Ray Lewis. There are few figures in sport who divide public opinion to the extremes which Lewis does. Love him or hate him, the Baltimore Ravens linebacker performance on the field, and his skills as leader, not only in the locker room, but also in the franchise, are unquestionable.

His announcement that this year’s playoff run would be his ‘last ride’ was something every Baltimore fan knew was coming sooner or later, but few, if any, had prepared themselves to truly accept this as a reality.

Super Bowl XLVII proved to be a fitting farewell for Lewis as the 17-year veteran collected his second Super Bowl trophy in what, barring a dramatic change of heart, was the linebackers last ever game.

Whilst losing a player of Lewis’ caliber could never be seen as a good thing, some of us hope to take a pragmatic approach to his departure, and give Ravens’ fans some positive aspects to focus on. Just in case winning the Super Bowl was already getting a bit old (…)

Most importantly, Baltimore are now an offensive-dominated team. With stars like Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Torrey Smith on offense, this team is now capable of going head to head with the league’s premier offenses and winning. This has not been the case in Baltimore for Lewis’ entire tenure at the franchise, and should help ease the pains that losing Lewis will cause.

The defense, despite not being at its vintage best this season, is also better equipped now to cope with the loss of Lewis, than it has been in recent years. Inside linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Jameel McClain are both good enough to start in most NFL teams and will minimize any potential drop off in playing ability on the field.

The loss in leadership cannot be underestimated, Lewis is a ‘once in a generation’ type player, but key players like Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata will be ready to step up and help fill the void. Flacco’s growth in ability and confidence will undoubtedly see him assume the mantle of the teams’ ‘general’.

The Ravens are also facing the challenge of retaining many of their players who are coming to the end of their contracts. The list is long, and includes the likes of Reed, Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Cary Williams and Bryant McKinnie, not to mention recent Super Bowl MVP, Flacco, who is due a very big contract indeed. Lewis’ departure won’t free up a lot of cap room, but it may be enough to make room for a couple of new contracts for their upcoming free agents.

Having tried to remove as much sentiment as possible from this article, I have to be perfectly honest; the Baltimore Ravens will never be the same again. Lewis’ retirement won’t devastate the franchise, General Manager Ozzie Newsome is too smart of an operator to allow that to happen, but number 52 certainly cannot be replaced. He is one of a kind.

This marks the beginning of a new era for Baltimore. The last of the ‘original Ravens’ is heading off into the horizon. The time is ripe for a new group of players to cement their legacy in ‘Charm City’ and I for one cannot wait to see who steps up to the plate.

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Future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis saw his ‘last ride’ end in perfect fashion as the Baltimore Ravens saw off a spirited comeback from the San Francisco 49ers to triumph 34-31 at Super Bowl XLVII. The game also saw quarterback Joe Flacco named Super Bowl MVP after a nearly faultless performance.

Legendary linebacker Lewis opted to defer after winning the toss, a decision which was vindicated soon after when he helped the Ravens defense restrict the 49ers offense to a quick three and out.

Baltimore’s offense, keen not to be outdone by their defense, quickly laid down a similar marker. They moved swiftly down the field in a drive which culminated in a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

San Francisco made a statement of their own on their next drive, moving seemingly effortlessly up the field. Once they entered the Red Zone however, the Baltimore defense immediately looked to tighten up. A sack from Paul Kruger helped restrict San Francisco to a successful field goal from David Akers.

The 49ers registering on the scoreboard seemed to spur the Ravens into a higher gear, and Baltimore’s defense registered two quick turnovers, the first a forced fumble from Courtney Upshaw, and the second an Ed Reed interception. The Ravens capitalized on both, with quarterback Flacco showing his ‘elite’ credentials, hitting Dennis Pitta and Jacoby Jones for touchdowns on the respective drives.

San Francisco managed to double their points tally late in the second quarter, successfully landing another field goal, which sent them into the halftime break trailing 21-6. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick had look rattled up until the late scoring drive, but his key role in overcoming a 17-point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons previously had 49ers fans remaining fairly confident over their chances in the second half.

Clearly, Jim Harbaugh had his work cut out in the locker room at the half, but it looked as if John Harbaugh had more success, with Jones returning the subsequent kickoff for a 108-yard touchdown, tying the NFL record.

The 49ers ensuing drive was of critical importance. If San Francisco were to have any chance of a comeback, they needed a score. A disruptive loss of power then sparked a monumental swing in momentum, despite the Ravens defense holding strong and forcing the 49ers into a three and out.

A 31-yard Michael Crabtree touchdown midway through the third quarter brought the 49ers to within 15 points of the Ravens and gave much needed hope to an ailing 49ers side. Hope was then compounded by the San Francisco defense, who forced the previously ruthless Baltimore offense into a three and out.

Ted Ginn’s punt return to Baltimore’s 20-yard line gave the 49ers excellent field position as Kaepernick went back to work, first finding Vernon Davis with a precision pass, before Frank Gore ran untouched into the end zone.

Things then went from bad to worse for Baltimore as running back Ray Rice fumbled deep in Ravens territory, which was recovered by San Francisco and eventually a field goal kicked, leaving the score at 28-23 to Baltimore.

The Ravens were in dire need of a score on their next drive. A big gain down the sideline by Boldin put Baltimore into 49ers territory, but the San Francisco defense came up strong in the Red Zone, limiting the Ravens to a field goal.

The Ravens reprieve was short lived however as Kaepernick lead the 49ers down the field in just three plays, and then sped into the end zone on a 15-yard rush. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful however, and Baltimore maintained a two point lead.

Time management was now on both teams’ minds. A Ravens’ drive, ending in a field goal by Justin Tucker, increased their lead to five points with just over four minutes left on the clock.

The 49ers drive made it to the Baltimore’s 7-yard line by the two minute warning, but the Ravens forced a turnover on downs with some fierce defense. The Ravens were then unable to get a first down and wind down the clock, but gave up an intentional safety in order to take as much time off the clock as possible. The 49ers attempted to return the resulting punt, but with just four seconds left on the clock, they were unable to do so.

