Umm... You also forgot Nagta. Having the big 4 together basically puts the right people in the right positions for that defense. Peyton Manning was only able to put 21 points on that D after a short week at high altitude. This is not them getting hot at the right time. This is the Ravens getting healthy at the right time.
Agreed.. but the regular season does mean something in this league. Teams can be out of contention with a bad start (see the Saints), and teams can have their fortunes changed with a bad finish (Texans). The Ravens played well when it mattered, but they don't even make the playoffs if they didn't get out to the hot start before it fell apart to close the season.
And what these championships game show is that teams must be extremely balanced if they want to be in the SB. These 2 are the 2 most balanced teams remaining. They can make plays on both ends at key times if need be. They aren't overly reliant on one side and pray that the other side keeps up. I'm predicting the 49ers to win b/c they're more balanced, but I love physical football. In 2 weeks it's going to be smashmouth football.
Ravens fans said (and this is without me checking yet) that their right side of the line was banged up during the season and healthy for the playoffs. Ravens fans (not blind homers, but analytical fans) were calling the Broncos game a tossup. That's why I put money money on the Ravens to win and another bet to cover.
I agree that they are healthier than they were... but all of their injured players combined do not outweigh the importance of Cushing to the Texans. That being said, they play well as a unit... and they all seem to have a very solid football IQ. That comes with age and experience... and the Ravens are definitely not a "young" team (especially on defense). But even at full strength, nobody was betting that this Ravens team would be holding the Pats to ONE TD for the entire game (and scoreless for a half).
Dude, they both played the same team on the road when it mattered most. The Texans got smoked and the Ravens dominated. Who cares about this during week three they played so and so. WTF?
Really belichek doesn't do interview and sends out devon mccortey?? Man you wonder why most of the country hates him
How do you figure 4 future first ballot hall-of-famers combined don't outweigh the importance of one guy (Cushing)? Those 4 guys never played together one single time all season until the first game of the playoffs, and you have seen how dominant defensively they have been. They shut down 2 of the greatest QBs of all time on the road. That's called dominant. And to your last point, how do you figure that again? Last year, the Ravens held Brady to ZERO touchdowns (although they scored 23 points), and should have won that game. They have done this before, and have slowed down the Pats before. Sure, nobody was betting b/c nobody bets for the non-sexy pick, but that doesn't mean the Ravens couldn't slow down the Patriots. Ultimately, another thing people overlook is the newly reshuffled O-line the Ravens put out for the postseason. Flacco has barely been touched since the start of the playoffs. +1. The Arizona Cardinals did beat the Patriots on the road too and started out 4-0. Nobody cares. The Texans simple aren't that great. They're a very good team, but that team needs some more pieces (even with a healthy Cushing) before they are legit SB contenders.
yeah, the ravens a different team now they've got their injured players back. a betting statistical analyst site had the ravens with the highest peak for any team this season which came before the injuries. that said no gronkowski and being susceptible to the deep pass helped.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Terrell Suggs: "These are the most arrogant pricks in the world starting with Belichick on down."</p>— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWetzel/status/293191654444244993" data-datetime="2013-01-21T03:01:52+00:00">January 21, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Suggs: "Tell them to have fun at the Pro Bowl. Arrogant F---ers."</p>— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWetzel/status/293190659131711488" data-datetime="2013-01-21T02:57:55+00:00">January 21, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
lol @ Terrell Suggs trash talk. Would mean a lot if Belichick didn't already have 3 rings. Suggs still trying to win his 1st.
Simply because those four future HOFers all have their best of their careers behind them. Additionally, Reed/Suggs/Ngata played together to close the season... so I guess you feel that Ray Lewis was the missing link to this defense. He is great... does this mean they go back to being the bad Ravens when he retires next year The Ravens played best when it matters... that's all you have to say. Does not mean that they are the best overall team in the league. Also, does not mean that every team that didn't get to the Super Bowl are simply "pretenders" that never had a shot to begin with. There are certainly reasons why they're playing better now (Revamped line, Flacco not turning it over)... but don't get all high and mighty saying that the Ravens were expected to do this (even at full strength). Also, you're equating the Texans season with that of the Cardinals... by that logic, the Broncos should be right there as well.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. The Texans could be where the Ravens are. I don't see them as less talented than the Ravens, do you? I think the difference is coaching, translated as planning, play calling, and game management. Why is this so hard for McNair to see? It is so amazingly obvious. Some coaches are simply better than others in everything from strategy to motivation. This is not astrophysics. If Flacco can do it; Schaub or any other "non-elite" NFL QB can do it. Duh.
