Redskins and Ravens In Fight to Make Playoffs
Local teams have surprised in their conferences this season
Tony LaBarbera
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: Sports
If Washington has been a shock in the NFC, there is no doubt the Ravens have been the biggest surprise in the entire NFL. Coming off a 3-13 season in which their quarterback retired, the head coach was fired, and using their first round draft pick to select a quarterback from a Division II school, not even Ravens fans had high expectations for the season.
Rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh has helped lead the Ravens to a surprising 7-4 record, as they have been battling with the Pittsburgh Steelers all season for the top spot in the AFC North. Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has not been flashy, but has been able to manage the games for the Ravens. Flacco has led scoring drives when Baltimore has needed them and the defense has once again become the dominate force it used to be.
After suffering a bad season all around last year, mainly because of being on the field too long since the offense was none existent, the Ravens defense has once again risen to one of the league's top units. Players like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who some say lost a step last season, have returned to their Pro Bowl caliber play.
If both teams were to make the postseason, it would be the first time Baltimore and Washington has both had playoff teams since the days of the Baltimore Colts. Over 25 years have passed since Maryland has had that kind of success for both its area football teams.
Two cities, two teams, one goal: Super Bowl or bust! That is the mind set for both the Ravens and Redskins as the playoff battle is heating up and each game is crucial to their effort in making the postseason. Only two tickets will be punched for the big game in Tampa Bay on February 1, time will tell if those tickets will be for Charm City and D.C.
Rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh has helped lead the Ravens to a surprising 7-4 record, as they have been battling with the Pittsburgh Steelers all season for the top spot in the AFC North. Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has not been flashy, but has been able to manage the games for the Ravens. Flacco has led scoring drives when Baltimore has needed them and the defense has once again become the dominate force it used to be.
After suffering a bad season all around last year, mainly because of being on the field too long since the offense was none existent, the Ravens defense has once again risen to one of the league's top units. Players like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who some say lost a step last season, have returned to their Pro Bowl caliber play.
If both teams were to make the postseason, it would be the first time Baltimore and Washington has both had playoff teams since the days of the Baltimore Colts. Over 25 years have passed since Maryland has had that kind of success for both its area football teams.
Two cities, two teams, one goal: Super Bowl or bust! That is the mind set for both the Ravens and Redskins as the playoff battle is heating up and each game is crucial to their effort in making the postseason. Only two tickets will be punched for the big game in Tampa Bay on February 1, time will tell if those tickets will be for Charm City and D.C.
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