Baltimore Ravens: Can They Salvage the Season?

The Baltimore Ravens have gotten used to reaching the playoffs under head coach John Harbaugh. But it doesn’t appear that it’s meant to be in 2015.

Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talks with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Matt Schaub (8) during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

It is pretty safe to say that being a Baltimore Ravens fan this season has had its ups and downs.

Unfortunately to this point, the downs have outweighed the ups.

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At 4-7, John Harbaugh’s team has disappointed in many ways. And while season-ending injuries to the likes of outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, wide receiver Steve Smith, running back Justin Forsett and eventually quarterback Joe Flacco have been factors, this is a club that never really got started this season.

You will remember that the club dropped its first three games for the first time in the franchise’s brief 20-year history. Losses to the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals came by a total of 14 points. Following a 23-20 overtime win at Pittsburgh, the Ravens endured another three-game losing streak, this by a combined 16 points.

The team’s 1-6 start has now been followed by three wins in four weeks, including last Monday night’s stunning 33-27 at Cleveland in which safety Will Hill returned a blocked field goal for the game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game.

The defense has disappointed in many ways this season despite the presence of linebackers Elvis Dumervil and C.J. Mosley, to name a few standouts. Baltimore has already allowed 276 points in 11 games this season, just 26 fewer than they permitted (302) in 2014. A team that forced 22 turnovers a year ago has a mere nine takeaways this year and four of those came in the Week 11 win over the St. Louis Rams.

Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Matt Schaub (8) hands the ball off to running back Javorius Allen (37) in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

These days, Harbaugh’s club is being led on offense by veteran quarterback Matt Schaub, who threw for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns but was also picked off twice (1 returned for a touchdown) in the win over the Browns. The main threat out of the backfield is 2015 fourth-round pick Javorius Allen, while wideouts Kamar Aiken and Kaelin Clay and tight end Crockett Gilmore are the lead receivers these days.

Harbaugh has done an excellent job of keeping the ship afloat and the fact that the team has played in close games all season can’t hurt down the stretch. All 11 of Baltimore’s contests this season have been decided by eight points or less.

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Could the Ravens actually get themselves back in contention for a playoff berth? A lot may depend on today’s outcome in South Florida. Harbaugh’s club has a date with the Miami Dolphins before coming home to face the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers – all of those contests at home. The season concludes at Cincinnati with a tilt against the Bengals.

Mathematically, the Ravens are still alive when it comes to playing additional football this season. But they have to climb over so many other teams in the AFC that even with a strong surge, they will likely fall short.

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Even with the odds being long, don’t expect this club to just coast the remainder of the year. That’s certainly not this team’s nor Harbaugh’s style, even if a little bit of that style took a big hit in 2015.

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