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JDaveG · 01-21-2013, 12:29 PM

....I don't buy into the "our window is closing" or "this was our best shot" arguments, and here is why.

In 2008, we had what was, before this year, our best shot. We barely lost to an Arizona team that went to the Super Bowl. In 2010, we got blown out -- absolutely embarrassed, by the Packers. In 2011, we got blown out -- absolutely embarrassed, by the Giants.

This season, we beat everyone's Super Bowl favorite in a close game. Then, we lost to everyone's remaining Super Bowl favorite, also in a close game. In both games, we had the ball at the end with a chance to win it all. We fell short. But that is a HUGE improvement from our last 2 playoff games, where we weren't even in the game after the 1st half.

I still think our arrow is up. If we improve the defensive personnel, that will take some pressure off the offense to score on every possession. If we improve the run game, that will improve our ability to run the clock and still put up points while keeping the other team's offense on the sideline (which is realistically what buried us in the 2nd half of this game). Julio Jones is a monster, and he will only get better. Matt Ryan is in his prime. Our o-line finally seems to have gelled, and hopefully with McClure likely retiring we can keep that nucleus together and replace him with little fuss. We have been the no. 1 seed in the NFC 2 of the last 3 seasons. But we don't even have to replicate that success to win the Super Bowl. We just have to keep making the playoffs, and there is nothing that I see that indicates this team is suddenly going to stop making the playoffs anytime soon.

I'm disappointed -- horribly so. But I'm also optimistic. I like where this team is, and I like where I believe it is going.

Swift Is a Die Hard · 01-21-2013, 12:34 PM

I believe this was our best shot . We played two young QBs at home . We blew another 1 seed

Eli Manning
Brees
Rodgers

all will be in the mix and not going anywhere .

We will make the playoffs in years to come we just won't have a easier road vs two west coast teams with young inexperienced QBs

JDaveG · 01-21-2013, 12:39 PM

"Easier road" is subjective. If we have a better defense and the offense avoids costly errors in the 2nd half, the road will be much easier no matter who we play.

The Ravens just had an easy road through Tom Brady, a future Hall of Famer. I'll take being on the road, bumps and all, over not being on it. This team will be on the road, every season.

**papachaz** · 01-21-2013, 12:44 PM

(01-21-2013 12:34 PM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote: I believe this was our best shot . We played two young QBs at home . We blew another 1 seed

Eli Manning
Brees
Rodgers

all will be in the mix and not going anywhere .

We will make the playoffs in years to come we just won't have a easier road vs two west coast teams with young inexperienced QBs

ok swift, everyone knows you're negative about life in general. all the above mentioned QB's didn't make it as far as we did this year, so why wasn't this 'their shot'??? as for the 'young inexperienced' west coast qb's, well I'm more of the mind that old 'sophomore slump' might get more in their way than anything else, unless of course one of them makes the cover of madden. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest kapernick gets that honor......

I do agree we'll make the playoffs in years to come and it doesn't matter if it's easier or harder. this team is taking it's hard knocks and improving a little each year. yeah, it isn't happening fast enough to suit most of us, but they are improving

Swift Is a Die Hard · 01-21-2013, 12:51 PM

(01-21-2013 12:39 PM)JDaveG Wrote: "Easier road" is subjective. If we have a better defense and the offense avoids costly errors in the 2nd half, the road will be much easier no matter who we play.

The Ravens just had an easy road through Tom Brady, a future Hall of Famer. I'll take being on the road, bumps and all, over not being on it. This team will be on the road, every season.

was that sarcasm ? Ravens went through 2 Hall of Fame QBs on road
that was not easy at all . Ravens are battle tested . They should have won in NE last year if not a drop TD pass to Evans

JDaveG · 01-21-2013, 01:11 PM

(01-21-2013 12:51 PM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote: was that sarcasm ? Ravens went through 2 Hall of Fame QBs on road
that was not easy at all . Ravens are battle tested . They should have won in NE last year if not a drop TD pass to Evans

And yet they did it, and handily so. So call it sarcasm, or just call it pointing out your fallacy. My point is, "easy" is subjective. I don't consider our road easy this season. You might, but I don't. Rookie QBs be damned, we just played the 2 best teams in the NFL back to back. We'll see how the Ravens do against the Niners. My guess is not nearly as well as they did against New England and their HOF QB.

I'd also rather have faced the Packers than the Niners. Football is a team sport.

ChrisD · (This post was last modified: 01-21-2013 01:48 PM by ChrisD.)

The next Swift argument is that Joe Flacco and his 16.7 YPC is a better QB than Matt Ryan. Waiting for it.

The Falcons defense wasn't built to stop the bullshit rushing QBs.

juraitwaluzka · 01-21-2013, 03:49 PM

(01-21-2013 12:29 PM)JDaveG Wrote: ....I don't buy into the "our window is closing" or "this was our best shot" arguments, and here is why.

In 2008, we had what was, before this year, our best shot. We barely lost to an Arizona team that went to the Super Bowl. In 2010, we got blown out -- absolutely embarrassed, by the Packers. In 2011, we got blown out -- absolutely embarrassed, by the Giants.

This season, we beat everyone's Super Bowl favorite in a close game. Then, we lost to everyone's remaining Super Bowl favorite, also in a close game. In both games, we had the ball at the end with a chance to win it all. We fell short. But that is a HUGE improvement from our last 2 playoff games, where we weren't even in the game after the 1st half.

I still think our arrow is up. If we improve the defensive personnel, that will take some pressure off the offense to score on every possession. If we improve the run game, that will improve our ability to run the clock and still put up points while keeping the other team's offense on the sideline (which is realistically what buried us in the 2nd half of this game). Julio Jones is a monster, and he will only get better. Matt Ryan is in his prime. Our o-line finally seems to have gelled, and hopefully with McClure likely retiring we can keep that nucleus together and replace him with little fuss. We have been the no. 1 seed in the NFC 2 of the last 3 seasons. But we don't even have to replicate that success to win the Super Bowl. We just have to keep making the playoffs, and there is nothing that I see that indicates this team is suddenly going to stop making the playoffs anytime soon.

I'm disappointed -- horribly so. But I'm also optimistic. I like where this team is, and I like where I believe it is going.

+1000, thank you. Another thing is that this will be the second year for both coordinators. I have heard several coaches say that teams usually make their biggest improvement from year one to year two yet people treat it like it's static, like it's impossible for Koetter and Nolan to improve.

Drathdon · 01-21-2013, 04:25 PM

Ravens barely missed last year, and made it this year.

I see a similar pattern coming for us.

**papachaz** · 01-21-2013, 04:38 PM

(01-21-2013 04:25 PM)Drathdon Wrote: Ravens barely missed last year, and made it this year.

I see a similar pattern coming for us.

both the teams in THIS YEARS Super Bowl, lost the conference championship games last year. Imagine that, teams that get that close can actually go out and pick up a few pieces, or God forbid even change co ordinators (in mid season no less) and then make it to the Super Bowl the next year??? IMPOSSIBLE!!! that HAS to be BS, NO BODY COULD EVER DO THAT.......

screw it, I'm not even going back and making that purple, if you don't get it: