Can the Ravens Repeat?

In the NFL’s illustrious history, only seven teams have managed to win back-to-back Super Bowl championships, and the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to pull off this feat two separate times. In the lead-up to every new season we ask ourselves, “Will last year’s champion repeat? What are their chances?” and it’s time to address these questions once again. I may not be pleasantly pre-disposed to  the Ravens (who really is outside of Baltimore?), but even I must acknowledge that they earned every inch of that Lombardi Trophy with some spectacular plays in the big game and throughout the playoffs. So can they repeat? Let’s ponder it together.

The first factor going against Baltimore is their weakened linebacking corps. Most notable is obviously Ray Lewis’ departure from the team and the league overall, the announcement of which inspired the team to finish their season as strong as possible. Even while donning an Anakin Skywalker-esque arm brace, the veteran’s presence was felt in each playoff game with 44 tackles and another seven in the Super Bowl. During free agency, the Ravens then lost 2012 Paul Kruger to the Cleveland Browns and Ray Lewis heir apparent Danell Ellerbe to the Dolphins in the same day. With Jarret Johnson bolting for San Diego (see what I did there?) last season, Baltimore’s linebacker corps is seriously weakened. They will now have to depend on sophomore Courtney Bradshaw, ex-Raider Rolando McClain and a veteran Terrell Suggs who has not been able to return to form after suffering an ACL injury last offseason. The Ravens did manage to sign Elvis Dumervil after his confusing release from the Broncos, and he can provide some front-end relief for inexperienced linebackers.

Baltimore has also been weakened at the safety position with Ed Reed joining the upstart Houston Texans. Reed’s greatness needs no explanation, let’s talk about him anyway. Despite being in his mid-30’s, Reed posted 123 tackles and 15 interceptions in his last three seasons with Ravens. Reed’s signing was a great move by the Texans, who just lost young playmaker Glover Quin to the lure of the enterprising Lions, but now presents Baltimore with questions to be answered. GM Ozzie Newsome attempted to answer these questions quickly though, once again dipping in the Alameda gene pool to sign safety Michael Huff away from the Raiders. It still stands to see how Huff will adjust to a new system though, you might recall a former teammate of Huff’s who was signed by the Eagles a few seasons ago and didn’t necessarily meet expectations.

Now, I know this seems like a lot of negativity, but the Ravens do have a few things going for them. Their Joe Flacco/Ray Rice combination still stands together, and the two are better working with each other every year. Working together as in, when Flacco is throwing interceptions Rice converts a 4^th and 29 to make it all better. Despite trading Anquan Boldin, their leading receiver in yards for the past three seasons and hero of their Super Bowl run, to the 49ers (which makes soooo much sense…) Baltimore can still depend on the playmaking ability of Torrey Smith, who contributed eight touchdowns last season and continues to show a knack for getting open at all the right times. And let’s not forget that all this speculation precedes the Draft, where the Ravens could very well find players to fill every team need.

Ultimately, Baltimore’s chances of hoisting the Lombardi for a second time (or third, technically) are slim. It was a nice storyline last season with everyone rallying to see Ray Lewis off with a second ring, but now too many players have moved on to other teams. However, don’t think this means they’re not contenders. Like the Patriots, who the Ravens have competed against in the past two AFC Championships, it will most likely be a while before they are not in contention for the Lombardi. As a fan of the men in Foxboro though, I’m hoping that day comes sooner than later for John Harbaugh’s boys.