Only the strong survive. The Baltimore Ravens? 13-3 march through the regular season made them a member of the NFL?s upper echelon. But in order to survive the playoff pitfalls of January and reach the Super Bowl in Miami a month from today, the Ravens will need to correct their flaws.
While their record might not reflect it, there are issues with the team that head coach Brian Billick is going to try to correct when the players resume practice Saturday.
Some of those flaws, which previously were thought to have been corrected, reared their ugly heads in Sunday?s season finale against the Buffalo Bills, which the Ravens won, 19-7.
Baltimore did “some things that left ourselves vulnerable, and we?ll certainly focus on those when the time comes,” Billick said. “That was a good football team. We moved the ball very, very well. We needed to finish it off a little bit better. We played magnificently defensively but did a couple of things where we left ourselves vulnerable. So there are always things to work on.”
More than likely, the Ravens will work on these potential weaknesses in preparation for their first playoff game Jan. 13 or 14:
Defend the long ball
This aspect of the game has been mentioned throughout the season and could be overlooked, given the team?s current league ranking of sixth against the pass. Still, the team has given up deep passes at inopportune times, including one last week against Buffalo. Holding a 9-0 lead, cornerback Samari Rolle bit on a stutter-step by Bills receiver Lee Evans.
“One time I jumped, and he kept going,” said Rolle, who later had an interception. “You?ve got to pick and choose when you?re going to jump, and that?s a very good win today.”
Players say that Rolle, described as a lock-down cornerback, has seen the unfortunate end of one-on-one coverage.
“Samari has taken a lot of slack from the media and the fans that he don?t deserve,” linebacker Bart Scott said. “So I give big kudos to him for being the bigger man and not selling nobody out and taking the brunt. He?s had a great season.”
Improve the red-zone offense
Four field goals and a defensive touchdown were more than enough to beat the Bills last week. But after weeks of success in the red zone, the team went 0 for 4 inside the 20-yard line against Buffalo. Tight end Todd Heap said after the game that the Ravens were surprised with the defensive schemes of the Bills, saying previous game footage provided little insight.
But the Ravens say they aren?t concerned overall.
“We need to put touchdowns on the board, but today, 19 points was enough to get them,” kicker Matt Stover said Sunday. “I?ll kick field goals all day long if that?s what it comes down to, and I?m happy to do it.”
