Ravens fan here. Felt like I needed to represent my fanbase since a bunch of you invaded our Official Team Message Board.
In regards to the "Us Against The World" mentality -- you guys should like being the underdogs. We Ravens fans love it; we thrive on it, and our team thrives on it.
Think about it: the 1-15 Dolphins went from worst to first in 2008 and moved the dash over, and no one's expecting them to go deep in the playoffs, just as no one is really expecting the Ravens to make a run.
Now, are the Ravens favored? Yes; because the defense is filled with stars, and because the rushing attack has been revamped by your former head coach Cam Cameron, there's plenty of reason for prognosticators to favor the Ravens on the road, especially given the result of the last meeting this season.
However, with that said, the variable is obviously QB play and turnovers. Joe Flacco's thrown 12 picks as a rookie, but has played virtually mistake-free in the last quarter of the season when a playoff spot was actively on the line every week.
The key to Flacco's development has been how he has thrived on the road; in his first-ever road game, he traveled to Pittsburgh and played significantly well on national television, and nearly led the Ravens to victory. Additionally, it's important to note that he had led an immediate scoring drive to tie the game after committing a turnover that led to a defensive touchdown on the previous possession.
You all saw first-hand the potential he showed in our first meeting. At the same time, we Ravens fans also saw what Chad Pennington was capable of, when he had time to throw. Therefore, in a battle of QBs, I wouldn't expect my fellow Delaware Blue Hen to outduel the former Jet.
But when looking at TEAM match-ups, I have to favor my guys just out of fandom. The defense being filled with stars is a bit of an overstatement this season, as the unit has missed three starters all season, and has also seen injuries to their replacements. In utilizing a patchwork unit, however, the Ravens defense has great success in ruining opposing QBs days and still leads the league in turnovers.
Additionally, no opposing running back this season has gone over 100 yards against this unit, and whenever the Ravens are +2 in turnovers, they've been undefeated at a staggering 46-0 since 2000.
Looking forward to a great game Sunday, and I have to say, regardless of what happens, I'm just happy for where this Ravens squad is headed in the near-future.