Lewis’ legacy cemented. Reed won his first Super Bowl in his hometown. Flacco proved, perhaps unequivocally, that he is an elite quarterback. John Harbaugh won the ‘HarBowl’. The storylines were concluded in dramatic fashion, amidst scenes of euphoria for the Baltimore Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens, World Champions.

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Never has one man done more for a team than Ray Lewis has done for the Baltimore Ravens.

Since his arrival in Baltimore in the 1996 NFL Draft, Forbes have stated that Lewis’ tenure in the city has likely accounted for a $100-125 million increase in the franchise’s value, which according to a 2012 survey, sits at a very respectable $1.16 billion.

The experienced linebacker has missed the majority of the season after suffering a torn triceps injury in the Ravens’ Week 6 clash with the Dallas Cowboys. For most this would be a season-ending injury, but it should be evident to all NFL fans by now that Lewis is not just your average football player.

His dramatic return at the beginning of the playoffs, coupled with the momentous announcement that this would be his ‘last ride’ has been suggested by many to be the key reason behind Baltimore’s timely return to form.

It is hard to imagine anything more motivating for his teammates than helping Lewis go out on the best possible note. At this point of the season, one solitary mistake can mean the end of the journey, and to borrow a phrase from Bill Belichick, the Head Coach of the Ravens upcoming AFC Championship opponents, the New England Patriots, ‘Do your job’.

Let me put it another way. Would you want to be the person culpable for the end of Lewis’ last ride? The kind of determination, focus and concentration that this breeds can be just as important, if not more so, than any of the intangibles we regularly judge football players by.

Beyond the emotional and mental contributions that the return of Lewis brings the team, let us not forget, he can still play.

The traditional strength of the Ravens has always been their unforgiving defense, but unfortunately for the Baltimore fans, this has not been the case for much of the season, with the unit being far from dominant.

There are several reasons for this, not least so the fact that defensive standouts Terrell Suggs and Lewis were not on the field together at any point this season until Baltimore’s win over the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Throw into the mix the fact that both Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed have been playing hurt all season and the disruption that losing Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano undoubtedly caused, it is perhaps not too surprising that the Ravens defense has faltered.

This all changed two weeks ago however when Baltimore won their Wild Card round match against the Colts. The defense has finally started to get healthy with Suggs and Lewis both on the field together, as well as players such as Paul Kruger and Corey Graham continuing the form they were showing in the second half of the regular season. The Ravens’ defense is beginning to look vintage once more.

One factor which has been critical for Baltimore in both of their playoff victories so far has been the performance of their new-look offensive line. If the revival in the Ravens’ form could be attributed to one person, and one person alone (and that person cannot be named Ray Lewis), it could be Bryant McKinnie.

Michael Oher is a Pro Bowl-caliber offensive tackle. It is just that he is a Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle, not the left tackle position he has been playing at all season. Given time at the position I’m sure he would flourish, but the form and fitness that McKinnie has found has allowed the veteran to retake his spot at left tackle, pushing Oher back to his favored right tackle position. This in turn has pushed rookie Kelechi Osemele from his position at tackle to guard, and the young man from Iowa State has proven to be just as impressive in his new position as he was in his last.

This re-jigged offensive line has performed outstandingly, giving up just two sacks in their last two games (which includes facing the powerful defensive front of the Denver Broncos). If there is one pertinent criticism of the quarterback Joe Flacco, it is his lack of pocket awareness, and the improvements that the offensive line have made in pass protection have helped Flacco throw for five touchdowns and no interceptions in those two games.

Should Baltimore go on to beat Tom Brady and the Patriots in a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game, undoubtedly the vast majority of the praise will go to Lewis and the impact his return has had on the team. Given that he even now has me believing in fate, I will probably be adding my voice to that praise, but that being said, keep your eyes on the Ravens’ offensive line this Sunday, they are primed to continue their good form and I think a big night for Flacco could be on the cards.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco started the season, the last of his rookie contract, in a confident mood. He boldly stated that he thought he was the best quarterback in football. He then went on to praise the strength of his offensive line and receiving corps, whilst also reiterating his faith in then-Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron.

Fast forward six months and a change in offensive coordinators, and Flacco’s ability has been consistently questioned, despite the quarterback already having registered his career high passing yards with a game still left to play.

Nobody questions Flacco’s arm strength or his ability to make any kind of throw needed, but his pocket awareness and decision making has been scrutinized widely, with many expecting a starting quarterback of four years experience to have developed further in these areas. Flacco also had forays into the playoffs in all four of those seasons, impressing particularly in both 2010 and 2011.

This leaves Baltimore with an unenviable dilemma at the end of the season. Flacco and his agent, Joe Linta, have been holding out for ‘Elite Quarterback money’ with Linta stating earlier in the season that his ‘biggest negotiating tactic is his (Flacco’s) play on the field’. Linta could possibly be regretting that statement at this current moment.

Key errors in decision making as well as poor pocket awareness leading to strip-sacks in two consecutive games have both contributed significantly towards a three game losing streak for the playoff-bound Ravens late in the season.

This streak was snapped in Week 16 as the Ravens cruised to a comfortable victory over the New York Giants, thanks largely to an excellent performance from Flacco; a performance which will just fuel the critics’ claims that the quarterback is far too inconsistent to warrant a contract similar in value to those of Tom Brady and Drew Brees.

That being said, Flacco would certainly be an upgrade at the quarterback position for a lot of teams in the NFL, and it’s unlikely that the Ravens will want to part ways with him, especially with the lack of superior talent available at the end of the season (Michael Vick and Alex Smith both potentially available) and no high first-round draft pick to compete for the likes of Geno Smith and Matt Barkley.

Both the Seattle Seahawks (Russell Wilson) and Cincinnati Bengals (Andy Dalton) have shown in recent years that you can hit on a successful quarterback outside of the first round, but it’s a gamble that a perennial playoff side like the Ravens will not want to take.

The most likely course of action now seems to be that Baltimore will use their franchise tag on Flacco, giving them another season to analyze his abilities and weigh up whether he deserves a long-term contract or they begin afresh with a new quarterback.

