Ravens earn spot in playoffs: 3 things Baltimore can be proud of
![Jan 3, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) hands off during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports Jan 3, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) hands off during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Febonybird-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F15391461-850x560-e0f51bd787c2f890f40fa825e5a5b329f6ac4ae54ff462afa8f26c872b601f72.jpg)
3. They became a complete team over the course of the season:
So the Ravens dominated the Bengals. That’s not exactly news, right? How they did it matters though, and it was impressive. The Ravens looked like they did in 2019. They completely dominated the time of possession. The Bengals put up some very low numbers. Yes, it was against the Bengals, but did any team look more complete in the NFL in week 17?
The Ravens defense should be a spectacle in the playoffs. They are getting healthy at the right time. The players they need will be ready for the postseason. The Ravens didn’t need Yannick Ngakoue to look dominant in Cincinnati. The fact of the matter is that the defense is playing the way it was supposed to all year. That’s exciting. That’s the way you need to go into the postseason.
The offense rolled. I mean it absolutely and positively rolled. On a bad day, the Ravens are almost promised 100 yards on the ground. On a good day, this run game is almost promised 150 yards on the ground.
In week 17, the Ravens totaled almost 250 yards just with the run game. The efficiency of the offense based on that ground game is incredible. The Ravens destroyed the Bengals. After Baltimore got up 24-3 the Ravens had 17 first downs and the Bengals had only picked up four. You can’t play a more balanced game than that.
Next. The rest of the Ravens season rests on Lamar Jackson. dark
If this is how the Ravens play in the postseason (the way they’ve played since December) they are the toughest team to beat. The purple and black are going to be the most dangerous wild card team.
They have the most exciting player in the NFL under center, a great run game, a defense that can be dominant, and this time they are the underdog. Baltimore should be proud because a Super Bowl is something that their Ravens have a realistic chance