(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

This Saturday night the Panthers play their first game of the year at Bank of America stadium. They'll be playing yet another high pressure defense, and yet another 2008 AFC playoff team—the Baltimore Ravens.

Last year was supposed to be a rebuilding effort for the Ravens, and not much more. After a 5-11 season that saw Coach Brian Billick fired, most outside observers predicted mediocrity at best for the club. After all, with a rookie quarterback and a rookie head coach, it was clear the club was in transition.  Needless to say, their 11-5 record surprised a lot of people.

It didn't surprise the Ravens. Boasting one of the best defenses in football tends to help a team's chances at the playoffs, and the Ravens were third overall against the run, second against the pass, and third in points allowed. Numbers like that give new faces at key positions quite a safety net, and Joe Flacco and head coach John Harbaugh took advantage. 

With 13 wins, the Ravens set a record for wins by a team with newcomers at both positions.

Baltimore didn't rely on Flacco's arm much, preferring a power running game behind Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and Le'Ron McClain. The Ravens were so dedicated to their ground attack that they earned recognition for the fourth best running game in the NFL in 2008. 

But as good as they were on the ground, they suffered in the air.  One number that Joe Flacco would love to improve on in 2009 is Baltimore's 28th ranked passing game.

Flacco's rookie year was a solid effort, one in which he showed a high level of maturity and leadership for a rookie. Flacco threw for 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and his rookie mistakes were few and far between.

Flacco had ten games where he didn't turn the ball over at all. He didn't have a 300-yard game, but managed 2,971 yards for the season. He also set a record for most playoff wins by a rookie quarterback with two.

Against the Panthers, Flacco will probably play the first three quarters and then be spelled by former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, a mobile quarterback who's known more for his legs than his arm. It's possible that the Panthers see the wildcat for the second week in a row.

Last week against the Jets Flacco went 8-18 and Smith went 4-9. Flacco didn't look particularly sharp, but he did hit six different receivers, which is a good sign for the Baltimore passing game.

Like Miami last week, the Ravens also threw in some trickery on offense when Flacco pulled out the old Statue of Liberty play to Ray Rice for a three yard touchdown.

Rice, of course, is part of the three headed monster at running back. In 2008, McGahee was supposed to take the feature back role, but injuries slowed him and at times it looked like Rice would be the guy. Then McClain exploded on the scene, finishing with 902 yards. 

McClain is a load to bring down at 260 lbs., and will be used more at fullback now that Lorenzo Neal has moved on. If McClain works out at fullback, and early returns are promising, the Ravens will have both the power and finesse options out of their base set. Once again, the running game should be very good in Baltimore.

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