With an anemic offense, an injury riddled secondary and an 0-4 record in the AFC North Division, the Ravens are searching for answers in hopes of salvaging a once-promising season that began with Super Bowl aspirations.
The Ravens (4-5) enter Sunday?s game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on a three-game losing streak, during which they have managed to score just 28 points.
Not even playing the Cincinnati Bengals ? which had given up nearly 31 points a game ? could help jump start the Ravens offense as Baltimore fell at home, 21-7, this past Sunday.
“Every loss is disappointing,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said. “You can?t qualify one more than another. It feels pretty devastating right now compared to the others because it?s right now. But that?s the way the league works.”
The loss to the Bengals (3-6) was in many ways a microcosm of the Ravens? woes as they turned the ball over six times, including three times by quarterback Steve McNair. The 2003 co-NFL Most Valuable Player fumbled the ball away twice and threw an interception in the end zone before being replaced by backup Kyle Boller in the fourth quarter.
Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs acknowledged he is frustrated by the team?s record, but is not ready to close the book on the season just yet.
“It?s gut-check time,” Suggs said. “We?re going to see who the real men are. It?s easy to ride with us and jump on the bandwagon when you?re winning and going 13-3, but now we?re going to see who the real men are.”
The road to the playoffs does not get easier for the Ravens, who are three games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) and one behind the Browns (5-4) in the AFC North. The Browns defeated the Ravens, 27-13, on Sept. 30 in Cleveland.
During the final seven weeks of the season, the Ravens have games against the Browns, San Diego Chargers (5-4), the New England Patriots (9-0), the Steelers and the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts (7-2).
“It?s just something we?re going to have to get through together,” Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton said. “We definitely had our chances and our opportunities, but we weren?t able to connect. All we can do is continue to work, do our best and give our all. We?re going to continue to work hard.”
