How the Baltimore Ravens can secure the AFC North crown
The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped to 8-6-1 on Sunday and now the Baltimore Ravens own 1st place of the AFC North. Can they hold on and win the whole division?
The Baltimore Ravens seemed destined for a massive makeover prior to the team’s week ten bye week. The Ravens were reeling in at 4-5, suffering three-straight losses. Joe Flacco, who was playing solid throughout 2018, showed that he simply couldn’t carry this team. The defense was completely exposed in the three losses and looked lost and washed up. Head Coach John Harbaugh was talked about being fired during the bye week, but even then he seemed destined to be out of work in Charm City following 2018. Worst yet, the fans lost hope in their beloved team.
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My, oh my, how things have changed in a hurry.
Now, the Ravens are winners of five of their last six, while easily being able to be undefeated since their bye week. Simply put, this team is rolling right now. There isn’t a consensus answer for how to slow down, let alone stop, this team. They’re doing it in all facets of the game, too.
The offense’s identity as a run-heavy team isn’t new, but it’s entirely unlike anything Baltimore has used before. The defense is absolutely dominating, with little-to-no chinks in the armor. And, of course, the special teams unit is the best the NFL has to offer.
When you combine all of these factors, you put together a squad that can make a deep run in the post-season. However, before we start looking that far ahead, let’s take a closer look at what still needs to be done. The Ravens till have some housecleaning to attend to, as certain aspects of the team need polishing (i.e. a lackluster passing attack). More importantly, Baltimore still needs to lock-up its playoff spot for 2018. The best way to do this is by closing out and winning their division.
This goal seemed so unachievable just two months ago, and now it seems like a certainty. Barring some sort of complete meltdown, it’s nearly impossible to imagine a scenario where the Ravens miss the post-season. The team has it’s eyes set on the AFC North crown, first and foremost, and here’s how they can lock it up for good.