I'm pretty sure that some fans actually prefer to think the worst because if the worst happens, they get to look smart, and if the worst doesn't happen, they get to be pleasantly surprised. That's understandable, but come on --- the idea that the Ravens can't make enough fixes during the bye week to win the next three games is ridiculous.

Just remember before you jump off the bandwagon --- if we make one more play in any one of those losses (Clayton catches that pass in New England, Flacco hits a wide-open Clayton for a TD against Cincy, Hauschka makes a 44-yarder against Minnesota), we win. Yes, we've got problems, but if last year's 2-3 team could get it together without the benefit of a bye, this year's 3-3 team can certainly get it together with the benefit of one.

I'm not saying it's out of the question we lose 1, 2, or even 3 of the next 3 games. But there's no reason to assume it's inevitable and be miserable for the rest of October.

I'm pretty sure that some fans actually prefer to think the worst because if the worst happens, they get to look smart, and if the worst doesn't happen, they get to be pleasantly surprised. That's understandable, but come on --- the idea that the Ravens can't make enough fixes during the bye week to win the next three games is ridiculous.

Just remember before you jump off the bandwagon --- if we make one more play in any one of those losses (Clayton catches that pass in New England, Flacco hits a wide-open Clayton for a TD against Cincy, Hauschka makes a 44-yarder against Minnesota), we win. Yes, we've got problems, but if last year's 2-3 team could get it together without the benefit of a bye, this year's 3-3 team can certainly get it together with the benefit of one.

I'm not saying it's out of the question we lose 1, 2, or even 3 of the next 3 games. But there's no reason to assume it's inevitable and be miserable for the rest of October.

The Ravens better get their secondary figured out before they play the Colts or Manning will have a field day.

They have the potential to be at 6-3 by the time they play the Colts......but they also could easily be 3-6.

Just depends what Ravens team shows up.
It was not so long ago that we were a great defensive team with a pound it out offense.
Now we are a passing team with a bad running game and a questionable defense.

Watch out what you wish for......god has a nasty sense of humor.

How do we have a bad running game? We're ranked 10th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, and 3rd in yards per attempt (4.9). You could complain about not running enough, which is fair (we're 19th in the NFL with 154 rushing attempts), though that stat doesn't look as bad when you consider Ray Rice also has 33 catches (9th most in the NFL, and the most by any running back).

Funny how a 3-3 record sounds depending on how one gets there. Some adhere to a sky is falling perspective given the Ravens have lost three in a row. I wonder what everyone would be saying if the Ravens had gone from 0-3 to 3-3 at the break.

(Baltimore is not alone. New York went from being giddy over Rex Ryan and their rookie QB to calling their signal caller "Broadway Schmo.")

Here's a little morsel for the upcoming Denver game. The Points Against for the Broncos is the best in the league but has increased in every successive game. The Ravens have scored more points per game than any other AFC team.

The fact the Ravens can say coulda woulda shoulda is the first indication they are not that bad of a team. Teams who are 3-3 but are "better" than 3-3 are either poorly prepared and/or coached teams, or they are likely to win a few games to be where they they belong.

Since I don't think the Ravens are poorly prepared or coached (I'm not talking about specific plays where adjustments obviously are needed for the future; I mean more in the overall sense of coaching) and I don't think the players are in a no-mas state of mind, I can see the Ravens possibly winning the next three games regardless who they play.

That doesn't mean I'm predicting a 6-3 record at the end of Week Ten. It only means I won't be shocked.

(Imagine if the Vikings fall to 6-3 in the same time frame. Their sky would be falling and people would suggest Favre return to his tractor. Does he really have a tractor?)

Pete's take: I did take some Advil yesterday. Does that count?

Bob F's take: It counts if you washed it down with a fifth of Jack.

Bob F's Bonus take:

Assuming the Raven's can handle the Broncos, there is no guarantee that they can right the shipwreck of a game plan they had against the Bengals.

But, assuming they do they go into the Colts game at 6 - 3, I see two probable wins in the Lions & Raiders and two probable losses in the Colts and Steelers at Heinz.

That makes 8 - 5 and assuming (actually hoping for) a win vs. Steelers at home, 9 - 5.

That leaves two wild card games against the Packers at Lambeau and Bears at home. With two high flying QB's in Rodgers & Cutler those two games are going to be tough.

So, assuming a split,Pete if you are right, the Ravens will go 10 - 6 and probably get the wild card.

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Pete's reply: Thanks for the help. My recent prediction slump has seriously damaged my credibility, so any support is appreciated.

pete,coulda,woulda,shoulda!
clayton din't catch the ball,niether did mason nor did haush make the field goal!
live with the facts not fiction

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Pete's reply: If you feel that way, why watch the games? Why not just wait until Monday and read the scores, if that's all that matters.

