Rampaging Ravens

john1981cr · Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 111

By Tim Sullivan
Inspin.comWagerWeb.com contributing writer

They don't know who they'll be playing. To be honest, as one of the league's hottest teams at 13-3, perhaps the Baltimore Ravens don't even care at this point.
All they do know is, they have a week to rest up and prepare themselves for another run at the Super Bowl.
"[Finishing] 13-3 is not easy to do. I hope the guys will dwell on that a little bit," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "Obviously, when you're in this position you immediately move on to the playoffs, but we've got a little time, and I hope they can appreciate what they did on the season."
They did plenty. For starters, they yanked the AFC North right away from the two teams that controlled it last season: the Bengals, who won the division, and the Steelers, who won the Super Bowl.
But there was more to Baltimore's dominance this season. Quarterback Steve McNair fit perfectly into Billick's offense. Running back Jamal Lewis showed glimpses of his 2000 form, when he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl title. And the defense, well, it kept on playing like a typical Ravens defense.
"During training camp you could tell with Brian Billick's demeanor. It wasn't a panicky thing, it was, 'Hey, let's work as hard so we can be twice as good,' " Ravens defensive tackle Trevor Pryce said. "He made you say, 'OK, this team has confidence.' "
It shows. In the season finale, the Ravens simply picked apart an improved Buffalo team, 19-7, in Baltimore.
"[Brian] just finds a way and finds their weakness," Lewis said of Baltimore's opponents recently. "He's got a great group of guys around him to really put that gameplan together."
And now they have extra time to put one of those strategies together.
"It's a chance to sit back and watch the games and scout the other opponents and watch them beat themselves up while we rest. It's very important," wide receiver Derrick Mason said. "When you have that extra week to rest it does wonders for your body. It also gives the coaches an extra week to prepare for your opponents. Then, you realize you only have to win two games as opposed to that three-game cycle."
The oddsmakers seem to agree. The Ravens are +375 to win the Super Bowl and +200 to win the AFC Championship on WagerWeb.com.
"I don't think it's time to peak yet. As long as we're winning and we're doing good things and we're winning the way we're winning, scoring points, what more can you ask for," Lewis said. "We're going to peak at the right time and I think it's coming."
A word to the wise, perhaps.

HE'S BACK: That didn't take long, did it? Herman Edwards, in his first season with the Chiefs, is back in the postseason after a one-year hiatus. In 2004-05, he led the Jets to the divisional round, where they lost to the Steelers. Along the way, he learned quite a thing or two about playoff football.
“I don’t know if our guys right away are aware of the importance of withstanding the first five minutes of the first quarter and third quarter because this thing is real fast in playoff games," Edwards said. "The tempo becomes magnified and you have to be very, very diligent in your calls as a play-caller on offense and defense."
The Chiefs take on the Colts on Saturday. Indianapolis is -7 on WagerWeb.com.

EXTRA POINTS: Newly signed Pete Hunter will be the Seahawks' fourth cornerback against the Cowboys Saturday night. Seattle is -3 on WagerWeb.com ... Speaking of cornerbacks, rookie R.J. Cobbs will take the roster spot of Corey Webster as the Giants take on the Eagles on Sunday. Webster is battling hip and tow problems. The Eagles are -7 on WagerWeb.com.

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