I've been telling my friends since before training camp that as long as we can stay healthy I think we're a lot closer to the 13-3 team we were then the 5-11 team we were last year. Now, I'm not saying we're a playoff team but if healthy we're a lot better then the 5-11 team we were last year.

I think as a team we are at best an 8-8 team. Wins can go up or down depending on the play of Flacco. As long as he stays as poised as he has along with as little mistakes as possible we can win any game with the defense we have. Definitely need to see the offense take strides as the season goes on with some more vertical passing. Definitely a few seasons before we see a 13-3 mark again.

I watched the cin-tenn game-- cin is really awful- just above Miami--so take that into account when u look at point spreads for the ravens. u have to remember that we still have a good D and are running game is fine-- however Joe is Passing to rec. who look like pedestrians when they run patterns really hurt us- 2 years ago what was our record-13-3-- with some breaks we could still be very competitive. But a hard team to bet on each week

I've felt all along that you can't predict a record for this team. I just have heard all offseason that this team is aging defensively and that we will have no consistency at the QB position and we would be 6-10 at best. I know we can and will compete for a playoff spot. If we continue to play defense like were playing, run the football well, and improve on our efficiency in the passing game, and also take some shots downfield here and there we will be just fine. Also when flacco becomes more comfortable i see big things in the future for this offense. When you have a QB with that kind of a arm it's as good as having another weapon

yes if healty we;ll be o.k.not saying palyoffs but o.k.we need better wr.

i think philly deserves a mention in the NFC. it's amazing the difference between the quality of the NFC east versus the NFC west (or south for that matter).

if i were the ravens though i would be quite concerned about cleveland. they now have a pair of run stuffers up the middle and should be able to force teams to throw the ball to ball them, not just grind it out to keep their offense off the field. they have enough weapons to keep defenses honest as well. and since we're dealing we a "surprise" bye week now, the work load has been lightened for players this week, which i get and approve, however it also means less preparation for an important divisional game.

The addition of Lorenzo Neal cannot be overstated and that combo of Neal in front and McLain right behind him going through the line is scary if you're on the other side. That formula alone can be big, very big as the Ravens go through the season

After spending yesterday surfing through the AFC games, I don't think a 9-7 record is that far of a reach. If we win the turnover game each week, we should be in the hunt or at least competitive.

It shows for the millionth time that strength of schedule means nothing. Cle,Jax,SD,Sea,Min and Cin are all worse then we thought. Ari,GB,Ten,Buf and Den are all better then expected. That's what this league is. If you produce your own young QB you can contend quickly and for a long time. Have a few injuries and a tougher schedule then the year before and it's right back to 8-8.

Why does a team with the best record in the history of the league (New England), get the league's easiest schedule. Something really is unfair about that. I will be happy as long as the team is playing it's butt off and is generally getting better.

Superbowl!

"No, I'm not saying that the Ravens are playoff bound. I'm not saying they are even going to win the AFC North."

Uh Preston you should've put the second part frst because if they won the AFC North they'd obviously be in the playoffs. As for the team, I said if they stay healthy they'll be an 8-8 team thats a lot better than what most said we'd be a 5 win team again. I think we can have a respectable year and be in games if we take care of the ball and play great defense, the latter is a given if they stay healthy. Flacco's going to go through some growing pains and he'll struggle against better teams like the Steelers, Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, etc but it's just part of being a rookie QB and I think he'll be the QB Ravens fans have been waiting for.

Right on the mark Mike....I am stunned to see the lethargic confused Browns who look lost and as If they've degressed from their growth of a year ago....last year Chudzinski was the talk of the league.... and it appeared the browns were finally coming of age....I thought the addition of Rogers,Stallworth, Willams and Wright in the secondary would surely make them competitive with the elite teams....but Crennel looks like a confused old man....Wembley looks like a bust ,and they have absolutely no pass rush.... they cant create running lanes wide enough for Lewis .....and their offense seems limited to Edwards and Winslow...it appears that if you focus on Edwards and Winslow they are reduced to not much else....this certainly leaves the door to second place in the AFC north open...and although pittsburgh has disposed of the Texans and Browns, they look very beatable also.....solid but not overly impressive....their is hope for the Ravens....I still believe their weak secondary will be their undoing..... with Tennessee having the much more efficient Collins as opposed to bust VinceYoung ...San diego,Denver, Buffalo and Jacksonville...I dont think a wildcard will come out of the AFC North ....so only the division winner will advance to the playoffs...it would probably take some major injuries for the steelers for the Ravens to leapfrog them.....but the notion of the browns being up and comers has proven to be a myth.

My projections for the AFC

AFC East: Patriots 10-6

AFC North: Pittsburgh 12-4, (Ravens 9-7 will miss playoffs as a potential wildcard due to two tough losses to the the Steelers)

AFC South: Indianapolis Colts 10-6

AFC West: Denver Broncos 11-5

Wildcards: Tennessee Titans 9-7 and San Diego Chargers 10-6

baltimore. playoffs. this year. watch and see lol. nobody expects us to be that good or to do anything. we got an edge there. Playoffs here we come lol.

How can you write off Cleveland so quickly?!?! They lost to arguably the two best teams in the NFL!!!

The browns did not just lose to two better teams, they were humiliated!! I read earlier this year that anderson would come back to earth and that edwards would prove that he is overated.

Budafinguz, exactly! if they can't beat Dallas and Pittsburgh, then its possible they can be counted out. If they wanna prove they are a good team then they need to start beating quality teams rather than just average teams. So far they haven't lived up to the hype and they are completely lost. And as for this Sunday I have a feeling the ravens are gonna be fired up to play since they unexpectedly had a bye week so hope for the Ravens to win!

I don't understand how everyone writes off the Raven's defense so quickly. They held Cincinatti to 3 points. Say what you want about the Bengals, but the Raven's defense is still one of the top in the NFL. The Browns struggled against the Steelers defense. I would take the Ravens defense over the Steelers defense everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Bottom line, don't write the Raven's off so quickly yet. Defense has always won our ball games. If Flacco can limit his turnovers, our running game can dictate the pace of most football games.

the ravens will surprise every team they play this year .the keys are cam,joe and the defense.joe is ahead of the curve because of the defense he practices against everyday.THEY WILL BE BETTER THAN PREDICTED IN THE BEGINING!

I know the Ravens are older in some spots, but we also have a lot of young talent like Haloti Gnata, T Sizzle, the whole O line, Ray Rice, Flacco, Reed is not old, Mark Clayton, etc. I feel it a good mix right now and the players seem to have bought in. If Harbaugh can get them to keep playing hard they can win 8 games and who knows what happens then. The Browns have lost 2 home games, The Bengals are the Bungals again and did anyone see how Big Ben was favoring that shoulder? Does he make it through 16 games with the hardest schedule in the NFL? If not the Steelers are coming back to the pack. That is why the play the games!

I know I'm all alone here, but the Patriots aren't all that without Brady. The team that averaged 38 points last year has barely held off the lowly Chiefs and Jets, both of whom have little defense and terrible coaching. Reality will hit the Pats by week 5 in San Fran, bank on it.

And before we annoint the Squeelers, did anyone else see Hines Ward dropping passes the other night?? He is the heart and soul of that team, and right now looking a lot like Todd Heap.

I'm going to go ahead and say that the Ravens have as good a shot as anyone in the AFC right now. The only sucky part is we have to play the entire NFC East - looking at 3 losses there.