Does anybody have a clue as to what kind of football team the Baltimore Ravens are? Seriously, raise your hand, shout out loud, disobey all the classroom rules if you know the answer to this question. Stand up out of your seat (not on it though), wave your arms, do jumping jacks and make those weird noises that kids make when they’re positive of the right answer. We won’t hold it against you.

The Ravens are such a difficult team to read, understand, and root for, that accepting their ambiguous persona seems to be the best to go about avoiding getting caught up in anything. Seriously, why go on with life trying to figure out whether the team we dedicate every Sunday to (and sometimes Monday) is going to give their full effort back to us with a life-changing performance on the field. With all we give week in and week out, a close contest is fair enough to ask for. Trust me, winning isn’t everything; The second half of the game against Minnesota was somewhat fulfilling enough, although I couldn’t get that whole “1st half performance” thing out of my head. And it’s not like that was the only horrible first half; We’ve seen it happen against Cincinnati and Cleveland as well. The point is, there is very little we ask for as fans. One of those few things we come to expect is a productive team, whether it is stopping an opposing offense with a dominating defense, or an offense’s ability to put points on the board. Against the Cleveland Browns, those two aspects of expectation don’t seem to be out of arms reach.

1. The passing attack was suspect.

The only reason the Ravens’ offense looked halfway decent was because the Browns’ offense looked that much worse. This game mimicked two high school offenses; There was one passing target and a crap running game on each side of the ball. When it came down to the Ravens, fans experienced an offensive output that, once again, excluded the wide receivers. Check down passes and safety throws to the tight end became the normal showing, thus proving that the Baltimore offense is more suspect than some want to believe.

Let’s not forget the situation here. If this game had been against a team with a highly touted defense, such as Pittsburgh, New England, Minnesota, or Denver, then my skepticism would be dulled and those who disagree could have their way with comments and insults galore. However, this Monday night game was against, quite possibly, the worst team in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns have lost all respect on both sides of the ball; Their fans attempted (and failed… ironically) to stage a protest by not entering their seats until after the opening kickoff. The Browns are not a franchise that should be a challenge, point blank.

ESPN analyst, and former Ravens’ wide receiver, Quadry Ismail, had more to say on the subject. Even after listening to his comments, which came across more as “tough love” than anything else, fans have to wonder whether this kind of performance will show up on Sunday against the Colts.

2. The kicking game needs improvement. As of Monday, we will see it.

Steve Hauschka saw his hold as Raven's kicker diminish, as well as his spot on the team. Will the team find a valid replacement?

I’ve spent some time defending Steve Hauschka. I will admit to it, mainly because I have no problem doing it. The guy was on the roster last season, even when Matt Stover was still a Raven, he saw a few chances during which he was chosen to kick a field goal over Stover, and he has the experience with the team. The kid is younger than I am (23, I believe), he has a leg with the strength of a lion (do lions have strong legs?), and his perseverance has held up during a season where adversity has taken it’s foot and shoved it up a place that most of us don’t want to think about.

However, Tuesday marked the end of the road for Steve Hauschka. His inability to make game-determining field goals struck Ozzie Newsome the wrong way, and his next attempt to become the superstar NFL kicker that he has longed to be will have to be wearing a different uniform.

The major question is, who will replace the big guy? The Ravens have worked a few people out, but the answer was finally discovered when the Ravens announced the signing of Billy Cundiff. A kicker who has spent time with Dallas and Cleveland, there is nothing too impressive about his resume. Cundiff brings a 77% career accuracy to Baltimore, which actually sits lower than Hauschka’s accuracy this year.

Personally, I think that Mike Vanderjagt would have been a great thought to cross through Newsome’s head. The most accurate kicker in NFL  history is a free agent, and interest is apparently at a standstill. Indianapolis had the chance to re-sign him but instead chose to go with former Raven, Matt Stover. A veteran kicker is something that Baltimore needed to acquire in order to qualm the outcry over the most manly position on the field, and we’ll see how Cundiff pans out.

3. Terrell Suggs is out for, at least, a month.

Damn that Brady Quinn and his reputation for cheap shots against players. Based on his history, it’s quite obvious that he had nothing better to do then to stake out Suggs, twist and turn through 21 other players on the field, punch children in the face, drink four beers, take a nap, and then finally dive aggressively at his knees in order to shorten a season during which the Browns don’t play the Ravens again.

The Raven's defense will surely miss Sugg's playmaking abilities.

Quinn has apologized for the accidental hit on Suggs that has set the Ravens’ stud linebacker out for 4 to 5 weeks, and so life goes on. While the intention of who the hit was actually aimed for is still arguable (I’ll hold my tongue), the Ravens can’t mourn and dwell over losing Suggs to injury for the first time in the player’s career. Without Suggs, it comes time for more 2nd string players to lace up their cleats, adjust their jock straps, and jump head first into the deep waters of the NFL. The Ravens are finding themselves shorter and shorter on linemen. Will practice squad promotions be in the near future for Baltimore?

While Suggs is a huge loss for the Ravens’ defense, his 3.5 sacks won’t be sorely missed. However, while it is thought that Suggs is having a “down” year, one can’t look past the fact that he had been on pace to break his single season tackles mark. For a guy that is asked to play several different positions, Terrell Suggs is just as much a valid asset to the Ravens’ defense as he has always been. It’s unfortunate that he can’t play, and fans better begin to expect that the defense could be in for even more trouble.

This Sunday, the Ravens find themselves facing off against an undefeated Indianapolis Colts team. It will be the 5th time this season Baltimore plays an undefeated team. The Ravens have defeated 3 of the 4 undefeated teams they’ve faced this year, but Payton Manning never poses to be a pushover. The Colts have had their way with Baltimore in the past. Despite the Vegas line (which somehow has the Ravens favored by 1, as of today), the Ravens can’t get distracted. They have got to keep the eyes on the prize, and take advantage of Indianapolis whenever possible.

Another interesting storyline that will take place tomorrow; Matt Stover makes his return to Baltimore, only this time as an opponent. With the recent release of Steve Hauschka, you have to think that the Ravens are kicking themselves for assuming that Stover would still be available this late into the season. The premier of their own new kicker, Billy Cundiff, will be an interesting spectacle; The opposing kicker may actually generate more respect from the home crowd than Cundiff does.