joe-flacco-sacked-baltimore-ravens-in-deep-troubleAfter three weeks, the Baltimore Ravens were unbeaten, averaging 34 points per game, and led the Steelers by two games in the competitive AFC North. Even then, we it would be silly to read too much into wins - no matter how impressive - over bottom-feeders. After Sunday’s weak effort in a 17-7 loss to the Bengals - the Ravens could only muster 215 yards of offense, Flacco was sacked six times, threw two picks, and the defense was gashed for 146 yards on the ground - Baltimore probably won’t make the playoffs.

The problems the rest of the way are three-fold:

1) Brutal schedule. Two games against Pittsburgh, vs. Indy and Chicago, and at Green Bay. Also, they lose a tiebreaker against Cincinnati due to getting swept.

2) Protecting Joe Flacco. In the first three games, he was only sacked three times. In the last five games (four losses), the 2nd-year QB has been dropped 13 times. The offensive line also isn’t working on the run - the Ravens were 4th in the league rushing last season, and they’re only 15th this year.

3) Aging defense. They had a string of 40 games without permitting a 100-yard rusher. Cedric Benson has done it twice this season, and Adrian Peterson did it, too. Not having Haloti Ngata hurt yesterday.

To be fair, the Ravens have lost to the Vikings (on the road) by two, at home to Cincy on a TD with less than 30 seconds left, and at New England by six (turned the ball over in the red zone at the end of the game). That’s three losses by 11 points. We totally expected Baltimore to defeat Cleveland next week, but then comes a three-game stretch that will likely decide the season: vs. Indy, vs. Pittsburgh, at Green Bay.

Here’s your AFC playoff picture:
houston-texans-crushing-loss-to-indianapolis-colts1. Indy 8-0
2. Denver 6-1 (think they’ll fall to 6-2 tonight)
3. Cincinnati 6-2
4. New England 6-2
5. Pittsburgh 5-2 (think they’ll improve to 6-2 tonight)

The 6th spot is completely up for grabs.
* Texans are 5-4 and appear to be on the cusp of a breakthrough. That 24-7 beatdown at the hands of the Jets in the season opener clearly was an aberration.
* Chargers are 5-3 and surging after a strong road win over the Giants. If the Yankees can win a World Series in spite of Joe Girardi, why can’t the Chargers win a Super Bowl in spite of Norv?
* Jets, Ravens, Jaguars are all 4-4. The Jets play the Jaguars this week, and then travel to New England, so that should eliminate Gang Green.

*

san-francisco-49ers-are-done-out-of-playoff-mixRemember this post after week 2? “Since 1988, at least one team that has started 2-0 has reached the Super Bowl.” Here are the teams that opened 2-0: New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers. Four of those nine have been eliminated from Super Bowl contention.

Definitely eliminated: Jets, 49ers.
Looking like a longshot: Ravens, Giants.
Still playing well: Broncos (that could change tonight, though), Falcons.
Totally in the mix: Colts, Vikings, Saints.

*

Touchdown Tally:
New Orleans Saints defense: 7.
Cleveland Browns offense: 5. (Quirk: Four of the touchdowns have come from the one-yard line.