Rec and Sports

Can the Ravens Compete for a Championship?

The Ravens were one of those football teams that got stronger and stronger as the season progressed. Rookie QB Joe Flacco continued to develop through the course of the 2008 NFL season and looked almost like a veteran by the end of the season.

With the leadership of Joe Flacco and a stellar defense, the Baltimore Ravens finished the season 11-5, 2nd in the AFC North. 2009 may be the “year” for the Ravens. They can build on the team’s success 08′ and take it one step further, Super Bowl XXIV in Miami, Florida.

While most of the 2008 Ravens team is still intact, the loss of their defensive mastermind Rex Ryan (who is now head coach in New York for the Jets) led many to wonder whether the team could keep up its level of superiority when it came to defense.

Would the Baltimore Ravens still be a great defensive team, or would Ryan’s departure lead to the demise of this defensive unit? The team certainly has some great talents in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, but Lewis is aging and the fate of this defense would be uncertain.

While the defense in Baltimore seems to be somewhat weaker than in seasons past (the team allowed 24 and 26 points in weeks 1 and 2), this hasn’t been too much of an issue just yet. The offense has made up for it, as the Ravens have scored over 30 points in both week 1 and week 2.

As long as Ray Lewis is out there, you can count on the defense to always come out as one of of the most intense units in the league. In addition to Ray Lewis, Ed Reed is one of the top safeties in the game.

The running game in Baltimore is as strong as it’s ever been. Willis McGahee already has four touchdowns, Ray Rice has been superb, and Le’Ron McClain is a bruiser with a great goal-line presence.

If Joe Flacco keeps this level of play going, he will have another stellar year. The Ravens are dangerous in 2009.

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