The defense is old and slow, the offensive line is a liability, there are too many injuries, the secondary can’t cover and the offense can’t get in the endzone. These are all things said about the Ravens after two lackluster performances against the Falcons and Lions this preseason. Geez, maybe we should just cancel the regular season because clearly the Ravens can’t field a competitive team?!
Preseason games are about as relevant in determining regular season success as Rob Kardashian’s career is and that is NOT RELEVANT. How many times have we seen a team go winless in the preseason and then have a successful regular season? And how many times have we seen a team go undefeated in the preseason yet have a horrible regular season? It happens all the time. Just like games aren’t played on “paper,” preseason success has no bearing on regular season success.
The Ravens head into their third preseason game against the Jaguars. This game is viewed to be the most important since the starters should play about three quarters and since the Ravens are looking for a lot of “questions” to be answered by the conclusion of the game. Would I like to see the Ravens defense shut down the opposing offense and conversely the Ravens offense move the ball up and down the field and get in the endzone multiple times? Sure I would. Am I going to panic if neither of those things happens? Of course I won’t.
I will watch the game intently and pay attention to every play but, unless there is a major injury, the game will have no bearing on my expectations for the Ravens this season. To me the regular season is about seeing who the backups are going to be and the team to be healthy heading into the season. Health is – and always should – be the most important thing and really all that matters for any fan.
By no means does my lack of interest in the preseason mean that I am not passionate about the team and that I don’t understand what good football is. I live and die by every regular season and postseason snap and I am fully invested in this team, but I am not going to let lack of success in two, possibly three, preseason games worry me. Remember all of the questions surrounding the team heading into week one last season? Remember how many people (myself included) gave the Ravens no shot to beat the Steelers in week one? Remember what happened that game and in the remaining fifteen after that?
When the ball is teed up at M&T Bank Stadium a little after 7pm on September 10th is when what happens during the Ravens games concern me. I will care who plays well and who doesn’t, I will care about how the offensive line gels and I will care about everything that has to do with the Purple & Black.
Until then, I will just don my T-Sizzle jersey, watch the games and be happy that meaningful football is right around the corner.
So stop panicking and realize that basically everything that happens in the preseason has no bearing on what happens in the regular season…now the regular season, that’s completely different story.
Is it September 10th yet?
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