The week before this matchup, a lot of people were talking about how it was the best pass defense against the best pass offense. People were whispering secret things in each others’ ears and rumors were swirling. Obviously, there was a lot going on about this game. Kyle Orton has surprised everybody with his outpouring of offensive production, and leads all quarterbacks in passing yards. His main target? Forget Brandon Marshall, who moved to Miami during the offseason. Instead, it’s a little guy named Brandon Lloyd, former 49er, Redskin and Bear (all teams whom, at the moment, would give their left…arm… for a quality WR) that has been putting defenses to shame. So when Week Five rolled around and Denver came a-knockin’ on Baltimore’s door, it wasn’t too far fetched to feel as if the Ravens may have a challenge cut out for them.

#1. Welcome back, running game.

Ray Rice had a season high game with his 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He looked like the Ray Rice of old, cutting sharply to avoid defenders and find holes. Fantasy football owners, be awakened, because it seems as if Rice has returned to his 2009 form. While the excuses are neither here nor there, the Ravens have had a stretch of tough opponents throughout the season, whether it was the Jets, Bengals or Steelers. The Ravens haven’t quite shaken the reputation as a running team despite the contributions from Anquan Boldin so far this season. Teams are still going to stack the box a little as they are on the lookout for little number twenty-seven to slip through the creases. But, with the continued push of the passing game, the play action and the running game should see more success as the season continues. Perhaps Denver was the first of many victims this season to realize that this Baltimore offense is one of the most well rounded in the NFL.

Speaking of the running game, Willis McGahee looked pretty good, too. Another thing with the running game is the wear and tear it takes on an opposing defense. We saw it last year, mainly in the Oakland Raiders game; The Ravens sent the running cavalry at full force throughout the game and eventually tired out the Oakland defense. Without taking anything away from McGahee, his touchdown run in the third quarter when he put that torrential stiff-arm on Hiram Eugene was due partially to the fact that Baltimore ripped apart the Raiders D with their relentless running attack. Speaking of that stiff arm, just for fun, check out the video.

#2. Dear Defense, We Love You. Love, Fans.

Year in and year out the Ravens defense seems to find ways to put it together and lay down the law. For the past few years, pre-season analysis and trash talk from fans of opposing teams (STEELERS) have claimed that the Baltimore defense is too old and too slow. There has been no upgrading, according to them. So, now that 2010 has been provided as another year of Ravens’ defensive dominance, I can only say one thing to those naysayers- congrats on being wrong again.

Not only has the Ravens defense been outstanding, despite their lack of pass rush, but the pieces that were thought to be weak going into the season have actually been superb. Without sounding like a jackass (although this will most definitely make me sound like a jackass), I can’t help but basking the in the fact that I was one of few, Ravens’ fans included, that said that the secondary would hold its own.

Fabian Washington has been one of the most shutdown CB’s in the league so far. Just last week, he knocked down four passes from Orton in the first half. Other than the two fluke touchdown passes to Brandon Lloyd at the end of each half, the Broncos, who happen to be the number one passing team in the NFL, had no answer to Baltimore’s secondary. With coverage like a blanket, the secondary can only get stronger with the return of Ed Reed during Week Seven. But, like I said, I have every right to say “I told you so”.

#3. For once, the penalties are going the other way.

Last season, I would assume most fans can’t seem to forget the ghastly amount of penalties called against Baltimore for ridiculous reasons. Those memories were re-opened during the Week Two game against Cincinnati when Terrell Suggs was called for a Tom Brady-esque ‘Roughing The Passer’ penalty. However, it seems as if the tide has turned thus far. Baltimore is the leading team in the NFL to have penalties called against their opponents. While there has to be a team that leads this category, fans can breathe a sigh of relief over the fact that the Ravens don’t seem to be the main focus. The yellow flags have stayed pocketed letting the players play and the coaches coach.

Maybe it’s the discipline, maybe it’s not. Either way, Baltimore has found a good string of luck through the first five weeks of the 210 NFL season, avoiding costly penalties that have seemed to work their way back into the outcome of the games last year. Whether or not that trend will continue remains to be seen; Ravens’ fans won’t put their guard down, that’s for sure, but I’d be lying if I said that it’s been nice to not have to worry so much.

Baltimore will be on the road again next week in a rematch of their first round playoff game. The New England Patriots will play host and we will all get to witness the first Patriots game without Randy Moss since the 2006-07 season. Will the shutdown corners of the Ravens have their work cut out for them? As an avid Ravens’ supporter, I can only hope that the loss of Moss will make Tom Brady’s squad that much weaker. Time will tell.

Check out the Totally Sweet League- an awesome fantasy football league that you can follow. Choose your team and root them on throughout the season. Here’s the link. http://totallysweetleague.wordpress.com/ . Each team owner has a bio to make the choice easy for you!