This could have the unwelcome consequence of bringing about the end of Ed Reed’s time with the Ravens. Many had predicted that Baltimore would use the tag on Reed, with the organization not keen to give a player of his age a long-term contract. Without the tag, and uncertain over a new long-term contract, Reed could sign a big money deal with what would likely be a long list of suitors, or carry through with his threat of retirement.

Whether or not Flacco gets the contract he has been hoping for this offseason, or the tag gets used on the quarterback rather than long time Baltimore favorite Reed, it will have serious connotations for the Raven’s strategy heading into the 2013 NFL draft, especially considering their potential lack of salary cap to lure in free agents.

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The Baltimore Ravens (5-2) have been one of the AFC’s dominant forces for as long as anyone can remember. Tell that to the Houston Texans (6-1), in case their 43-13 shellacking of the Ravens in Houston wasn’t enough.

After getting thumped by the Green Bay Packers last Sunday night in front of a national audience, this is exactly how the Texans dreamed of bouncing back.

Baltimore held a slim lead for the majority of the game’s opening quarter, but a 25-yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub to receiver Kevin Walter with 30 seconds remaining in the frame gave the Texans their first lead of the day at 9-3.

They never looked back.

“We were really into what we were doing,” said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, “and we were there all day long, so it was a good team effort.”

Houston made absolutely sure to take advantage of the absence of Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who had been placed on injured reserve earlier in the week with a torn tricep. Of the 43 points the Texans put up, 34 came via their offense. The other 9 resulted from an early safety and a Johnathan Joseph 52-yard interception return touchdown early in the second quarter.

Schaub threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns on 23 of 37 attempts. Running back Arian Foster also found the end zone twice, and converted 19 carries into 98 yards.

By halftime the Texans had run out to a staggering 29-3 lead over the team that was just one catch away from representing the AFC in the Super Bowl last year. The game was all but over.

Joe Flacco, who seemed to be improving week by week, had a day he’d love to forget. He was picked off twice, tossed just one touchdown and had only 147 yards passing.

“They played well. We didn’t,” Flacco said, “They played fast and we just weren’t able to stand up to it today and give it a good fight.”

Both teams now enter their bye week. While Baltimore will have to wait an extra week for the opportunity to redeem themselves, the Texans will spend that time aspiring to build upon their nearly flawless performance.

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The Baltimore Ravens managed to extend their winning streak over the Cleveland Browns to nine straight games Thursday night, when they recorded a 23-16 victory at the M&T Bank Stadium. The game ends a period that saw the Ravens play four games in just 17 days, and Head Coach John Harbaugh will likely be satisfied to have escaped the game with a victory, albeit a hard fought one, and allow his players some much needed time to rest.

The first quarter was fairly uneventful as neither team’s offense got themselves into rhythm, allowing defenses to dominate the game. Two notable plays came late in the quarter when a huge hit on Josh Cribbs on a punt return dislodged both his helmet and the ball, allowing the Ravens to dive on the ball and regain possession. Unfortunately for the home side however, their subsequent drive ended in quarterback Joe Flacco throwing an interception in the end zone by Craig Robertson.

Fortunately for fans of both sides, the game exploded into action in the second quarter. Flacco lead an excellent drive down the field, finding multiple receivers before linking up with Torrey Smith in the end zone for the opening score of the game. The score remained at 6-0 as holder Sam Koch could not take the ball cleanly on the extra point opportunity and the play collapsed.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker added a 45-yard field goal later in the quarter before rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden took Cleveland on a 94-yard drive, which culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Trent Richardson.

If Flacco had been responsible for the Ravens first touchdown drive, then wide receiver Anquan Boldin was responsible for their second. Boldin was targeted successfully four times on the 89-yard drive, before Flacco ran into the end zone himself to re-establish Baltimore’s nine point lead.

Cleveland pulled back to within one score of Baltimore with a 51-yard field goal, but then gave momentum back to the Ravens at the end of the third quarter. Weeden threw an interception, which cornerback Cary Williams returned for a 61-yard touchdown, giving Baltimore a 23-10 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Browns cut the deficit to just seven points with two successful field goals, but the visiting fans were left wondering what could have been when wide receiver Greg Little was unable to connect with a Weeden pass in the end zone, as the ball seemed to slip through his outstretched hands.

An almost perfectly orchestrated drive from Weeden with just over a minute left on the clock came close to tying the game up and sending it to overtime, but clutch defensive moments from the likes of Ed Reed did enough to ensure Baltimore would emerge victorious with a score line of 23-16.

Cleveland put in a performance which belied their 0-4 record, and there were certainly positives for the Browns, even if it will be hard to take for their frustrated fans. Weeden looked calm and composed, and had his offensive line and receivers shown more consistency, then the game could quite easily have finished with a different result.

The Ravens will be pleased with the victory as they move to 3-1, especially with such a short turnover since their previous game against the New England Patriots. There are still concerns about both their pass rush and their pass defense. Whilst their secondary has not been diminished at all since last season, there is a general consensus that if Baltimore can improve their pass rush, the secondary will also improve as a result. Needless to say, the Ravens are praying for a swift return for 2011 Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, especially given the destruction Haloti Ngata is causing amongst interior offensive linesmen.

Both teams will now have a lengthy break till their next games, allowing their injured players extra time to recover from their knocks. Cleveland will visit current Super Bowl champions the New York Giants, whilst the Ravens head west to play the Kansas City Chiefs, with both games on October 7.

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A bad tempered affair at Lincoln Financial Field between the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens ended in a hard fought 24-23 victory for the home side. An explosive passing game from the Eagles was too much for the Baltimore defense to contain, as their offense failed to keep up their form from their Week 1 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Given Michael Vick’s poor performance the previous week against the Cleveland Browns, most people were expecting LeSean McCoy to be used extensively on Philadelphia’s opening drive. Head Coach Andy Reid had different plans, however, and Vick looked in tremendous form early on, finding receivers in space and marching the Eagles down the field. He finally came undone when he had to escape the pocket due to pressure and fired a pass into the hands of safety Bernard Pollard in the end zone.

