Baltimore Ravens Stumbling Into The Playoffs…Again.
November 18, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (left) and quarterback Joe Flacco (5) react after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Baltimore Ravens won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
After watching the Ravens play over the past few years in the Harbaugh/ Flacco era (and, hey while we’re at it some time before that too) I have noticed some consistent inconsistencies. Except for one thing. They always seem to find a way into the playoffs. How many folks were picking them to win last year? After losing four of their last five most had bailed off the bandwagon. Who thought they would be Denver…or even New England? Anybody pick them to lose to Jacksonville 12-7 the year before? How about sweeping the Steelers that same 2011 season? Perhaps everyone thought they would crush the Houston Texans this year 30-9?
My personal favorite: the 2000 season. As I watched the Ravens win their first World Championship, from the delivery room in the hospital while holding my firstborn son Isaac, I saw them put up more points against the Giants than the whole rest of the season. Nobody that whole season was thinking that Trent Dilfer would put together a Super Bowl season!
As Cousin Eddie remarked in my favorite holiday movie, “Falls down a well, eyes go crossed. Gets kicked by a mule they go back again…I don’t know.” This usually drives me crazy. But you know what? I like it! That’s why we watch this NFL thing. You never know what’s going to happen. Tens of thousands of fans squish into a stadium. Strangers become friends. We come to be a part of a game…, a struggle, an adventure!
I’d like to say the Ravens will beat the Steelers and we’ll have even more to be thankful for this year. It could really happen. But I don’t know. Maybe some no-name will catch three touchdown passes. Maybe some young quarterback will put together a game-winning drive in the last minute of the game. Maybe a backup quarterback will beat a better one. Both teams are hungry. Both are on the verge of extinction.
The Steelers-Ravens rivalry on Thanksgiving. This will be an adventure of a lifetime folks! Someone will lose their turkey because its gonna be a bumpy ride! Tell me readers…look into your future. Do you see the turkey on the table? Next to the turkey is the mashed potatoes, cranberries, sauerkraut (hey I’ve got a German family), chutney, mom’s homemade pickles, sweet potato pie, those green beans with the yummy crunchy onions on top?
What else do you see? Ravens winning…or the Steelers? Aunt Bethany…does your cat by any chance…eat jello?