl contenders if their offense was just average. Avoiding a fifth playoff free year in six seasons would be great but just imagine what could be accomplished beyond that.

Next: Checking in on the 2017 Ravens draft class

The Ravens defense is championship caliber. It’s not impeccable or legendary but it’s good enough to win with and then some. If the offense was better the purple and black would be unstoppable.

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