The Eagles were able to open the scoring shortly after, when Trent Cole stripped the ball from Joe Flacco on the quarterbacks own 15-yard line and regained possession for Philadelphia. This time the Eagles decided to run the football and McCoy went over untouched from one yard out.

Baltimore hit back quickly though, as their new no-huddle offense had the Philadelphia defense on the back foot, with the Eagles unable to substitute their defensive personnel as much as they would like. The drive culminated in a rare rushing touchdown for fullback Vonta Leach after some impressive blocking from his offensive line.

The Ravens took the lead early in the second quarter following another effective drive involving large doses of running back Ray Rice, and Flacco found Jacoby Jones, who ran an excellent route to beat cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha for a 21-yard pass. Rookie kicker Justin Tucker later extended the Baltimore’s lead, knocking over a kick from 56 yards, which ties him for a franchise record as well as bettering any successful kick he made in College Football, leaving the score at 17-7 to Baltimore at the half.

The third quarter saw a Vick-inspired comeback for the Eagles,  as Philadelphia quickly leveled the score at 17-17. Jeremy Maclin was found by Vick in the end zone after the quarterback rolled out of the pocket and showed great composure to still hit the waiting Maclin, and a field goal shortly after tied the game.

The Ravens offense struggled consistently throughout the third and fourth quarters, but two further field goals from Tucker put Baltimore back into the lead as time began to become an issue in the game.

Almost in identical fashion to his performance last week at Cleveland, Vick once again led his team downfield with just under two minutes left in the game, rushed for a 1-yard touchdown himself and give Philadelphia a lead that they would not surrender on Baltimore’s final drive of the game.

It was a game of two halves from the Baltimore offense, who looked in great shape during the first half in their no-huddle offense, but were poor in the second half, failing to utilize their fast paced offense. Flacco’s development towards becoming an elite quarterback certainly took a step backwards in the second half, and the Ravens had to rely on Rice to consistently earn them yards in both the rushing and passing games.

Philadelphia showed flashes of brilliance in the passing game, but Reid will be worried with the amount of turnovers they have committed in their opening two games. A very banged up offensive line will also be a worry as he hopes to hear good news on injuries to both King Dunlap and Jason Kelce.

Baltimore will now face the prospect of avenging their AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots next week, whilst the Eagles will make the long trip to Arizona to play the Cardinals.

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Many people were wondering whether the heartbreaking AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots last season would leave the Baltimore Ravens more fired up than ever this season, or facing a hangover. This question was answered emphatically as the new-looking Ravens blew away the Cincinnati Bengals in their home opener, 44-13, on Monday night with the rest of the nation looking on.

Baltimore got off to perfect start, scoring on all three of their first drives. The first drive ended in a first NFL field goal for rookie kicker, Justin Tucker, following a 52-yard pass to Torrey Smith off of the very first snap of the game.

It was then the Ravens’ defense turn to step up and they forced a three and out on Cincinnati’s first drive. This gave Baltimore excellent field position and the new no-huddle offense shone, moving the ball quickly back towards the Bengals’ end zone. Running back, Ray Rice, then began to justify his new contract by punching it in to give his side a 10-0 lead.

The Bengals pulled back three points of their own with a field goal early in the second quarter, but they were soon facing an even bigger deficit. Quarterback, Joe Flacco, was in impressive form and took his team on another long drive, regularly finding receivers with pinpoint passes. He finished off the drive by finding Anquan Boldin for a 34-yard touchdown pass and firmly putting Baltimore in the driving seat.

Cincinnati was able to strike back before the half, as BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed his way to a 6-yard touchdown, leaving the Bengals trailing 17-10 heading into the third quarter. Head Coach, Marvin Lewis,  was pleased with his sides’ drive down the field, which involved a couple of fourth down conversions and generally showed a fluency that had been lacking early on in the game.

Questions about the proficiency of the Baltimore pass rush were raised early in the third quarter when quarterback, Andy Dalton, lead his team comfortably down the field for another field goal to bring his side to within four points of the Ravens.

Fortunately for Baltimore, their offense continued it’s great start to the game, scoring on consecutive drives, the first a Dennis Pitta touchdown, followed shortly by another field goal from Tucker.

It was almost as if the defense recognized they were being outshone and came up with two impressive plays of their own on either side of the end of the third quarter. Ed Reed was the first to step up, picking off Dalton and returning the football for a 34-yard touchdown, a score which moved Reed to the top of the all-time interception return yardage table, having now put up 1,497 yards. The beginning of the fourth quarter rolled around and it was now time for the other defensive talisman of the Ravens to take the spotlight as Ray Lewis forced a fumble on Dalton that was quickly recovered by Lardarius Webb.

Another rushing touchdown for Rice and a field goal for Tucker left the score at 44-13 to Baltimore, and the Ravens brought in their reserves for the final nine minutes, who were able to comfortably see the game out.

Cincinnati will now have to wait until the last game of the regular season to get a shot at avenging this humbling score, but they will be eager to record their first win of the season against the Cleveland Browns next week.

Head Coach, John Harbaugh, has been thrilled with the Raven’s season opener, as they shone in the new no-huddle offense. Flacco put up great numbers (21/29, 299 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT) and Rice looked dangerous whenever he got the ball (10 carries, 68 yards, 2 TDs). The chemistry Flacco had with his receivers was also apparent, completing multiple passes to seven different receivers.

One cause for concern may be the lack of a consistent pass rush threat, despite Haloti Ngata picking up two sacks, and it will be something defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, will want to work on before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles next week.

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The Baltimore Ravens had a good, albeit frustrating, season in 2011. They recorded victories home and away against their arch-rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, but also missed out on a trip to the Super Bowl after one dropped catch, and then failed to take the game to overtime because of a missed field goal. Such are the fine margins between success and failure in the NFL.

The losses of Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding have hurt the notorious Ravens’ defense, not to mention the potentially season-long injury to reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs. The Ravens’ defense is nothing but resilient, however; players such as Paul Kruger and Pernell McPhee look ready to step up after an impressive last season. Second-round draft pick, Courtney Upshaw, also seems an even more inspired pick following the injury to Suggs just days after the draft.

