The Ravens have 12 games remaining on their schedule, but the next six likely will define their season.
With five of their next six games on the road, the Ravens (2-2) seek to rebound from consecutive three-point losses in games when they led in the second half, including in a 13-10 defeat to Tennessee this past Sunday.
The road has not been kind to the Ravens in recent years. The Ravens have lost six straight and eight of their past nine games away from M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens, who are 10-21 on the road since the start of the 2004 season, last won an away game on Oct. 7, 2007 when they defeated San Francisco, 9-7.
They face Indianapolis (2-2) on Sunday afternoon at 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“I think the NFL is a challenge whether you play at home or you play on the road,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Our guys are very capable of winning on the road. We expect to go win every one of those football games when they come up. Whatever time they say we’re playing, we’ll be there, and we’ll be ready to go.”
The Ravens should be competitive during this stretch, regardless of how daunting the challenge appears. Baltimore faces only one team with a record above .500 during the next six weeks, when they’ll also face the Miami Dolphins (2-2), Cleveland Browns (1-3), Houston Texans (0-4) and the New York Giants (4-0). The Ravens host the Oakland Raiders (1-3) on Oct. 26.
Right tackle Adam Terry said the team needs to prove it can win in another team’s stadium, especially in Indianapolis, where the Ravens are 0-3 all time, including a 20-10 loss in their last trip in 2004.
“This is a different team from those in the past,” Terry said. “We just have to establish that we can win on the road. You win championships on the road. Unless you’re the top seed in the playoffs, chances are you’re on the road at some point. We just have to go out there and don’t let the things on the road like the crowd noise and travel get to you.”
Linebacker Ray Lewis said the team shouldn’t stress about playing so many road games close together. After all, the Ravens close the season with four of six games at M&T Bank Stadium, where they’ve won 20 of their past 27 games.
“Bottom line: Whether you have five on the road now, you come back at the end of the year and get that right back so it equals out,” Lewis said. “You appreciate it come November and December when you’re barely traveling. If you can weather the first half of the season, the second half will go in your favor.”
Note
Defensive tackle Kelly Gregg had successful arthroscopic knee surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday. Andrews also operated on rookie offensive tackle Joe Reitz’s shoulder. The Ravens placed Gregg on inured reserve and signed Brandon McKinney, who was released by San Diego last week.
BEST ROAD RECORD ’98-’07
Team Record Percentage
1. Patriots 49-31 .613
2. Colts 48-32 .600
3. Eagles 44-36 .550
T4. Steelers 43-37 .538
T4. Titans 43-37 .538
T6. Packers 42-38 .525
T6. Giants 42-38 .525
T17. Ravens 32-48 .400
T17. Vikings 32-48 .400
T17. Dolphins 32-48 .400
WORST ROAD RECORD ’98-’07
Team Record Percentage
1. Lions 16-64 .200
2. Cardinals 19-61 .238
3. Texans 12-36 .250
4. 49ers 25-55 .313
5. Browns 23-49 .319
6. Bengals 26-54 .325
7. Raiders 28-52 .350
