Pitts? They are terrible.

bigdaddy2003;1302941 wrote:Skip Bayless is a joke.

Skip Bayless‏@RealSkipBayless Right now I rank the AFC: 1) NE 2) Hou 3) Pitts 4) Denver 5) Blank - nobody good enough right now for 5th.

Why would you even read Bayless? You let him hurt your feelings.

Ironman92;1303028 wrote:Why would you even read Bayless? You let him hurt your feelings.

It's good for reminding yourself how much of a joke ESPN is.

Ironman92;1303028 wrote:Why would you even read Bayless? You let him hurt your feelings.

Ha I watch First Take every so often. I just find it funny to listen to him down Baltimore. He is high on your Steelers. He tweeted that they are the favorites in the North now that Baltimore is reeling. Ha it's comical really. I mean I'm not saying the Steelers aren't going to be in the running for the division but to say the Ravens are reeling because they lost to Houston at Houston is a joke.

They didn't just lose, they were annihilated. If Baltimore continues to play like they did this weekend, then Bayless is right. They lost their leader. That's huge.

They lost more than their leader. Their defense is AWFUL this year. Flacco won't be able to out duel the big time qbs when it counts with the D being as bad as it is.

GoChiefs;1303083 wrote:They didn't just lose, they were annihilated. If Baltimore continues to play like they did this weekend, then Bayless is right. They lost their leader. That's huge.

They lost to San Diego last season like 35 to 13 and still ended up in the AFC title game. I doubt they play that bad again. I guess we shall have to wait and see.

Losing Webb is enormous...losing Lewis is pretty big....Polamalu is about where Suggs is and they should be full go by the first meeting.

The ridiculous advantage is the Pittsburgh has already lost two games to crappy teams on the road by last minute FG....those 2 losses kill.

I'm not sold on Pittsburgh's defense at all....but Ben is getting some protection and playing very well.

The Ravens are the team to beat right now.....long way to go

bigdaddy2003;1303086 wrote:They lost to San Diego last season like 35 to 13 and still ended up in the AFC title game. I doubt they play that bad again. I guess we shall have to wait and see.

But they weren't this depleted last year.

I understand what you guys are saying but I'd be willing to bet they don't play that bad again. Give Suggs the bye week to get into better game shape and Ngata that time to let his knee heal a little. The offense won't play that bad again either. Just my opinion I could be wrong but I will eat crow if I am.

bigdaddy2003;1303201 wrote:I understand what you guys are saying but I'd be willing to bet they don't play that bad again. Give Suggs the bye week to get into better game shape and Ngata that time to let his knee heal a little. The offense won't play that bad again either. Just my opinion I could be wrong but I will eat crow if I am.

No...they won't play that bad but will they lose games they wouldn't have without Webb and Lewis.

Rotinaj;1303085 wrote:They lost more than their leader. Their defense is AWFUL this year. Flacco won't be able to out duel the big time qbs when it counts with the D being as bad as it is.

And this is why I can't wait for the rematch with the Browns in Cleveland. Baltimore's defense is god awful. Losing Webb is huge. With the emergence of Josh Gordon and hopefully the return to health of a few receivers, I could see that game being a shootout. Plus there was no Joe Haden in game 1.

BR1986FB;1303264 wrote:And this is why I can't wait for the rematch with the Browns in Cleveland. Baltimore's defense is god awful. Losing Webb is huge. With the emergence of Josh Gordon and hopefully the return to health of a few receivers, I could see that game being a shootout. Plus there was no Joe Haden in game 1.

Probably no TRICH though.

like_that;1303267 wrote:Probably no TRICH though.

Don't care. Knowing Shurmur they will pass it 75% of the time anyhow. Browns will likely lose but it should be fun to watch. I'm not counting them out though because they usually play Baltimore tough and, frankly, Baltimore just isn't that good.

Ironman92;1303242 wrote:No...they won't play that bad but will they lose games they wouldn't have without Webb and Lewis.