With Ray Rice secured to a long term contract, one of Baltimore’s primary concerns was to find other backs to share the load with their premiere running back. Both third-round pick Bernard Pierce and undrafted rookie Bobby Rainey look to be favorites for this role. Pierce offers the Ravens a physical runner who can be used in third and short situations, while Rainey plays in a fashion very similar to Rice and has looked effective in the passing game also.

The departure of Ben Grubbs was also a blow to the Ravens, but they seemed to have found a ready-made replacement in second-round pick Kelechi Osemele. The rookie from Iowa State has performed well in preseason, whether it be at tackle or guard, and has a wealth of experience to learn from including Marshall Yanda, Bobbie Williams and Michael Oher.

Although preseason performances are not necessarily a true measurement of ability, early signs have been good for quarterback, Joe Flacco, and the new no-huddle offense. It remains to be seen whether this is due to the arrival of Jim Caldwell as the new quarterback’s coach, the increased maturity of Flacco, the improvements in the receiving corps, or a combination of all three.

Despite the Ravens offense being the focus of attention this preseason, the defense cannot be underestimated when it boasts the talents of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata and Lardarius Webb, all of whom will be eager to make up for the loss of Suggs and maintain Baltimore’s status as an elite defensive team.

With the offense looking to be in better shape than last season, there is no reason why Baltimore won’t be able to replicate their success from last season and once again make it to the AFC Championship game. However, whether or not they will have the firepower to beat the likes of the New England Patriots, who they could well meet again at that stage of the playoffs, remains to be seen.

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Reminiscent of the infamous ‘Wide Right’ miss by Scott Norwood in Super Bowl XXV, Billy Cundiff’s failed 32-yard field goal attempt against the New England Patriots broke the hearts of Ravens’ fans worldwide. In addition to being a missed opportunity for Baltimore, it raises widespread concerns over whether or not the current side can mount another genuine shot at Super Bowl glory.

With defensive talismans Ray Lewis and Ed Reed both winding down their illustrious careers, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to maintain their high level performances for another season. Although Lewis has already moved to reassure fans he will be back next season, and remains confident of being able to challenge for the Super Bowl once more, he is not the only issue Baltimore will have to contend with as they move into the offseason.

Primary amongst Baltimore’s concerns will be resolving questionmarks over both defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Pagano has orchestrated another great season for the Ravens, helping them maintain their position as one of the best defenses in the league, ending the regular season ranked 3^rd in Total Defense, 3^rd in Sacks and 1^st in Forced Fumbles.

These kind of statistics are hard to ignore and Pagano has been linked with several of the vacant Head Coach positions around the league, and as such, ensuring his continued position at the Ravens must be a priority for Baltimore.

Questions of a different kind abound over the future of Cameron however, with the OC coming in for widespread criticism from both fans and pundits alike. Most prominent of these criticisms have been Cameron’s inability to get Ray Rice the touches he needs to be a dominant force in games, and his persistence to try and shoehorn Joe Flacco into a system which the quarterback is clearly not comfortable in.

Highlighting this problem has been the fact that some of Flacco’s best plays this season have come either in the no huddle offense or when he is escaping the pocket and giving his receivers more time to find space. Whether they stick with Cameron or decide to pursue an alternative, Baltimore need to make a decision quickly in order to ensure the least possible disruption come the preseason.

In terms of personnel on the playing field, the Ravens have key opportunities in the upcoming draft to address positions which are in need of an injection in both quality and depth. The first of these positions is the inside linebacker. Although Lewis has performed exceptionally given his age this season, he no longer has the pace to make himself a force in coverage, which means both he and Jameel McClain are focused on stopping the run, and leave the vaunted Ravens defense susceptible to the pass and feeling unbalanced.

Another receiver would also be top of the Ravens wish list, whether he is a tight end or a wide receiver. Rookie Torrey Smith has done well in his first sseason, but has yet to develop the ability to catch the ball consistently, whilst Ed Dickson showed signs of his potential early in the season, but like Smith, has a penchant for dropping passes which are relatively pressure free.

Anquan Boldin and Dennis Pitta have both acquitted themselves well this season, but the lack of reliable targets in his receiving core has led to Flacco recording his lowest completion rate since he entered the NFL, as well as his quarterback rating dropping to a similar level that he recorded in his rookie year.

Come the Ravens’ pick in the first round, inside linebacker Vontaze Burfict of Arizona State could be available, but would represent a high-risk reward scenario for Baltimore. None can doubt his talent, and he possess the speed that would make him an excellent tandem with both Lewis and McClain, but his form has been highly inconsistent this season and he has been known to give away unnecessary penalties when he lets his anger get the better of him.

These are flaws which can be corrected however, and there is arguably no better guy for him to learn from and have as a positive role model than Lewis. In terms of taking a receiver with their first round pick, the Ravens could do far worse than Mohamed Sanu of Rutgers who, whilst not quite possessing the top end speed of Smith, is a good route runner and has reliable hands.

An alternative to both of these could be Nick Perry of USC who is an outside linebacker with a great ability to rush the passer, making him the perfect option to line up opposite of Terrell Suggs and really torment opposition quarterbacks.

Whichever way Baltimore decides to go this offseason, fans can be left fairly assured that GM Ozzie Newsome has rarely led the Ravens astray in recent seasons and that between himself and Head Coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens will be in a good place come preseason and ready to give both Lewis and Reed probably their last shot at Super Bowl glory.

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The Baltimore Ravens gave their fans something to cheer about as they booked themselves a meeting with the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game, after a hard fought victory over the Houston Texans. Baltimore, playing in their first home playoff game since 2006, won the game 20-13, and largely relied on their overpowering defense after scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter.

The Texans almost had the perfect start to the game when Danieal Manning looked as if he was going to break through the Ravens defense for a touchdown return from the opening kickoff, but was eventually bumped into touch after making 60 yards on the return. The return gave Houston good field position, but the Texans were unable to convert the field position into a touchdown, having to settle for a field goal to take the first lead of the game.

