01-13-2023, 11:43 AM
(01-12-2023, 08:03 PM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Regarding my expectations right now:
Expectations is such a loaded word. Like, I hope they win the Super Bowl and I think they are more than capable of doing it. They have beaten the Chiefs 3 times in the last year, they came out with their hair on fire against Buffalo before the game was cancelled and there's no reason to think they can't beat the Ravens with Huntley starting. The most likely Super Bowl match up would be the Eagles or the 49ers. We have a lot of practice against dual threat QBs and tough defenses because of Baltimore (regarding Philly) and we should have beaten San Fran last year had our punt returner not dropped two punts and a fake taunting penalty giving them 4 additional points.
We have the talent to make it all the way.
But does that mean I expect them to do this? I don't think so. Winning a Super Bowl takes so many things to go right it's almost a crap shoot once the playoffs start. There's obviously more talented teams and they have a higher chance to make the Super Bowl but the odds makers are only willing to give a 30 to 40% chance to any given team to even make the Super Bowl, let alone win. That should tell you all you need to know about whether we should expect the Super Bowl.
I will tell you one thing I do expect though. I expect us to beat a Huntley led Ravens team.
If we lose this Sunday, I will consider that an embarrassing loss and would make this season feel like a complete waste of time.
Regarding my expectations coming into the season:
They were lower than they are now. I definitely wanted us to make the playoffs, but the Ravens getting a 4th place schedule and us having a 1st place schedule made me think it would be hard to keep up with them. And, honestly, that's what it was looking like for the majority of the year too before Lamar got injured again (If I were a Ravens fan, I'd be very concerned about his injuries when giving him the biggest contract in NFL history).
Other than the schedule, I was also a bit nervous about regression. All the stats said we were in line for it (average offensive DVOA, average drive success rate, average everything, but high points per game because of explosive/unsustainable big plays from Chase), so I was thinking if we made it to the playoffs, I'd feel pretty good about the year. Chase's 200+ yard games, especially, felt super unsustainable. Thankfully, we beat those expectations and have turned into one of the most efficient passing offenses in the NFL.
I'm very happy to see that development and it gives me faith that, moving forward, our offense is the real deal and doesn't need to rely on the defense losing track of Chase deep 2 or 3 times per game.
It also helped that, once again, the Ravens collapsed because Lamar got injured and a few absurd blown leads.
Dawg, I agree with everything you say except that this season will have been a waste if we lose on Sunday.
This season has been amazing. Franchise record-tying 12 (twelve) wins, and but for Damar's collapse would have been 13. AFC North championship after starting 0-2 and losing our first 3 division games. Burrow sets NFL completion percentage record. Yet another takedown of the Canton Chiefs.
Don't get me wrong, I would be deflated like a Brady football if we lost to Baltimore. But after so many years of suffering, it is so much fun to go down to the stadium or turn on the TV and watch this team. Shit can happen in the game of football and it might happen Sunday. But this season has been a blast. And I think there is a lot more to come.
