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Baltimore Ravens: Reasons for Optimism after TNF Loss

By Nicholas Gardner

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 9: Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens takes the field prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 9: Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens takes the field prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 9: John Brown #13 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 9: John Brown #13 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Despite the 34-23 agonizing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football, there should still be plenty of optimism surrounding the Ravens heading into Week 3.

We’re only 2 games into the 2018 campaign and Ravens fans feel as if their teams season is lost after their first loss of the year. Even though the 34-23 loss on Thursday was heart wrenching, frustrating, and genuinely appalling to watch from start to end, there is reason for optimism for the rest of the year.

Here’s a list of things the Ravens can hang their hat on moving forward:

1)The Playmakers Showed Up

All offseason long we heard about how Ozzie Newsome was going to shake up the receiving core. We heard that the Ravens were dedicated to providing Joe Flacco with the necessary weapons on the outside for him to be successful, and well, they did that. We saw the affect of the revamped receiving core take centre stage in the Ravens Week 1 blowout win vs Buffalo, in which all 3 new Wideouts caught a Touchdown.

In Week 2 Ravens fans expected much of the same, and for about the first Quarter and a Half they were in for a reality check. Credit Cincinnati, as their defense flew around the field all night, but heading into the second half the Ravens had to still feel good about their chances of making a comeback.

On the night there were 9 receivers who caught 2 or more passes from Flacco, a stat that some couldn’t even have imagined happening last year. Ravens fans also got their first real taste of John Brown, seeing him as both a deep threat and a decoy, to go along with his incredible touchdown catch in the early part of the 4th quarter.

We also had a Rookie Tight End sighting, as 3rd Rd Pick Mark Andrews had himself a night, scoring his first NFL touchdown. To go with Andrews 3 catches, Boyle and Maxx Williams caught 2 and 3 passes respectfully, as Flacco was finding his Tight Ends with regularity.

Even though the Ravens lost, the Offensive play-makers still did their part. Ravens fans should feel excited about the group Flacco has around him, and for the first time in years the Ravens skill players should strike fear into opposing defenses, if the offensive line can give him enough time to sling it around effectively.

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