5 Reasons Why the Baltimore Ravens Will Win the Super Bowl

As the playoff picture begins to crystalize across the league, we can now begin to look at just who will be featuring when the Super Bowl hits Indianapolis in February. 

The Baltimore Ravens are no strangers to making the playoffs, but this is the year that they make the jump from playoff contender to Super Bowl champions.

THEIR DEFENSE IS STILL ELITE

As is the norm with the Ravens, they rank in the top five in both rushing and passing yards allowed per game. They concede 13 points per game, meaning that on average Baltimore’s opponents are held to under two touchdowns.

They average slightly less than 3.5 sacks per game, have forced 24 turnovers and hold opponents under 200 yards per game.

The defence has been at its suffocating best all year. 

Linebacker Terrell Suggs has cemented his place as the heir-apparent leader of the team with a terrific season; amassing 58 tackles, 13 sacks, six forced fumbles and two interceptions. “T-Sizzle” appears to be a shoo-in to claim Defensive Player of the Year honors. 

Whenever you have Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs on the field at the same time, expect that the defensive side of the ball will be strong.

FEWER MISTAKES from FLACCO

As of right now, Joe Flacco has the lowest interception tally of his career. 

While he hasn’t thrown for anything like the touchdowns he did in the past two seasons, the fact that he has been able to successfully avoid killer turnovers for the most part is a big factor in Baltimore. 

He is yet to have a complete meltdown game like he has in previous years – 4 interceptions against Cincinnati in 2010 and 3 against the Packers in 2009 – with his highest being a two interception performance against Tennessee in Week Two. 

Plus, his three best games of the season came against Pittsburgh (in Week one), San Francisco and Cincinnati, showing that he has the ability to perform when it counts in marquee matchups.  

RAY RICE HAS BECOME a TOP-FIVE BACK

Ray Rice makes the offense tick. The 5'8'' running back entered the season as a player knocking on the door of the elite ranks.

He has kicked that door down.

Rice has rushed for over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also contributing two more as a receiver. Sunday marked back-to-back 100-yard games for the New York native, showing just how important he is to the squad. 

By averaging just under 80 yards per game, Rice’s consistency means that Baltimore do not have to constantly question where their offense will come from. That takes a lot of the pressure of his fellow Ravens, while also freeing up Flacco.

MORE OPTIONS THROWING the BALL

The Baltimore wide receiver stocks have been one of their biggest holes in recent seasons.

The fact that they could not rely on receivers to consistently perform in big games, and the lack of a ‘home-run ball’ type player was a big reason in their playoff failures.

That’s all different this season. 

Anquan Boldin, Ed Dickson and Ray Rice have amassed 165 receptions, 1887 yards and eight touchdowns as a trio so far this season. 

Basically, they’ve accounted for half of the Ravens receiving numbers. 

But importantly, the trio does not have a tendency to go missing in games. Flacco (relatively) knows what he is going to get from his core group week in, week out. 

Plus, the addition of Torrey Smith as a deep threat has already proven to be a match-winning factor. Smith leads the Ravens in average yards per catch (18.7), touchdowns (six) and has the longest reception on the year (74 yards).

Veteran Leadership

Leadership is one of the most valuable and important intangibles in the NFL. 

The Ravens have it in spades.

Everyone knows of the legendary leadership skills of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and company on the defensive side of the ball. Yet, players like Vonta Leach now mean that the offense also has some of those key, experienced leaders. 

At some point in the playoffs, Baltimore will find themselves with their back to the wall, it’s leadership that will enable them to fight back from any potential failings and, ultimately, bring them a Super Bowl crown.