The Ravens then capitalized on a mistake by Jacoby Jones who, under immediate pressure from Cary Williams, attempted to collect a punt and fumbled the ball, allowing rookie Jimmy Smith to dive on the ball and give the Ravens a first and goal. Baltimore showed good composure in the red zone, with Joe Flacco finding Kris Wilson for a 1-yard touchdown pass and move Baltimore into the lead, which the home side would go on to maintain for the rest of the game.

Baltimore then extended their lead through wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who was on the end of a 10-yard touchdown pass to make the score 17-3 to the Ravens. Boldin proved to be the most effective receiver for Baltimore, finishing the game with one touchdown and 73 yards on four receptions.

Houston were determined to get back into the game however, and a field goal and an Arian Foster rushing touchdown in the second quarter brought them to within four points of Baltimore.

They looked as if they might retake the lead on several occasions, and were only kept at bay by the much vaunted Ravens defense, with Baltimore’s secondary in imperious form, Ladarius Webb picking up two interceptions and Ed Reed collecting one as well on a critical deep pass to Andre Johnson that would have certainly been a touchdown if the safety had not intervened. A late field goal in the fourth quarter then gave Baltimore a little more security and their defense saw out the game.

Although thoroughly disheartened to have lost a game which they seemed to be the more dominant team in, the Texans will be encouraged by their performance in their debut season in the playoffs. Foster was dominant in the running game, clocking up 132 yards on 27 carries, and Johnson was comfortably the most proficient receiver in the game, registering 111 yards on eight receptions.

Despite now being in contention for the AFC Championship, the Ravens will not be happy with their offensive performance, and will have to improve dramatically if they are to overcome the in-form Patriots away from home, who demolished the Denver Broncos in their divisional round match up.

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The Baltimore Ravens (12-4) secured the AFC North title and ensured a first bye week in the playoffs with a confident 24-16 victory over divisional rivals the Cincinnati Bengals (9-7).

The Ravens got off to the perfect start, with Ray Rice breaking into the secondary and racing to the end zone for a 70-yard rushing touchdown. Both Billy Cundiff and Mike Nugent then proceeded to exchange field goals and left the Ravens leading by seven points at the end of the first quarter.

Baltimore then made it a two possession game in the second quarter, with Joe Flacco finding tight end Dennis Pitta for a 9-yard touchdown pass, part of a great performance for Pitta who finished with 62 yards on six receptions.

The Bengals cut the deficit back to seven points late in the third quarter however, with running back Bernard Scott going over for a 25-yard rushing touchdown, giving heart to the Cincinnati offense which had been fairly ineffective up to that point.

Despite pulling to within four points of the Ravens with another Nugent field goal, the game wrapped up midway through the fourth quarter when Rice broke off his second big run of the game, registering a 51-yard rushing touchdown, and giving the running back 191 rushing yards on just 24 carries.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs kept up the form which has many tipping him to become Defensive Player of the Year, sacking Andy Dalton as well as forcing a key fumble late in the game, with possession returning to the Ravens.

The Ravens will now enjoy a home match in the second round of the playoffs, and condemn archrivals the Pittsburgh Steelers to have to face the Denver Broncos next weekend.  The Bengals will also appear in the playoffs despite their loss to the Ravens today, and will have to travel to Houston to take on the Texans next week, illustrating the strength of the AFC North as arguably the most competitive division in the N.F.L.

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The Baltimore Ravens (11-4) bounced back from their disappointing loss to the San Diego Chargers with a 20-14 victory over divisional rivals, the Cleveland Browns (4-11). The Ravens maintained their position at the top of the AFC North with the victory and will finish top of the division if they can beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the last game of the regular season, regardless of how the Pittsburgh Steelers do in their game.

The Ravens got off to the perfect start, with Ed Dickson collecting a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback, Joe Flacco, in the first quarter and was soon followed up by a field goal from Shayne Graham, giving Baltimore a 10-point lead going into the second quarter.

Flacco then threw his second touchdown of the game in the second quarter, finding running back Ray Rice open, and Rice had little difficulty coasting into the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown. The Ravens added another field goal early in the third quarter, giving themselves a 20-point lead over the Browns, then had to brace themselves for a comeback from Cleveland. Josh Cribbs gave the Browns’ fans some hope with a touchdown on an 84-yard punt return in the third quarter, which was followed up by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Seneca Wallace to Evan Moore in the fourth quarter, but could not find another score as they lost the game by six points.

Whilst Wallace performed competently, if not spectacularly, at quarterback, running back Peyton Hillis looked in formidable form for arguably the first time this season, running for 112 yards on 24 carries. Although Hillis has slowly begun to find his form in this injury-plagued season, it may be too little, too late to save his career in Cleveland, and he could well be looking for a new team come the end of the season.

Although they allowed two touchdowns late in the game, the Ravens defense looked far more solid than they did last week against the San Diego Chargers. Ray Lewis looked to have fully recovered from his toe injury, registering a game-high 10 tackles as Baltimore managed to make the Browns’ offense look fairly ineffective for the majority of the game.

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Ray Lewis might have wished that he had waited another week before he returned from his toe injury, as the Baltimore Ravens (10-4) fell to a comprehensive 34-14 defeat to the San Diego Chargers (7-7).

The Ravens marched down the field confidently on their opening possession and looked certain to take the lead in the game. However, kicker Billy Cundiff, who is carrying an injury to his left thigh, was unable to convert the simple field goal, and gifted possession back to the Chargers. San Diego proved to be more clinical on their opening drive, with Mike Tolbert going over from the 1-yard line to end the Ravens streak of not allowing any kind of score on their oppositions opening drive.

Baltimore did manage to level the scores early in second quarter, quarterback Joe Flacco finding Ed Dickson with the 15-yard touchdown pass, and Cundiff was on target with the extra point. San Diego were exposing a Ravens secondary which, without Ladarius Webb on most plays, was allowing big yards to Phillip Rivers in the passing game, and retook their lead through a field goal initially, and then extended it with a rushing touchdown from Ryan Matthews as the game went into halftime.

The Chargers heaped even more misery onto the misfiring Ravens defense early in the third quarter, with Rivers finding Malcolm Floyd for a 28-yard touchdown, and moving San Diego into  a 17-point lead.  A Takeo Spikes interception then led to another rushing touchdown for Matthews, as they took the game beyond Baltimore, consigning the Ravens to their fourth loss of the season.

Rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith did grab a consolation touchdown for the Ravens in the fourth quarter, with a 36-yard touchdown, but it was too little too late for Baltimore who looked uncharacteristically poor in defense.

The Chargers will be thrilled with Rivers, who put in a masterful performance, throwing for 270 yards on just 17 completions, and although he only managed one touchdown, his accurate passing set up the rushing touchdowns of Matthews and Tolbert.

Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh will now be hoping that his brother Jim can do the Ravens a favor and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would keep Baltimore at the top of the AFC North.

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The Baltimore Ravens (8-3) emerged victorious against the visiting San Francisco 49’ers (9-2) in a game dubbed as the ‘Harbaugh Bowl’. A huge defensive effort from the Ravens was enough to secure a 16-6 victory as they secure their position at the top of the AFC North.

Unsurprisingly, the Ravens looked keen to run the ball early on, as the home side were 6-0 on the season when running back Ray Rice has 18 or more carries in a game. This allowed the passing game to open up for Joe Flacco, and he found Anquan Boldin for a couple of good gains as Baltimore moved to within field goal range and took a three point lead in the game on the opening drive.

The 49’ers opening drive was not as successful, as the visiting team went three and out, extending the Ravens record of shutting out opposition teams on opening drives to 19 games. This was to the delight of the injured Ray Lewis, or ‘Mufasa’ as his teammates call him, who was doing a very good impression of a lion as he prowled up and down the sideline.

San Francisco kicked a field goal of their own to tie the game up, and were unlucky not to take the lead when Alex Smith found Ted Ginn for what would have been a 75-yard touchdown pass, only for the play to be called back for a penalty against the 49’er offense.

The home side then put themselves back into the lead with another field goal, but were disheartened to not have got a touchdown when they had managed to get into a first and goal situation. This extended San Francisco’s steak of not allowing a touchdown in the first half to five games, the highest in the NFL.

The first half was then brought to an end with the 49’ers moving down the field and looking to target a deep threat, only for Ravens cornerback Ladarius Webb to come up with a great interception in the end zone, and allowing Baltimore to maintain their lead into the second half.

The third quarter offered little of note apart from the 49’ers leveling the scores with their second field goal of the game. Towards the end of the quarter however, the Ravens put together a 76-yard drive which saw completed passes to seven different receivers, and culminated in an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dennis Pitta at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano will have every reason to be pleased with himself and the Baltimore defense who had been excellent all game, but seemed to find an even higher gear in the fourth quarter, recording multiple sacks and tackles for a loss.

An addition to their momentous defensive effort, they added another field goal, extending their lead to 10 points and making it a two possession game, which ultimately proved too much for the 49’ers to overcome. Baltimore managed to record nine sacks in the game, which tied the franchise record, and included a haul of three for linebacker Terrell Suggs, who continues to show that he can become the leader of this defense when Lewis does eventually retire.

The loss, although disheartening, will not damage San Francisco’s playoff hopes, and should the Green Bay Packers slip up in the playoffs, then this matchup could very well meet again in Indiana at the Super Bowl.

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The Baltimore Ravens (6-3) were unable to build momentum after their impressive victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week as they succumbed to a 22-17 loss on the road at the Seattle Seahawks (3-6).

Although the Ravens could still not welcome back wide receiver Lee Evans due to his ankle injury, concerns over Matt Birk, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs all amounted to nothing as the trio started against the Seahawks. Meanwhile, Seattle declared starting quarterback Tavaris Jackson active after a pectoral injury from the previous week.

The underdog Seahawks made the much better start to the game, racing into a 10-0 lead, with Marshawn Lynch running in a touchdown from a yard out, and kicker Steven Hauschka adding a field goal. If Lynch had been the go-to man on the Seahawks drive, then Ed Dickson stepped into that role for the Ravens, with Joe Flacco targeting him consistently on their drive, which culminated in Ray Rice passing to Dickson for a one-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Seahawks’ lead to just three points.

Hauschka added three more field goals for Seattle towards the end of the second quarter, the latter coming as a result of a fumbled kick return from David Reed, turning things from bad to worse for the Ravens. The Seahawks then increased their lead to 15 points with another field goal after Flacco’s pass was deflected, and linebacker David Hawthorne intercepted the ball for the Ravens’ third turnover of the game.

As the third quarter came to a close, the Ravens found success with the no-huddle offense, much in the same way they did previously against both the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and were rewarded with a field goal, and setting up an exciting final quarter.

Baltimore continued to use the no huddle offense, and drove quickly up the field midway through the fourth quarter, and Flacco found Dickson for his second touchdown of the game with an 11-yard pass, leaving the Ravens trailing by just five points with just under six minutes left to play. Unfortunately for the visitors, their defense could not make anything happen, and Seattle ran the clock out with Lynch running  strongly.

The performance of tight ends Denis Pitta and Dickson will be pleasing to Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron, as will the performance of the offense when it was in its hurry-up mode, but more worryingly for Baltimore is the fact that they have slipped to another defeat against a side they should be beating if they have genuine playoff ambitions.

The Ravens’ lack of a significant running game ultimately cost them this game, with Lynch running for over 100 yards, as well as the Seahawks punishing Baltimore for their errors, including the two fumbled kick returns from D. Reed. They will need to be more clinical on offense and solid in defense next week when they take on AFC North rivals the Cincinnati Bengals as they look to reaffirm their position at the top of the division.

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After a disheartening loss in Jacksonville on Monday, the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) made a comeback as they edged a 30-27 victory over the visiting Arizona Cardinals (1-6) at the M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens came from a 21-point deficit to win the game, a franchise-record turnaround.

This match-up saw the N.F.L.-leading defense of the Ravens going up against the inconsistent offensive line of the Cardinals, who have already given up 18 sacks so far this season. The game started much as expected, with the linebacker trio of Jarret Johnson, Paul Kruger, and Terrell Suggs all recording sacks on Kevin Kolb early in the first quarter.

