Ebony Bird
FanSided

Baltimore Ravens must avoid mind games to run the table

By Chris Schisler

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens eludes the defense of Samson Ebukam #50 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens eludes the defense of Samson Ebukam #50 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Ravens must avoid falling into mind games to run the table and continue to control their own destiny:

The Baltimore Ravens have had a surreal season. They have gone 10-2 and have won eight straight games. The Ravens have beaten two of the top teams in the NFC in the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens also have convincing wins over the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans. They now control their destiny. If the Ravens win the rest of their regular season games they are assured the number one seed in the AFC playoffs.

This is the longest win streak in franchise history. The best ever regular season is a realistic outcome for the 2019 Ravens. The key is to take things one week at a time. Pay no mind to the idea that this team needs to get a loss out of the way before the playoffs. Don’t give any credence to the thought that the purple and black have peaked too early. The Ravens just need to focus on the Buffalo Bills.

When the Ravens play their best game, no team in the NFL should expect to beat them. The Ravens have done gaudy things for a reason. Lamar Jackson is the most unique quarterback in NFL history and the offense is tailored around him. The offense is efficient and the defense has a tendency to get the big stops that win football games.

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Surely, Greg Roman has more wrinkles and ideas for the offense. He shouldn’t stop being creative, yet he cannot tinker with the magic formula. The Ravens need to run the football, control the game clock and let Jackson make defenses start to guess before the first drive is even over. Each week the Ravens should prepare a game specific plan of attack, but they know the key ingredients.

The close call with the 49ers could serve the Ravens well. Baltimore had crushed most of their competition in the past several weeks. Getting a tough win could refocus the team. It also proved that the Ravens can beat any team in any situation. The Ravens won a game against an elite opponent in the rain, that easily could have gone the other way. They have the grit to win the close game.

The fact that the Ravens can earn home field advantage in the postseason should serve as motivation to take care of the task at hand. The Ravens have to look at it with the proper perspective. They have to look at each game as a step they have to take to get to the Super Bowl, at the top of the mountain. Each step gets them closer to their ultimate goal, so each game has to have their ultimate focus.

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There can be no playing down to the level of their opponent, or underestimating the foe against them. There can be no looking ahead and no psyching themselves out. The Ravens just have to keep doing what they have been doing since the fifth week of the season. They have to find a way to win every single game. The Ravens don’t need any help from any team to get exactly what they want. Baltimore is in control. The Ravens have to keep it that way by remaining focused.

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