Ravens have fared well as underdogs in the post season

**TL24x7** · 01-09-2013, 11:55 AM

Most of the country gives the Ravens little chance on Saturday in the Mile High City. Vegas initially pegged the Broncos as a 9-point favorite and so far there has been no movement in the line.

But regardless of what that blockhead on NFL Network Heath Evans might tell you, the Ravens have a shot in this game – a good one.

And if you aren’t buying into this way of thinking, let me remind you of a few things in Ravens playoff history.

Last season in the AFC Championship Game, the Ravens opened as 7-point underdogs and that line eventually moved to 9 ½ points in some Vegas Sportsbooks. Of course you remember how that game went down.

Back during the 2010 Wild Card Playoff Game in New England, the Ravens were 4-point underdogs yet walked away with a very convincing 33-14 win after busting out to a 24-0 first quarter advantage. Flacco on the afternoon was 4 for 10 for 34 yards, 0 TD’s and 1 INT. That works out to a QB Rating of 10.0. So the Ravens don’t necessarily rise and fall on their QB’s performance.

During the Ravens magical 2000 season, after beating the Broncos at home 21-3 in the Wild Card Playoff Game, the team traveled to Tennessee and then to Oakland where they were 6-point and 3 ½ point underdogs, respectively. Of course the Ravens won both contests on their way to the Super Bowl by scores of 24-10 and 16-3.

Naturally many will say, and rightly so, that this trip down memory lane will have no bearing on Saturday’s game. But at the very least it does establish precedent, particularly for a team led by Ray Lewis.

With a leader like Ray, on the wings of his last hurrah, their will be no fear and it won’t matter that the Broncos came into M&T Bank Stadium just 28 days removed from Saturday’s affair and dismantled the Ravens, 34-17.

You may recall that a New York Jets team traveled to New England to take on the Patriots back in 2011 for a Divisional Playoff Game. Forty-one days prior to their January 16, 2011 contest the Patriots dismantled the Jets 45-3. Yet Rex Ryan’s fearless crew would go on to win the playoff game by the score of 28-21.

Again, there’s precedent.

And let’s not forget, the frigid temperatures could work in the Ravens favor, particularly if the winds are swirling.

MORE HERE

**pslholder96** · 01-09-2013, 12:06 PM

There's some truth to the weather element playing a factor. Joe will be able to deliver the deep ball however the ball becomes hard and difficult to catch so this might negate Joe's abilty to chuck it down the field. Only way around that is to hit them in stride.

**Justlovemybirds** · 01-09-2013, 12:12 PM

I know, at least as a fan, the games that they are counted out of before they step on the field are the least stressful for me so I'm PUMPED about Saturday.

**Coastergenius** · 01-09-2013, 07:46 PM

Well, I'm not sure if I would say that. If we're strictly talking about Harbaugh era Ravens, the way that i see, we've been underdogs 5 times (Titans, Steelers, Patriots, Colts, Steelers again, Patriots). We were 2-4 in those games. The other games where we were favorite (Dolphins, Chiefs, and Texans) we've been 3-0 in. We've overcome some terrible seeding to make deep play-off runs, sure, but some of our first round opponents have been pretty mild. We've still struggled getting over the hump.

**bacchys** · 01-09-2013, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by pslholder96

There's some truth to the weather element playing a factor. Joe will be able to deliver the deep ball however the ball becomes hard and difficult to catch so this might negate Joe's abilty to chuck it down the field. Only way around that is to hit them in stride.

It's less the deep ball than the out passes. Manning doesn't have the arm strength Flacco does to zip the ball through the wind, if it's strong. The wind will affect his passes more.

Manning's a smart player and he'll doubtless adjust to game conditions, of course, but anything which limits what he can do bodes well for the Ravens.

**lowrider** · 01-09-2013, 08:55 PM

Not to downplay Manning, but one of the BIG reasons we are 9 point dogs is because of Denver's defense. They are very good. It is not going to be easy to score on these guys. If we have any chance of winning our D has to have one of it's best games of the year. If our D can keep it close, we have a chance to pull off the upset.

**Ravenswintitle** · 01-09-2013, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by lowrider

Not to downplay Manning, but one of the BIG reasons we are 9 point dogs is because of Denver's defense. They are very good. It is not going to be easy to score on these guys. If we have any chance of winning our D has to have one of it's best games of the year. If our D can keep it close, we have a chance to pull off the upset.

Agreed. I am not worried about our D but I am worried about the O

**lowrider** · 01-09-2013, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

Agreed. I am not worried about our D but I am worried about the O

It's going to have to be a great effort on both sides of the ball.

**Haloti92** · 01-09-2013, 10:39 PM

Last year vs. New England, the Patriots were coming off an annihilation of Denver and we were coming off a semi-squeaker against T.J Yates. That led to a larger-than-necessary spread as the line/betting public always overweights recent events.

This year we looked pretty good against the Colts and Denver didn't play last week, so the 9-point line for this week's game, to me, translates into us being considered an even larger underdog than we were at New England.

And as someone else has said, I can't really argue with it because of Denver's defense. At New England last year we had a decent chance of keeping pace with the scoring. I can easily see how people are thinking we will not be able to do that vs. this year's Bronco's defense.

The line does not surprise me at all. Neither does the money line. They both "look" right, and neither indicates we cannot win the game; the moneyline gives us like a 25% chance of winning last I checked, which also seems about right and is a lot different than 0%.