Baltimore Ravens: Time to hit the panic button

The 2015 season has gotten off to a horrible start for the Baltimore Ravens, as they have lost three straight to start the season.

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Since 2008, the Ravens have been one of the best teams in football with a .500 or better record in every year during that span. Over that seven-year period, the Ravens have only missed the playoffs once in the 2013 season when they had an 8-8 record.

2015 maybe a season of a changing in the guard in the AFC, as the Ravens don’t look like a playoff team at all this season.

In Week 1, the Ravens were defeated by the Denver Broncos on the road by a score of 19-13. The Broncos like the Ravens have been one of the better teams in the AFC in recent years after the signing of Peyton Manning. The two teams have had some good games, but Week 1 was an ugly one.

The loss to the Broncos also cost the Ravens one of the leaders, as Terrell Suggs tore his Achilles tendon and is out for the rest of the season. Besides being a team-leader, Suggs has totaled double-digit sacks in four of the past five seasons. The loss of Suggs might cripple the Ravens’ defense that hasn’t played well in the last two games without him.

In Week 2, the Ravens were right back on the West Coast with a tough part to their schedule, as even though they were favorites against the Oakland Raiders, it was a classic trap game with back-to-back weeks on the opposite coast.

Despite their offense playing much better, the Ravens’ defense was awful against the young Raiders’ offense. Second-year quarterback Derek Carr torched the Ravens’ secondary, as he totaled 351 passing yards and threw for three touchdowns. The Ravens weren’t able to stop Michael Crabtree or Amari Cooper, who both totaled over 100 receiving yards.

In a must-win game at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens put up a good fight but were unable to hold a lead in the fourth quarter. The Ravens’ defense once again lets them down, as Andy Dalton had a monster game. He totaled 383 passing yards and three passing touchdowns with a game-winning drive. Baltimore also struggled once again to stop a talented wide receiver, as A.J. Green totaled 227 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Sep 27, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) catches a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Cincinnati Bengals defeated Baltimore Ravens 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

It is very odd to watch the Ravens’ defense struggle so much after years of them having one of the best defenses in the league. It is also strange to see the Ravens struggle so much to be able to run the football, as Justin Forsett is looking like he was a one-hit wonder in 2014.

The Ravens will be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football on the road in a crucial game. Teams that start 0-3 almost never make the playoffs, but a 0-4 start would be the official dagger in their season. The Steelers will be without Ben Roethlisberger in Week 4, and it will be Michael Vick getting the start in his place.

Vick has really struggled as a starter in recent years, but this Ravens’ defense doesn’t appear like they can stop anyone right now. The Steelers still have great weapons in Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown to help Vick, which means that this is not an easy win for the Ravens even with Roethlisberger out.

It is surprising to say this after three weeks, but it’s time to hit the panic button for the Ravens.

Next: Can the Ravens win the AFC North?

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