Since head coach Brian Billick took over the offense, the Ravens have gone a healthy 8-1. Steve McNair has performed more consistently in the new system, and even Kyle Boller has done a fine job as a backup. And of course the defense remains one of the most feared in the league. As a fan, I couldn't be happier with the results. After another drubbing of reigning champions and division rivals Pittsburgh, I think they've got a serious chance to make it to the Super Bowl.
The real competition is in the AFC itself, actually. The NFC is so weak, I think the Ravens could handily crush anyone except the Bears in the Super Bowl. Their only NFC loss was a 23-21 setback to the Panthers, a game in which McNair was knocked out with a concussion.
The AFC presents some real challenges, but ones that can be overcome. The Chargers currently have the best record in the league, the touchdown machine LT, and a rising star QB in Philip Rivers. But let's not forget that one of their two losses was to the Ravens in Week 4, so it can certainly be done again. The Colts glaring weakness is obvious -- run defense. The trick is to make sure they don't outscore you while you are busy pounding them with the run. Baltimore's stout D is certainly up to the challenge of making Peyton Manning work for his points. And I can easily imagine Jamal Lewis reaching a personal best in yardage, leading to easy scores galore. The Patriots may be the most dangerous of the AFC teams -- they have a knack for winning the ugly games (such as the one against the Bears), and the Belichick/Brady combo is good for at least one or two big plays which can exploit even the smallest gaps in a defense. But they are not as mentally tough as in past years, and can get flustered. Not a good quality against a defense that can really get in your head. The Broncos handed the Ravens their worst loss, 13-3, in the Week 5 Monday night game which saw McNair throw 3 INTs. But that was before Billick took over and McNair got comfortable in the system. The Ravens haven't scored that few points since.
The Ravens have only lost 3 games this year. By a combined 19 points. They have a rock solid defense. With McNair at the helm, and Billick calling the shots, the offense has improved by leaps and bounds. While they still have a lot to do in the playoffs, this is a team I am expecting to see in Miami playing for the Lombardi trophy. GO RAVENS!!