Ray Rice is right. The Ravens are a good team. Unfortunately there are 3 elite teams in the NFL and all three are in the AFC. Even worse, the Ravens have to play all three in the regular season.

Way to give props to the practice squad, Ray! A true player knows that it starts in practice... but to your credit you've been bringin it all year and I applaud you for it. Keep it up.

Bigtyme fan here!

3 elite teams in the AFC? I'm going to assume that the writer is placing within that group of three: Pittsburgh, Indy, and New England.

As to New Engled, they barely escaped us and lost to Denver, who we just pounded. Yes, they have scoreboard on us, but clearly not an "elite" team, especially defensively where they are not the Pats of old.

Pitsburgh has itself been shaky this year (they had no offense vs. Minnesota and was their defense that won the game in spite of their offense), though they still are the champs until eliminated from the playoffs; still not exactly elite but certainly pretty close.

Indy is likely the closest to elite level. (Though I'd say THE elite team in the league is New orleans, which has shown itself to be offensively potent, as usual, but also incredible defensively as well) But again, Indy is not exactly a juggernaught, particularly on defense.

We have opportunities to beat both Pittsburgh and Indy, and have shown ourselves to be capable of that, we just have to do it.

The more appropriate math is this: there are four division champs and two wild card spots. If all of the "elite" level teams take the division titles, we don't have to be better than the "elite" level" we have to be better than Miami and the Jets (.500 teams); maybe Cincy (this week is huge for this exact reason) and Denver or San Diego, both of whom we've beaten. that's about it. Tennessee, Jacksonville, Houston are going nowhere. Given that list, we're looking pretty good.

If our defense can continue with this new found success, its hard to argue that were not one of the top contenders for not only the division but AFC championship as well. People may think that our secondary stepped up and were our weak point all season, but if we continue to get after their quarterback then our secondary won't have to cover for as long as they were earlier in the season which makes them look terrible. If your quarterback doesn't get pressured even Champ Bailey will look awful.