Each Friday this NFL season, we’re taking a quick look at the league’s most interesting team in action that weekend. This week, we’re going with the Baltimore Ravens.
Why the Ravens? Because they quietly have the league’s top-ranked defense and have won four of five since their Week 8 bye, with their only loss during that stretch coming on the road against the league-leading Dallas Cowboys. We all know what Joe Flacco can do when he’s on his game, and with his receiving corps finally coming together he has a triple-digit passer rating the last four weeks. Combine that with the fact the defense has surrendered 14 or fewer points in four of their last five games and the Ravens are suddenly a very intriguing AFC contender.
Why this week? Because it’s New England week! These teams have met in the playoffs three times in the last five years, with two of those games being decided by four or fewer points (the Pats won both). The Ravens did, however, defeat the Patriots en route to the Super Bowl in 2012. Four of their last five regular-season matchups have also been decided by one score, but Baltimore has beaten New England only once in eight all-time regular-season matchups. A win in prime time Monday night in Foxboro would send a message.
What should we expect? A desperation game for a Baltimore team trying to hold off a healthy and charging Steelers squad in the AFC North, especially against a bitter rival that is also desperate to lock up a first-round bye but is vulnerable right now due to injuries. No way this thing isn’t close, and I’m fully expecting a wild finish at Gillette Stadium.
Put it all together and for at least one weekend, the Ravens are America’s most interesting football team.
