1st question: How come every time I start McClain, he doesn’t get in the end zone?

2nd: How good is Harbaugh?

That’s it for now. Feel free to ask questions here… or to have any of your readers do the same.

Started my life as a colts fan until that 2am morning exit, moved and have stayed as a Fan of the Redskins ever since.
No hard feelings to the Ravens, but will be here to hear from everyone when the Raven’s offense scores 10 points or less, and to answer your other question. If your Defense/Special teams add 14 more points then it will be game set match for the Ravens, only 7 added to the Ravens offense’s 10 it’ll be a knock down 4th qtr who has the ball last type of game. Sorta, what I expect a low scoring affair which goes down to the wire.

What is the biggest reason the change this season from last and how did it occur with a rookie QB and headcoach?

This is definitely not your father’s Ravens offense. They are 10th in the league in scoring and have won their past six victories by an average of over 19 points per game, regardless of who they were playing. They have scored over 30 points four times and over 40 as well, while the Skins have not gone over 29. The defense has not given up an offensive TD since the 2nd quarter of the Giants game over 10 quarters ago and forced the lowly Bengals to go 3 and out NINE times last week!

However, your question is about the offense and I have to give the first credit to O-Coordinator Cam Cameron. He may have failed as a head coach but has nailed it here in Baltimore. Joe Flacco is big, confident and has a cannon for an arm. He sees the field real well and therefore does not make a lot of mistakes. The running backs all have taken the lead being the star and are fresh for the stretch run, as #1 RB Willis McGahee didn’t even play last week, resting up for this week. The o-line has been the biggest surprise, as they are young and have suffered some notable injuries. The oldest guy was 25 years old before we picked up Cincy’s Willie Anderson, a 12 year vet. It all starts in the trenches and the o-line has opened up holes for the runners and protected Flacco so he can stand tall and find his open receivers.

This season, Joe Flacco has played it cool, calm, and collective. However, he is still a rookie, so his chances of making a mistake simply because this is “new territory” for him are increased.

WAS
PIT
DAL

Those are three tough football games coming up, and your odds of winning the division aren’t great. You’re in the driver’s seat at the wildcard slot right now, but I think two of these three games are must wins for Baltimore. The Ravens’ defense will be prepared, so here is the question finally:

What are your expectations surrounding Joe Flacco being able to handle the “pressure” of this stretch of games, starting this week against the Redskins? Or, do you think he’ll still be the same ol’ Joe Flacco.

The Joe Flacco that I’m thinking about may not be the same one you are. Mine is the guy that has QB’d us to six wins in seven games, not throwing an interception in the six victories. My Joe Flacco has looked calm under pressure, except in the two drubbings we took on the road. He might have fumbled in our loss at Pittsburgh but still drove us downfield for the tying score to send the game into OT, where we ultimately lost, but he still didn’t look too bad.

The stretch for us is pretty much the Pittsburgh and Dallas games. This game against Washington, while not an easy one, is not in the class of those two. It’s a home game and the Redskins are nowhere near the level of the Steelers or Cowboys right now. I can easily see us taking care of Washington and holding home against Pittsburgh. If so, then a loss at Dallas is not unreasonable to expect and that could have us on our way to 11-5. Now all we need is for Dallas to beat Pittsburgh this weekend and Tennessee to do the same in week 16.

As you can see, I am not worried about Flaco, as he is a rookie and may make some rookie mistakes, but he has proven calm and poised so far and I think our veterans will help him continue his progress.