This years schedule is decidedly different than last years after the 2-3 start. The Ravens will be playing a very, very difficult schedule the rest of the way and will be lucky to finish the year at 9-7 and will probably be 8-8 at best. The defense is just not up to the task and will consistently be exposed by some of the top notch qb's we will be facing in the coming weeks! Hurry up 2010!

Nice, it's always good to see "Fans" have faith in their team. Yeah, our schedule is harder. And yeah, our D isn't as good. But guess what? Our offense is a WHOLE lot better, and the Ravens have a long history of playing their best football in Nov. and Dec., dating all the way back to 1999 and our 2000 Super Bowl season. There are very few exceptions to this, such as 2007. Otherwise, our best seasons, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2008, ALL of them, we made playoff runs by playing better football in Nov. and Dec., and if I remember correctly, ALL of those seasons, we also had midseason struggles of some sort or another. We'll be fine. Even if the D can just play SOMEWHAT better, we can win games. Like JJ said, the defense has been terrible at times the last three weeks, and yet we've almost won all three games. Just imagine what we could do if the D managed to even play just a BIT better? I think the Ravens still have a strong shot at the playoffs right now.

That's exactly how you manage this 3 game lossing streak- play the next one only.Time to get serious,workmanlike.However,without those refs tedious defensive penalties we beat Cincy and NE and we're all just saying tough loss in Minn.We should handle Denver at home no matter if they're STILL undefeated. 2 weeks are a lot of time to iron out some bad habits we've developed this year.

I could be wrong MikeB, but I think you're jumping ship a bit prematurely.

I agree, MikeB. Stick a fork in 'em. Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles could play better corner out there. Unfortunately, I don't see how they fix it this year, and sadly 7-9 or 8-8 is not unrealistic with the remaining schedule.

typical ravens fan, if not for the refs. you lost because your defense sucks not because the refs

Huh MikeB?

Last year we had one of the top three strength of Schedules and the few flexible games we ended up playing much improved teams. The next stretch isn't pretty but the rest of the season is downhill.

Anything can happen during the season , teams who start off hot can get cold just like that. It's a long season , Matt has to improve this defense and rotate some players around.

Every team in the playoff hunt has hard games ahead, not just us. Some weak teams will get it together, some good ones will falter. That's why they actually play the games. I swear, some fans (MikeB for instance) somehow believe that it would be better for the players say, "you know I've considered all the variables and we can't do it. I think we should just forfeit the rest of the games this season.", because that's the type of thinking that would really be a strong foundation for 2010.

"Fans" like Mike B give sports fans in general a bad name. If my memory is correct, the Ravens had games at the Giants, at the Cowboys, at the division champion Dolphins, at home to the NFC runner up Eagles, and home to the Super Bowl Champion Steelers. Not sure how that constitutes a harder schedule than this year. Being disloyal to your team is one thing. Mistating facts is a entirely different flaw.

The Ravens ship has already sailed this year due to 'no confidence' in the defensive coordinator...............this no confidence is quickly spreading to Harbaugh due to his player and personel selections with Ozzie , who continues to get a free pass.................Bisciotti better get another gut feeling real soon............

This is really not difficult to fix. With the defense its real simple:

1) Everyone play their responsibility and stop free-lancing. On one big play to Sidney Rice, Reed picked Washington off the coverage because he was guessing. The Vikings really only had two big pass plays.

2) With the run everyone needs to play their gaps. We over-pursued and lost contain. Suggs got beat a couple of times because he did not set the "edge."

3) We need to go back to keeping the offense guessing as to what coverage we are in. It is much easier if you have a defensive lineman in a 3 point stance with the offense knowing where and who they need to block.

As far as the offense goes, they need to help the defense. We are loosing the time of possession because we are passing too much. Not only would we keep the other offense off the field but we would allow our defense to rest, if we run the ball.

Also, football is a game of "will." If we run the ball, inflict our "will" on the other team, we can make them quit. No team is tougher, stronger, or in better shape. Let's prove it.

I guess this is why Harbaugh was so non-committal during the off-season whenever he was asked about improving in 2009 on their 2008 AFC Championship game appearance. All he would ever say was "we want to be the best Ravens we can be." Looks like the best they can be is .500.

Each year stands alone. The Ravens are who they are, a .500 team right now. MikeB is being realistic. However the schedule is not the base of reasoning as to if they will remain a .500 club. Only when the Ravens had the #1 D in ’00, ’06, and ’08 were they able to string together victories like Mason is suggesting.

Ravens are not playing Ravens style football right now and those traits are to be the top 5 in rush offense and a overall top 5 defense, dictate the time of possession and play for field position and unless they get that back, us fans are going to see more of the same regardless of how many yards Flacco throws.

Ravens had arguably the best defense in the NFL last year. It was ranked #2, so unless they start to perform like that I would not hold my breath for any 9-1 or 8-2 finish. To go 7-3 would be tremendous, 6-4 or 5-5 would be likely.

this season is far from being lost but if they continue to misdiagnose the teams problems it will be very soon. first mattison need to understand we don't have the personal necessary to run the 4-3 and should just scrap it, get back to the 3-4 and call it aggressively and let that front 7 be dominant as they have been in the past. On offense Rick H. has it correct get back to the three headed monster please!!!

The Ravens are solid. Tehy'll make the playoffs and probably win the division. The Steelers have to play the same tough teams we do, plus they have to play the Ravens twice. Cincinnati won't contend. How about 11-5 and a division championship.

Just need to be focused on winning the division. Good teams will overcome this and the Ravens are a good team believe it or not some of you. They are not coming unglued as a team and that is a good sign.

Geez, what a bunch of genius's in this group. Football is a game of inches and the line between winning and losing is so close each week that we will always be in games with the team we have. Let's hope some breaks go our way starting with Denver next week. Knocking off an undefeated team is a good way to jump start the teams confidence. More importantly all the posters can start talking about our plans for the superbowl again. GO HARBOH and your mighty mighty Ravens