Pete here is a fact that everbody including the ravens have over looked.The NFL is a changing league with more emphasis on the passing game with tall receivers and backs that can catch the ball out of the backfield. While i still think our offense is good enough to win in this league, the defense is another issue all together. There is no room on teams anymore for 1 deminsional players like kelly gregg, haloti nata that's right i said haloti nata. The big bulking takle is not effective anymore because they can't generate any pass rush. And those 2 certainly fit into that classification.More teams are also drafting bigger and more physical defensive backs who not only can match up against the taller receiver's but also can over power the receivers, along the lines of Chris MAC in his prime. If you notice the trend against our smaller corner's throwing long passes against one on one coverage and winning the battle for the ball. We don't have one corner on our team that fits the new trend good tight coverage and the ability to tackle. To validate what i am saying you only have to look at the remaining unbeaten teams in this league. Colts, denver, NO. all have fast attcking defenses who are to quick for the opposition to block. The ravens have not adjusted to the new era in the NFL and i don't know if ozzie being old school hasn't caught up with the new trend. We are a old and ineffective defense that not only can't get any better after the bye but won't get any better after the bye. Harbaugh can suger coat the situation all he wants but the current personnel on the defensive side of the ball just doesn't cut it anymore in the NFL.

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Pete's reply: Bob, you lost me on Haloti. He's one of the best defensive players in the league, and one of the quickest at his position. Overall, the defense isn't as good as it used to be, but there are 31 other NFL teams that would trade a first-round draft choice for Haloti tomorrow.

They easily can be 1-2 over the next three games, then go 0-3 the next three. These 6 games could make or break their year.

It is now a football blog, but if you do prove to be chemically enhanced (you are crazy), take your punishment (readers tease you) and come back strong ala Jared Allen and Shawne Merriman (the Ravens win their next 3), and all is forgiven!!!!

If you are talking baseball, that is another story. No chemicals there. If we find out you are using, you will be shunned and hated for ever with out a chance to redeem yourself. Even if we think you are using, you're done too. Cheter Schroid!

I choose to turn a blind eye to your possible enhancing (like Red Sox fans re: Manny, Papi, Pedro, Damon) and agree with your chemically enhanced prediction. Denver is due for a let down. Cincy heads into the match up 4-3 with the 4-3 Ravens, and leaves it 4-4. And then there is Brownie Troop 101.

8-4, losing to the Colts

I finally got to see the Vikings game on Wednesday as it was on ESPN America in my health club.

Wow, what a great game.

Here's my quick observations: I previously wondered how Flacco might do in 4th quarter pressure situations. I think he proved he can be another "Big Ben". He is great. I'd rather have the assurance of knowing my QB situation is settled for the next 10 years (barring injury) than bemoan the woeful play of the defensive backs.

Because no team should realistically expect to be undefeated, losses shouldn't automatically rock one's boat. The Ravens have beaten all of the teams they should have beaten. They have played good teams evenly. They don't have a dominating win over a good team, but they don't have an embarrassing loss. Thus they have proven that they are one of the good teams. And no one in the AFC has proven that they are significantly better.

I think that 6-3 when facing Indy is very realistic. Indy is really the only team on the schedule that scares me. I think that Baltimore should match up very well against the Steelers, and everyone else on their schedule except for the Colts.

Speaking of Colts, I was able to watch the Levinson documentary on the marching band on YouTube. No matter what you think of Angelos, he can't compare to Bob Irsay. I'm not a fan of Rush Limbaugh, but I don't know how any Irsay has the credibility to say that someone else is not fit to own an NFL team.

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Pete's reply: Prof, I agree on all counts. Glad you finally got to see the game. Very exciting, but still very disappointing.

I finally got to see the Vikings game on Wednesday as it was on ESPN America in my health club.

Wow, what a great game.

Here's my quick observations: I previously wondered how Flacco might do in 4th quarter pressure situations. I think he proved he can be another "Big Ben". He is great. I'd rather have the assurance of knowing my QB situation is settled for the next 10 years (barring injury) than bemoan the woeful play of the defensive backs.

Because no team should realistically expect to be undefeated, losses shouldn't automatically rock one's boat. The Ravens have beaten all of the teams they should have beaten. They have played good teams evenly. They don't have a dominating win over a good team, but they don't have an embarrassing loss. Thus they have proven that they are one of the good teams. And no one in the AFC has proven that they are significantly better.

I think that 6-3 when facing Indy is very realistic. Indy is really the only team on the schedule that scares me. I think that Baltimore should match up very well against the Steelers, and everyone else on their schedule except for the Colts.

Speaking of Colts, I was able to watch the Levinson documentary on the marching band on YouTube. No matter what you think of Angelos, he can't compare to Bob Irsay. I'm not a fan of Rush Limbaugh, but I don't know how any Irsay has the credibility to say that someone else is not fit to own an NFL team.

Pete i didn't say he wasn't any good but he doesn't generate a pass rush.

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Pete's reply: It's hard to do that without some help. The defense is just not what it used to be.

Hey Pete...

Hear anything about why ESPN never showed a replay of the Band that Wouldn't Die... just got Fios and I tried to DVR it. My first attempt to record the premier didn't work because a no-name college football game ran long, then it was supposed to show again on the 19th, but never came on?

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Pete's reply: I don't know, but I'm guessing it will run again soon. It was very well-received.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/4550/afc-north-underachiever-domonique-foxworth

no surprise here....

pete,
why watch the games? to see who will step up,who wants to really be the best!!
to be the best,one's got to play your best.
clayton's dropped how many important passes? the secondary has lost how many receivers? lewis whopped ochico,why? yes,i turned-off the game and went out to dinner,you sensed the otcome before seeing it