I think Ravens really need to think hard of replacing defensive coordinator. He is too conservation. He want's to save big plays with no rush and 8 man drop whats the end result in every game espically in 4rth quarters long drives with touch downs. This was not Raven style of defense.

That article was a crook of s--t kevin and you know it.This team is so flawed its a joke.The coaches keep preaching every week that things are going to be fixed, that they are going to play smarter, but guess what they just don't have the players to fix the problem and the coaches get out coached every game.If your satisified then shame on you as well kevin.

It could be better too!! Imagine; a 21 point lead, and letting it slip away foolishly. 8 games this season alone that we have given up the lead in the 4th quarter. Thats a stat for an entire coaching career, not season. This is self infliction. Sure, it's great to win, but surely we can do a lot better than this. We are doing this to ourselves.

THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH.......

Its about time someone has the stones to look past the stats and get to the Wins/lose column... who cares at this point how a in come. As long as it comes, with no major injuries.... The playoffs are cold, long, the players are hurt, and tired.... That was as close to a playoff game as it get, and they won. Now take that win as turn that into momentum coming home against the Saints.... and we'll go from there.

Fail to see how Ravens effort last night can be characerized as "hanging in there." They didn't hang in there at all; they surrendered. At times it looked like there were 18 Texans on the field and 8 Ravens. Usually a purple jersey wasn't even visible when Schaub was passing or someone receiving. As for Wilson "stepping up," that bs. It was a simple play, athletically undemanding. It was Haloti who stepped up and evidentally what saved R's ass was the time before overtime when they recovered some energy. Otherwise, it was a pretty shameful exhibition. No one should take any pleasure from it. It does not bode well for future. We used up all our luck last night.

D R E A M E R!!!!!!!!!!

Things could be a lot worse, but not if you have aspirations of going deep into the playoffs, if not to the Super Bowl.

The Harbaugh Ravens seem to be regressing. The Ravens went 11-5 and got to the AFC championship game in 2008 with a rookie QB in Joe Flacco and a rookie head coach in John Harbaugh.

Then in 2009 the 9-7 Ravens just barely got into the playoffs, but once there they pounded the Patriots in New England only to falter against the Colts.

2010 was supposed to be a breakthrough season, with the added WR "weapons" and the maturing of Joe Flacco, yet so many of the games go down to the wire. Yes the Ravens are beating the teams they are supposed to beat, but they've lost to the tougher teams when they've had many chances to beat them.

At this rate we'll be lucky to get the 5th seed in the playoffs, where we face the possiblity of being one-and-done.

While it would be better to be in the playoffs than not, it would be even better if this team could actually live up to some realistic expectations and IMPROVE.

For some perspective---just a couple of weeks ago the Steelers did the same thing against the Bills. And should have done the Ravens one better by losing.

The lack of execution with a lead is a concern, but at least we're getting leads.

I think that's the most positive spin here,on this event,the fan's have different concerns at times then the team.Team and fans,all took too much gnashing of teeth after last weeks game,and it distracts you from the reality of the next game.Team has a short week here.Let's all run with this spin here.Good win Ravens,let's focus on a Saints win Sunday.and getting into the play offs!

Well put Kevin. I sometimes feel it's tough to remain a Ravens fan when it seems all I hear from fellow fans is moaning & groaning....I doubt there's ever been as much collective whining from the fanbase of a 9-4 team.

It's a game played for our entertainment. Was last night's 2nd half ugly - yup. But it was also entertaining!

Guess what else Ravens fans - the team may have blown 4th quarter leads in all 4 losses, but they weren't blown out in any of them. Every other AFC playoff team (even the Pats) has suffered at least 1 double-digit loss. The Ravens lost by an average of 4 pts in their 4 defeats. Shut-up and enjoy the ride!!

The Texans were a Cinderella pick for the AFC South at the beginning of the season. They did the same thing the previous two games against the Jets and Eagles and took them to the wire and they were away games. A pro-bowl QB, running back, and the best receiver in football had me concerned going into the game and on the road and after the Stillers, a usual let down game.

