NFL Playoff Watch: Baltimore Ravens

I know that the Ravens aren't even in first place in their own division, but with the Steelers just falling at home to the Jets and Troy Polamalu injured yet again, I feel like the Ravens are coming into the playoffs with a little bit momentum than any team besides the Falcons and Patriots right now. Plus they just recorded a nice win over a red-hot Saints team this past Sunday, and has lost its four games this year by a combined sixteen points. Like the Falcons, this team has talent at the key positions, with burgeoning star QB Joe Flacco, RB Ray Rice (and Le'Ron McClain when he's healthy again), Anquan Boldin, and Todd Heap. They also still have that rock-solid defense, led by longtime buddies Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, which is a must for making a deep playoff run. Ultimately, this team has a great mixture of experience and young talent, and have been in every game they have played this year. I know that the last time the Ravens won a Super Bowl, they weren't that fun to watch. Actually, I wouldn't even put fun in the same sentence as that team, which seemed to win 12-3 every week. But this team has the playmakers on both sides of the ball, and I don't think anyone, including the Pats or the Falcons, would want to play this team come playoff time. I mean, do you really want this coming after your QB?



On the other hand, I'm not so sure how I feel about a team that gave its' Ed Block Courage Award to Donte' Stallworth, the same guy who drunkenly ran over and killed someone a year ago. But that's another story for another time.