Try NFL Sport Channel Seach:
Selected searches:
NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season Superbowl
Items by
Baltimore, Pittsburgh expected to battle for AFC North… Again
Published: May 27, 2009
No Comments
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Once again, the Ravens find themselves eagerly anticipating the start of a new season. And once again, they expect to be battling their hated rivals from Pittsburgh for AFC North supremacy.
With the exception of 2005, when the Cincinnati Bengals briefly resembled a respectable franchise before imploding and returning to mediocrity, either the Ravens or the Steelers have won every division title up for grabs since the league realigned in 2002.
2009 should be no different.
With both squads coming off impressive seasons–the Steelers having won the Super Bowl after defeating the Ravens in the AFC title game–and Cincinnati and Cleveland expected to be their usual lackluster selves, it’s a safe bet that either Baltimore or Pittsburgh will be standing atop the AFC North yet again when the final regular season game is played. The big question, as usual, is which team?
The Ravens have always had the kind of tough, aggressive, stingy defense needed to be a division champion. It’s their offense that has routinely been the question mark and, by extension, the ultimate decider of their fate.
In 2003 the Ravens rode running back Jamal Lewis and his 2,066 rushing yards to their first division title. Three years later, it was quarterback Steve McNair’s leadership and late-game heroics that propelled the team to a 13-3 record and its second AFC North crown.
Despite saying goodbye to linebacker Bart Scott, defensive back Chris McAllister, and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, the Ravens still expect to field a formidable defense in 2009 behind Ray Lewis and company. But if the team is going to contend for a third division title, it will need a similar breakout performance by someone on the offensive side of the ball.
The leading candidate to fill that role is Joe Flacco. The second-year quarterback showed glimpses of his potential last season as a rookie, starting every game and throwing for 2,971 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading the Ravens to a pair of playoff wins.
More importantly, he commanded the huddle and showed remarkable poise in the pocket, his confidence growing with every game. Despite working with a game plan that was simplified to minimize risk, Flacco regularly marched the Ravens down the field and into the end zone.
In situations where the Ravens traditionally settled for field goals, they were now scoring touchdowns. As a result, the team went 9-2 down the stretch, averaging 32 points per victory.
With a full year under his belt, it’s not unreasonable to expect Flacco to be even better in 2009 as the coaching staff opens up the playbook. All of his weapons return, including wide receiver Derrick Mason, who led the team in receiving yards (1,066) and touchdown receptions (5).
The three-headed monster at running back returns as well, with fullback Le’Ron McClain (902 yards rushing, 10 TDs) once again teaming with Willis McGahee (671, 7 TDs) and Ray Rice (454 yards) in an effort to keep defenses honest. All of which bodes well for the Ravens in 2009.
So what’s in the way of the Ravens’ plans for a third division title? You can start by looking 250 miles to the west.
The Steelers are the defending Super Bowl champions, after all, and return nearly everyone from that team. The Ravens were 0-3 against Pittsburgh last year, and must figure out a way to beat them if they want to prevent an AFC North three-peat.
The Steelers aren’t the only problem, though. While predicting the toughness of future opponents in May is risky business, it’s fair to say that road games against San Diego, New England and Green Bay won’t exactly be walks in the park. Home dates versus Indianapolis and Chicago should also prove challenging, to say the least.
How well the offensive line protects Flacco will go a long way towards determining the Ravens’ success in 2009. Gone is center Jason Brown, 26, allowed to walk as a free agent just as he was entering the prime of his career.
In his place is 12-year veteran Matt Birk, signed away from Minnesota. The rest of the line remains in tact, and if second-year left tackle Jared Gaither makes the kind of strides the Ravens are hoping for, Flacco should have plenty of time to throw. If not, then it could be another Pittsburgh nightmare for Baltimore.