With the defense on the field the whole second half, who is surprised that the Texans were able to move the ball. And an O line doing very poorly with blocking, put Yanda back at right tackle. The line did better that way. Also the Ravens have played to their opponents level. Sunday is a big game with the weather on our side.

Am I disappointed that we did not put our "foot on the Texans' throat in the second half"? You bet but am I happy about the win? You bet! On the road following a demoralizing loss the previous Sunday, a win is a win and December wins are big anyway you get them. Other than the Patriots recently, no team looks any better than the Ravens. And a wildcard is not necessarily a bad spot, not with KC or SD or Jax. Good road games and all winnable.

I think this post needs to be on the front page of the sports section as a reminder to all Ravens fans. Great post. Lets enjoy the ride people. I actually think all this adversity (wins and losses) is what builds a championship caliber team, you find a way to win games, and you learn from the ones that got away. I think come January the Ravens will be battle tested and ready to roll!

Thank you Kevin Cowherd! I'm listening to the local radio show on Baltimore FM and almost all of them are bashing the team. The Fans sound like they're ready to jump off the nearest bridge. Actually I like the Raven's chances against the Saints and in the playoffs where anything can happen. I don't see too many teams that seem to be separating themselves from the pact. I'm just glad that an opportunity exists where there are possibilities.

If it gets any worse I guess that would mean the offense will be missing their bus to the stadium on game day?

the only thing that could
be worse.

indianapolis wins the
division and beats the ravens
again in the playoffs.....

After watching yesterday's game it is evidently clear that our defensive coordinator needs to go. He seems to run a very conservation scheme. Rush 3 and drop back 8 in 4rth quarter. He wants to protect the big plays but the result is clear this gives quarter backs more time for completions and keep the chain moving. This was never the Raven's style of defense at least a few blitzes here and there in 4rth to keep the quarter back on his toe was the scheme. It is a shame that defensive coordinator hasn't realized it yet 4rth quarter you can still execute some exotic blitzes.

I think we're all pretty aware by now that unless something changes or jells or otherwise happens pretty quickly we are probably not looking at a Super Bowl championship caliber team this year in the Ravens. But the team is 9-4 and a very good bet to win at least 2 of its next 3 games, finish 11-5 and make it into the playoffs. And once they're there anything can happen.

With all the other problems in life I find it really hard to get too worked up over a pro football team, so I'm just happy that after three quarters of the season the Ravens are deep in the thick of the hunt for a championship, and that's more than I've been able to say about the Orioles for going on a decade and a half, so I'll take it.

I wonder how you are going to feel when The Saints put an old fashined butt wuppin on this overated team!

Not sure why "being on the field all second half" is given so much cred as an excuse for the Ravens D being too exhausted to play. The Texans' offense was on the field the exact same amount of time but you didn't see them running to the sidelines for a rest once a series and sucking up so much oxygen. There should be a spare conditioning coach avail cheap from the Jets - and it looks like the Ravens could use one. There is just no excuse for pros who earn tens or hundreds of millions to play a game for a few months each year not being ready to do so.

You know, the Steelers barely beat the Ravens, and needed that one big play to pull it off. So as bad as last night looked, just remember that some of our potential playoff opposition -- Pats, Jets, Steelers -- and other playoff teams -- Falcons -- had a tough time with us. So I like the gist of this article. (Even though I still nearly had heart failure last night.)

As you said things could be worse, we could be Skin fans, or Panther, or Detroit, or Bills. So many other teams we could be. All we need is a 4 game January win streak after Cincinnati. Go Ravens. Play on.

It's horrible watching the Ravens win their 9th game against an AFC team last night that hasn't lost at their home in December in 3 years!! Plus they were still fighting for their playoff life. After watching the Ravens kill them for the first 31 minutes someone on their side realized they are pro players too who need start playing offensively like one that's ranked 7th in the NFL.

All the Breaks bounced our way in the first half and ended up going their way in the second half. In the end the defense finally made a play to win the game. I know they were just lucky to the most of the genius fans out there.

