Why Baltimore Ravens Will Be Most Talented NFL Team to Miss Playoffs

The Baltimore Ravens squeaked out a 30-27 victory over the putrid Arizona Cardinals Sunday, and while the victory improved the Ravens to 5-2 on the season, the past week has given Ravens fans ample reasons to be concerned that Baltimore could be closer to playoff also-ran than Super Bowl contender.

Six days after looking horrible in a sloppy loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, many pundits (myself included) expected an angry Ravens team to take out their frustrations out on the Cardinals in a blowout that would likely be over, for all intents and purposes, by halftime.

That turned out to be far from the case, however, as not only was the game close throughout, but Baltimore trailed Arizona 24-6 at halftime, leading to a chorus of boos in M&T Bank Stadium as the teams left the field at intermission.

The Ravens were able to mount a furious second-half comeback and come away with the win, but the concerns that swirled around the team after the Jacksonville debacle were evidenced again today. And while once may be a coincidence, two games in a row (or longer in some instances) could signal the beginning of a disturbing trend.

First, while quarterback Joe Flacco's 31-for-51 for 336 yards stat line may look fine on its face, it belies the inconsistent play that has dogged the fourth-year pro for much of the season. Flacco did much of that damage during the second half rally, and while the final score is all that matters, the fact remains that Flacco and the Ravens aren't going to be able to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat every week, especially against teams that are better than the Cardinals (which encompasses most of the NFL).

Also, for the second consecutive week, the Ravens' supposedly vaunted run defense was anything but, allowing a gimpy Beanie Wells to have a much better day than many would have suspected. The pass defense played well from a statistical standpoint, but Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb has a habit this season of making opposing secondaries look good.

Finally, while running back Ray Rice did score three touchdowns, he managed only 63 rushing yards on the day and had less than 20 carries. Given Flacco's struggles this season, it remains absolutely baffling for him to be attempting over 37 passes a game while Rice, the offense's best player, averages fewer than 20 carries.

All this isn't to say that these issues are cataclysmic, or that the Ravens can't right the ship and make a deep playoff run, but fans of the purple and black would be well-advised to temper their enthusiasm about today's victory, as there are some serious concerns facing Baltimore as the 2011 season enters its second half.