While it has been clear that the Ravens have been the best team this season, they simply do not have what it takes to be Super Bowl champions.
Lamar Jackson has been an amazing quarterback this season as he holds the single-season quarterback rushing yards previously held by Micheal Vick. Their offense has been electric, and the defense led by Marcus Peters. With all that being said, they still aren’t ready.
The wildcat is a great, team tricky formation to cover. Cam Newton rode that all the way to the Super Bowl before losing to the Broncos. This team just lacks the experience needed to handle the playoffs. Playoffs are a different animal, as the Vikings and Titans proved last weekend. The defense is now tasked to try and stop Derrick Henry, who amazed with 168 rushing yards against the Patriots’ electric defense.
Most teams have heavily scouted the Ravens for quite some time now. That is what happens when you become Super Bowl favorites by Week 10 of the regular season. Even if they surpass the Tennessee Titans, they still have to battle either Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs or Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans. Both teams have rosters primed to compete with or even beat the Ravens. The playoffs so far have proven that the underdogs can and will compete this postseason. Baltimore needs not to take light on any opposition, which most young teams do.
If they somehow manage to get out of the AFC, they have a tough matchup ahead. The Vikings, Seahawks, 49ers, and Packers all are fighting for the same thing. Seattle and San Francisco are most likely to represent the NFC, but anything can happen.
Regardless, the Ravens simply aren’t ready this year. Don’t be surprised if they are regulars in the postseason bidding for a long time.
