 The Baltimore Ravens are 3-2 a third of the way through the 2009 NFL season schedule. They are tied for second with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, trailing the Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, things are a little weird in the division this season. The only thing that feels right is that the Cleveland Browns are in last place. The Ravens have been equally surprising but not because of their record. Last season the Ravens proved that they were a team to watch out. This season the offense has become downright dangerous. Baltimore averages the fifth most yards per game in the NFL and scores the fifth most points per game. The Ravens are moving the ball with a balanced offense. They pass for 248.6 yards a game and run the football for 133.6 yards a game. The offense has been relying on Joe Flacco's big play ability to get the ball in or near the end zone and one of its stable of running backs to drive the ball past the goal line. Flacco has a 90.2 quarterback rating with nine touchdown passes, a 64.3 percent completion percentage, and five interceptions. He has spread the ball out rather evenly among the Ravens receivers. Wide outs Derrick Mason, Kelley Washington, and Mark Clayton; tight end Todd Heap; and running back Ray Rice each have more than 15 receptions. The Ravens running game has slowly become Ray Rice's to lose. At the beginning of the season Rice and Willis McGahee were splitting carries pretty evenly, but now Rice is the ball carrier the majority of the time. McGahee has become a red zone specialist. He has run for five touchdowns and caught two more. It will be interesting to see how this affects Rice. Rice is averaging 5.8 yards a carry but is being denied the touchdown. This could cause problems. The Baltimore Ravens scoring defense is not what it once was. The team ranks 12th in the league with 19.4 points allowed a game. The major issue is the passing defense. The secondary is allowing 238 yards a game. The run defense is strong though and is keeping teams out of the end zone once they enter the red zone. M&T Bank Stadium is a great venue this season as the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals all fight for a spot in the playoffs. Baltimore has lost the last two games in heart breaking losses to the Patriots (21-27) and Bengals (14-17), and the road ahead is hardly a walk in the park. They play the Vikings in Week 6, take a bye week, and then play the Broncos and Bengals. The football season could potentially fall apart over the next four weeks.
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