Play Like a Raven?

What Does Play Like a Raven Mean?

When we submitted our Super Bowl LIX staff picks, I had it 31-17 Eagles. I just thought that Philadelphia had the kind of defense that could present problems for Patrick Mahomes, and I likened Vic Fangio’s defense to that of the Tampa Bay Bucs from 2020 when Tom Brady & Co. defeated the Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl 55. My pick was influenced by the notion that Philadelphia could get to Mahomes with four linemen given the talent across the Eagles’ defensive front coupled with the struggles of the Chiefs offensive front.

The outcome for the Chiefs was worse than I expected.

That said, if there is a formula for beating a Mahomes-led Chiefs, it without question includes a menacing defensive line that contains Mahomes in the pocket while effectively defending his first reads which are often short to intermediate throws. Forcing him to hold the ball longer while bracketed within the tackle box is a recipe for success – a recipe that the Ravens need to not only file immediately, but also, allow it to influence the moves they make this offseason if they plan on getting over this playoff hump.

Here in The Land of Pleasant Living, we often hear the credo, Play Like a Raven. The players live by it, the organization embraces it, and the rest of us are supposed to believe in it. But what does Play Like a Raven mean?

Now we know what it’s supposed to mean – to play physical; play smart; play fast; to play with passion, preparedness and relentlessness; to play mistake free football. But if we’re being honest here, when you add it up, the Ravens don’t really live up to their own credo unless somewhere along the way they’ve added turnovers, penalties and mental mistakes to their Play Like a Raven maxim.

If you want to find a team that plays like the Ravens used to, look no further than the closest NFL team to the north – the World Champion Philadelphia Eagles. They win in the trenches, yet they have enviable skill position players. They limit mistakes yet they force opponents to make them. They play with discipline while forcing opponents to lose sight of theirs.

The Ravens are proud of their organizational continuity. They puff out their chests when the national media dishes out accolades about the Ravens culture and perceived strength from top to bottom. And while they are a very good franchise, they could learn from the Eagles.

Philadelphia has been to 3 of the past 8 Super Bowls, winning twice. And despite regularly having a loaded roster, they still find ways to get studs like Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and Darius Slay. They aren’t afraid to go and get a coordinator like Fangio. They aren’t afraid to make a splash. And they rarely seem to be hamstrung by cap constraints thanks to the best GM in the business, Howie Roseman.

For a while, leadership may have been an issue for the Eagles. Head coach Nick Sirianni has made questionable choices in the past and he’s shown a lack of discipline and maturity. But he’s grown, learned from his mistakes and has settled in nicely as Philly’s skipper. How many times can you say that Andy Reid and his staff were outclassed? Not often, right? Well, Sirianni and his staff ran circles around the Chiefs brain trust on Sunday.

We’ve heard how Steve Bisciotti, Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh admire the way the Pittsburgh Steelers operate their franchise. And that’s understandable. But they all need to reset their sights and emulate the other NFL team in Pennsylvania owned by Jeffrey Lurie if they hope to one day hoist their third Lombardi Trophy.

If Bisciotti & Co. want to embody the true meaning of Play Like a Raven, they better start flying like an eagle.

Or time may keep on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’, into the future…

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