Has the Raven Changed Its Stripes? How the Ravens Are Winning In 2009

Prior to the 2009 preseason, I spoke with many Baltimore Ravens fans. The talk was that the Ravens, even though Joe Flacco was in his second season, the Ravens would need to pound the ball on the ground, and win with a suffocating defense.

Had you told those same fans that the Ravens defense would give up 662 yards in their first two games (580 against the pass), and been ranked 17th in total defense, Ravens fans would bet the team was 0-2.

A strange thing happened on the way to the 2009 season, The Baltimore Ravens became a pass heavy offense.

With the departure of Rex Ryan to the New York Jets, many people believed that the Ravens defense would suffer, and not be the elite unit that the Ravens fans have grown accustomed to. Turns out, those people were right.

Even with the amazing stop of Ray Lewis blowing up Darren Sproles on the Chargers final play of their 31-26 loss to the Ravens, the Ravens defense has not been remotely near what they were in 2008.

Then how do you explain the 2-0 record?  Simple, Joe Flacco.

Flacco has completed 43 of 69 passes for 497 yards to his no-name receivers. Can you imagine the Ravens throwing the ball 35 times per game? Imagine it not, as the Ravens are in the process of converting to the pass happy offense that awarded the hated Pittsburgh Steelers the Super Bowl XLIII Lombardi Trophy.

Joe Flacco is now starting to show that the Ravens do not need to pound the ball on first and second down, and hope he can throw for a first on third.

Flacco is now a real threat for the Ravens. The only question is, can he maintain it for the next 14 games?

If he can, you can expect the Ravens to be playing come January, and possibly February.