Usually a win against the Cowboys is a very good
day. While the Ravens may have received the “W,” they did not actually win in
the long run. Going down in this game was their best corner, Lardarius Webb,
the best player in franchise history, Ray Lewis, and the most dominant
defensive lineman on the team, Haloti Ngata. Now while it seems that the injury
to Ngata is not going to be for the year, it looks like Webb and Lewis will be
lost for the year.
That Hurts.
This defense is already without Terrell Suggs and is
trying to adjust. This is a crippling blow to the defense. There is no
replacement on the team for a guy like Ray Lewis. He is one of the smartest linebackers
in the NFL and brings the huge leadership factor on the field.
It’s irreplaceable.
Then you come to Webb. He is a playmaker and rarely
gives up the big touchdown. Jimmy Smith will be called up to replace Webb, but
he has not been able to show consistency in his first two years in the NFL.
Cary Williams will not be able to sustain the same play that Webb has been able
to do.
Then on top of it all, they could be without Ngata
for at least the next couple weeks, which will stop some of the pass rush and
run stuffing ability. It is already known that the run defense is not what it
has normally is known to be, giving up a hundred yards to running backs a
couple weeks. Also Terrell Suggs is not there to help the pass rush.
The Ravens Defense is going to be crippling to the team’s
success and will be the reason they do not win the division.
Joe Flacco is going to have to show that he can go
out and win some of these games and score 24+ points a game consistently. This
will be a chance for him to finally prove that he can be an elite Quarterback
in the league.
How many wins do you think the Ravens can have with
all these injuries?
Photo Courtesy of Eveningsun.com
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