Maybe. I just don't think they are going to fall to 8-8 like I keep hearing. I guess we shall see though.

bigdaddy2003;1303406 wrote:Maybe. I just don't think they are going to fall to 8-8 like I keep hearing. I guess we shall see though.

They aren't falling to 8-8.

The Webb loss is what's killing the Ravens. Suggs being back makes up for the loss of Ray-Ray. Hopefully Jimmy Smith gets more prepared mentally and technically to be the starter (if in fact he is still Webbs replacement after getting fried up by Texans receivers a few times). I think Jimmy Smith has the physical tools to be solid. Just needs to get his head in the game.

If you look at the remaining schedule they should at worst end up 10-6. That's losing to WAS, DEN, NYG, and splitting with Pittsburgh. I don't necessarily think they will lose all those games. We'll see how they bounce back after the bye week.

Pittsburgh @ best finishes 11-5. That's assuming they beat Washington and Dallas (their toughest games outside of Baltimore) and split with Baltimore. in reality we're talking about a Steelers team who lost to TEN and OAK so any given Sunday.

That's the best case somewhat realistic scenario for Pittsburgh, as I see it.

ThePatriot;1303468 wrote:The Webb loss is what's killing the Ravens. Suggs being back makes up for the loss of Ray-Ray. Hopefully Jimmy Smith gets more prepared mentally and technically to be the starter (if in fact he is still Webbs replacement after getting fried up by Texans receivers a few times). I think Jimmy Smith has the physical tools to be solid. Just needs to get his head in the game.

If you look at the remaining schedule they should at worst end up 10-6. That's losing to WAS, DEN, NYG, and splitting with Pittsburgh. I don't necessarily think they will lose all those games. We'll see how they bounce back after the bye week.

Pittsburgh @ best finishes 11-5. That's assuming they beat Washington and Dallas (their toughest games outside of Baltimore) and split with Baltimore. in reality we're talking about a Steelers team who lost to TEN and OAK so any given Sunday.

That's the best case somewhat realistic scenario for Pittsburgh, as I see it.

Yes, Jimmy Smith irritates me. One play he will make a good play like knocking the ball away and the next he isn't even looking for the ball and gets beat bad. It doesn't make any sense. I love Ray Lewis but I think players like Ellerbe and McClain will fill in fine on the field at this point in his career. As long as he is on the sidelines to do his pregame pep talk I think it will be alright. Like I said a couple posts ago just give Suggs the bye week to get into better game shape and Ngata the same time to let his knee heal a little and the D will be alright. It's not like they are going to start getting beat by every team like they did on Sunday. They lost to a pretty good team on the road. Yes, I realize they got stomped but I still don't think it's a huge deal. If they come out and start losing games they shouldn't because of their D I will eat crow but so far they've lost to Philly who on paper is pretty decent and Houston on the road who most believe is a top 3 team and a team who had something to prove after getting beat down by Green Bay. I guess we shall see.

BR1986FB;1303408 wrote:They aren't falling to 8-8.

Agreed...still think they are the best team in the division

Who thinks 8-8?

10-6 or 11-5

Ironman92;1303881 wrote:Who thinks 8-8?

10-6 or 11-5

Just people at the gym and others I know.

They started too well to realistically think they will fall to .500. But I wouldnt be shocked at all at 10-6 (or .500 the rest of the way, essentially) and a 0 win playoffs.

Just not sure the Ravens WR Corps is good enough to win shootouts, which it seems like they will be in more and more this year. Ray Rice can only do so much, you need a vertical game.

Point taken. I guess we shall have to wait and see.

ThePatriot;1303468 wrote:
If you look at the remaining schedule they should at worst end up 10-6. That's losing to WAS, DEN, NYG, and splitting with Pittsburgh. I don't necessarily think they will lose all those games. We'll see how they bounce back after the bye week.

Pittsburgh @ best finishes 11-5. That's assuming they beat Washington and Dallas (their toughest games outside of Baltimore) and split with Baltimore. i

.

I can see Ravens beating Washington. Skins have a horrible secondary and Flacco probably will torch them.

Ya know whats the best thing about power rankings in the NFL?
Is that they dont mean a damned thing!