I think it's obvious that we need to FIRE THE WEAK A** RAVENS FANS. This organization is top 10 in the league since it's come back. Here's hoping we make the playoffs and go as far as possible. Go Ravens.

Yawn...... no Super Bowl for you Ravens fan, just enjoy the playoffs until you go to Foxsboro.

It all depends on how you look at it. If this team was 4-9 it would be on the verge of getting a top 10 draft pick. A pick that would bring either a top flight right or left tackle, or a pass rushing DE. Instead, we'll get to see one playoff game (which might well be against the Colts in Indy). If we lose that first or second playoff game, we then can look forward to a draft pick somewhere after pick number 23, most likely. That will not bring a high caliber starter at any position. So, which would you prefer? Do you like the idea of being better next season (in theory) or of being able to say your team made it in to the playoffs, only to be beaten by the hated Colts, Pats, or Steelers, and then end up with lousy draft position? That outcome, has at least a 50/50 chance of happening.

I have found that there are two types of people in this world. People who think things could be worse (Group A) and people who think things could be better (Group B). Group A are usually a more contented group because they always think no matter how bad things are that things could be worse. So they tend to find any kind of positive in a situation and go with it. Group B people are not necessarily "doom and gloom" - they are just people who always strive for more. They are driven towards perfection. They usually think in any given situation that things could have been done to prevent the situation or make it better. And these two groups are always arguing on these threads. But they can argue all they want - they will never change how each group thinks. So Group A is thinking 9-4 is pretty good because they could be 7-6 or 6-7. Group B thinks that we are too good of a team to be only 9-4. With some better decisions here and there, we could be 11-2 or 12-1. As a fan, you could easily be in either group. But as a team, you should definitely be in Group B - always striving for perfection. Always striving to be better and never being content with "things could be worse".

Ahh, Mr. Cowherd, giving us the benefit of perspective. It is amazing just how many different ways sports writers can tell a story about the same exact game.

Here's what I know. Only 1 team out of 32 is happy at the end of the year and the Ravens are in the hunt. You could as a fan, be greedy and demand (expect?) more but as Mr. Cowherd writes, it could be much much worse.

If you don't believe him take a look across the parking lot at that other team's stadium from time to time.

a "things could be a lot worse" mentality is a loser's mentality.

I have found that there are two types of people in this world. People who think things could be worse (Group A) and people who think things could be better (Group B). Group A are usually a more contented group because they always think no matter how bad things are that things could be worse. So they tend to find any kind of positive in a situation and go with it. Group B people are not necessarily "doom and gloom" - they are just people who always strive for more. They are driven towards perfection. They usually think in any given situation that things could have been done to prevent the situation or make it better. And these two groups are always arguing on these threads. But they can argue all they want - they will never change how each group thinks. And neither is wrong – it’s just how they each think and feel. So Group A is thinking 9-4 is pretty good and they are happy because they could be 7-6 or 6-7. Group B thinks that we are too good of a team to be only 9-4. With some better decisions here and there, we could be 11-2 or 12-1. As a fan, you could easily be in either group. But as a team, you should definitely be in Group B - always striving for perfection. Always striving to be better and never being content with "things could be worse".

@Jamaltimore,

couldn't have said it better myself.

And gordonlee - A "things could be a lot worse" mentality is a NOT loser's mentality as far as a fan goes. Unless you think that a person being happy and contented with the way things are is a loser. Some people simply believe that things happen for a reason and they should be happy with the hand they are dealt. People who are happy at whatever level they achieve are winners.

Now a "things could be a lot worse" mentality for a sports team is definitely a loser's mentality. They should always be striving for perfection, always striving to win, always striving to improve.

I, for one, have a "things could be better" mentality and think the Ravens, with the talent they have, should be 12-1, 11-2 or at least 10-3. I want the team to reach the Super Bowl and win it (the same goal that the Ravens must have). I will not be content unless they do. But if they continue to make bad decisions and play the way they have thus far, they will not achieve that goal.