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Baltimore Ravens 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview: Will Offense Keep Them Out of Super Bowl?

Joe Flacco & Baltimore Ravens Must Step Up Offensive Attack to Advance

Todd Jacobs
Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens have not lived up to expectations on offense and if they plan on advancing to the Super Bowl they will have to pick up the pace. Flacco has plenty of weapons at his disposal from the hard hitting running back Ray Rice to one of the best NFL possession receivers in the NFL in Anquan Boldin. The problem is none of these offensive players have produced well in the NFL regular season.

The Baltimore Ravens will travel to Kansas City to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on NFL Wild Card Playoffs Weekend. The Baltimore Ravens match up well against the Chiefs since they have a superior run defense and Ed Reed roaming the secondary and creating havoc for opposing quarterbacks.

Can Joe Flacco Pass for Over 300 yards in NFL Playoffs?

Joe Flacco has thrown for 300 yards once this season but that was against the Carolina Panthers. For the Baltimore Ravens to advance deep in the NFL Playoffs will it be an issue if Joe Flacco does not throw for 300 yards? It may not be an issue but if Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens can find their passing game they have an opportunity for Super Bowl run.

Flacco did throw for 285 yards against the New England Patriots this season but that was in NFL Week Six and the Patriots defense was not fully developed at the time. Flacco's best passing performance in the last month came against the Houston Texans but they have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Answer: No, Joe Flacco can not pass for over 300 yards in the NFL Playoffs.

Will Ray Rice Continue to be a Big Play Threat in the NFL Playoffs?

Ray Rice, the Baltimore Ravens big hitting running back, has found his will to run straight at defenders again this season and since he has become more aggressive his numbers have improved. Rice has only two 100 yard games this season but his ability to catch the ball in the flat out of the back field is a major weapon for Joe Flacco and this Baltimore Ravens offense. Answer: Yes, Ray Rice will be a big play threat against his NFL Playoffs opponents this post season.

Can Baltimore Ravens Receivers Step Up & Be Factors in NFL Playoffs?

Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmandzadeh were expected to take this Baltimore Ravens offense to another level before the NFL season started. As a team the Baltimore Ravens are averaging over 220 yards per game in the receiving department which is extremely disappointing considering the talent at wide out on this team.

Derrick Mason has been banged up and Flacco has never meshed well with Boldin this season. Boldin has three one hundred yard games this season but he also has nine games under 70 yards this season. Answer: No, the Baltimore Ravens receivers can not get on track with Joe Flacco this season and it will carry over to the NFL Playoffs.

Will Ray Lewis & Ed Reed Wear Down if They Advance Deep In NFL Playoffs?

Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have put in some hard years with the Baltimore Ravens defense are they getting a little long in the tooth yet? Lewis is one of the most intimidating linebackers in NFL history and he is still going strong this season.

Ed Reed is playing his best football in years as the season heads into the NFL Playoffs. Reed picked off two passes in Week 17 of the NFL season in the Baltimore Ravens game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Reed is in better shape for this NFL post season than in previous years. Answer: No, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will not wear down in the NFL Playoffs and should play as long as the Baltimore Ravens are in the hunt for the Super Bowl.

Baltimore Ravens NFL Playoffs Preview & Breakdown Prediction

The Baltimore Ravens road record this NFL season is 5-3 and they will have to make their way to the NFL Super Bowl on the road in these NFL Playoffs. Their first game does look easy against the Kansas City Chiefs but the Chiefs are 7-1 in Arrowhead Stadium.

The Baltimore Ravens will need to follow the Oakland Raiders game plan and run the ball on offense and pressure Matt Cassel on defense. The Baltimore Ravens will advance to the NFL Divisional Playoffs but they will not advance past this point.

More from Yahoo Contributor Network:

Bears 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview: Defense is Key to Deep Run

Chiefs 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview: Can Matt Cassel Spread Ball Around?

Eagles 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview: Five Questions & Answers

Falcons 2011 NFL Playoffs Previews: Will Matt Ryan Live Up to Super Bowl Hype?

Steelers 2011 NFL Playoffs Preview: Does Defense Win Championships?

Statistical sources:

www.lasvegasinsideinfo.com

www.yahoosports.com

www.espn.go.com

Published by Todd Jacobs

Todd Jacobs is from Anaheim, California and resides in the city of Las Vegas. Todd worked for Orange Coast Magazine as News Editor in the 80s and recently began writing for several online sites including:...  View profile

  • Baltimore Ravens will travel to Kansas City to take on Kansas City Chiefs on NFL Wild Card Playoffs.
  • Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens big hitting back, has found his will to run straight at defenders.
  • The Baltimore Ravens will need to follow the Oakland Raiders game plan and run the ball on offense.
Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmandzadeh were expected to take this Baltimore Ravens offense to another level before the NFL season started. As a team the Baltimore Ravens are averaging over 220 yards per game.

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