Riding on the coattails of the Ravens first loss of the 2009 season, there are a few things that the game brought to question. We had become used to the dominating offensive firepower that has caught the attention of a fan base that has never seen such production from any player in the purple and black. But leave it to New England to bring a high flying opponent back down to earth. The Patriots came into the game with their own mindset, looking to prove that they are still the dominating AFC football team that bulldozed its way through the regular season schedule in 2007. They left little to the imagination, pulling off the victory over Baltimore that only Bill Belichick could have gotten away with.

1. The Ravens need to prove they can win a game against a formidable opponent.

The concern that was running through many minds in Baltimore before the game against the Patriots was the ability of Joe Flacco and the rest of the offense to put numbers up against a big time opponent. To play the Chiefs and Browns is one thing, but the Patriots are a team that are contending for a playoff spot year in and year out. That fear turned into reality with the Mark Clayton dropped pass that ended the Ravens’ chances of pulling off any type of comeback.

This franchise will never evolve to become a great team unless they can figure out how to beat other top tier teams. When you look around the league, you see several teams that stay consistently good each and every season. Franchises like Indianapolis, New England, and Pittsburgh find ways to win the games that matter the most. The Ravens aren’t helped by the fact that the AFC is the stronger conference, but there is nothing they can do to change that situation. They can only figure out ways to join the elite list of teams that seem to gain the undivided attention of the entire NFL universe. Winning the big games will catapult the team to that level.

2. The Ravens’ run defense streak is getting ridiculous.

Despite the loss, the Ravens’ defense continued to increase their streak of not allowing a 100+ yard rusher. The streak is up to 39 games, which is more than impressive considering some of the names that have challenged the defense and come up short. The Patriots didn’t stand much chance of breaking through with a 100 yard rusher because of their “run by committee” ground game. When the consecutive game run finally does come to an end, it will be hard not to look back on it and realize how unbelievable such a feat it really is.

3. The Ravens can’t let the Patriots beat them twice.

It’s been made very public throughout the NFL community that some of the Ravens’ most outspoken

players were not very happy with some of the seemingly New England favored penalties that were called in the game on Sunday. Whether it was the first ever roughing the passer penalty to be called even though the passer wasn’t touched, or the 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty that was credited to the Ravens’ bench, it left a bad taste in the mouths of fans and players alike.

However, all must be forgotten in order to prepare for next week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. To play in the NFL requires a very short term memory. Otherwise, you’ll be playing against two teams, which does not do anybody any favors when trying to win games. The game against the Patriots is in the past, and the Ravens’ players and coaches should have a full understanding of that. It hasn’t been a problem in the past for Harbaugh to get his team in the right frame of mind, so moving on shouldn’t be a huge concern for anybody.

4. Some thoughts on Jared Gaither’s injury and the effects it had.

An injury like the one that Gaither seemed to suffer is always scary, and never something anybody wants to see. Once he was secured on the stretcher, the New England fans showed a great sense of sportsmanship with a standing ovation for the Ravens’ 330 lb offensive tackle. With that said, it has been released that Gaither’s x-rays were negative, and he could even see playing time next week.

Because of the injury to Gaither, the Ravens moved rookie Michael Oher from right tackle to left. While it may not seem like a major move, a player who can change sides of the line shows a huge amount of athletic talent. Because of the angle that defensive players will be coming at you, the pivot foot a player on the right side of the line will be opposite from the pivot foot that a left side player uses. Oher, who was playing in his 4th professional game, performed admirably after the shift, and he probably racked up brownie points with Harbaugh and Cam Cameron.

5. Kelley Washington could be the most under rated player so far this season.

Joe Flacco’s answer when in need of a first down seems to be obvious; Derrick Mason has come through time and time again on 3rd down conversions. However, according to stats, Flacco’s favorite target on 3rd down is Kelley Washington. The Ravens’ 3rd receiver, acquired via free agency during training camp, has revived his career in Baltimore. He has already caught 7 passes on 3rd down to continue the drive, and is averaging over 3 yards after the catch on those receptions.

Washington is on pace to put up career numbers this season. The most yardage he has gained in one year is 378 yards, which he achieved during the 2004-05 season. With almost 200 receiving yards already this year, Washington seems to be more than willing to shatter his previous marks in order to help the team win games.

What will the game against Cincinnati bring for us? Hopefully it will include a win, and a game without so many injuries. Flacco hopes that it will bring an opportunity to get back on track, while Cam Cameron hopes that he can balance his offense a bit more than he was able to do against New England. The Bengals are no pushover, however, as they’ve proved through their first four contests of the 2009 season. Without that crazy reception by Brandon Stokley in week one, the Cininnati would be undefeated. Even without hoping for it, expect a good game come Sunday.