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Are the Baltimore Ravens the Team to Beat in the AFC?
Last season the Baltimore Ravens officially burst on the scene as arguably one of the best all-around teams in the NFL. The defensive side of the football has never been a problem for the Ravens with superstars like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis intimidating opposing offenses and still playing at a high level, but the offense was a huge question mark with a lot of doubts about whether or not this team could put points on the board on a weekly basis.
Fortunately, the emergence of players like quarterback Joe Flacco, running back Ray Rice and wide receiver Torrey Smith has been just what the doctor ordered for head coach John Harbaugh as it could be argue that the offense is Baltimore is even better than the trademark defense. With Flacco showing confidence with his receivers and Rice emerging as a legitimate superstar out of the backfield, the sky is the limit for the Ravens moving forward.
Coming into the 2012 NFL regular season, the Baltimore Ravens will be faced with numerous challenges once again. The biggest of which will be competing within the AFC North division with the likes of the arch rival Pittsburgh Steelers and the up-and-coming Cincinnati Bengals. Last year it wasn’t much of a challenge for the Ravens to win the division title, but that may very well change this season with the Steelers and Bengals looking to get the best of their division rival.
In terms of competing in the AFC Conference, the Ravens will be the cream of the crop. The New England Patriots might be a force to be reckoned with once again, but when it comes to all-around play, Baltimore will get the best of New England nine times out of 10.
Ravens’ Joe Flacco an Elite Quarterback in the NFL?
After dominating the competition in the AFC Conference last season, the question has been raised about whether or not the Baltimore Ravens can have a repeat performance in the 2012 NFL season and make it to the Super Bowl. Even though the offense was vastly improved last season, the one big question mark for the Ravens heading into the upcoming NFL season will be whether or not Joe Flacco is the right man for the job under center.
At this point in time, there is no question that Ray Rice is an elite running back and wide receiver Torrey Smith is a rising star playing alongside veteran wideout Anquan Boldin, but there is much uncertainty surrounding starting quarterback Joe Flacco.
Over the past couple of seasons, the Ravens have improved by leaps and bounds with head coach John Harbaugh calling the shots from the sidelines and Flacco leading the way offensively. Defense has never been a problem for the Ravens ever since their championship run back in 2000 with future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed leading the way on the defensive side of the football, but without an elite quarterback there are many doubts about this team’s future as a potential Super Bowl threat in the AFC.
Fortunately, the Ravens’ current starting gunslinger has no problem with the criticism or the pressure he faces moving forward. Infact, Flacco has recently dubbed himself as the best quarterback in the NFL. Not in an arrogant way, but in terms of confidence and the fact that all quarterbacks in the league should think that way.
Whether or not Flacco can prove his doubters wrong and truly be one of the elite under center remains to be seen as the pressure to win and play consistently well will fall directly on his shoulders in the 2012 NFL season.
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