Baltimore Ravens dropping fast in latest NFL power rankings
By Darin McCann
15. Arizona Cardinals, 6-4 (12)
They might be a little bit hype-over-substance at this point, but they are solid, and that puts them in the heart of the NFC playoff race. There is a high ceiling for this team, but they also reach their floor pretty regularly. Next year feels like their year.
14. Miami Dolphins, 6-4 (9)
It feels like a big drop for this up-and-coming team, but there is a logjam of 6-4 and 7-3 teams. Losses drop you quickly in this ranking. The Dolphins might not want to play Yo-Yo with their franchise quarterback, but I do like where they are headed.
13. Baltimore Ravens, 6-4 (6)
Big fall for this team, but I’ve probably been a little generous with their position the past few weeks. They must figure out this offense, they need to get their interior defense back healthy and sound, and they must finish games.
All is not lost. They aren’t getting blown out, and you could make a legitimate case for them winning three of these games they’ve lost the last four weeks. But you could also see how they could have lost to the Colts and Eagles, so take that for what it’s worth.
If the Ravens can assemble a quick passing attack, like every other successful offense in the league, that would presumably open back up the run lanes. If they can translate that quick attack into double moves and long plays later, well, all the better.
The Ravens are still a good team. But as of now, they are not the top echelon in this league.
12. Las Vegas Raiders, 6-4 (10)
They’ve proven that they can go punch-for-punch with the Chiefs, but they’re still just 6-4 on the season and have had a few down games. This is a legitimate playoff contender, though, and could be for some time.
11. Cleveland Browns, 7-3 (15)
They have a ground game that’s pretty much the envy of the league, and they even showed it off last week against a physical Eagles’ front. They still have extended periods of offensive malaise, but they are a contender, too.