The Ravens offense, which had been woeful against the Jaguars six days earlier, appeared equally inept before a home crowd as the Cardinals raced into a surprising 24-6 lead by the end of the second quarter.  With Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco throwing an interception and fumbling in the second quarter, the Cardinals punished the home side, with Beanie Wells recording his seventh rushing touchdown of the season after Darrell Dockett had recovered the ball from Flacco’s fumble.

Patrick Peterson also returned a punt for an 82-yard touchdown, whilst Kolb, looking far more confident in the second quarter, found Earl Doucet for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The Ravens managed to claw back three points with a second field goal after their no-huddle offense seemed to find its rhythm late in the second.

Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron must have been happy with what he saw at the end of the half, and the Ravens continued to utilize the no-huddle offense, with Flacco finding wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a 37-yard reception.

The Ravens then reduced Arizona’s lead to 11 points when running back Ray Rice went over for a one-yard rushing touchdown, with the inclusion of Haloti Ngata at tight end drawing much of the defensive attention and allowing Rice to jog through a large hole. Baltimore’s defense continued to shine, with Chris Carr and Bernard Pollard both picking up sacks on the increasingly ineffective Kolb.

This took the Ravens to a total of six sacks for the game as they began to establish dominance over the Cardinals offense. This pressure resulted in the Ravens regaining possession, and Flacco and Boldin continued to flourish in the second half. Boldin, a former Cardinal, notched 80 yards on four receptions as Flacco lead his side into the redzone.

Rice then went on to collect two more touchdowns, as the running back saw much more of the ball than he had six days previously in Jacksonville.  The Cardinals did kick a field goal to tie the game up, but with just seconds left on the clock, Billy Cundiff kicked a field goal of his own to earn the win for Baltimore.

After a disappointing first half, Flacco, who passed for 336 yards, and Boldin, who earned 145 yards for seven receptions, were dominant, and will need to maintain their form if they are to emerge victorious over the Steelers next week.

Suggs will also be keen to carry on from where he left off, putting in an excellent defensive performance — registering nine tackles, four assists, and a sack — as he continues to show the kind of leadership required when Ray Lewis decides to call it a day.

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The AFC North division is one of the most competitive and entertaining in the NFL from top to bottom. Every team has a fierce rivalry with each other. Every game is played with 100% intensity and effort, making watching these games an incredible experience for fans. For a while now Baltimore and Pittsburgh have been the clear frontrunners here. That being said, Cincinnati is perennially a tough team to beat, and usually on the verge of the playoffs come the later weeks in the season. Also Cleveland, who had been at the bottom of the barrel for a while now, has injected some new young talent, and is looking to start their turnaround. The 2011 season could see an even more balanced AFC North than fans have seen in years.

Cleveland Browns: The Browns are at a crossroads. They have a quarterback in Colt McCoy who seems as though he’s ready to lead this team. McCoy has shown both the skill and the intangibles to be a very solid quarterback immediately, and maybe more in the future. I remember watching their game against the Jets last season, seeing Colt drive the ball down field with ease using both his arm and his legs to shred one of the better defenses in the NFL. At that moment I knew that this team was on their way up. McCoy isn’t alone either. He has a stud in the backfield in Peyton Hillis who had an absolute breakout season last year. Hillis racked up 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns, not to mention countless highlights of him leaping over one defender and running over the next. With Rob Ryan running the defense, this team is only a few weapons and some experience away from being a serious contender in this division.

Cincinnati Bengals: Inconsistency is the word. From the playoffs in 2009 to a four win season in 2010, there was a serious drop-off in Cincinnati. The Carson Palmer era seems to be over, and the Andy Dalton years are just beginning. Rumor has it that the starting job is already his. That being said, something about this franchise just screams under-performance. Ochocinco apparently wants out and nobody knows if Terrell Owens will be able to come back from off-season surgery and perform at a high level. If Dalton is relying on Jordan Shipley to be his number one target, there will undoubtedly be another rough season. Even off the field this team can’t win. Every time fans turn around their beloved Bengals are back in the news shining a negative light on the franchise for one thing or another. Maybe new leadership under center will turn things around, but it will take some time. Prepare for some rebuilding years Cinci fans.

Baltimore Ravens: Anquan Boldin came on the scene in 2010 and made a serious impact on this offense. Joe Flacco added a serious weapon to his already bolstering arsenal, and immediately showed good chemistry with Boldin, connecting down-field game after game. I’m shocking myself in writing about a Ravens offense first, but it’s catching up to their powerhouse defense that we have known and loved for years. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed might have some mileage on them, but nobody’s worried, they’re still some of the best in the league at their positions. There really aren’t very many weak links in this Raven’s team, they’re ready now. Year after year Flacco gets better, and fans are just waiting for the year where they can overthrow the Steelers. Could 2011 be the year? I’ll leave it at a maybe, but it’s going to take some big game performances to get the deal done. Their time will come as long as they can get it done before they lose their veteran leaders to retirement. Expect to see them back in the playoffs, and from there you never know.

Pittsburgh Steelers: What’s to say here? Sure, they lost in the Super Bowl, but they were beaten by an excellent team that was on an incredible roll. Mike Tomlin has a resume at 39 that most coaches never will have in their entire career. Big Ben is one of the best clutch quarterbacks in the league no matter how ugly his stats or mechanics may be. The defense is back to the days of the “Steel Curtain.” I could probably go through every single player on the defensive side of the ball and rave about them, but I’ll spare readers the extra words and just tell you they’re all really, really good. They’ve got youth, they’ve got offense, defense, special teams, veterans, coaching, experience, rings…they’ve got it all. I refuse to believe I’ve seen the last of Ben Roethlisberger or Troy Polamalu in the Super Bowl. When it’s all said and done, this team might rival some of the great Pittsburgh teams of the past.

The Steelers are going to be tough to overcome for a long time, but getting out of this division might be their hardest task. Fans better believe that they will be given a run for their money as this division begins to balance out. Hard hits and clutch plays are the name of the game in the AFC North. If you haven’t been watching these divisional games in the past few years, start. Great football, great players, great moments. Whoever is able to come out of this division on top will surely be ready for anyone that gets the tough task of meeting them in the postseason. Be ready for some battles.

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